Chapter 12 - Olivia's Blue Box|
I hadn't opened Olivia's personal storage boxes since her funeral.
There were clothes, letters, photographs, and small things she had collected during our marriage.
I had been unable to face them.
The blue box was in the upstairs dressing room, behind a row of old suitcases.
When I opened it, I found a stack of envelopes tied with a white ribbon.
Some were addressed to me.
Others were addressed to Daniel.
I sat on the floor and opened the first envelope.
It contained a letter written in Olivia's handwriting.
Marcus, if you're reading this, something has happened that I was afraid to discuss while I was alive.
My hands began to shake.
The letter described a disagreement Olivia had with Daniel several months before her death.
She had discovered that he was using a company connected to her estate to move money without proper authorization.
She had confronted him.
He had claimed the transfers were temporary and would be returned.
Olivia had not believed him.
She wrote that she planned to speak to our attorney.
But there was more.
I am worried about the people Daniel has brought into our lives. Margaret seems kind, but she asks too many questions about Zion's medical routine. I don't want anyone making decisions for our son without a doctor.
I stopped reading.
Olivia had been suspicious of Margaret before I even hired her.
I turned to the next page.
If anything happens to me, please don't let Daniel control Zion's trust. He says he wants to help, but I think he wants control.
I felt sick.
The letter was dated three weeks before Olivia died.
I continued searching the box.
At the bottom was a small flash drive.
A note was attached.
Recording from the study.
I carried it downstairs and called my attorney.
He arrived with a secure laptop.
We connected the drive.
The first file contained a recording of Olivia speaking to someone.
Daniel's voice answered.
"You're making this bigger than it is."
"You're taking money from Zion's account."
"I'm managing it."
"You're not authorized to manage anything without my approval."
"Olivia, you don't understand how complicated the family finances are."
"Then explain them."
A chair moved.
Daniel sighed.
"Marcus doesn't need to know."
"Marcus is Zion's father."
"Marcus is barely home."
Olivia's voice became sharper.
"That doesn't give you the right to make decisions about our child."
There was a long silence.
Then Daniel said:
"You're going to regret turning this into a fight."
The recording ended.
I stared at the screen.
My wife had been afraid.
She had tried to protect our son.
And I had ignored every warning that came afterward.
My attorney sat quietly.
"Marcus, this is important evidence."
I nodded.
Then another file appeared.
It was much shorter.
Olivia's voice was trembling.
"Margaret, I know what you told Daniel. I know about the bottle."
I leaned closer.
A second voice answered.
"Mrs. Whitaker, please. You don't understand."
"I understand enough."
Then Olivia said something that made the room go silent.
"If you ever go near my son with that again, I will make sure everyone knows what you've done."
The recording stopped.
I looked at my attorney.
"How long has this been happening?"
He didn't answer.
Then my phone rang.
It was Detective Bennett.
"Mr. Whitaker, we found a document in Daniel's office."
"What document?"
"A letter from Olivia's estate lawyer. It appears she had requested an emergency review of Zion's trust."
I gripped the phone.
May you like
"When?"
"Two days before she died."
