PART 8

Harold stared at the phone.

For several seconds, he didn’t respond.

The man’s voice came again.

“Mr. Pike, are you still there?”

Harold’s eyes moved toward my father.

Dad was standing completely still.

“Who are you?” Harold asked.

“My name is Richard Bell. I’m representing Vanessa Cole.”

Dad’s expression changed.

Not anger.

Recognition.

Harold noticed it.

“You know him?”

Dad nodded slowly.

“I know the name.”

Richard continued.

“My client has informed me that you’re currently in possession of documents belonging to her father.”

Harold’s eyebrows rose.

“Her father?”

“Yes.”

“My father’s name is Edward Cole,” Dad said.

Richard paused.

Then he replied carefully.

“Yes. Edward Cole.”

Dad stepped closer to the phone.

“Then you should know that I’m Edward Cole.”

Silence.

A long silence.

Then Richard said something that made my stomach tighten.

“I was told Mr. Cole passed away last night.”

Dad laughed bitterly.

“So was my daughter.”

Another pause.

“I see.”

“No,” Dad said. “You don’t.”

He looked at Harold.

“Ask him about the documents.”

Harold did.

“What documents are you talking about?”

Richard’s voice became guarded.

“The documents transferring ownership of the property.”

Dad’s face hardened.

“I never signed a property transfer.”

Richard didn’t answer.

Harold leaned forward.

“Then perhaps you should explain why your client possesses a document claiming otherwise.”

The attorney’s voice became colder.

“Mr. Pike, I’m not going to discuss confidential matters over the phone.”

“Then come here.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Dad smiled.

“It will be.”

Richard disconnected.

Nobody spoke.

I looked at Dad.

“Who is he?”

Dad rubbed his forehead.

“I met him once.”

“When?”

“About six months ago.”

“Why?”

Dad hesitated.

“He was introduced to me by Vanessa.”

Harold slowly closed the folder.

“Edward.”

“What?”

“You need to tell Natalie everything.”

Dad nodded.

“I know.”

He sat down.

Then he told me something I had never heard before.

Six months earlier, Vanessa had come to him with an idea.

She said she wanted to help him organize his estate.

She told him she was worried about what would happen if he became sick.

At the time, Dad had thought she was being responsible.

She brought Richard Bell to the house.

He presented himself as an estate attorney.

He prepared several documents.

Dad signed some papers.

But before signing anything important, Dad had asked Harold to review them.

Harold discovered problems.

“Some of the documents gave Vanessa authority over your father’s property,” Harold explained.

Dad nodded.

“So I refused to sign them.”

“What happened afterward?” I asked.

“Vanessa became angry.”

“How angry?”

Dad looked at me.

“She told me I was being stubborn.”

I felt a chill.

“Then what?”

“She said if I wouldn’t let her help me voluntarily, she’d find another way.”

CONTINUE FOR NEXT PART….