Chapter 10: The Second Trust Nobody Knew Existed
Dad read the message twice.
Then he looked at the old phone in his hand.
"Move the original before they find the second trust.""
I stared at the screen.
"Who sent that?""
Dad pressed the notification.
The message came from an unsaved number. There were several earlier conversations, but most had been deleted.
One conversation remained.
It contained a photograph of a document bearing my mother's signature.
Beneath it was a message.
*The first transfer failed. The second one must happen before Jasmine turns eighteen.*
My stomach tightened.
I looked at Dad.
"What happens when I turn eighteen?""
He didn't answer immediately.
He opened the message details and photographed the screen.
Then he called Margaret Ellis.
She answered on the second ring.
"Marcus?""
"We're at Laura's storage unit. Richard has been here. Several original documents are missing.""
Margaret became quiet.
"What exactly did you find?""
Dad explained the notebook, the photograph, and the message.
When he mentioned the second trust, Margaret stopped him.
"Wait. Did you say a second trust?""
"Yes.""
"Marcus, there shouldn't be a second trust.""
"Shouldn't?""
"Laura established one primary trust for Jasmine's benefit. However, she also mentioned an additional confidential arrangement that was never finalized through our office.""
I stepped closer.
"What arrangement?""
Margaret's voice softened.
"Your mother was worried about the company being taken over. She believed someone had gained unauthorized access to its records. She wanted to create an additional layer of protection.""
Dad looked at the empty shelves.
"Did she complete it?""
"I don't know. She consulted another attorney shortly before she died.""
"Who?""
"His name was Samuel Whitmore.""
Dad wrote the name down.
"Where do we find him?""
"His office closed several years ago. But I may have an old contact number.""
Dad thanked her.
Before hanging up, Margaret added something.
"Marcus, there's another issue. If someone is trying to move documents before Jasmine turns eighteen, they may be concerned about a provision in the original trust.""
"What provision?""
"At eighteen, Jasmine gains certain rights to request a full accounting of the company's assets and review every transaction made on her behalf.""
Dad looked at me.
I felt my heart beating faster.
"So they have to do everything before my birthday?""
"Possibly. But I need to review the original documents before making that conclusion.""
The call ended.
Dad slipped the old phone into an evidence bag the storage employee had provided.
Then he looked around.
"We need to document everything before anyone touches another box.""
We took photographs of the unit, the missing spaces, the notebook, and the remaining documents.
The storage manager also provided a written record of Richard's recent visit and agreed to preserve the access logs.
As we were leaving, my phone rang.
It was Olivia.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice was barely audible.
"Jasmine, where are you?""
"Why?""
"Mom is packing.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She's putting things in the car. She said we're leaving tonight.""
I looked at Dad.
"Where is she going?""
"I don't know. But she took the blue box.""
My stomach dropped.
"Which blue box?""
"The one from her bedroom. She put it inside a black suitcase.""
I turned toward Dad.
"She's taking the documents.""
He immediately called Monica.
No answer.
I called Olivia again.
"Listen carefully. Don't touch anything. Just tell me whether she's alone.""
"No. Uncle Richard is here.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"Richard is at the house?""
I nodded.
Olivia continued.
"They're arguing downstairs.""
"What are they saying?""
"I heard Uncle Richard say the original agreement has to be destroyed.""
Dad grabbed his car keys.
"Jasmine, we're going.""
We drove back as quickly as we could.
When we arrived, Richard's black SUV was parked outside.
The front door was open.
Dad rushed inside.
"MONICA!""
No answer.
We heard voices coming from the kitchen.
Richard stood beside the counter, holding a brown envelope.
Monica was facing him with the black suitcase beside her feet.
Olivia was standing near the stairs.
Dad walked into the room.
"Put the envelope down.""
Richard looked up.
For a second, he seemed genuinely surprised.
Then he smiled.
"Marcus. I was wondering when you'd arrive.""
Dad stepped forward.
"What are you doing in my house?""
Richard placed the envelope inside his jacket.
"Family business.""
"You don't have any business here.""
Richard looked at me.
"Hello, Jasmine.""
I moved closer to Dad.
He noticed.
"Don't worry," Richard said.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone.""
"Then why are you taking my mother's documents?""
His smile disappeared.
"Because you don't understand what you're dealing with.""
"Then explain it.""
Richard glanced at Monica.
She looked terrified.
He sighed.
"Your mother made a lot of promises she couldn't keep.""
Dad's voice hardened.
"Watch what you say.""
"Laura believed she could control everything through paperwork. She thought creating companies and trusts would protect Jasmine forever.""
He looked at me.
"But she made one mistake.""
"What mistake?""
"She trusted the wrong people.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Who?""
Richard smiled faintly.
"Your wife, for one.""
Monica looked at him.
"Richard!""
He ignored her.
"And your father, for another.""
Dad's expression changed.
"What are you talking about?""
Richard reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
He placed it on the counter.
"This is the original agreement your wife signed.""
Dad picked it up.
I watched his face as he read the first page.
Then he looked at Monica.
"Did you sign this?""
Monica began crying.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
The document appeared to be an agreement authorizing certain administrative changes to Bennett Family Holdings.
But there was something strange.
My mother's signature appeared at the bottom.
And beneath it was a second signature.
Monica Bennett.
Dad looked at Richard.
"Why does this authorize Monica to act on behalf of the company?""
Richard's smile returned.
"Because Laura agreed to it.""
I stared at the page.
Then I noticed the date.
It was dated two days after my mother had died.
I looked at Richard.
"My mother couldn't have signed this.""
His smile faded.
Dad read the date again.
Then he looked at Monica.
"Did you know?""
She began shaking her head.
Richard suddenly grabbed the document.
"That's enough.""
Dad caught his wrist.
"Let go.""
For a moment, the two brothers stood facing each other.
Then Richard released the paper.
Dad placed it on the counter.
"You're going to explain everything to the attorney.""
Richard laughed.
"You still think this can be solved with lawyers?""
He turned toward the door.
Then he looked back at me.
"Ask your father what happened to the original trust money.""
Dad went completely still.
Richard smiled.
"Ask him why your mother had to create a second trust in the first place.""
Then he walked out.
I turned toward Dad.
"What did he mean?""
Dad didn't answer.
He was staring at the document.
And for the first time since this nightmare began, I wondered whether there was something my father hadn't told me.
Something about my mother.
May you like
Something about the money.
Something that could change everything.
