Chapter 3 - THE ORIGINALS CORINNE TRIED TO TAKE
Mara found the papers inside Corinne’s handbag.
Not because she searched it.
Because Corinne grabbed the bag and headed toward the front door with the envelope sticking visibly through the zipper.
Ethan stepped in front of her.
“Put them down.”
“They’re private.”
“They have my daughter’s name on them.”
“They belonged to Rachel.”
“So did that cabinet.”
Corinne looked toward Mara.
“You always wanted this.”
Mara shook her head.
“This has nothing to do with me.”
“It always does.”
Ethan held out his hand.
Corinne did not move.
He took out his phone.
“I’m calling Rachel’s attorney.”
That changed her expression.
“You don’t even know who prepared those.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Ethan—”
“Put them on the table.”
Finally, she did.
The attorney’s name appeared on the last page.
Leah Morris.
Ethan recognized it.
Rachel had met Leah twice during the final month of her life.
Rachel told him the appointments were about “cleaning up estate paperwork.”
Ethan had offered to attend.
Rachel said no.
At the time, that hurt his feelings.
Instead of asking why, he let himself become offended.
Now he called Leah.
She answered after hearing his name.
“Mr. Carter?”
“I found documents Rachel signed before she died.”
Silence.
“What documents?”
“A trust amendment.”
Another silence.
Then:
“You found the originals?”
Ethan looked at Corinne.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“In a locked cabinet.”
Leah exhaled slowly.
“I’ve been wondering where those went for eleven months.”
Ethan’s skin prickled.
“You knew they existed?”
“I prepared them.”
“Why didn’t you have copies?”
“I had drafts.”
“What happened to the executed set?”
Leah paused.
“Rachel insisted on signing at home.”
She had been discharged from the hospital temporarily.
Leah sent a mobile notary and two witnesses.
The completed originals were supposed to be couriered back to her office the next morning.
They never arrived.
Rachel was taken back to the hospital overnight.
She died six days later.
“What did you do?”
“I contacted your household.”
“Who answered?”
Leah hesitated.
“Corinne.”
Everyone in the room looked at her.
Ethan felt his stomach drop.
“What did she tell you?”
“That Rachel had decided not to complete the changes.”
Corinne immediately said:
“That’s what she told me.”
Leah heard her.
“Corinne is there?”
“Yes.”
Leah’s voice became more formal.
“Do not alter, destroy, mark, or separate those papers.”
Corinne folded her arms.
“You’re acting like I committed a crime.”
Leah ignored her.
“Ethan, I want the documents secured. Photograph each page. Then place them somewhere Corinne cannot access. Tomorrow we can determine what was legally executed and what effect it has.”
Ethan looked at Corinne.
“You told Rachel’s lawyer these didn’t exist.”
“I told her Rachel changed her mind.”
“Did she?”
“Yes.”
“Then why hide them?”
Corinne opened her mouth.
Nothing came.
Mara quietly picked up the documents.
“I’ll keep them tonight.”
Ethan nodded.
Corinne stared at him.
“You trust her over your wife?”
Ethan looked upstairs.
Toward the nursery.
Then back at the woman Rachel had specifically barred from authority over Maisie.
May you like
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
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