Chapter 5: The Document Hidden in Ewald's Jacket
"Stop.""
My voice wasn't loud.
But Ewald froze.
He turned slowly.
"What now?""
I pointed toward his jacket.
"What's that document?""
He glanced down.
For a fraction of a second, his expression betrayed him.
"Personal paperwork.""
"With my name on it?""
Lydia immediately stepped between us.
"Helga, this has gone far enough.""
I remained seated.
"Then it should be easy to show us.""
Ewald pushed the document deeper into his pocket.
"It's none of your concern.""
Alexander approached him.
"Let me see it.""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because I said so.""
Alexander looked at Bianca.
"What's in the document?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I don't know.""
I watched her carefully.
She was lying.
I had seen that expression before, usually when someone discovered an unexpected bill or asked an uncomfortable question.
She knew exactly what her father was carrying.
Alexander held out his hand.
"Ewald. Give me the paper.""
Ewald shook his head.
"You're making a serious mistake.""
"No. I'm trying to understand why you have a document bearing my mother's name.""
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then Ewald reluctantly removed the folded paper.
He placed it on the table.
I opened it.
My stomach tightened.
It was a power of attorney.
The document appeared to authorize Bianca to manage certain financial and property matters on my behalf.
It included my full name, date of birth, and apartment address.
There was even a paragraph granting authority to communicate with banks and property agencies.
But the signature at the bottom was not mine.
I looked at the date.
April 17.
Three weeks earlier.
"Where did you get this?""
Ewald said nothing.
I turned the paper toward Alexander.
"Have you seen this before?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
Bianca finally spoke.
"That document was only a draft.""
I looked at her.
"Who prepared it?""
She hesitated.
"My father.""
"Why?""
"Because we were trying to make things easier.""
"For whom?""
She threw her hands up.
"For everyone!""
I laughed softly.
"Interesting. Everyone seems to benefit except me.""
Ewald took a breath.
"Listen, Helga. You live alone. You have an apartment that is worth a considerable amount of money.
You have no experience managing complicated property transactions. We thought it would be sensible to appoint someone you trust.""
I stared at him.
"Someone I trust?""
"Bianca is your daughter-in-law.""
"She has spent three years telling my son that I am a burden.""
"That's not true!""
I turned toward Bianca.
"Then why did you tell your father that I would be easier to convince if Alexander threatened to stop visiting?""
Her mouth fell open.
Alexander looked at me.
"What?""
I reached into my handbag and removed another small memory card.
"This is from a conversation recorded during a visit to my apartment.""
Bianca stared at it.
"You recorded me there too?""
"I recorded a conversation in my own home after I discovered that documents had been removed from my desk.""
Alexander looked between us.
"Documents?""
I nodded.
"Last month, I noticed that the folder containing my property papers had been moved. One page was missing. I asked Bianca whether she had touched it. She denied everything.""
Bianca folded her arms.
"You can't prove that.""
I placed the memory card beside the recorder.
"Perhaps we should listen.""
She looked at Ewald.
He shook his head slightly.
But I pressed PLAY.
The recording began with the sound of a kettle boiling.
Then Bianca's voice.
"She keeps everything in that old cabinet. She doesn't even remember what she owns.""
Ewald replied.
"Then get the papers.""
"I tried. Alexander nearly caught me.""
"Did you find the apartment valuation?""
"Yes. Two hundred and eighty thousand, possibly more.""
"And the signature?""
"Not yet. But once she agrees to the power of attorney, we won't need her involved in every step.""
There was a pause.
Then Ewald asked:
"What if she changes her mind?""
Bianca laughed.
"She won't. Alexander will tell her that refusing means she doesn't care about his future.""
The recording ended.
Alexander sat down heavily.
He looked at Bianca as though he were trying to recognize her face.
"You went into my mother's apartment and searched through her documents?""
Bianca's tears returned.
"I was trying to help us!""
"Help us do what?""
"Get ahead! Have a better life!""
"We have a home. We have jobs. We have savings.""
She shook her head.
"Not enough.""
Alexander stared at her.
"Not enough for whom?""
Bianca looked toward her father.
Ewald finally lost his patience.
"Stop pretending you're innocent, Alexander. You benefited from everything we did.""
"Everything you did?""
"Your wife kept your finances together. She helped your mother. She made arrangements that you were too weak to handle.""
Alexander's voice dropped.
"Did you forge her signature?""
Ewald said nothing.
"Did you?""
"I didn't forge anything.""
"Then why does this document have her signature?""
Ewald pointed at the paper.
"That was prepared for later.""
I looked down.
There was something strange about the document.
The signature line contained my name, but a second page had been attached with a notary reference.
I took a photograph and sent it to Friedrich.
He replied almost immediately.
Do not let anyone remove that document. The notary reference is inconsistent. I'm checking it now.
I showed the message to Alexander.
He looked toward the door.
"Nobody leaves with those papers.""
Lydia began crying.
"Ewald, tell them the truth.""
He turned sharply.
"Be quiet.""
She stepped backward.
"I can't do this anymore.""
Bianca looked at her mother.
"Mom!""
Lydia shook her head.
"You told me it was only a loan.""
Ewald glared at her.
But Lydia continued.
"You said the apartment would be used as temporary security. You never told me you were planning to sell it.""
I felt cold.
"Sell it?""
Lydia covered her mouth.
Alexander stood.
"Who was planning to sell my mother's apartment?""
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang.
It was Friedrich.
I put it on speaker.
"Helga," he said, sounding unusually serious, "I have checked the power of attorney.""
"What did you find?""
"The document was submitted to a property agency two weeks ago.""
Alexander closed his eyes.
Friedrich continued.
"And there's more. The agency has already received an offer.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"An offer for how much?""
"Two hundred and seventy-five thousand euros.""
Alexander looked at Bianca.
She began shaking her head.
"That isn't true.""
Friedrich continued.
"There's also a reservation deposit. Ten thousand euros.""
"Who paid it?"" I asked.
A brief silence followed.
Then Friedrich answered.
"An account registered to Ewald Weber.""
Alexander turned toward his father-in-law.
"Where did you get ten thousand euros?""
Ewald remained silent.
Bianca looked at her father.
Then she whispered:
"That's impossible. You said the money was already transferred.""
I looked at her.
"What money?""
She realized her mistake.
Too late.
Alexander stepped closer.
"Bianca, what money was supposed to be transferred?""
She covered her face.
Ewald grabbed his jacket.
"Enough. We're leaving.""
But this time, Alexander didn't move aside.
"Not until you explain.""
Ewald looked at him with open hostility.
"You have no idea what you've stepped into.""
Alexander answered quietly.
"Then tell me.""
Ewald stared at him.
And finally, he said something I never expected.
"The buyer isn't a stranger, Alexander.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a second sheet.
He placed it beside the power of attorney.
May you like
The buyer's name was printed at the top.
*Bianca Weber.*
