Chapter 12 - Marjorie
Marjorie Price had known my mother.
That was the first surprise.
Eleven years earlier, Gwendolyn worked in the private-client department at the bank handling my mother’s trust.
I had never known.
Neither had Chloe.
Dad looked like someone had punched him.
“That’s impossible. Gwen told me she worked at a credit union.”
“She did later,” Marjorie said over video. “Before that, she was at Western Heritage.”
Mom’s bank.
Marjorie explained that Gwendolyn had been fired for accessing client accounts without authorization.
Then, two years later, she “accidentally” met my grieving father at a charity event.
Dad stood up and walked out of the room.
I didn’t follow.
Marjorie continued.
My mother discovered unauthorized inquiries on the trust shortly before she died.
She complained to the bank.
Gwendolyn’s name appeared internally.
Mom told Marjorie because they met once during a volunteer fundraiser.
“Elaine said if anything happened to her, she was worried someone might use Samuel’s grief to reach Paige’s assets.”
I felt sick.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I tried. Gwendolyn cut me off after she married Samuel.”
“Why did everyone think you were dead?”
Marjorie’s face tightened.
“My daughter told the family I had dementia. Then she moved me.”
The care facility was legitimate.
Marjorie was mentally sharp.
Gwendolyn simply controlled contact.
Maya requested Gwendolyn’s old employment records.
The bank produced a termination memo.
Unauthorized access.
Client: Elaine Morgan Trust.
User: Gwendolyn Price.
Date:
Four months before my mother died.
“Paige.”
I didn’t look at him.
“I met her exactly where your mother banked.”
“Yes.”
“She knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
He whispered, “My whole marriage…”
I finished it for him.
“Started with a file.”
Then Maya’s phone buzzed.
She read the message.
“Gwendolyn just filed for divorce.”
Dad laughed bitterly.
“Of course she did.”
Maya looked at me.
“That’s not the important part.”
“What is?”
May you like
“She’s claiming half the rental portfolio as marital property.”
The portfolio bought with my trust money.
