Chapter 4: The Man Who Knew About the Letter
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Thomas Whitmore had just asked whether Vanessa had given Daniel the letter.
Not whether I was well.
Not why I was calling.
Not what had happened.
He already knew.
I looked at Vanessa. She was standing beside the dining room table, holding the cream-colored envelope like a winning lottery ticket.
Daniel was watching me.
"Uncle Thomas?"" he whispered.
I raised one finger, asking him to remain quiet.
"Thomas," I said into the phone, keeping my voice steady, "why are you asking about the letter?""
There was a brief pause.
Then he sighed.
"Eleanor, this isn't the time to play games. Vanessa was supposed to deliver it before the wedding.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Deliver it to whom?""
"Daniel, obviously.""
"Why?""
Another pause.
"Because he deserves to know what his father did.""
I glanced at my son.
Daniel's face had changed.
"What did my father do?"" he asked loudly.
Thomas heard him.
"Is Daniel there?""
"Yes.""
"Put him on the phone.""
I didn't move.
"Answer my question first.""
Thomas exhaled sharply.
"Richard left behind financial arrangements that you were never supposed to discover. That's all I'm willing to say over the telephone.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was watching me carefully.
"Did you give Vanessa that envelope?""
"I gave her instructions. Whether she followed them correctly is another matter.""
"Thomas, listen to me. You have five minutes to explain why my son's fiancée has confidential foundation documents and a letter supposedly written by my dead husband.""
His voice hardened.
"Be careful, Eleanor.""
The warning was unmistakable.
Then he disconnected.
I lowered the phone.
Daniel immediately approached me.
"Mom, what is going on?""
I looked at him.
"Your uncle knows about the letter.""
"Why would Uncle Thomas give Vanessa something Dad wrote?""
"I don't know.""
Vanessa laughed softly.
"Oh, come on. You know perfectly well why.""
I turned toward her.
"Explain.""
She placed the envelope on the table.
"Your husband created a private account before he died. Money went into it for years. Thomas found the records, and he discovered that some of the money eventually ended up in your charitable foundation.""
Daniel looked stunned.
"That's impossible. Dad was involved in the foundation from the beginning.""
"Exactly," Vanessa replied.
"And apparently, he wasn't as honest as everyone thought.""
I stepped closer.
"You're making serious accusations.""
"Am I? Then open the letter.""
She pushed the envelope toward Daniel.
He reached for it.
I stopped him.
"Wait.""
"Mom, I need to know.""
"I understand. But your father left specific instructions about that letter.""
Daniel frowned.
"What instructions?""
I swallowed.
"Before his death, Richard told me that if anyone ever presented you with a sealed letter bearing his handwriting, I should ask where the person obtained it and who had handled it.""
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"That's ridiculous.""
I continued.
"He also said never to trust anyone who claimed the letter revealed a secret without allowing us to examine its original seal.""
Daniel looked down.
The red wax appeared slightly uneven.
I picked up the envelope.
Richard had always pressed his family signet into sealing wax. The impression was a small oak tree surrounded by the initials R.W.
This envelope had the same impression.
But something was wrong.
The oak tree was reversed.
I turned it toward the light.
The seal wasn't original.
Someone had copied the design.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Who made this?""
Her smile vanished.
"What?""
"The wax seal. It's a reproduction.""
"That's nonsense.""
"Your envelope is counterfeit.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Vanessa?""
She grabbed the envelope.
"Your mother is desperate to discredit me.""
I held out my hand.
"Give it to me.""
"No!""
She snatched the envelope and shoved it into her purse.
Margaret appeared in the doorway.
"Mrs. Whitmore, there's someone at the front entrance.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
"Mr. Thomas Whitmore.""
Daniel looked toward the hall.
"Uncle Thomas is here?""
I nodded slowly.
Apparently, he wasn't interested in discussing this over the telephone anymore.
"Show him into the library," I told Margaret.
Vanessa immediately adjusted her hair.
"Finally. Someone who can explain all this.""
She walked toward the library.
I followed.
Daniel stayed beside me.
As we entered, Thomas was standing near the fireplace, holding a leather briefcase.
He was sixty-seven, silver-haired, and impeccably dressed. He had the same blue eyes as my late husband, but none of Richard's warmth.
For eleven years, I'd trusted him with family matters.
He'd attended Daniel's birthdays, advised the foundation, and even helped me organize Richard's estate.
Now I wondered how much of that trust had been misplaced.
"Thomas," I said.
He smiled.
"Eleanor.""
His eyes moved to Daniel.
"Hello, son.""
Daniel frowned.
"Don't call me that.""
Thomas's smile disappeared.
I closed the library doors.
"Let's talk about the envelope.""
Thomas placed his briefcase on the desk.
"Of course.""
Vanessa sat down without being invited.
Thomas opened the briefcase and removed a thick folder.
"Before anyone makes accusations, I suggest we examine the financial records.""
He placed a document in front of me.
It was a bank statement.
A private account had been opened in Richard's name fourteen years earlier.
The balance listed on the statement was more than three million dollars.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Where did that money come from?""
Thomas looked at me.
"That's what your mother should have explained years ago.""
I stared at the statement.
The account number was familiar.
I'd seen it before.
Not in Richard's papers.
Not in his will.
But in the financial investigation I'd been conducting.
The account was connected to Northbridge Advisory Group.
I slowly lifted my eyes.
"Thomas, this statement is dated three months ago.""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Richard died eleven years ago.""
"I am aware.""
"Then explain how a dead man's account was still receiving money.""
For the first time since entering the room, Thomas looked uncomfortable.
And before he could answer, Vanessa said something that changed the entire conversation.
"Because Richard didn't die with all his secrets, Eleanor.""
She opened her purse and placed a second document on the desk.
"This account was active until last month.""
Daniel stared at the paper.
Then he whispered:
"Someone has been using Dad's identity.""
Thomas closed his briefcase.
May you like
"No," he said quietly.
"Someone has been using your mother's.""
