Chapter 14: The Last Lie
Three days later, Rebecca received the complete hospital records.
The documents were worse than we expected.
Richard had submitted a request for financial authority six weeks before my mother's final hospitalization.
The request included a medical assessment from Dr. Samuel Price.
But the assessment had been dated before my mother had even met him.
Rebecca placed the pages in front of Dad.
"This is evidence of a coordinated attempt to obtain control over Claire's finances.""
Dad stared at the documents.
"Six weeks?""
"Yes.""
"He knew she was sick.""
"Apparently.""
Dad rubbed his face.
"How could my brother do this?""
Rebecca didn't offer an answer.
She simply turned to the next page.
There was an email between Richard and Martin.
*RICHARD: Once the medical authorization is approved, we can establish control before Daniel understands the structure.*
*MARTIN: And the daughter?*
*RICHARD: She won't be old enough to challenge anything. By the time she is, the assets will be moved.*
I read the message twice.
Then I pushed the paper away.
"They planned this while Mom was dying.""
Dad looked at me.
"Naomi...""
"They were waiting for her to die.""
My voice cracked.
Eleanor wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
Rebecca closed the folder.
"The authorities have received copies of the records. We also have the financial institution's access logs and the original audio recordings.""
Dad nodded.
"Good.""
Then Rebecca added something else.
"There's a development involving Melissa.""
Dad looked up.
"What?""
"She contacted my office this morning.""
"Why?""
"She wants to cooperate.""
I almost laughed.
"Now?""
Rebecca nodded.
"She claims Richard misled her and that she never intended to permanently take Naomi's inheritance.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"She's lying.""
"Possibly. But she has offered to provide additional records and communications.""
Eleanor leaned forward.
"What does she want in return?""
"She wants consideration regarding her involvement.""
Dad shook his head.
"She can explain herself to the investigators.""
Rebecca agreed.
"We'll make that clear.""
That afternoon, Melissa arrived at Rebecca's office.
She looked different.
Her expensive clothes were gone.
Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and dark circles sat beneath her eyes.
She carried a large handbag.
Dad refused to greet her.
She looked at me.
"Naomi.""
I didn't respond.
She sat down.
Rebecca placed a recorder on the table.
"Before we begin, I need to make something clear. This meeting is voluntary. You are not required to answer questions, and anything you provide may be shared with the appropriate authorities.""
Melissa nodded.
"I understand.""
Rebecca opened a notebook.
"Why did you submit the liquidation request?""
Melissa looked at Dad.
Then at me.
"Because Richard told me the account could legally be used to settle certain family expenses.""
"Did you verify that?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
Melissa's eyes filled.
"I trusted him.""
Dad let out a humorless laugh.
"You trusted him enough to risk my daughter's entire future?""
Melissa looked down.
"I was desperate.""
Rebecca asked about the $10,000 academic prize.
Melissa admitted she had intended to take it.
She admitted she had promised Chloe a car.
She admitted she had moved my trophies into the garage.
But when Rebecca asked about the forged signature, Melissa suddenly changed her story.
"Richard handled the paperwork.""
"Did you know Daniel's signature had been forged?""
Melissa hesitated.
"I suspected something was wrong.""
Dad leaned forward.
"You suspected?""
She began crying.
"I didn't know how far it had gone.""
"You watched him use my name.""
"I was afraid.""
Dad stared at her.
"Of what?""
"Of losing everything.""
I finally spoke.
"What about me?""
Melissa looked at me.
"What?""
"Were you afraid of losing everything when you threw my mother's things into a box?""
She looked away.
"Were you afraid when you took my prize money?""
Her lips trembled.
"Naomi, I'm sorry.""
I shook my head.
"You didn't even look at the trophies before throwing them away.""
"I made a mistake.""
"You called my mother's gift cheap.""
Melissa covered her face.
I continued.
"You knew I loved that little star. You knew it was important to me. And you still let Chloe break it.""
Melissa began sobbing.
Dad stood.
"That's enough.""
Rebecca asked one final question.
"Did Richard tell you where the missing money went?""
Melissa nodded.
"He said it was being held through several companies.""
"Which companies?""
She opened her handbag.
Inside were printed emails, bank statements, and a small notebook.
"I kept everything.""
Rebecca examined the papers.
Then she stopped.
"What's this?""
Melissa looked nervous.
"Richard's private ledger.""
Rebecca opened it.
There were entries for multiple transfers.
Some were labeled business expenses.
Others were listed as administrative payments.
But one entry stood out.
*$35,000 — Claire Carter — Personal settlement.*
Dad frowned.
"What is that?""
Melissa looked at him.
"Richard told me that was the original money he had taken before Claire died.""
Rebecca turned another page.
There was a second entry.
*$120,000 — Pending release — Naomi Carter Trust.*
Then a third.
*$487,000 — Final consolidation.*
I felt sick.
The amounts matched the accounts we had discovered.
But there was another column.
It listed the destination of each transfer.
And beside the largest amount was the name of a bank in another country.
Dad looked at Melissa.
"Where is Richard planning to go?""
She swallowed.
"He booked a flight.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow night.""
Rebecca immediately picked up her phone.
"To where?""
Melissa answered.
"London.""
Dad stared at her.
"Is Martin going with him?""
She nodded.
Rebecca stepped into the hallway to make a call.
I looked at Melissa.
"Why are you telling us now?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Because Richard told me I would be left with nothing.""
I stared at her.
"So you're only helping because he betrayed you?""
Melissa didn't answer.
"Not because you hurt me?""
Her eyes filled again.
"I know I hurt you.""
"Do you?""
She looked down.
I turned away.
There was nothing I wanted from her.
Not an explanation.
Not an apology.
Not even revenge.
I just wanted my mother back.
Dad approached me.
"Come on, sweetheart.""
We left Melissa in the conference room.
As we walked toward the elevator, Rebecca called after us.
"Daniel, wait.""
She hurried over.
"The investigators have been notified. Richard's travel plans are being reviewed.""
Dad nodded.
"Good.""
Rebecca lowered her voice.
"There's one more thing you should know.""
"What?""
"Melissa's ledger contains a payment to Dr. Price.""
Dad frowned.
"How much?""
"Twenty thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
Rebecca opened the notebook.
The payment was dated three days after my mother's death.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
*For the medical declaration.*
Dad closed his eyes.
The doctor who had declared my mother incapable of making decisions had been paid.
And the man who had helped arrange the declaration was now preparing to leave the country.
That evening, Chloe came to our house.
She stood outside the front door holding a small paper bag.
Dad opened it.
She looked frightened.
"I need to speak to Naomi.""
Dad glanced at me.
I nodded.
Chloe stepped inside.
She placed the bag on the table.
Inside was the broken golden star.
But it had been repaired.
The pointed top had been carefully reattached, and the base had been polished.
I picked it up.
"Who fixed this?""
Chloe swallowed.
"I took it to a repair shop.""
I examined the little trophy.
The crack was still visible.
But it was no longer falling apart.
"I know it doesn't make everything okay," she whispered.
"No, it doesn't.""
"I also brought something else.""
She removed a folded sheet of paper.
It was a printed message conversation between her and Melissa.
I began reading.
One message caught my attention.
*MOM: Once Naomi's trust is transferred, Daniel will have no choice but to accept the arrangement.*
Another followed.
*MOM: Her father will be too embarrassed to fight us.*
Then came a message from Chloe.
*CHLOE: What if Naomi finds out?*
Melissa's reply was chilling.
*MOM: She won't. And even if she does, nobody will believe a seventeen-year-old over three adults.*
I looked up.
Chloe was crying.
"That's when I realized Mom wasn't just borrowing your money.""
Dad took the papers.
"Thank you for bringing these.""
Chloe nodded.
Then she turned toward me.
"I know you hate me.""
I looked at the repaired trophy.
"I don't know what I feel.""
She swallowed.
"I understand.""
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
"Naomi?""
I looked up.
"Your science project was really good. I saw the video Dad posted.""
It was the first genuine compliment she had ever given me.
But it came too late to undo what she had done.
After Chloe left, Dad's phone rang.
Rebecca.
"Daniel, we have a problem.""
"What happened?""
"Richard's flight has been moved forward.""
"To when?""
"Tonight.""
Dad stood.
"Where is he?""
"His car was last seen near the airport.""
Then Rebecca said something that made Dad grab his keys.
"Martin Hale is already there. And the investigators believe they may be carrying the original trust documents.""
Dad looked at me.
The final pieces were finally coming together.
May you like
But Richard was about to make one last attempt to escape with the evidence.
And this time, we weren't going to let him.
