Chapter 4 - THE FAKE WILL
I picked up the document.
My hands felt numb.
The first page looked official.
My full name.
My address.
My daughters’ names.
Then I saw Vanessa’s name.
Beneficiary.
Forty percent.
“What the hell is this?”
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
No tears now.
No trembling.
Just anger.
“I can explain.”
Emma whispered, “You keep saying that.”
I flipped through the pages.
My supposed signature appeared at the bottom.
It looked almost perfect.
Almost.
But I knew how I signed my name.
That wasn’t mine.
“You forged my signature.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
“You forged my will.”
“It was a draft.”
“A draft with my signature?”
“I was trying to help organize your estate.”
Maria stared at her.
“You organize by stealing necklaces?”
Vanessa snapped.
“Stay out of this.”
Maria crossed her arms.
“No.”
I pulled out my phone.
Vanessa’s eyes went wide.
“Who are you calling?”
“The police.”
“Daniel.”
I dialed.
She grabbed my arm.
“Please.”
I pulled away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“You don’t understand what’s happening.”
“I understand plenty.”
“No, you don’t.”
She looked at Emma.
Then Maria.
Then me.
“You think I’m the bad guy because of one stupid stunt?”
“One stunt?”
“You have no idea what I’ve dealt with since I moved into your life.”
I stared at her.
“You did not move into my life.”
She flinched.
“You stayed here three nights a week.”
Her mouth twisted.
“That’s all I was to you?”
“This is what you want to talk about?”
“I gave you a year!”
“You gave me a year?”
“Yes!”
She laughed bitterly.
“I cooked. I planned birthdays. I went to school events. I listened to you talk about Rachel over and over.”
Emma’s face tightened.
“Don’t say my mom’s name.”
Vanessa ignored her.
“I waited for you to make room for me.”
“I did make room for you.”
“No. You gave me leftovers.”
I stared at her.
“So you forged a will?”
Her face changed again.
Fear.
She had said too much.
I stepped closer.
“Who helped you?”
“No one.”
“This looks professionally prepared.”
“I found a template.”
“Who helped you?”
“No answer.
The call connected.
“911. What’s your emergency?”
Vanessa ran.
She turned and sprinted down the hallway.
“Vanessa!”
The front door slammed.
I handed Lily to Maria and ran after her.
By the time I reached the driveway, Vanessa was already in her car.
She reversed hard.
Almost hit my mailbox.
Then sped away.
I memorized the plate even though I already knew it.
The dispatcher asked for details.
I gave them.
When I came back inside, Emma was sitting on the stairs.
She looked tiny.
Too tiny.
I sat beside her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Me neither.”
She leaned against me.
“I knew something was wrong with her.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried.”
That sentence hurt more than anything Vanessa had done.
“When?”
“Last month.”
I remembered.
Emma had complained that Vanessa went through her things.
I told her Vanessa was probably cleaning.
Two weeks before that, Emma said Vanessa asked strange questions about my bank accounts.
I laughed it off.
Then Emma said something I’ll never forget.
“You always thought she was joking.”
I closed my eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
Not because she forgave me.
Because she was tired.
Maria came into the hallway.
“Mr. Carter.”
She was holding a black folder.
“What’s that?”
“I found it behind the papers.”
I opened it.
Inside were printed emails.
Bank transfer confirmations.
Copies of property records.
And photographs.
Photographs of my house.
My office.
My safe.
My daughters.
Some taken from inside the house.
Some from across the street.
Then Emma picked up one photo.
Her hands began to shake.
“Dad…”
“What?”
She turned it around.
The photo showed me leaving work.
A man stood behind me.
Watching.
May you like
On the back, someone had written two words.
TARGET CONFIRMED.
