Chapter 10 - The Document in the Safe
Melissa refused to show us the paper.
“Not until my lawyer gets here.”
“You have a lawyer?” I asked.
“I have several.”
Derek gave a bitter laugh.
“No, you have Victor.”
She glared at him.
“Shut up.”
That was when I understood.
Victor Kane wasn't merely a creditor.
He was connected to whatever Melissa had planned.
Caroline arrived forty minutes later.
She walked into the house carrying a laptop and a leather folder.
Melissa looked her up and down.
“Who are you?”
“Caroline Price.”
The name finally rattled her.
Caroline had handled the original trust.
Derek recognized her immediately.
Melissa clearly remembered seeing the name somewhere.
Caroline looked at me.
“You have cameras?”
“Doorbell and exterior.”
“Good.”
Then she looked at Melissa.
“I understand you're claiming an interest in this property.”
Melissa folded her arms.
“My attorney will discuss that with you.”
“Wonderful.”
“Until then, you can leave.”
Caroline smiled.
“Actually, my client invited me.”
Melissa looked at me.
I smiled back.
She stormed upstairs.
Ten minutes later, Patricia came down carrying three suitcases.
“What is happening?”
Melissa snapped.
“Nothing.”
Patricia looked at Mom.
“Did you cause this?”
I stepped between them.
“Be careful.”
Patricia frowned.
“Excuse me?”
“You're speaking to my mother.”
“This is my daughter's home.”
“No.”
Patricia turned to Melissa.
“What does she mean?”
Melissa didn't answer.
Then the doorbell rang.
A man in a navy suit introduced himself as attorney Franklin Ross.
He represented Melissa.
Caroline and Franklin spoke privately for ten minutes.
Then Melissa brought everyone into the office.
She unlocked a small safe behind a painting.
Inside were passports.
Cash.
Jewelry.
Dad's lockbox documents.
And a sealed envelope.
My chest tightened when I saw the green trust folder.
Melissa removed the envelope.
“This.”
She handed it to Franklin.
He opened it.
Inside was a document titled Lifetime Care Agreement and Residential Assignment.
Caroline read it carefully.
Her expression changed.
“What?” I asked.
She looked at Mom.
“Do you recognize this?”
Mom stared at the signature.
“I remember signing something.”
Melissa smiled triumphantly.
“It gives Derek permanent residential rights.”
Caroline continued reading.
Then she looked at me.
“Not exactly.”
Melissa's smile weakened.
Franklin frowned.
Caroline turned the page.
“This document attempts to assign your mother's lifetime occupancy rights to Derek.”
“Yes,” Melissa said.
“So you can't evict us.”
Caroline shook her head.
“Your mother-in-law could not transfer rights the trust specifically defines as personal and non-assignable.”
Melissa's face fell.
Franklin immediately asked to see the original trust.
Caroline opened her laptop.
I watched Melissa's confidence disappear line by line.
Then Caroline found something else.
She held up the care agreement.
“There's another issue.”
“What?” I asked.
“The signature date.”
Mom frowned.
“December nineteenth.”
Caroline looked at her.
“Where were you December nineteenth?”
Mom thought.
Then her face changed.
“In the hospital.”
Everyone went quiet.
She had been admitted for pneumonia.
Caroline turned toward Melissa.
“This document claims she signed it at home at 2:15 p.m.”
Melissa went pale.
May you like
And Derek whispered the sentence that finally destroyed whatever loyalty remained between them.
“Melissa brought the papers to the hospital.”
