Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Thomas didn't let us follow him to the storage facility.
He insisted that Grandma and I remain at his office while Robert Hayes met him there.
I hated waiting.
Every minute felt like another piece of my father's life was being taken away.
At 4:20 p.m., Thomas called.
"Linda has left the premises.""
Grandma immediately stood.
"Did she take anything?""
"Not this time.""
"What was she looking for?""
Thomas paused.
"The manager says she asked specifically for a black folder labeled D. Reyes.""
I remembered the folder Mark had carried after the funeral.
"Did they find it?""
"Yes. It's in the unit.""
I gripped the phone.
"What's inside?""
"We haven't opened it yet. Robert is documenting everything.""
Grandma looked relieved.
"At least something is still there.""
Thomas lowered his voice.
"There's a problem, though.""
"What?""
"Linda told the manager she was authorized to collect the contents because Daniel had given her ownership of the documents.""
Grandma shook her head.
"That's impossible.""
"She also claimed Isabella had no legal interest in the property.""
I felt anger rising again.
"She keeps saying that.""
Thomas was quiet.
"Isabella, there's something you need to prepare yourself for.""
"What?""
"We may discover documents that reveal more about your parents' marriage than either of us expected.""
I looked at Grandma.
"Like what?""
"I can't say until we examine them.""
The call ended.
Grandma and I waited until nearly six o'clock.
Then Robert arrived carrying a black folder inside a sealed evidence bag.
Thomas was with him.
He placed it on the table.
"This was found in the second storage unit.""
I stared at it.
The corners were worn, and there was a strip of faded tape across the front.
My father's name was written in blue ink.
Daniel Reyes.
Thomas opened the folder.
Inside were insurance documents, bank statements, copies of legal correspondence, and several handwritten notes.
Robert began arranging them.
"Let's start with the insurance records.""
The first document was a life insurance policy.
The beneficiary was listed as Isabella Reyes.
The payout amount was $250,000.
The payment date was six weeks after Dad died.
I frowned.
"Why is this here?""
Thomas examined the page.
"Because the policy proceeds were deposited into the trust, but these records show Linda requested a separate payment review.""
Grandma looked confused.
"Could she have changed the beneficiary?""
"Not without authorization.""
Robert turned another page.
There was an application for a policy amendment.
The requested beneficiary was Linda Reyes.
The signature looked like my father's.
But something about it was wrong.
Thomas leaned closer.
"This requires examination.""
I stared at the date.
It was written two weeks after my father had died.
My stomach dropped.
"How could Dad sign something after he died?""
Nobody answered.
Robert placed the document in a separate sleeve.
"That's exactly why this matters.""
Grandma looked at me.
"Your father never changed that beneficiary.""
Thomas nodded.
"We need the original insurance company's records to confirm the timeline.""
I continued looking through the folder.
Then I found a handwritten note.
It was dated three days before Dad's death.
Linda says the policy should belong to the household. I have explained that it was purchased for Isabella. She refuses to accept this.
Below that was another sentence.
If I am unable to protect Bella myself, Evelyn must make sure the money remains hers.
My eyes filled.
Grandma covered her mouth.
"Daniel.""
I turned another page.
This one contained a printed email.
The sender was my mother.
The recipient was Mark Collins.
The date was two months before Dad died.
We need to wait until Daniel signs the final documents. Once the insurance is settled, we can reorganize everything.
Mark's reply was short.
And the building?
Linda answered:
That will come later.
I looked at Thomas.
"She was planning this before Dad died?""
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
"We need to establish the context of the messages. But they raise serious concerns.""
Robert placed a small recorder on the table.
"We also found a digital backup device in the unit. It contains several audio files.""
Grandma looked at him.
"Audio files?""
"Yes. We haven't listened to all of them yet.""
Thomas connected the device to his laptop.
A list of recordings appeared.
Most had dates.
One was labeled:
*DANIEL — FINAL MESSAGE.*
I felt my entire body go cold.
"That's my father.""
Thomas looked at Grandma.
Then he turned toward me.
"Do you want to listen?""
I nodded.
He pressed play.
At first, there was static.
Then a familiar voice filled the office.
My father's voice.
"Testing. One, two.""
I covered my mouth.
"That's Daniel," Grandma whispered.
The recording continued.
"If this is being played, something has happened, and Evelyn has found the files.""
There was a pause.
Then Dad spoke again.
"Linda, if you're listening to this, I need you to understand that I never intended to leave you without support. But Isabella's inheritance is not yours.""
I began crying.
"I have provided for our household. I have made sure you and Brianna have what you need. But I will not allow my daughter's future to become another source of arguments.""
The recording crackled.
"I know you've been discussing the property with Mark. I know about the proposed transfer.""
Grandma's eyes widened.
Dad continued.
"That building belongs to Isabella. It will remain hers.""
Then came a long silence.
When he spoke again, his voice sounded tired.
"There's something else I discovered. The account Linda says belongs to Brianna is not what she told me it was.""
I sat upright.
Thomas stopped typing.
Dad continued.
"I contacted the bank. The original beneficiary designation was changed without the proper authorization. I don't know how far this goes, but I have copies of everything.""
The recording crackled again.
"If I cannot resolve this before the end of the week, Thomas has instructions to contact the relevant authorities.""
Then his voice softened.
"To my little Bella, if you ever hear this, I want you to remember that none of this is your responsibility.""
I was sobbing now.
"You are not responsible for making adults happy. You are not responsible for fixing their mistakes. And you are never responsible for protecting people who hurt you.""
A breath.
"I love you, mi pequeña estrella.""
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
I looked at the screen.
I wanted to hear it again.
I wanted my father to keep talking.
I wanted to tell him I was sorry I hadn't known.
Grandma wiped her cheeks.
Thomas quietly saved the file.
Then Robert spoke.
"There's another recording.""
I looked up.
"What?""
He pointed to the next file.
It was dated two days before Dad died.
The label read:
*MEETING — LINDA AND DANIEL.*
Thomas hesitated.
"Isabella, you don't have to listen to this.""
I swallowed.
"I want to.""
He pressed play.
The recording began with the sound of a chair moving.
Then my father's voice.
"Linda, I need you to stop.""
My mother's voice followed.
"Stop what?""
"Moving money.""
"I have explained this already.""
"No. You haven't.""
A sharp sound followed.
Dad continued.
"I saw the transfer to Mark's company.""
My mother laughed.
"You don't understand the business arrangement.""
"I understand that you moved forty thousand dollars out of an account that belongs to Isabella.""
"That money was going to be replaced.""
"When?""
"Daniel, stop treating me like a criminal.""
"Then stop making decisions that look like theft.""
There was a long silence.
Then Linda spoke.
"You think Evelyn is going to protect you? She wants to control everything.""
"She wants to protect Bella.""
"And what about Brianna?""
"I have never denied Brianna anything.""
"She isn't your daughter!""
My stomach tightened.
Grandma looked at the floor.
My father's voice became colder.
"She's a child. Don't use her to justify what you're doing.""
My mother continued.
"Then give me access to the trust.""
"No.""
"Daniel—"
"No, Linda.""
A chair scraped.
Then my mother said something that made the room go completely silent.
"If you leave me with nothing, I'll make sure Isabella never knows the truth about you.""
My father's reply was quiet.
"She deserves the truth.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the laptop.
My mother had threatened to use my relationship with Dad against him.
And she had done exactly that for years.
Thomas closed the file.
"These recordings may be extremely important.""
Grandma leaned forward.
"Can they prove the money was taken unlawfully?""
"They support the timeline, but we'll need independent financial records and authentication.""
Robert nodded.
"I've already requested additional records from the banks and insurance company.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"What's the truth about Brianna's inheritance?""
Thomas opened the folder again.
"Your father appears to have discovered that a separate account was created in Brianna's name using funds that may have originated from her biological father's estate.""
Grandma frowned.
"May have?""
"We need the original estate records.""
I looked at the documents.
"Could my mother have taken Brianna's money, too?""
Thomas nodded slowly.
"That is possible.""
The thought made me feel sick.
Brianna had spent years believing I was the favored child.
But perhaps our mother had been using both of us.
One daughter's money had been used to support the household.
The other daughter's money had been used to cover transactions nobody understood.
And both of us had been told we were ungrateful whenever we questioned anything.
At 8:05 p.m., Thomas's office phone rang.
He answered.
"Whitaker.""
A man spoke rapidly.
Thomas listened, then stood.
"Are you certain?""
Grandma moved closer.
"What is it?""
Thomas held up his hand.
"Send me the document immediately.""
He ended the call.
Then he looked at us.
"The bank has located the original beneficiary records for Brianna's inheritance.""
I stared at him.
"Where did the money go?""
Thomas swallowed.
"The account was closed shortly after Daniel died.""
Grandma frowned.
"Who closed it?""
He looked at the document on his screen.
"Linda Reyes.""
I felt a chill.
"And the money?""
Thomas slowly turned the laptop toward us.
The final transfer was listed at the bottom.
$79,600.
The recipient was not Brianna.
It was a company called Collins Property Solutions.
Grandma whispered, "She took both children's money.""
Thomas nodded.
"But there's something even more troubling.""
He opened the attached company record.
The business had been registered under Mark's name.
Its directors included Linda.
And its original incorporation date was three weeks before my father's death.
I stared at the date.
Three weeks.
My mother and Mark had created a company before my father died, then moved money from both children's inheritances into it.
"Why?"" I whispered.
Thomas looked at me.
"Because they weren't simply trying to support the household.""
He paused.
"They were building something.""
Before he could explain, his phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from Brianna.
It contained a photograph of a handwritten note.
The handwriting was my mother's.
If Isabella ever finds out about the accounts, tell her Daniel agreed to everything.
Beneath it, Brianna had written:
I found this in Mom's drawer. There's another page.
A second photograph arrived.
It showed a list of names.
My father's name was at the top.
My mother's was underneath.
And beside Mark's name was a handwritten instruction:
*MAKE SURE DANIEL NEVER CHANGES THE AGREEMENT.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
Bella, I think Mom lied about something much bigger.
