The answer was so honest that, for a moment, I had nothing to say.
James slid a tissue box toward her.
“Let's discuss the document involving Thomas. You said you saw a paper dated two days before his death.””
She nodded.
“I did.””
“Why Thomas. You said you saw a paper dated two days before his death.””
She nodded.
“I did.””
“Why did you recognize the signature?””
“Because I was there when he signed the original.””
My heart lurched.
“You were there?””
Patricia covered her did you recognize the signature?””
“Because I was there when he signed the original.””
My heart lurched.
“You were there?””
Patricia covered her mouth.
“I should have told you years ago.””
I stared at her.
“Tell me what happened.””
She took a shaky breath mouth.
“I should have told you years ago.””
I stared at her.
“Tell me what happened.””
She took a shaky breath.
“About two weeks before Thomas died, he called me. He said he needed someone he trusted to witness.
“About two weeks before Thomas died, he called me. He said he needed someone he trusted to witness a document. He wouldn't tell me everything over the phone, but he said it concerned protecting you.””
“And you agreed?””
“Yes.””
“Where did you meet him?””
“At a document. He wouldn't tell me everything over the phone, but he said it concerned protecting you.””
“And you agreed?””
“Yes.””
“Where did you meet him?””
“At the hospital.””
I remembered those final weeks. I had been at Thomas's bedside almost every day, leaving the hospital.””
I remembered those final weeks. I had been at Thomas's bedside almost every day, leaving only to shower, change clothes, or sleep for a few hours.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“He asked me not to. only to shower, change clothes, or sleep for a few hours.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“He asked me not to. He said he didn't want you worrying about more paperwork while you were already dealing with his illness.””
James intervened.
“Did you witness him He said he didn't want you worrying about more paperwork while you were already dealing with his illness.””
James intervened.
“Did you witness him signing a document?””
Patricia nodded.
“He signed a few pages. Eleanor was there, too. I remember because Thomas made signing a document?””
Patricia nodded.
“He signed a few pages. Eleanor was there, too. I remember because Thomas made us both promise that we would never use the document to benefit ourselves.””
“What did it say?””
“I didn't read every word. Thomas explained that it us both promise that we would never use the document to benefit ourselves.””
“What did it say?””
“I didn't read every word. Thomas explained that it was an instruction concerning his estate and that it was meant to protect you if anyone tried to take advantage of you.””
I stared was an instruction concerning his estate and that it was meant to protect you if anyone tried to take advantage of you.””
I stared at her.
“You witnessed a document you hadn't fully read?””
She lowered her head.
“Yes.””
“Then what happened to it?””
“Thomas gave at her.
“You witnessed a document you hadn't fully read?””
She lowered her head.
“Yes.””
“Then what happened to it?””
“Thomas gave the original to Eleanor. I thought that was the end of it.””
James wrote something down.
“Did the original to Eleanor. I thought that was the end of it.””
James wrote something down.
“Did you sign any other version of that document?””
“No.””
“Did you sign anything for Daniel?””
Pat you sign any other version of that document?””
“No.””
“Did you sign anything for Daniel?””
Patricia hesitated.
“Not until Megan approached me.””
“When was that?””
“About six weeks ago.””
The roomricia hesitated.
“Not until Megan approached me.””
“When was that?””
“About six weeks ago.””
The room fell silent.
Patricia explained that Megan had contacted her, saying Robert wanted to organize the family estate before I fell silent.
Patricia explained that Megan had contacted her, saying Robert wanted to organize the family estate before I became too old to manage my properties. Megan claimed that Thomas had left behind instructions allowing certain assets to be became too old to manage my properties. Megan claimed that Thomas had left behind instructions allowing certain assets to be transferred through a company.
Patricia had been shown a document bearing Thomas's signature.
She recognized the handwriting and assumed the paperwork was legitimate.
“She transferred through a company.
Patricia had been shown a document bearing Thomas's signature.
She recognized the handwriting and assumed the paperwork was legitimate.
“She said the original will was incomplete,” Patricia whispered.
“She said Daniel had the missing document and that the family said the original will was incomplete,” Patricia whispered.
“She said Daniel had the missing document and that the family needed to put everything in order.””
“Did she show you the original?”” James asked.
“No. She showed me a copy.””
“Did needed to put everything in order.””
“Did she show you the original?”” James asked.
“No. She showed me a copy.””
“Did you compare it with the document you witnessed at the hospital?””
“No.””
I stared at my sister.
“You knew Thomas you compare it with the document you witnessed at the hospital?””
“No.””
I stared at my sister.
“You knew Thomas had asked you to protect me. And when Megan offered you money, you signed a paper involving had asked you to protect me. And when Megan offered you money, you signed a paper involving my home without speaking to me.””
Patricia's shoulders shook.
“I thought I was helping you.””
“You were helping yourself.””
She looked up sharply.
Then, slowly my home without speaking to me.””
Patricia's shoulders shook.
“I thought I was helping you.””
“You were helping yourself.””
She looked up sharply.
Then, slowly, she nodded.
“Yes.””
The admission hurt more than any excuse could have.
James opened another folder.
“Pat, she nodded.
“Yes.””
The admission hurt more than any excuse could have.
James opened another folder.
“Patricia, did you receive money from Megan personally?””
She hesitated.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Twenty thousand dollars.””
“Was that a loan?””
“Shericia, did you receive money from Megan personally?””
She hesitated.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Twenty thousand dollars.””
“Was that a loan?””
“She called it an advance against the proceeds from the beach house.””
My stomach turned.
“An advance against money called it an advance against the proceeds from the beach house.””
My stomach turned.
“An advance against money that didn't belong to you.””
Patricia began sobbing again.
“I know.””
“Did you spend that didn't belong to you.””
Patricia began sobbing again.
“I know.””
“Did you spend it?””
“Most of it.””
“On what?””
“Medical bills. My mortgage. Some credit cards.””
I looked at my sister's hands.
They were trembling.
For it?””
“Most of it.””
“On what?””
“Medical bills. My mortgage. Some credit cards.””
I looked at my sister's hands.
They were trembling.
For years, Patricia had told me she was struggling financially. I had offered to help, but she'd always refused, insisting she years, Patricia had told me she was struggling financially. I had offered to help, but she'd always refused, insisting she could manage.
Now I understood why she had accepted Megan's money.
She had wanted help without the humiliation of asking me.
And Megan had offered her exactly could manage.
Now I understood why she had accepted Megan's money.
She had wanted help without the humiliation of asking me.
And Megan had offered her exactly that—at a price Patricia hadn't wanted to examine.
“Did Megan threaten you?”” James asked.
Patricia nodded that—at a price Patricia hadn't wanted to examine.
“Did Megan threaten you?”” James asked.
Patricia nodded.
“She said if I backed out, she'd tell you I had helped her. She said I'd be implicated.
“She said if I backed out, she'd tell you I had helped her. She said I'd be implicated in everything.””
“Did she tell you to sign another document?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
James stopped in everything.””
“Did she tell you to sign another document?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
James stopped writing.
“What document?””
Patricia reached into her handbag and removed a folded sheet of paper.
“I brought it.””
writing.
“What document?””
Patricia reached into her handbag and removed a folded sheet of paper.
“I brought it.””
She placed it on the table.
It was an affidavit stating that I had voluntarily agreed to transfer my beach house to Seabrook Coastal Holdings and that Patricia had witnessed my consentShe placed it on the table.
It was an affidavit stating that I had voluntarily agreed to transfer my beach house to Seabrook Coastal Holdings and that Patricia had witnessed my consent.
My name appeared near the bottom.
My sister's signature was beneath it.
The date was yesterday.
I felt.
My name appeared near the bottom.
My sister's signature was beneath it.
The date was yesterday.
I felt sick.
“You signed this?””
Patricia nodded miserably.
“Megan said it was the only way to protect myself.””
James examined the document.
“Did you swear to sick.
“You signed this?””
Patricia nodded miserably.
“Megan said it was the only way to protect myself.””
James examined the document.
“Did you swear to this before a notary?””
“No. I haven't had it notarized yet.””
“Have you submitted it anywhere?””
“No.””
He carefully placed this before a notary?””
“No. I haven't had it notarized yet.””
“Have you submitted it anywhere?””
“No.””
He carefully placed it in a folder.
“Then do not sign or submit anything else. We need to preserve this document and establish how it was prepared.””
it in a folder.
“Then do not sign or submit anything else. We need to preserve this document and establish how it was prepared.””
Patricia turned toward me.
“I'll tell them everything. I'll admit what I did.””
IPatricia turned toward me.
“I'll tell them everything. I'll admit what I did.””
I looked at her for a long time.
“I hope you do.””
“Can you forgive me?””
I wanted to say looked at her for a long time.
“I hope you do.””
“Can you forgive me?””
I wanted to say yes.
I wanted to return to the days when our biggest argument concerned whose turn it was to wash the dishes.