But forgiveness offered too yes.

I wanted to return to the days when our biggest argument concerned whose turn it was to wash the dishes.

But forgiveness offered too quickly would become another way of pretending that nothing had happened.

“I don't know yet,” I said.

“First quickly would become another way of pretending that nothing had happened.

“I don't know yet,” I said.

“First, you have to tell the truth even if telling it costs you the money, your reputation, and the comfort of pretending, you have to tell the truth even if telling it costs you the money, your reputation, and the comfort of pretending you didn't know.””

She nodded.

James escorted her into the adjoining room to record a formal statement.

I stayed behind, you didn't know.””

She nodded.

James escorted her into the adjoining room to record a formal statement.

I stayed behind, staring at the affidavit.

At the top of the page was a reference number for the company filing.

At the bottom was a small line indicating the person who had prepared it.

I staring at the affidavit.

At the top of the page was a reference number for the company filing.

At the bottom was a small line indicating the person who had prepared it.

I leaned closer.

The name was not Megan's.

It was not Daniel's.

It belonged to a legal assistant who had worked for James years earlier—someone who had access to old estate leaned closer.

The name was not Megan's.

It was not Daniel's.

It belonged to a legal assistant who had worked for James years earlier—someone who had access to old estate records before moving to another firm.

I called James back into the room.

He read the name and went completely still.

“Do you know records before moving to another firm.

I called James back into the room.

He read the name and went completely still.

“Do you know this person?”” I asked.

“Yes,” he said slowly.

“And if she's the one who prepared this affidavit, we need to find out how she obtained the original records.””

“Why?””

this person?”” I asked.

“Yes,” he said slowly.

“And if she's the one who prepared this affidavit, we need to find out how she obtained the original records.””

“Why?””

James looked up at me.

“Because she was present when Thomas's estate was settled. She had access to the documentsJames looked up at me.

“Because she was present when Thomas's estate was settled. She had access to the documents Megan is now claiming to possess.””

My phone vibrated.

A message had arrived from an Megan is now claiming to possess.””

My phone vibrated.

A message had arrived from an unfamiliar number.

Your sister isn't the person you need to fear most.

Then a second message appeared.

unfamiliar number.

Your sister isn't the person you need to fear most.

Then a second message appeared.

Ask James who removed the original estate file from his office fourteen years ago.

I looked at my attorney.

He was staring at the screen.

Ask James who removed the original estate file from his office fourteen years ago.

I looked at my attorney.

He was staring at the screen.

And for the first time since this nightmare began, James Whitmore looked as if he had something to hide.

Chapter 12: The File That Disappeared Fourteen Years Ago

“James, who removed the original estate file?””

He didn't That Disappeared Fourteen Years Ago

“James, who removed the original estate file?””

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he closed the office door and asked me to sit down.

That simple gesture frightened answer immediately.

Instead, he closed the office door and asked me to sit down.

That simple gesture frightened me more than a denial would have.

“Margaret, fourteen years ago, my office handled dozens of estate matters at once. Thomas me more than a denial would have.

“Margaret, fourteen years ago, my office handled dozens of estate matters at once. Thomas's file was among them. I remember the settlement, but I don't remember every person who accessed the's file was among them. I remember the settlement, but I don't remember every person who accessed the records.””

“You told me everything was settled properly.””

“It was settled according to the documents available records.””

“You told me everything was settled properly.””

“It was settled according to the documents available to us at the time.””

“That isn't the same thing.””

“No,” he admitted.

“It isn't.””

I stared at him.

“Did someone remove the original file?””

James took off to us at the time.””

“That isn't the same thing.””

“No,” he admitted.

“It isn't.””

I stared at him.

“Did someone remove the original file?””

James took off his glasses.

“A section of the file was missing when we conducted an internal records review several months his glasses.

“A section of the file was missing when we conducted an internal records review several months after Thomas's death. At the time, we believed it had been misplaced during an office move.””

“Why didn't you tell me?””

“Because after Thomas's death. At the time, we believed it had been misplaced during an office move.””

“Why didn't you tell me?””

“Because the missing section contained correspondence, not the executed will itself. We had certified the missing section contained correspondence, not the executed will itself. We had certified copies of the estate documents, and the estate had been settled. There was no evidence then that anyone had taken the papers deliberately.””

I felt a chill move through me.

“And you never told me.””

copies of the estate documents, and the estate had been settled. There was no evidence then that anyone had taken the papers deliberately.””

I felt a chill move through me.

“And you never told me.””

“I should have informed you that the records were incomplete. I made a judgment that the missing correspondence didn't“I should have informed you that the records were incomplete. I made a judgment that the missing correspondence didn't affect your rights. Looking back, I should have been more cautious.””

I had trusted James affect your rights. Looking back, I should have been more cautious.””

I had trusted James for twenty-six years.

But trust did not mean I had to accept his explanation without questions.

“Who had for twenty-six years.

But trust did not mean I had to accept his explanation without questions.

“Who had access to the file?””

He reopened his laptop.

“Me, my former legal access to the file?””

He reopened his laptop.

“Me, my former legal assistant, the attorney who assisted with probate, and authorized staff who handled copying and filing.””

“The woman named assistant, the attorney who assisted with probate, and authorized staff who handled copying and filing.””

“The woman named on Patricia's affidavit?””

“Yes.””

“What was her name?””

“Karen Ellis.””

I searched my memory.

I remembered a young woman with dark hair who had on Patricia's affidavit?””

“Yes.””

“What was her name?””

“Karen Ellis.””

I searched my memory.

I remembered a young woman with dark hair who had worked at James's office shortly after Thomas died. She had been polite and efficient, always asking whether I needed help carrying my paperwork to the car.

I had not worked at James's office shortly after Thomas died. She had been polite and efficient, always asking whether I needed help carrying my paperwork to the car.

I had not seen her in years.

“Where is she now?””

“She works at a different law firm in Raleigh.””

“Does she know Megan?””

“I don't know.””

James immediately called his office seen her in years.

“Where is she now?””

“She works at a different law firm in Raleigh.””

“Does she know Megan?””

“I don't know.””

James immediately called his office manager and asked her to preserve every remaining record concerning Thomas's estate. He also contacted his professional manager and asked her to preserve every remaining record concerning Thomas's estate. He also contacted his professional liability counsel and arranged for an independent review of the missing file history.

“I don't want to speculate about Karen's involvement,” he told me after liability counsel and arranged for an independent review of the missing file history.

“I don't want to speculate about Karen's involvement,” he told me after ending the calls.

“The affidavit may have been prepared using information someone obtained elsewhere. We need evidence before ending the calls.

“The affidavit may have been prepared using information someone obtained elsewhere. We need evidence before accusing anyone.””

I nodded.

But the pieces were beginning to fit together in ways I accusing anyone.””

I nodded.

But the pieces were beginning to fit together in ways I couldn't ignore.

Megan had somehow obtained records from Thomas's estate.

Daniel had been promised money to help establish the couldn't ignore.

Megan had somehow obtained records from Thomas's estate.

Daniel had been promised money to help establish the company.

Patricia had signed documents she didn't understand.

And someone had prepared a false affidavit claiming I had agreed to transfer my house.

The question was no company.

Patricia had signed documents she didn't understand.

And someone had prepared a false affidavit claiming I had agreed to transfer my house.

The question was no longer whether Megan had planned to take advantage of me.

The question was how many people had helped her.

At noon, James received a call from the independent document longer whether Megan had planned to take advantage of me.

The question was how many people had helped her.

At noon, James received a call from the independent document examiner.

The examiner had compared the signature on the beach house transfer with several verified examiner.

The examiner had compared the signature on the beach house transfer with several verified examples of my handwriting.

James listened without interrupting.

Then he asked, “Can you distinguish between a traced signature and a naturally written one?””

A pause.

“I understand examples of my handwriting.

James listened without interrupting.

Then he asked, “Can you distinguish between a traced signature and a naturally written one?””

A pause.

“I understand. Please send the preliminary findings in writing.””

He ended the call.

I gripped the arms of my chair.

“What did they say?””

“The disputed signature shows. Please send the preliminary findings in writing.””

He ended the call.