Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew My Wife's Secret
Evelyn Price didn't sound surprised.
That frightened me more than anything.
"Waiting for me?"" I repeated.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because Rachel specifically instructed me not to contact you unless you came to me first.""
I looked at the guardianship agreement on my screen.
"She left me a letter.""
"I know.""
"She also left a USB drive containing bank records and recordings.""
There was a long silence.
Then Evelyn sighed.
"Then I suppose it's time you knew everything.""
I glanced toward the bedroom.
Tara was upstairs.
I lowered my voice.
"Can we meet tomorrow?""
"Of course. But Marcus, there's something important you need to understand before we speak.""
"What?""
"Rachel didn't simply suspect your wife of mishandling Lily's inheritance.""
I waited.
"She suspected Tara was trying to obtain legal control over Lily.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Why?""
"Because Tara believed she could access the trust if she became Lily's legal guardian.""
I closed my eyes.
"That's why she wanted the guardianship documents.""
"Yes.""
"Was she successful?""
"No. Rachel stopped the first attempt.""
I looked at the forged amendment.
"Then what is this?""
"An unauthorized document. It was submitted after Rachel died, but the court rejected it because the supporting paperwork was incomplete.""
I felt a wave of relief, followed immediately by anger.
"Why wasn't I informed?""
"Because the application was withdrawn before a hearing, and the court record listed your address incorrectly. I attempted to locate you through the contact details Rachel had provided, but they were outdated.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Can you tell me what happened to the money?""
"Not over the phone. Bring every document you have.""
We agreed to meet at her office the following morning.
Before hanging up, Evelyn asked one final question.
"Marcus, does Tara know you contacted me?""
"No.""
"Keep it that way until we've reviewed everything.""
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat alone.
Then I heard the front door open.
Tara was coming downstairs.
She stopped when she saw me.
"Who were you talking to?""
"Work.""
She studied my face.
"At midnight?""
"Yes.""
She approached the desk.
"Marcus, we need to fix this.""
I closed the laptop.
"What exactly do you want to fix?""
"Us.""
She sat on the edge of the desk.
"I know I made mistakes.""
"Mistakes?""
"I shouldn't have taken the money without telling you.""
I stared at her.
"That's your biggest concern?""
She sighed.
"I don't want to lose you.""
I didn't answer.
She reached for my hand.
"Remember our wedding?""
I looked at her.
She smiled sadly.
"We promised we'd never let anyone come between us.""
I gently withdrew my hand.
"Our daughter isn't someone coming between us.""
Tara's expression changed.
"She's not the only person you have responsibilities toward.""
"I know.""
"Then act like it.""
She stood.
"I've spent seven years trying to make this marriage work. I gave up things too, Marcus.""
I looked at her.
"What did you give up?""
She opened her mouth.
Then she stopped.
I realized she had no answer.
She walked away.
The next morning, I drove Lily to school.
She sat in the passenger seat holding her backpack.
I noticed she had packed a small plastic bag containing two crackers.
"What's that for?"" I asked.
"Lunch.""
"Didn't you bring the lunch I made?""
She looked down.
"I didn't want to take too much.""
I pulled into a parking space.
"Lily, I want you to listen to me.""
She turned.
"You can eat as much as you need. You don't have to save food for anyone. You don't have to make yourself smaller.""
Her eyes filled.
"Okay.""
I reached into the back seat and took out the lunchbox I'd packed.
It contained a sandwich, fruit, yogurt, and a small chocolate bar.
"Take this.""
She hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
I smiled.
"Absolutely.""
She took it.
Then, just before getting out, she leaned across and hugged me.
"Thank you, Dad.""
I watched her walk toward the school entrance.
She looked back once.
I waved.
She waved too.
For the first time in days, I felt like I might be able to make things right.
Then I drove to Evelyn's office.
It was in a quiet building downtown. Her receptionist led me into a conference room where Evelyn was waiting.
She was in her late fifties, with silver hair and a calm expression.
"Marcus.""
She stood and shook my hand.
"I wish we were meeting under different circumstances.""
I placed the USB drive and documents on the table.
"I need the truth.""
Evelyn opened a folder.
"Then let's start with Rachel's estate.""
She explained that Rachel had created the trust shortly after Lily was born.
The money had been intended to secure Lily's education and future.
Rachel had initially named me as a potential co-trustee, but later changed the arrangement after learning about my brother Daniel's financial difficulties.
"Why Daniel?"" I asked.
"Because he was the person Rachel trusted to step in if something happened to you.""
I frowned.
"My brother and I barely spoke.""
"I know.""
"Then why would she trust him?""
Evelyn opened another folder.
"Because Daniel contacted her shortly before the accident.""
She placed a printed email in front of me.
It was from Daniel.
Rachel, I know Marcus and I aren't speaking, but Lily is still my niece. If anything happens, I don't want her caught in the middle of our disagreement. I'll do whatever is necessary to make sure she's protected.
I read it twice.
I hadn't known my brother had contacted Rachel.
Evelyn continued.
"Rachel believed Daniel had changed. She wanted him available as an emergency guardian, not as someone who would automatically take your place.""
I looked at the agreement again.
"Then why was Tara trying to replace him?""
Evelyn folded her hands.
"Because she discovered the arrangement.""
"How?""
"She contacted me shortly after Rachel's death, claiming you had asked her to organize the estate.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"She never told me.""
"She requested access to the trust, then asked whether a stepmother could become the legal guardian of a child whose biological father was still alive.""
"And what did you tell her?""
"That it would require legal proceedings and your consent, unless extraordinary circumstances existed.""
I leaned forward.
"Did she tell you I was an unfit father?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"She said you were emotionally unstable following Rachel's death and might not be able to provide consistent care.""
I stared at her.
"That's a lie.""
"I know. I asked for supporting evidence. She never provided any.""
I sat back.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The guardianship documents.
The conversations about sending Lily away.
The repeated attempts to make her believe I might abandon her.
Tara wasn't simply trying to make Lily uncomfortable.
She was creating a story in which Lily was unwanted and I was incapable of caring for her.
A story that could potentially support a legal petition.
I looked at Evelyn.
"How much money has Tara taken?""
Evelyn opened another document.
"According to the records Rachel provided, the original unauthorized transfers totaled approximately twenty-eight thousand dollars. However, there may be additional transactions after Rachel's death.""
I showed her the recent bank records.
Her expression darkened.
"This is important.""
"Why?""
"Because the trust was frozen after the original incident. Any later withdrawals would require an authorized trustee's approval.""
I stared at her.
"Are you saying someone else approved them?""
Evelyn nodded slowly.
"That's what we need to investigate.""
She opened the last folder.
Inside was a photocopy of a document signed by a bank representative.
The signature line showed an authorized representative.
And below it was the name of the person who had requested the withdrawal.
I read it.
Then I read it again.
It wasn't Tara.
It wasn't Daniel.
It was me.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
But I had never signed that document.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Evelyn looked directly at me.
"Marcus, did you authorize anyone to sign financial documents on your behalf?""
"No.""
"Did you ever give Tara access to your digital signature?""
I thought about the paperwork we'd completed when we bought the house.
The joint accounts.
The insurance forms.
The documents Tara had occasionally brought home, telling me they were routine.
"I don't know.""
Evelyn closed the folder.
"Then we need to establish whether your signature was forged.""
I stared at the document.
My wife hadn't just taken money from my daughter.
Someone had used my name to make it look legal.
And if that was true, Tara wasn't the only person who might be involved.
I stood.
"I need to go home.""
Evelyn nodded.
"Marcus, one more thing.""
I stopped.
She reached into her desk and removed a sealed envelope.
"Rachel left this with me. She instructed me to give it to you only after you discovered the unauthorized withdrawals.""
I took it.
My name was written across the front.
I carefully opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Tara standing outside a bank with a man I recognized immediately.
My older brother.
Daniel.
On the back, Rachel had written:
Marcus, if Tara and Daniel are working together, do not confront either of them until you know why.
I stared at the photograph.
Then my phone rang.
It was Lily's school.
I answered immediately.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke urgently.
"Mr. Bennett, this is Mrs. Collins. Lily has asked to see you.""
"Is something wrong?""
"She's safe, but something happened during lunch.""
My heart started pounding.
"What happened?""
Mrs. Collins hesitated.
"Your wife came to the school this afternoon. She told the front office that she had permission to take Lily home.""
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
"Did you let her?""
"No. But Marcus, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Lily recognized the man who came with her.""
I looked down at Rachel's photograph.
Mrs. Collins continued.
"She says he's been coming to your house when you're at work.""
I stared at Daniel's face.
May you like
Then she said the words that changed everything.
"Mr. Bennett, Lily says the man told her he was going to become her new father.""
