Chapter 7: The Man Who Had Been Sitting in the Auditorium
Raymond read the letter twice.
Then a third time.
His fingers tightened around the paper until the edges began to wrinkle.
Jada stood beside him, watching his face.
"Dad, what does it say?""
He didn't answer.
Michael Collins stepped closer.
"Raymond?""
Raymond slowly lowered the letter.
"She knew.""
"Knew what?""
"She knew someone was trying to take the school before I even purchased it.""
Michael looked at the document.
"Who?""
Raymond swallowed.
Then he spoke a name.
"Robert Hayes.""
Jada frowned.
"Hayes? Victoria's husband?""
Raymond nodded.
"Robert and I were friends long before Victoria joined the foundation.""
Michael looked surprised.
"I thought you hadn't spoken to him in years.""
"We haven't.""
Jada looked at her father.
"How did you know him?""
Raymond leaned back in his chair.
"Robert was the man who introduced me to the original owners of Westbridge. He worked in property management. He helped arrange the first inspection when the school was facing closure.""
He stared at Elena's letter.
"He was at our house almost every weekend. He held you when you were a baby. He stood beside me at your mother's funeral.""
Jada's stomach tightened.
"And he tried to take the school?""
Raymond shook his head.
"I don't know exactly what happened. I only know what Elena wrote.""
Michael carefully unfolded the letter.
"Let's read the rest.""
Raymond nodded.
Michael began.
Raymond,
I have tried to convince myself that I'm imagining things.
Robert came to the house yesterday. He said the school could be saved if we allowed the foundation to take control of the property.
He told me it was the only way to protect the building from the developers.
But I saw the papers he left on your desk.
The agreement did not protect the school.
It gave Robert and his associates the right to sell the land if the foundation decided the educational project was no longer financially sustainable.
Michael stopped.
Raymond looked at him.
"Keep reading.""
Michael continued.
I asked him why he would do that.
He said people like us didn't understand how business worked.
He said the land was worth more than the school would ever be worth.
Then he told me something I cannot forget.
He said that if you refused to cooperate, there were other ways to make you disappear from the agreement.
Jada covered her mouth.
Raymond closed his eyes.
Michael continued reading.
I don't know what he meant. But I am frightened.
I have kept copies of everything.
I have also made arrangements to protect Jada's future.
If anything happens to me, please don't trust Robert Hayes.
And Raymond, whatever you do, don't let him become the person who decides what happens to our daughter.
The letter ended with Elena's signature.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Raymond stood.
"Robert was at the hospital.""
Jada looked up.
"What?""
"The night your mother died. He was there. He told me he'd handle some of the paperwork because I couldn't think straight.""
Michael's expression changed.
"Did you give him power of attorney?""
Raymond shook his head.
"No. But I signed several administrative forms. I was exhausted. I trusted him.""
Michael looked at the legal document in the box.
"That may be important.""
Raymond picked it up.
The paper contained a handwritten declaration from Elena.
It stated that she had placed certain property documents, correspondence, and financial records into the deposit box.
It also identified the people authorized to retrieve them.
Only two names appeared.
Raymond Bennett.
And Jada Bennett, upon reaching eighteen years of age.
Robert Hayes was specifically excluded.
Michael examined the signature.
"This is consistent with the other documents.""
Jada looked at him.
"What does that mean?""
"It means your mother anticipated someone might attempt to access these records without authorization.""
Raymond stared at the letter.
"She knew Robert was dangerous.""
Michael closed the box.
"We need to contact the authorities.""
Raymond nodded.
"But first, I want to know whether he's connected to the forged property transfer.""
Michael hesitated.
"Based on what we've found, there's a reasonable possibility.""
Jada took her father's hand.
"Are you going to confront him?""
Raymond looked at her.
"I don't know.""
She shook her head.
"You spent eighteen years protecting me from things you thought I couldn't understand. But I'm not a little girl anymore.""
He gave her a tired smile.
"I know.""
"Then don't leave me outside this.""
Raymond looked at the young woman standing before him.
She had his determination.
Elena's eyes.
And a courage that made him proud and terrified at the same time.
"All right," he said.
"We do this together.""
At 7:15 that evening, Raymond's phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A familiar voice responded.
"Raymond. It's Robert.""
Raymond went completely still.
Michael immediately looked up.
Robert continued.
"I heard what happened at the graduation. Quite a spectacle.""
Raymond's jaw tightened.
"What do you want?""
"I think we should talk.""
"About what?""
"About a misunderstanding involving Victoria.""
Raymond glanced at Jada.
"There's no misunderstanding.""
Robert sighed.
"Listen, old friend. These things become complicated when people who don't understand property transactions start making accusations.""
"Who doesn't understand?""
"Your daughter, for one.""
Raymond's voice dropped.
"Don't bring Jada into this.""
"I'm only saying she's young. She shouldn't be burdened with legal matters.""
Raymond stood.
"She's my daughter.""
"And that's precisely why you should think carefully about what you're doing.""
There was a pause.
Then Robert added:
"I would hate to see her dragged into something that happened before she was even born.""
Raymond felt cold spread through his chest.
"What do you know about that?""
Robert laughed softly.
"Come on, Raymond. You know we have history.""
"Where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"I'm coming over.""
"Perhaps that's not a good idea.""
Raymond ended the call.
Michael immediately stood.
"You're not going alone.""
Jada grabbed her coat.
"I'm coming too.""
Raymond looked at her.
"No.""
"Dad.""
"It's dangerous.""
"So is pretending this has nothing to do with me.""
Michael intervened.
"Jada should remain somewhere safe. I'll contact the investigator handling the property documents. Raymond, you and I can meet Robert, but we need to avoid an unnecessary confrontation.""
Raymond nodded reluctantly.
Jada looked at him.
"Promise me something.""
"What?""
"Don't let him make you feel guilty for trusting him.""
Raymond touched her cheek.
"I won't.""
Robert Hayes lived in an expensive house overlooking the river.
A black luxury SUV stood in the driveway.
Raymond remembered helping Robert choose the property almost fifteen years earlier.
Back then, Robert had complained about every price.
Now the house had marble steps, enormous windows, and a landscaped garden maintained by two full-time workers.
Robert opened the door before they knocked.
He wore a navy cashmere sweater and held a glass of whiskey.
"Raymond.""
He looked at Michael.
"Michael Collins. I should have expected you.""
Raymond stepped inside.
"Where's Victoria?""
"Upstairs.""
"She should be here.""
Robert smiled.
"Why? She's already had a difficult afternoon.""
Michael placed a folder on the dining table.
"We have questions about the altered trust documents.""
Robert took a sip.
"I know nothing about those.""
Raymond looked at him.
"Elena's letter says otherwise.""
The glass stopped halfway to Robert's mouth.
For the first time, his expression changed.
"What letter?""
"The one she left in the bank.""
Robert slowly lowered his drink.
"She kept that?""
Raymond stared at him.
"You knew about it?""
Robert walked toward the window.
"I assumed it had been destroyed.""
Michael opened the folder.
"Why would you assume that?""
Robert said nothing.
Raymond stepped closer.
"You threatened my wife?""
Robert turned.
"That's a ridiculous accusation.""
"She wrote everything down.""
"Elena was emotional.""
Raymond's face hardened.
"Don't.""
Robert sighed.
"She didn't understand the situation.""
"She understood enough to know you were trying to take the school.""
Robert placed his glass on the table.
"That property was a financial opportunity.""
"It was a school.""
"It was a dying school.""
"And you wanted to sell it.""
"I wanted to save its value.""
Raymond stared at him.
"By closing it?""
Robert spread his hands.
"Buildings don't pay for themselves.""
"Neither do lies.""
Robert's expression became colder.
"You think you're a hero because you gave away some money?""
"No.""
"You think the school belongs to you because you bought the land?""
"I bought it because nobody else would.""
Robert laughed.
"And what did that get you? Muddy boots and a daughter who thinks she's entitled to inherit an institution she knows nothing about?""
Raymond moved forward.
Michael placed a hand on his arm.
"Stay calm.""
Robert noticed the movement and smiled.
"There it is. Still the same Raymond. Always afraid of making a mess.""
Raymond looked at him.
"You forged my signature.""
"I didn't.""
"Then why does your wife's name appear in a document that was submitted six months ago?""
Robert's smile disappeared.
He stared at Raymond.
Then he spoke very quietly.
"Because your wife made a mistake twenty years ago.""
Raymond felt the room tilt.
"What mistake?""
Robert leaned against the table.
"She signed something she shouldn't have.""
Michael immediately opened his briefcase.
"What did she sign?""
Robert looked at him.
"Ask Raymond. He was there.""
Raymond shook his head.
"No. I wasn't.""
Robert smiled.
"Exactly.""
He walked toward a cabinet and removed a thin black binder.
He placed it on the table.
"Your wife signed an agreement transferring certain rights to the original school property before you established the trust.""
Raymond stared.
"That's impossible.""
Robert opened the binder.
"Look.""
There was Elena's signature.
A date.
And a clause that appeared to give Robert's company an option to purchase the property if certain conditions were met.
Michael examined it.
His face changed.
"Where did you get this?""
Robert smiled.
"From the original file.""
Raymond's voice cracked.
"Why didn't you show me this before?""
Robert looked directly at him.
"Because you never asked.""
Then he turned toward the staircase.
"Victoria!""
Footsteps sounded overhead.
And when the woman in beige appeared at the top of the stairs, Raymond realized something far worse than the forged signature.
Victoria wasn't surprised to see the document.
She had been expecting it.
May you like
Robert looked at his old friend.
"Now perhaps we can discuss what your wife actually agreed to.""
