Chapter 6 - The Safe
I did not break into my childhood home.
I didn’t need to.
As majority owner, I had legal access.
Gwendolyn answered the door.
“You are not coming in.”
Maya handed her a notice.
“Ms. Morgan owns sixty percent of this property.”
Gwendolyn laughed.
“That is ridiculous.”
“Then your attorney can call me.”
Dad appeared behind her.
“Paige, don’t do this.”
“I’m getting copies of documents involving my property.”
“You could’ve called.”
“I did.”
His face dropped.
We entered the office.
The safe was behind a framed photo of Dad and Gwendolyn’s wedding.
Dad knew the combination.
He refused to give it.
The locksmith opened it.
Inside were deeds.
Loan documents.
My mother’s trust binder.
And a white envelope labeled:
FOR SAMUEL - IF I DON’T MAKE IT.
I opened it.
My mother’s handwriting filled four pages.
She told Dad he could live in the house as long as he wanted.
She told him the Mesa land belonged to me.
She told him not to sell it unless the money stayed in my trust.
Gwendolyn went pale.
Dad looked at the floor.
There was no promise.
No permission.
No gray area.
He knew.
He had always known.
Chloe whispered, “Dad?”
He didn’t look at her.
Maya found another folder in the safe.
Inside were annual trust statements.
Except the balances didn’t match the bank records.
They had been altered before being given to me.
Somebody had been creating fake statements for years.
At the bottom of each page was the same preparer name.
Gregory Hale, CPA.
My father’s accountant.
Maya looked at me.
“We need to talk to him.”
Dad suddenly said, “You can’t.”
“Why?”
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
May you like
“Greg died last month.”
Then Gwendolyn said, “And before he died, he left me everything.”
