Chapter 9: The Attorney Who Knew Too Much
The room went silent.
Daniel Reeves.
The man who had accompanied Martha to our apartment.
The man who had presented Nick with documents supposedly carrying his signature.
The man whose name appeared beside a suspicious visit to James's house shortly before his death.
Nick took a photograph of the visitor log.
"How long has he been involved with your family?"" he asked Eleanor.
She looked through the old records.
"At least twelve years. He was originally hired to handle some property contracts.""
Richard frowned.
"But why would he be involved in the inheritance?""
Eleanor closed the ledger.
"Because he wasn't just an attorney. He was also advising my husband's investment company.""
Helen looked toward the photograph.
"Did he have access to James's private documents?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
Nick's expression hardened.
"Then he could have helped Martha alter the trust.""
"Possibly," Eleanor replied.
"But we need proof.""
I stood beside the desk, studying the photograph.
Martha looked younger, but her expression was unmistakable.
She was smiling.
Daniel stood beside her, holding a briefcase.
Neither of them looked like people discussing something innocent.
Then I noticed something in the background.
A car.
It was parked near the entrance.
Its license plate was partially visible.
I pointed toward it.
"Can you zoom in?""
Eleanor leaned over my shoulder.
"That's my husband's old car.""
Nick looked at her.
"Your husband's?""
"Yes. But he sold it years before he died.""
Richard examined the photograph.
"To whom?""
Eleanor searched through the ledger.
Then she found a receipt.
The car had been sold to a company called D.R. Consulting.
Nick looked up.
"Daniel Reeves?""
Eleanor nodded.
The connection was becoming impossible to ignore.
Helen sat down.
"I remember James mentioning that name. He said Daniel had brought him a document that needed an urgent signature.""
Richard looked at her.
"Did James sign it?""
"I don't know. He was very upset afterward.""
Nick picked up the ledger.
"We need to find the original transaction records.""
Eleanor unlocked another cabinet.
Inside were several boxes of old financial documents.
We spent the next hour examining them.
Most were routine.
Property maintenance.
Investment statements.
Tax records.
Then Eleanor found a folder marked with James's initials.
She opened it.
Inside was a letter from Daniel Reeves.
The letter was dated two days before James died.
It stated that the original trust deed required immediate amendment because of a supposed administrative error.
James had written a response in red ink.
I will not sign anything until Helen has reviewed every page.
Beneath that sentence was another note.
I no longer trust Daniel.
Helen pressed a hand against her chest.
"James knew.""
Richard looked at her.
"He knew Martha was involved?""
Helen nodded.
"I think he was trying to protect us.""
Nick turned the page.
There was a second handwritten note.
This one was addressed to Helen.
If anything happens to me before I can explain, do not let Martha or Daniel control the estate.
I felt a chill run through me.
The letter ended abruptly.
There was no signature.
Nick took out his phone.
"I'm calling the police investigator.""
He explained what we'd found and sent copies of the documents.
The investigator asked us not to remove anything from the estate.
He also requested that Eleanor preserve the original financial records.
While Nick was speaking, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
A man's voice responded.
"Mrs. Carter?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Daniel Reeves.""
I looked at Nick.
He immediately ended his call and came closer.
Daniel continued.
"I understand you've been asking questions about certain private family documents.""
I said nothing.
"Your mother-in-law is very distressed. I believe this situation can be resolved peacefully.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Why was your name in my husband's grandfather's visitor log?""
There was a pause.
"That's a very old matter.""
"Why were you helping Martha?""
"I'm not sure what you mean.""
Nick leaned toward the phone.
"Then perhaps you can explain the documents you brought to our apartment.""
Daniel's voice became colder.
"Mr. Carter, I strongly advise you not to make accusations without understanding the legal implications.""
Nick replied, "And I strongly advise you to stop using my name on documents I never knowingly approved.""
Daniel sighed.
"Your mother is trying to protect the family.""
I looked at Nick.
He shook his head.
"Protect the family by stealing from Grandma?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Ask your grandmother what happened the night James died.""
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Helen had heard every word.
Her face had turned pale.
"Grandma?"" Nick asked.
She looked toward the window.
"Your grandfather died in the hospital after collapsing at home. I was told it was a sudden medical emergency.""
Richard approached her.
"Why would Daniel bring that up?""
Helen's hands began trembling.
"Because he was there.""
Nick frowned.
"Who?""
"Daniel. He came to the house that evening. Martha said he had important papers for James to review.""
Helen closed her eyes.
"I remember James becoming angry. He told Daniel to leave.""
Richard looked horrified.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"I didn't think it mattered. Your grandfather became ill later that night, and everyone said it was a natural death.""
Nick sat beside her.
"Did you see Martha?""
Helen nodded.
"She was in the hallway. She was holding a small envelope.""
I looked at her.
"What was inside?""
"I don't know.""
Helen took a shaky breath.
"But I remember something else.""
She turned toward Nick.
"Before James was taken to the hospital, he grabbed my hand and told me one thing.""
"What?""
"He said, 'Helen, don't let Martha get the recording.''"
Nick looked at the laptop in his hand.
"The recording we just found?""
Helen nodded.
"Maybe. But I don't think it was the only one.""
Eleanor suddenly stood.
"Wait.""
She walked toward the office door and opened a small storage cabinet.
Inside was an old security monitor.
She switched it on.
"Daniel's visit was recorded. My husband installed cameras throughout this office years ago.""
The screen flickered.
A list of archived recordings appeared.
Eleanor searched by date.
Then she found the night James died.
Nick moved closer.
"Play it.""
The footage showed the office entrance.
Daniel walked in carrying his briefcase.
A few minutes later, Martha appeared.
She looked around before entering.
Then the camera captured something that made Helen gasp.
Martha was holding a large envelope.
She placed it on James's desk.
Daniel opened his briefcase and removed a document.
James entered the room.
The three began arguing.
Although the footage had no sound, their expressions were clear.
James pointed toward the door.
Daniel shook his head.
Martha grabbed the document.
Then James suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed against the desk.
Helen covered her mouth.
Richard shouted, "Call an ambulance!""
But the footage showed something else.
Martha didn't move immediately.
Instead, she looked at Daniel.
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
Then he picked up the envelope.
He removed a small object from it and slipped it into his pocket.
Only after that did Martha reach for the telephone.
Nick stared at the screen.
"She waited.""
Helen began crying.
"James...""
The recording continued.
Daniel left the room carrying his briefcase.
Martha remained beside James until the ambulance arrived.
Then the footage ended.
Nobody spoke.
The investigator arrived shortly afterward and secured a copy of the recording.
He warned us not to draw conclusions about the cause of James's collapse until the evidence could be properly examined.
But there was one detail that none of us could ignore.
Daniel had removed something from the envelope.
Something James had apparently been trying to protect.
Eleanor rewound the footage and paused it.
She enlarged the image.
A small corner of the object was visible as Daniel slipped it into his pocket.
It was a silver key.
Helen stared at it.
Then she whispered:
"That key opens the safe beneath James's desk.""
Nick turned toward the old study.
"What safe?""
Helen looked at him, her eyes filled with fear.
"The safe that contains the original recording of the night your grandfather died.""
And just as the investigator asked Eleanor to show him where the safe was located, her phone rang.
She answered.
A security employee spoke urgently.
"Mrs. Whitmore, someone has just entered the property.""
Eleanor looked toward the monitor.
"Who?""
The employee hesitated.
May you like
Then he replied:
"Your guest is Daniel Reeves.""
