Chapter 11: My Father Tried to Steal Forty Million Dollars
Jennifer immediately contacted the bank's legal department.
The attempted access had been recorded.
My father had presented a document claiming that I had authorized him to retrieve the contents of box 417.
It contained what appeared to be my signature.
The problem was that I had never signed it.
“That's the third document with your forged signature,” Jennifer said.
I stared at the security footage on Susan's computer.
My father stood at the counter wearing his expensive navy coat.
He looked completely relaxed.
He handed over the document, spoke to the manager, and waited.
When he was told access had been denied, his expression changed.
He leaned across the counter.
“You have no idea who you're dealing with,” he said.
The bank manager remained calm.
“Sir, you're not authorized to access this box.””
“I'm his father!””
“I'm sorry. That doesn't change the authorization.””
My father slammed his palm against the counter.
“Call him!””
The manager refused.
Then Dad turned and walked out.
I watched the footage twice.
For years, I had believed my father was simply proud.
Now I understood something different.
He wasn't trying to preserve his dignity.
He was trying to preserve his control.
At 11:20 a.m., I called Melissa.
She didn't answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Then I sent her a message.
*Meet me at Jennifer's office. Alone. I want the truth.*
She replied almost immediately.
*I can't. Dad has my passport and bank cards.*
I stared at the message.
I forwarded it to Jennifer.
“Can he legally hold those?””
“No. But we need to understand whether she's being coerced.””
I called Melissa again.
This time, she answered.
“Daniel?””
“Where are you?””
“At the house.””
“Can you leave?””
“I don't know.””
“Are you being held there?””
“No. But Dad has someone watching the driveway.””
I looked at Jennifer.
She immediately began typing.
“Melissa, listen carefully. You need to tell me whether you want help.””
A long silence followed.
Then Melissa whispered:
“Yes.””
“Then don't confront him. We'll arrange a safe meeting.””
She began crying.
“Daniel, I'm sorry.””
I closed my eyes.
“Don't apologize yet. Tell me what you know.””
She took a breath.
“Dad has the original documents from the family trust.””
“We have copies.””
“No. You have the old agreement. He has the amended one.””
I frowned.
“What amended agreement?””
“The one Grandpa supposedly signed three days before he died.””
Jennifer stopped typing.
I looked at her.
“Does it change the beneficiaries?””
Melissa answered.
“Yes.””
“How?””
“It gives Dad control of the trust and transfers the mansion to him.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Is it real?””
“I don't know. Dad says Grandpa signed it in the hospital.””
“Did you see it?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“In his study. Inside the locked cabinet.””
I leaned forward.
“Melissa, does it contain my grandfather's signature?””
“Yes.””
Jennifer raised a hand, signaling me to stop.
She leaned toward the phone.
“Melissa, did you witness that signature?””
“No.””
“Do you know who did?””
“Mom.””
Jennifer looked at me.
I felt the room grow cold.
My mother had signed another document.
Another piece of my father's story.
“Melissa,” I said, “why are you helping him?””
Her answer came quietly.
“Because he knows what happened to Victor.””
I closed my eyes.
“You already told me Victor was alive.””
“That's not all.””
She hesitated.
“Dad has a recording.””
“Of what?””
“Of the night Victor disappeared.””
I stood.
“Where is it?””
“In the study.””
“Get it.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because Dad keeps the key.””
I rubbed my forehead.
Then Melissa said:
“There's something else on that recording.””
“What?””
She swallowed.
“It's about Helen.””
At 2:00 p.m., Marcus arranged a meeting with Melissa at a coffee shop several blocks from the mansion.
She arrived wearing a baseball cap and oversized sunglasses.
She looked exhausted.
She sat opposite me and placed a small envelope on the table.
“What's this?””
“Copies of the amended trust.””
I opened it.
The document was dated three days before my grandfather's death.
It claimed that he had transferred the entire estate to my father.
But the signature looked wrong.
Jennifer examined the copies.
“This needs forensic analysis.””
Melissa nodded.
“Dad says it's authentic.””
I looked at her.
“Do you believe him?””
She shook her head.
“Not anymore.””
I turned another page.
There was a witness signature.
Patricia Brooks.
My mother.
And another signature.
Edward Collins.
My father's attorney.
I looked at Melissa.
“Why did you give me this?””
“Because Dad told me something last night.””
“What?””
“He said once the house was legally transferred back to him, he would sell it and disappear.””
“Disappear where?””
“Somewhere overseas.””
I stared at her.
“He's planning to run?””
Melissa nodded.
“He has already moved money into accounts outside the country.””
Jennifer immediately photographed the documents.
“Do you know which accounts?””
Melissa reached into her bag and produced another folded sheet.
“Here.””
I opened it.
There were several account numbers and company names.
One of them belonged to a company registered in Luxembourg.
The listed director was Edward Collins.
I looked at Jennifer.
She was already making a call.
Then Melissa leaned toward me.
“Daniel, I need to tell you something about the shoe.””
I frowned.
“What about it?””
She looked down.
“Dad told me to throw it.””
I didn't move.
“What?””
“He wanted you angry. He wanted you to leave the house immediately.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because he knew you'd eventually find out about the trust. He wanted you to put the property on the market so he could claim you were violating the family agreement.””
My jaw tightened.
“You deliberately attacked Claire because Dad told you to?””
Melissa began crying.
“He said you'd overreact. He said you always protected your wife. He wanted to make you choose between her and the family.””
I felt physically sick.
“You knew she was pregnant.””
“I know.””
“You threw a shoe at her.””
“I know!””
She covered her face.
I pushed my chair back.
“Don't ever expect me to excuse that.””
“I don't.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she removed another object from her bag.
A small black USB drive.
“There's a recording on this.””
“Of what?””
“Dad talking to Edward.””
I looked at Jennifer.
She nodded.
We plugged the drive into her laptop.
The recording began with the sound of a door closing.
Then my father's voice.
“Once Daniel is out, we can transfer everything.””
Edward replied:
“What about the original will?””
“It's already been dealt with.””
“And Helen?””
My father's voice became colder.
“She'll never come back.””
Then Edward asked:
“What if Victor talks?””
Dad laughed.
“Victor is the least of our problems.””
There was a pause.
Then my father said something that made the entire room freeze.
“The boy has no idea what happened to his grandfather.””
I stared at the screen.
Edward lowered his voice.
“Are you sure he doesn't remember?””
My father answered:
“He was twelve. He remembers what I told him to remember.””
The recording ended.
I sat motionless.
My grandfather had died when I was twelve.
I remembered visiting him in the hospital.
I remembered holding his hand.
I remembered my father telling me that Grandpa had suffered a sudden stroke.
But the recording suggested something else.
I looked at Melissa.
“What happened to Grandpa?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Jennifer closed the laptop.
“We need to get the original recording authenticated.””
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Emily Hale.
I answered.
“Emily?””
“Daniel, I found Helen.””
I stood.
“Where is she?””
“She's alive. She's agreed to meet you.””
“That's good news.””
Emily hesitated.
“There's a problem.””
“What?””
“She told me something about your grandfather.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
Emily took a breath.
“Your grandfather didn't die from a stroke.””
The room went silent.
“He was poisoned,” she said.
I couldn't speak.
For several seconds, all I could hear was the faint sound of traffic outside the coffee shop.
Then I asked the only question that mattered.
“Who did it?””
May you like
Emily's answer was almost a whisper.
“Your father.””
