Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Original Will
The photograph shook in my hands.
: The Original Will
The photograph shook in my hands.
Rachel and Denise stood together in frontRachel and Denise stood together in front of our old house, smiling at the camera. of our old house, smiling at the camera. Rachel wore the yellow sweater I'd bought her for our anniversary. Denise had one arm around her shoulders.
Rachel wore the yellow sweater I'd bought her for our anniversary. Denise had one arm around her shoulders.
They looked like family.
But the words on the back told a different story.
*I know what you didThey looked like family.
But the words on the back told a different story.
I know what you did.
Three days before Rachel died.
I turned the photograph over again, searching for something I'd missed.
There.*
Three days before Rachel died.
I turned the photograph over again, searching for something I'd missed.
There was a small handwritten note beneath the date.
*If anything happens to me, look inside Dad's old watch was a small handwritten note beneath the date.
If anything happens to me, look inside Dad's old watch.
I looked at Michelle.
“Did you know about this?””
She shook her head.
“No. I've never seen that photograph.*
I looked at Michelle.
“Did you know about this?””
She shook her head.
“No. I've never seen that photograph.””
“Rachel's father?””
“Robert?””
“No. My father. The watch.””
“Rachel's father?””
“Robert?””
“No. My father. The watch she mentioned belonged to my father.””
Michelle's expression changed.
“Anthony, your father died years she mentioned belonged to my father.””
Michelle's expression changed.
“Anthony, your father died years before Rachel.””
“I know.””
“Then why would she hide something in his watch?””
I didn't know.
But I remembered the watch.
before Rachel.””
“I know.””
“Then why would she hide something in his watch?””
I didn't know.
But I remembered the watch.
My father, James Mitchell, had worn an old gold pocket watch every Sunday.My father, James Mitchell, had worn an old gold pocket watch every Sunday. After he died, Denise had taken most of his belongings, claiming she wanted to preserve the family memories.
The watch After he died, Denise had taken most of his belongings, claiming she wanted to preserve the family memories.
The watch had disappeared.
I'd assumed it was somewhere among her possessions.
I looked toward the had disappeared.
I'd assumed it was somewhere among her possessions.
I looked toward the living room.
Lily was sitting on the couch, coloring quietly.
“Michelle, stay with her.””
“ living room.
Lily was sitting on the couch, coloring quietly.
“Michelle, stay with her.””
“Where are you going?””
“To find that watch.””
I called Daniel Brooks on my way downstairsWhere are you going?””
“To find that watch.””
I called Daniel Brooks on my way downstairs.
He answered immediately.
“Anthony, I've been reviewing the information you sent. We need to talk before.
He answered immediately.
“Anthony, I've been reviewing the information you sent. We need to talk before tomorrow's hearing.””
“There's something else. I need you to investigate the original estate documents from my father.””
tomorrow's hearing.””
“There's something else. I need you to investigate the original estate documents from my father.””
“Why?””
“Because I think Denise has something that belongs to my family.””
Daniel paused.
“Don't take“Why?””
“Because I think Denise has something that belongs to my family.””
Daniel paused.
“Don't take anything without documenting it. And don't let anyone destroy those records.””
“I understand.””
I ended anything without documenting it. And don't let anyone destroy those records.””
“I understand.””
I ended the call and went straight to Denise's bedroom.
Her closet was open.
Several drawers had been emptied.
The the call and went straight to Denise's bedroom.
Her closet was open.
Several drawers had been emptied.
The jewelry box was gone.
So was her overnight bag.
She hadn't simply jewelry box was gone.
So was her overnight bag.
She hadn't simply stepped outside.
She had packed.
I checked the bedside table.
Nothing.
Then I noticed a small photograph frame stepped outside.
She had packed.
I checked the bedside table.
Nothing.
Then I noticed a small photograph frame lying face down beneath the bed.
It contained a picture of my father.
I picked it up.
lying face down beneath the bed.
It contained a picture of my father.
I picked it up.
He was sitting in his favorite armchair, holding Lily as aHe was sitting in his favorite armchair, holding Lily as a baby.
On the back, someone had written:
James knew the truth.
I stared at those words.
What baby.
On the back, someone had written:
James knew the truth.
I stared at those words.
What truth?
I searched the room more carefully.
Behind the dresser, I found a small metal box.
It truth?
I searched the room more carefully.
Behind the dresser, I found a small metal box.
It was locked.
I tried the key from the jewelry cabinet.
It didn't fit.
Then I remembered the was locked.
I tried the key from the jewelry cabinet.
It didn't fit.
Then I remembered the old watch.
My father had once told me that the back cover could be opened with a tiny latch old watch.
My father had once told me that the back cover could be opened with a tiny latch.
I didn't have the watch.
But I found an old envelope inside the metal box.
It.
I didn't have the watch.
But I found an old envelope inside the metal box.
It contained a receipt from a pawnshop.
The date was six months after my father died.
The watch contained a receipt from a pawnshop.
The date was six months after my father died.
The watch had been sold.
The seller's name was Denise Mitchell.
I photographed the receipt and sent it to Daniel.
had been sold.
The seller's name was Denise Mitchell.
I photographed the receipt and sent it to Daniel.
Then I noticed another document.
A bank transfer.
The amount was $85,000.
The recipient was RobertThen I noticed another document.
A bank transfer.
The amount was $85,000.
The recipient was Robert Hayes.
The description read:
*Estate settlement — final payment.*
My hands Hayes.
The description read:
*Estate settlement — final payment.*
My hands went cold.
I read the date.
It was the same week Rachel had discovered the truth about the trust.
I heard went cold.
I read the date.
It was the same week Rachel had discovered the truth about the trust.
I heard Michelle calling from downstairs.
“Anthony!””
I rushed into the hallway.
She was standing near the front door, holding Michelle calling from downstairs.
“Anthony!””
I rushed into the hallway.
She was standing near the front door, holding her phone.
“What happened?””
“Mrs. Brooks is here.””
I looked through the glass.
Eleanor Brooks stood on her phone.
“What happened?””
“Mrs. Brooks is here.””
I looked through the glass.
Eleanor Brooks stood on the porch.
She was seventy-two, with silver hair and a familiar the porch.
She was seventy-two, with silver hair and a familiar floral handbag.
She looked frightened.
I opened the door.
“Eleanor?””
Her eyes filled immediately.
“Anthony, I floral handbag.
She looked frightened.
I opened the door.
“Eleanor?””
Her eyes filled immediately.
“Anthony, I need to tell you something.””
I stepped aside.
“Come in.””
She entered slowly.
Then she looked toward the need to tell you something.””
I stepped aside.
“Come in.””
She entered slowly.
Then she looked toward the living room.
“Is Lily here?””
“Yes.””
“Can I see her?””
I nodded.
Eleanor walked toward the couch.
living room.
“Is Lily here?””
“Yes.””
“Can I see her?””
I nodded.
Eleanor walked toward the couch.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
Lily looked up.
“Hi, Mrs. Brooks.””
The older woman kn“Hello, sweetheart.””
Lily looked up.
“Hi, Mrs. Brooks.””
The older woman knelt.
“Do you remember when I gave you that pink bicycle?””
Lily smiled faintly.
“Yes.””
Eleanor swallowed.
elt.
“Do you remember when I gave you that pink bicycle?””
Lily smiled faintly.
“Yes.””
Eleanor swallowed.
“I need you to know that I never said anything bad about your daddy.””
Lily frowned.
“What?””
E“I need you to know that I never said anything bad about your daddy.””
Lily frowned.
“What?””
Eleanor turned toward me.
“They brought me a statement to sign. Denise told me it was just a school form. She said Lilyleanor turned toward me.
“They brought me a statement to sign. Denise told me it was just a school form. She said Lily needed extra support because you were working too much.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“Did you sign it?””
“I signed the first needed extra support because you were working too much.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“Did you sign it?””
“I signed the first page. But I never saw the accusations attached to it.””
“Who brought it page. But I never saw the accusations attached to it.””
“Who brought it?””
“Marcus.””
Michelle stepped forward.
“Did he threaten?””
“Marcus.””
Michelle stepped forward.
“Did he threaten you?””
Eleanor nodded.
“He said if I didn't cooperate, he'd tell the police I had been taking money you?””
Eleanor nodded.
“He said if I didn't cooperate, he'd tell the police I had been taking money from Denise.””
I stared at her.
“What money?””
She looked down.
“Anthony, from Denise.””
I stared at her.
“What money?””
She looked down.
“Anthony, I used to help your father with his errands. Before he died, he gave me something I used to help your father with his errands. Before he died, he gave me something to keep safe.””
“What?””
“A small envelope.””
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded piece to keep safe.””
“What?””
“A small envelope.””
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded piece of paper.
“Your father told me to give this to you if Denise ever tried to take something of paper.
“Your father told me to give this to you if Denise ever tried to take something that belonged to Rachel or Lily.””
I unfolded it.
My father's handwriting.
*Son that belonged to Rachel or Lily.””
I unfolded it.
My father's handwriting.
Son, if you are reading this, Denise has probably gone too far.
My chest tightened.
The original, if you are reading this, Denise has probably gone too far.
My chest tightened.
The original will is not in the estate office. It is with the person I trusted most.
I looked at will is not in the estate office. It is with the person I trusted most.*
I looked at Eleanor.
“Who?””
She shook her head.
“Your father never told me.””
Then she reached into her handbag again.
This Eleanor.
“Who?””
She shook her head.
“Your father never told me.””
Then she reached into her handbag again.
This time, she produced a small brass key.
“However, he did give me this.””
I recognized it immediately.
It was the time, she produced a small brass key.
“However, he did give me this.””
I recognized it immediately.
It was the key to my father's old storage locker.
And beneath the key was another note.
* key to my father's old storage locker.
And beneath the key was another note.
The watch is not lost.
I looked at Michelle.
She whispered:
“AnthonyThe watch is not lost.*
I looked at Michelle.
She whispered:
“Anthony, what if your father knew Denise would eventually do this?””
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Daniel, what if your father knew Denise would eventually do this?””
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Daniel.
“Anthony, I've found something.””
“What?””
“Robert Hayes filed a second document this afternoon. It's.
“Anthony, I've found something.””
“What?””
“Robert Hayes filed a second document this afternoon. It's an amended guardianship petition.””
“What's different?””
Daniel's voice tightened.
“He an amended guardianship petition.””
“What's different?””
Daniel's voice tightened.
“He's claiming Rachel signed a declaration before she died stating that you were emotionally unstable and financially's claiming Rachel signed a declaration before she died stating that you were emotionally unstable and financially irresponsible.””
I felt the room go silent.
“That isn't true.””
“I know. But he's attached irresponsible.””
I felt the room go silent.
“That isn't true.””
“I know. But he's attached a copy with what appears to be her signature.””
I looked at the photograph in my hand.
The one from a copy with what appears to be her signature.””
I looked at the photograph in my hand.
The one from three days before Rachel died.
“Daniel, I think the signature is forged.””
“Then we need the original will three days before Rachel died.
“Daniel, I think the signature is forged.””
“Then we need the original will and the original trust documents tonight.””
I looked down at the brass key.
“I and the original trust documents tonight.””
I looked down at the brass key.
“I think I know where they are.””
Then Daniel said something that made my blood run cold.
“ think I know where they are.””
Then Daniel said something that made my blood run cold.
“Anthony, one more thing. The hearing isn't tomorrow morning anymore.””
“What?””
“Robert requestedAnthony, one more thing. The hearing isn't tomorrow morning anymore.””
“What?””
“Robert requested an emergency review. The judge moved it to eight tomorrow morning.””
I checked the clock.
11:46 p.m an emergency review. The judge moved it to eight tomorrow morning.””
I checked the clock.
11:46 p.m.
We had less than eight hours.
And somewhere across town, Robert Hayes was preparing to convince a judge that I.
We had less than eight hours.
May you like
And somewhere across town, Robert Hayes was preparing to convince a judge that I didn't deserve my own daughter.
didn't deserve my own daughter.
