Chapter 6 - Patricia’s File
Martin Ellis had been Aunt Patricia’s attorney for sixteen years.
His office was twenty minutes outside Columbus.
When I arrived, he already had a thick folder on his desk.
My name was written across the tab.
“Your aunt was very specific,” he said.
“About what?”
“You.”
He opened the folder.
Inside were bank statements, emails, handwritten notes, and copies of messages between Patricia and my mother.
Martin pushed one toward me.
My mother had written:
Jason needs the money more than Laura.
She has a hospital job.
She’ll always be fine.
I felt physically sick.
Another message.
Laura doesn’t even have children.
What does she need that much money for?
Then Patricia’s response.
It is Laura’s money because I chose Laura.
This conversation is over.
Martin watched me quietly.
“She knew?”
“She knew your family viewed you as financially dependable.”
“That’s a polite way of saying ATM.”
Martin almost smiled.
“Patricia used stronger language privately.”
I kept reading.
Then I found a document marked BENEFICIARY RESTRICTION MEMORANDUM.
“What is this?”
“It wasn’t legally restrictive in the sense of a trust,” Martin explained. “But Patricia documented the intended educational purpose and the source of the funds. That helps establish ownership and intent.”
“So Jason can’t claim it was family money.”
“He can claim anything he wants.”
Martin leaned forward.
“Proving it is another matter.”
Then he handed me a sealed envelope.
“Patricia instructed me to give you this if your mother or Jason ever attempted to take the inheritance.”
Inside was a flash drive.
I stared at it.
“What’s on this?”
“I don’t know.”
“You never checked?”
“Patricia asked me not to.”
That evening, in my motel room, I inserted the drive into my laptop.
There was one video.
Patricia appeared on the screen.
She looked thinner than I remembered.
Tired.
But her eyes were sharp.
“Laura,” she began, “if Martin gave you this, then your mother or your brother crossed a line I hoped they never would.”
I covered my mouth.
Patricia continued.
“Jason has been taking money from your parents for years.”
My chest tightened.
“Your father knows.”
I froze.
“Your mother knows.”
Then Patricia leaned toward the camera.
“And if they’re coming after your money now, it means there’s nothing left of theirs.”
I replayed that sentence.
Nothing left.
I immediately called Reed.
He answered on the third ring.
“Detective, I think you need to check my parents’ finances.”
May you like
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think Jason stole from me first.”
