Chapter 9: The Betrayal Before the Funeral
Naomi felt as though the room had shifted beneath her feet.
"Uncle Eric?""
Daniel didn't speak.
Richard remained on the phone.
Naomi looked at her father.
"You said Eric helped Mom when she was sick.""
"He did.""
"Then why would she suspect him?""
Daniel sat down slowly.
"I don't know.""
But Naomi could see something in his face.
A memory.
"Dad.""
He looked away.
"What aren't you telling me?""
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
"Eric had financial problems back then.""
Naomi stared.
"What kind?""
"His construction business failed.""
"When?""
"The year your mother got sick.""
Naomi's stomach tightened.
"How much did he owe?""
"A lot.""
"How much?""
"I don't remember exactly. Maybe two hundred thousand.""
Naomi almost laughed at the terrible symmetry.
Everyone around her inheritance seemed to be drowning in debt.
Richard spoke.
"Daniel, Rachel's attorney said she became concerned after Eric asked unusually specific questions about the trust.""
"What questions?""
"Whether it could be borrowed against. Whether a trustee could access principal. Whether beneficiaries could be changed.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Naomi whispered, "He was asking about my money before Mom even died?""
"Possibly.""
The word did nothing to soften it.
Daniel stood.
"I'm calling him.""
Richard immediately said, "Don't.""
"He's my brother.""
"Exactly why you shouldn't call angry at two-thirty in the morning.""
Daniel paced.
"He sat in this house tonight and pretended Melissa dragged him into this.""
Naomi remembered Eric's apology.
The shame.
The fourteen-thousand-dollar fee.
Had any of it been real?
Richard continued.
"Preserve the evidence. Let investigators establish what happened.""
Daniel looked toward Naomi.
"Rachel knew.""
Naomi clutched her mother's letter.
"Maybe that's why she wrote this.""
Daniel nodded.
Richard promised to send copies of the old attorney's notes.
After the call ended, Naomi and Daniel remained downstairs.
Neither tried sleeping again.
At 6:45 a.m., Chloe came down.
One look at their faces told her something had changed.
"What happened?""
Naomi answered.
"Eric knew Stephen Cole before Mom died.""
Chloe stopped.
"What?""
Daniel explained.
Chloe looked horrified.
"But Eric acted like he barely knew anything.""
"Apparently he lied.""
Chloe sat down.
"Mom talked to him all the time.""
Daniel turned.
"How often?""
"More than you knew.""
"About what?""
"I don't know. They'd stop talking when I walked in.""
Daniel's expression darkened.
"Did Eric go to the apartment?""
"Yes.""
"How many times?""
"A lot.""
Naomi looked at her father.
Eric hadn't been a late addition.
He might have been part of the plan from the beginning.
At eight that morning, Daniel drove Naomi and Chloe to Richard's office.
The girls sat together in the back seat.
Neither spoke much.
Naomi carried Rachel's letter in her backpack.
The science trophy remained at home.
Yesterday it had been the most important thing in the world.
Today it felt like something from another lifetime.
Richard's office occupied the fourth floor of a brick building near downtown Columbus.
When they entered the conference room, two people were waiting.
Richard.
And an elderly man Naomi didn't recognize.
He stood slowly.
"Naomi.""
His voice shook.
"My name is Harold Bennett. I was your mother's attorney.""
Naomi stared at him.
"You knew her?""
"For fifteen years.""
Daniel shook his hand.
"Thank you for coming.""
Harold looked toward Naomi.
"Your mother talked about you constantly.""
Naomi's throat tightened.
Harold opened a leather folder.
"I brought copies of my notes.""
He placed several pages on the table.
"Rachel contacted me after meeting Stephen Cole.""
"Why did she meet him?"" Naomi asked.
"He approached her through Eric.""
Daniel's face tightened.
Harold continued.
"Eric told Rachel that Cole specialized in preserving family wealth.""
"She was dying," Daniel said quietly.
Harold nodded.
"And she was trying to make sure Naomi would be protected.""
Naomi looked down.
"So she met him.""
"Once.""
"What happened?""
"Cole recommended restructuring the trust through several entities.""
"Like MP Premier Holdings?""
Harold shook his head.
"Different entities. But similar concept.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Did Rachel sign anything?""
"No.""
Harold's answer was immediate.
"She disliked how aggressively Cole pushed for control provisions.""
Naomi looked at Rachel's letter.
"Did she think Eric was involved?""
Harold sighed.
"She didn't want to believe it.""
Daniel looked hurt.
"He was my brother.""
"Rachel knew that.""
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"Because you were caring for her while working full-time and raising Naomi. She didn't want to create a family war without proof.""
Daniel stared at the table.
Harold continued.
"She asked me to secure the trust so no successor could easily change its structure.""
Richard nodded.
"Which is why Melissa's requests failed.""
"Exactly.""
Naomi finally understood.
Her mother had protected her twice.
Once by leaving the money.
Again by making it difficult to steal.
Harold opened another folder.
"Rachel also gave me something.""
Daniel looked up.
"What?""
"Instructions.""
"For what?""
"If anyone attempted to improperly change trusteeship before Naomi turned eighteen.""
Naomi's pulse quickened.
Harold placed a sealed envelope on the table.
The front read:
FOR DANIEL AND NAOMI IF THE TRUST IS CHALLENGED.
Daniel stared at Rachel's handwriting.
Naomi felt tears immediately.
"She planned for this?""
"She planned for the possibility.""
Harold slid the envelope toward them.
Naomi opened it.
Inside were two pages.
The first contained personal words.
The second contained names.
Rachel had written down everyone who had knowledge of the trust at the time of her death.
Daniel.
Harold.
The trust institution.
Eric.
And Stephen Cole.
Nobody else.
Melissa wasn't in Daniel's life yet.
Naomi looked at Harold.
"So if Melissa knew...""
"Someone told her.""
Everyone knew who the likely person was.
Eric.
Daniel leaned back.
His face looked devastated.
Richard asked Harold, "Did Rachel document any unauthorized access?""
Harold nodded.
"One incident.""
Daniel sat forward.
"What incident?""
"Someone attempted to obtain account information approximately six weeks before Rachel died.""
"Who?""
"The caller claimed to be Daniel.""
Daniel stared.
"I never called.""
"I know.""
"How?""
"Rachel was sitting in my office with you at the exact time the call was logged.""
Naomi's skin prickled.
"Did they identify the caller?""
"No.""
Harold looked toward Daniel.
"But the person knew your date of birth, Social Security number, and enough family details to pass several verification questions.""
Daniel whispered, "Eric knew all of that.""
Harold didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Richard gathered the documents.
"This is enough to establish a pattern worth investigating.""
Naomi looked at him.
"What happens to my trust?""
"It's protected.""
"Completely?""
"The institution has frozen administrative changes. No distribution can occur without enhanced verification.""
Naomi exhaled.
"And the money Melissa already took?""
"The twenty-five thousand from your separate education account is a different issue. We'll pursue recovery.""
Chloe stared at the table.
"And mine?""
Richard looked at her gently.
"Daniel told me about it. We'll document those transfers too.""
Chloe nodded.
Then the conference room door opened.
Richard's assistant stepped inside.
"Sorry.""
She looked uncomfortable.
"Daniel, there's someone asking to see you.""
Daniel frowned.
"Who?""
"Eric Parker.""
Everyone froze.
Daniel stood.
"Where?""
"Reception.""
Richard immediately said, "You don't have to speak with him.""
Daniel looked at Naomi.
Naomi thought about the uncle who had made pancakes after her mother died.
The man who had promised to protect her.
"I want to hear him.""
Daniel hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
"Yes.""
Richard instructed his assistant to bring Eric in.
A minute later, Eric entered.
He looked terrible.
Unshaven.
Red-eyed.
He stopped when he saw Harold.
Everything drained from his face.
"Harold.""
The elderly attorney stared at him.
"Eric.""
That one word confirmed more than Naomi wanted to know.
Eric looked toward Daniel.
"You found the old file.""
Daniel didn't answer.
Eric closed his eyes.
"I knew this was coming.""
Naomi stood.
"Did you tell Stephen Cole about Mom's trust?""
Eric looked at her.
He didn't lie.
"Yes.""
The word hurt more than she expected.
"Why?""
"I needed money.""
Naomi stared.
"So you tried to steal mine?""
"No.""
"Then explain it.""
Eric sat down.
"My business was collapsing. Cole said there were legal ways to borrow against family assets.""
"Family assets?""
Naomi's voice sharpened.
"My mother's money.""
"I know.""
"Did she agree?""
"No.""
"Then why did you keep helping him?""
Eric looked ashamed.
"Because Cole loaned me money personally.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"How much?""
"Eighty thousand.""
"Did you repay it?""
"Eventually.""
"With what?""
Eric said nothing.
Daniel understood.
"Rachel.""
Eric shook his head.
"No. I never touched her trust.""
"Then where?""
Eric swallowed.
"She loaned me money herself.""
Naomi stared.
"Mom helped you?""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"One hundred thousand.""
Daniel stood so quickly his chair rolled backward.
"Rachel gave you a hundred thousand dollars?""
"Loaned.""
"When?""
"Four months before she died.""
Daniel looked at Harold.
The attorney seemed surprised too.
"Why didn't I know?""
Eric's voice cracked.
"Because she knew you'd say no.""
Daniel stared at him.
Eric continued.
"I paid most of it back over the next few years.""
"Most?""
"I still owed twenty-eight thousand when Melissa contacted me.""
There it was.
Naomi understood before he explained.
Melissa had found the old debt.
"She knew," Naomi whispered.
Eric nodded.
"She found records in Rachel's trust file.""
Daniel's face went cold.
"And used them against you.""
"Yes.""
"What did she threaten?""
"To tell you I'd taken advantage of Rachel while she was dying.""
Daniel stared at him.
"Did you?""
Eric's eyes filled with tears.
"I asked for help when I shouldn't have.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Eric looked at Naomi.
"Rachel offered after I told her the truth.""
Naomi wanted to believe him.
She wasn't sure she could.
Eric continued.
"Melissa said if I helped with the trustee change, she'd forgive the remaining debt once she controlled the trust.""
Naomi felt sick.
"My debt.""
Eric lowered his head.
"Yes.""
Daniel stepped away from the table.
"You sold my daughter's protection for twenty-eight thousand dollars.""
Eric didn't defend himself.
Richard asked, "How involved is Stephen Cole?""
Eric looked at him.
"More than Melissa realizes.""
Everyone went silent.
"What does that mean?"" Daniel asked.
Eric rubbed his face.
"Melissa thinks Cole is helping her fix her debts.""
"And he isn't?""
"No.""
"What does he want?""
"The trust.""
Naomi's pulse quickened.
"Why?""
Eric looked at her.
"Because this isn't the first one.""
Richard leaned forward.
"The first what?""
"Trust.""
Eric swallowed.
"Cole finds families with inherited money. Usually complicated families. Second marriages.
Stepchildren. Elderly trustees. Then he creates reasons the existing trustee should be replaced.""
Harold's expression hardened.
"How do you know this?""
"Because years ago he tried to recruit me.""
Daniel stared.
"And you introduced him to Rachel anyway?""
Eric looked sick.
"I didn't understand what he really was then.""
"You understood enough.""
"I know.""
Richard asked, "Do you have proof?""
Eric pulled a flash drive from his pocket.
"Maybe.""
He placed it on the table.
"Melissa kept records at the apartment. Cole told her to destroy them last night.""
Chloe gasped.
"Did she?""
Eric shook his head.
"She panicked.""
"Where is she?"" Daniel asked.
Eric looked toward Naomi.
"That's why I came.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"Where is my wife?""
"At the apartment.""
"With Cole?""
"Not anymore.""
"What happened?""
Eric hesitated.
"She finally realized he wasn't planning to use the trust just to pay her debts.""
Naomi stared at him.
"What was he planning?""
Eric pointed toward the flash drive.
"The $275,000 transfer.""
Richard frowned.
"What about it?""
"Melissa thought it would temporarily pass through Victor's account to settle the loans and then return to her company.""
Daniel looked disgusted.
"That makes no sense.""
"It wasn't supposed to.""
Eric continued.
"Cole designed the paperwork.""
"Where was the money actually going?""
"Offshore.""
The room went silent.
Naomi's hands went cold.
Eric looked directly at her.
"If that transfer had cleared, the money would have disappeared.""
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
"All of it?""
"Almost.""
Naomi looked at Rachel's letter.
Money can disappear.
Her mother had written those words years ago.
Eric continued.
"Melissa discovered the real destination last night.""
Daniel asked, "How?""
"Victor showed her.""
"And now?""
Eric looked frightened.
"Now Cole knows she knows.""
Daniel grabbed his phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Eric nodded.
"You should.""
Daniel stopped.
"Why did Melissa tell Chloe to bring the gray box?""
"Because the box contains the only documents connecting Cole directly to the original scheme.""
Naomi looked toward Richard.
"Do we have them?""
Eric shook his head.
"Not all of them.""
"What are we missing?""
Eric's face tightened.
"A ledger.""
"What ledger?""
"Cole's payment records.""
Richard sat forward.
"Where is it?""
Eric looked at Chloe.
"In the apartment filing cabinet.""
Daniel immediately dialed.
But before the call connected, Chloe's phone rang.
Melissa.
Everyone stared at it.
Chloe looked at Daniel.
"Answer.""
She put it on speaker.
"Mom?""
Melissa was crying.
"Chloe, listen to me.""
"Where are you?""
"I need you to tell Daniel something.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"I'm here.""
Melissa went silent.
"Melissa.""
Her breathing shook.
"I found the ledger.""
Richard's eyes widened.
Daniel said, "Where are you?""
"The apartment.""
"Stay there.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because Stephen knows I have it.""
Naomi felt her heart pound.
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Call the police.""
"I already did.""
"Then wait.""
"I can't wait.""
"Melissa—"
"You don't understand.""
A sound came through the phone.
A door closing.
Melissa suddenly whispered.
"Oh God.""
Daniel straightened.
"What?""
No answer.
"Melissa?""
Her breathing became rapid.
Then a man's voice sounded faintly in the background.
Calm.
Controlled.
"Melissa?""
Chloe covered her mouth.
Naomi recognized it.
The voice from Eric's recording.
Stephen Cole.
Melissa whispered into the phone.
May you like
"Daniel...""
Then the line went dead.
