Chapter 3 - The Photograph Behind the Files
The photograph had been taken outside a law office downtown.
Ethan recognized the brass lettering behind Natalie.
MILLER & SHAW.
His father’s old estate firm.
Natalie stood in the center.
Corinne was beside her.
And attorney Rebecca Miller stood behind them.
The date stamped on the back was six days before Natalie died.
Ethan looked at Corinne.
“Why were you there?”
Corinne shrugged.
“I went with Natalie.”
“For what?”
“She wanted advice.”
“About my trust?”
“I don’t remember.”
Ethan almost laughed.
“You remember enough to hide the picture.”
“I didn’t hide anything.”
“It was inside a locked cabinet with forged documents.”
Corinne’s expression tightened.
Ethan called Rebecca Miller.
She answered on the fourth ring.
“Ethan?”
“Rebecca, I need to ask you something about Natalie.”
Silence.
Then Rebecca’s voice became careful.
“What happened?”
“I found documents.”
Another pause.
“Is Corinne there?”
Ethan looked at his wife.
“Yes.”
Rebecca exhaled.
“Do not discuss anything else with her.”
Corinne immediately stepped forward.
“Hang up.”
Ethan turned away.
“Why?”
Rebecca answered.
“Because Natalie came to me before she died.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
“For what?”
“She believed someone had accessed the Carter Family Trust without authorization.”
Corinne shook her head violently.
“She's lying.”
Rebecca continued.
“Natalie brought copies of amendments she believed were fraudulent.”
Ethan looked at the pages in his hand.
“What did she think was happening?”
“She wasn’t sure yet.”
“Did she suspect Corinne?”
Rebecca went silent.
Corinne stared at Ethan.
Finally Rebecca said:
“Yes.”
The word landed hard.
Corinne exploded.
“Natalie was paranoid!”
Maisie flinched.
Ethan’s head snapped around.
“Lower your voice.”
Corinne pointed toward the phone.
“She hated me by the end.”
Rebecca heard her.
“No, Corinne. She was afraid of you.”
Corinne froze.
Ethan felt something cold settle in his chest.
“Rebecca, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“After the funeral.”
“I never heard from you.”
“I left two messages.”
Ethan stared at Corinne.
She had been managing his phone then.
His appointments.
His food.
His grief.
Everything.
Rebecca continued.
“Then Corinne called me.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“What did she say?”
“That you were too unstable to discuss legal matters and that I was to contact her instead.”
Ethan opened his eyes.
Corinne had gone pale.
Rebecca said:
“Ethan, Natalie left something with me.”
“What?”
“A sealed envelope.”
“Why didn’t you send it?”
“Because Natalie gave very specific instructions.”
Ethan tightened his grip on the phone.
“What instructions?”
May you like
Rebecca answered quietly.
“She said I was only to give it to you if you discovered the forged amendment yourself.”
