Chapter 9: The Last Approval
We were back inside the church.
My mother was still outside with Jason's men.
Michael wanted to call the police.
I didn't.
Not yet.
Because Jason had made one mistake.
He believed I was thinking like a frightened husband.
I wasn't.
I was thinking like a son.
“There's another way,” I said.
Michael looked at me.
“What?””
I pointed to the marriage certificate.
“Rebecca.””
He frowned.
“She died.””
“I know.””
“But her name is on the original trust.””
Michael nodded.
“So?””
“So Jason needs the original.””
“Yes.””
“And he thinks the original is here.””
Michael's eyes widened.
“You think it's somewhere else.””
I looked at Laura.
“What do you remember about the messages from Jason?””
She wiped her face.
“He kept saying the final approval needed three signatures.””
I nodded.
“Mine. Laura's. And the trustee.””
Michael stared at me.
“The trustee is your mother.””
“Exactly.””
“And if she's forced to sign?””
“She can't.””
“Why?””
I held up the trust.
“Because she was never the trustee.””
Michael looked confused.
I pointed to a paragraph.
*Upon the death of the founder, the independent trustee shall be Rebecca Parker.*
Michael's face went blank.
“Rebecca was supposed to be the trustee.””
“Yes.””
“But she's dead.””
“Then who replaced her?””
We read the next page.
There was an amendment.
I felt my heartbeat in my throat.
The successor trustee was listed.
*Michael Parker.*
Michael stared.
“That means…”
“You control the trust.””
He slowly nodded.
“Jason can't legally force the transfer.””
Laura looked at me.
“But he has the forged agreement.””
“Which means nothing without the trustee's approval.””
“And he doesn't know Michael has it.””
I looked at the window.
Jason believed he had us trapped.
He didn't know the one person he couldn't control was standing beside me.
We made a plan.
Michael would distract the men outside.
Laura would get to my mother.
I would confront Jason.
My hands were shaking.
But my voice wasn't.
We went outside.
Jason stood beside the SUV.
My mother was still tied to a chair.
“Where's the trust?””
I held up the envelope.
“Right here.””
Jason smiled.
“Good.””
He pointed to a table.
“Put it down.””
I did.
“Now sign.””
“No.””
His smile disappeared.
“You misunderstood.””
“No.””
He raised the gun.
My mother shook her head.
“Mark, don't.””
I looked at Jason.
“You need me alive.””
He frowned.
“You need my signature.””
He said nothing.
“And you need Laura's.””
Still nothing.
“And you need Michael as trustee.””
His eyes changed.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
He didn't know.
I smiled.
“You didn't read the whole document, did you?””
Jason's face hardened.
“You're bluffing.””
“Am I?””
Michael stepped from behind the building.
“Hello, Jason.””
Jason stared.
Michael held up his phone.
“Your entire recording was just delivered to the police.””
Jason went pale.
“You son of a—”
He raised the gun.
Everything happened at once.
Laura rushed toward my mother.
Michael tackled one of the guards.
The second guard grabbed Laura.
I lunged forward.
Jason swung the gun toward me.
Then my mother kicked the chair sideways.
The gun fired.
I froze.
My mother fell.
“Mom!””
I ran.
There was blood on the ground.
But it wasn't hers.
One of Jason's men was clutching his shoulder.
Police sirens erupted behind us.
Jason turned.
Too late.
Officers surrounded him.
“Drop the weapon!””
He looked at me.
Then at Laura.
Then at Michael.
His entire face collapsed.
He dropped the gun.
I fell beside my mother.
“Mom?””
She opened her eyes.
“I'm okay.””
I almost laughed from relief.
“You're bleeding.””
“Not mine.””
I looked down.
The blood belonged to the man who had been holding her.
My mother grabbed my hand.
“Did you bring it?””
“The trust?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
I held up the envelope.
“I have it.””
She closed her eyes.
“Then your father's plan finally worked.””
I frowned.
“What plan?””
She looked toward Michael.
“Your father knew one day the truth would come out.””
Michael stared.
“He left instructions.””
“For who?””
My mother looked at me.
“For both of you.””
Police handcuffed Jason.
Laura stood alone.
She looked at me.
“Mark.””
I turned.
She was crying.
“I know I don't deserve forgiveness.””
I said nothing.
“But there was something I never told you.””
“What?””
She looked at Michael.
“Jason wasn't the only person who knew about the second account.””
I frowned.
“Who else knew?””
Laura swallowed.
“Your father.””
I stared at her.
“He knew the account still existed.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he hide it?””
Her answer came quietly.
“Because the money in that account doesn't belong to either of you.””
I felt the world stop again.
“Then who does it belong to?””
Laura looked at my mother.
May you like
My mother whispered,
“Noah.””
