Chapter 10: The Uncle Who Betrayed Us
Dad replayed the recording.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
Each time, my mother's final words seemed to hit him harder.
"My brother.""
He finally said it aloud.
"Richard?""
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"Claire mentioned him shortly before she died.""
Dad shook his head.
"No. Richard helped me through everything. He paid for the funeral arrangements.
He helped organize the estate paperwork. He even stayed with Naomi when I had to return to work.""
I looked at him.
"Uncle Richard?""
Dad's brother was the person who had taught me how to ride a bicycle.
He had taken me fishing on weekends and brought me birthday presents when Dad was working.
He called me his little scientist.
When I won my first regional science competition, he had been the first person to congratulate me.
I remembered him giving me a hug and saying, "Your mother would be so proud.""
Now I was learning that he might have helped someone steal the money she left me.
Dad closed the laptop.
"I'm calling him.""
Eleanor immediately reached for his arm.
"Daniel, wait.""
"Why?""
"We don't know how much he knows. If he's involved, calling him now could give him time to destroy evidence.""
Dad looked at the recording.
"Then what do you suggest?""
"Let Rebecca handle it.""
Dad paced around the dining room.
"I've trusted that man my entire life.""
Eleanor's voice softened.
"Claire trusted him too. That's why she was so hurt.""
I turned toward her.
"What happened between them?""
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she pulled out a chair.
"Your mother and Richard were close when they were young. He helped her manage some investments before she married your father. She believed he was good with money.""
Dad frowned.
"Richard never managed Claire's investments.""
"He did before you met her.""
Dad looked confused.
Eleanor continued.
"Your mother discovered that some of her investment records had been altered. She confronted Richard, but he claimed it was a clerical mistake. He apologized, returned the missing amount, and promised never to handle her finances again.""
Dad sat down.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"She didn't want to destroy your relationship with your brother.""
I stared at the laptop.
My mother had protected people even when they didn't deserve it.
And now they had used that kindness against her.
Dad called Rebecca.
She listened carefully while he explained the recording.
Then she asked him to send the file.
"Don't contact Richard," she instructed.
"I'll arrange an independent forensic review. We also need to establish whether he accessed any of the estate documents.""
Dad asked, "Can you find out?""
"Yes. But I need the original financial records and the complete email history.""
Eleanor placed the metal box on the table.
"We have those.""
Rebecca paused.
"Good. Keep everything exactly as it is. I'll meet you at nine tomorrow morning.""
After the call, Dad went into the kitchen to make coffee.
I followed him.
He stood at the counter, staring at the machine without pressing anything.
"Dad?""
He turned.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Do you think Uncle Richard knew?""
Dad looked down.
"I don't know.""
"Do you think he took my money?""
His eyes filled.
"I hope not.""
He hugged me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, "I'm sorry.""
I pulled away slightly.
"For what?""
"For bringing someone into our lives who could hurt you like this.""
I shook my head.
"You didn't know.""
"I should have.""
I touched his arm.
"We'll find out.""
But I wasn't sure I believed my own words.
The following morning, we met Rebecca Lawson at her office.
She was in her early forties, wore rectangular glasses, and had a habit of reading documents twice before speaking.
Her conference table was covered with copies of the trust agreement, bank statements, and the emails we had discovered.
She listened to the audio recording.
When it ended, she removed her glasses.
"Your mother was trying to warn you.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Can we prove Richard was involved?""
Rebecca opened a folder.
"I contacted the financial institution this morning. They provided preliminary access records.""
She turned her laptop toward us.
There were several account access entries.
One originated from Melissa's business office.
Another came from Martin Hale's company.
And three came from an address registered to Richard Carter.
Dad stared at the screen.
"That's his house.""
Rebecca nodded.
"Someone using his internet connection accessed the trust records on three separate occasions.""
"Can you prove it was him?""
"Not yet. We need device records and the original login information.""
She opened another document.
"However, there's something more concerning.""
She pointed to a transfer dated four months after my mother's death.
$35,000.
The same amount we had already discovered.
But this time, the recipient account was different.
It belonged to a company registered under Richard's name.
Dad leaned back.
His face had gone completely pale.
"Why would my brother receive money from my daughter's trust?""
Rebecca didn't answer.
She opened another file.
It was a corporate registration document.
Richard Carter was listed as the sole director of a company called Carter Estate Consulting.
Martin Hale was listed as its financial adviser.
Melissa was listed as an authorized representative.
All three names appeared together.
I felt sick.
"They were working together.""
Rebecca nodded.
"It appears that way.""
Dad stared at the document.
Then he picked up his phone.
"I'm going to call him.""
Rebecca didn't stop him this time.
She simply said, "Put it on speaker.""
Dad dialed.
Richard answered cheerfully.
"Daniel! What a surprise.""
Dad's voice was cold.
"Did you access Claire's trust?""
A pause.
"What?""
"Did you access Naomi's inheritance?""
Richard laughed nervously.
"Where is this coming from?""
"Answer me.""
"Daniel, I don't know what you're talking about.""
Dad looked at the bank records.
"Thirty-five thousand dollars was transferred to your company.""
Silence.
Then Richard sighed.
"That was a business arrangement.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"You took my daughter's money?""
"I borrowed it.""
"You had no right.""
"Daniel, listen. Your wife was gone. The money was sitting there. Melissa said she had permission to manage it.""
"She didn't.""
Richard's voice hardened.
"Then you should have managed your family better.""
Dad stood.
"How dare you?""
Richard continued.
"You were barely functioning after Claire died. Someone had to make decisions.""
I stared at the phone.
"Uncle Richard?""
He went quiet.
"Naomi?""
"Why did you take my mother's money?""
His voice softened.
"Sweetheart, it's complicated.""
"No, it isn't.""
"Your father doesn't understand how these things work.""
I felt my hands shaking.
"My mother left that money for me.""
Richard sighed.
"Your mother was emotional. She didn't always understand the bigger picture.""
Dad slammed his hand against the table.
"Do not speak about Claire that way!""
Richard's tone changed.
"Fine. If you want to make this ugly, we can.""
Rebecca immediately motioned for Dad to stop talking.
But Richard continued.
"Before you start accusing me, Daniel, you might want to ask your daughter why Claire never told you about the second investment account.""
Dad froze.
"What does that mean?""
Richard laughed.
"Ask Eleanor what happened in the last month before Claire died.""
The call ended.
Dad slowly lowered his phone.
Everyone looked at Eleanor.
She had gone pale.
I turned toward her.
"What happened?""
Eleanor didn't answer.
"Dad?""
He looked at her.
"Eleanor, what is he talking about?""
She closed her eyes.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed another envelope.
"I was hoping I would never have to show you this.""
She placed it on the table.
It was a letter written by my mother.
May you like
And this time, it wasn't addressed to me.
It was addressed to my father.
