Chapter 4 - WHAT DEREK KNEW
The former employee arrived at a quiet café just after closing time. His name was Evan Blake, and he looked exhausted in the way of someone who had spent months checking over his shoulder. He kept his coat on even though the room was warm and chose a chair facing the front door.
Margaret sat across from him with Claire and Lena nearby. Evan did not touch the coffee placed before him. “I should have come forward sooner,” he said. “About what?” Margaret asked. He swallowed. “Derek’s company is nearly insolvent.”
Margaret had already heard that. “What does that have to do with my daughter?” “Everything.” Evan explained that Derek had built his business by convincing wealthy clients he had access to private real-estate deals. Some investments were legitimate. Others were inflated, shifted, or used to cover earlier losses.
“He kept saying one big asset would save us,” Evan said. “A residential portfolio connected to his wife’s family.” Claire leaned forward. “What exactly did he know?” Evan looked at Margaret. “He knew there was a trust.”
Margaret went completely still. “How?” “I don’t know. But six months ago he asked me to research old corporate names tied to Henry Collins.” Margaret felt Henry’s name strike the air between them. Evan continued.
“He found Collins Meridian Properties through an archived filing. After that, he became obsessed. He thought Allison was the beneficiary.” “She is not,” Claire said. “I know that now.” Derek had apparently convinced himself that the trust would eventually transfer to Allison. He searched for properties, corporate registrations, and historical investments. He could not access the trust directly, but he guessed enough to understand it was substantial.
Then he began spending as if the money were already his. Luxury car leases. Private club fees. Risky business deals. Loans. Promises to investors. “He said once the family assets unlocked, nobody would care about temporary losses,” Evan said.
Margaret’s stomach turned. “When did he think that would happen?” Evan hesitated. “After your seventieth birthday.” The room fell silent. Margaret’s birthday had been six days earlier. The trust letter arrived yesterday. Derek shoved her yesterday.
A coincidence, perhaps. But Margaret no longer trusted coincidences. “Did he know the letter was coming?” she asked. “I don’t know.” Lena spoke for the first time. “Did Derek ever mention Margaret specifically?” Evan’s face tightened.
“Yes.” Margaret’s hands folded together. “What did he say?” Evan looked ashamed. “He called you the obstacle.” The word landed harder than Margaret expected. Not mother-in-law. Not Margaret. Obstacle. “He said Allison would never take control of her inheritance while you were still involved,” Evan added. “I assumed he meant emotionally.”
Claire and Lena exchanged a glance. Margaret saw it. “What aren’t you saying?” Lena answered carefully. “We do not jump from ugly language to assumptions about physical danger. But we take it seriously.” Margaret remembered the shove.
The way Derek had not looked surprised afterward. The way he instantly rewrote what happened. Your mother tripped. Perhaps the shove had simply been rage. Perhaps. But Margaret would not gamble Allison’s safety on perhaps.
They left the café with a plan. Claire would freeze any trust-related communication that could accidentally reach the condo. Lena would continue investigating Derek’s financial activity. Samuel would review whether Derek had attempted to impersonate Allison or obtain confidential information.
And Margaret would not contact Derek directly. That last instruction lasted less than three hours. At nine-thirty, Derek called from Allison’s phone. Margaret answered because she thought it was her daughter. His voice came through smooth and controlled.
“Margaret. We need to stop this nonsense.” She sat upright. “Where is Allison?” “Right here.” “Put her on.” “You’ve upset her enough.” Margaret’s grip tightened around the phone. “I want to hear her voice.”
Derek sighed. “You always do this. You create drama, then act innocent.” Margaret heard movement in the background. Maybe a door closing. Maybe Allison walking away. “Derek,” Margaret said, “do not touch my daughter.”
His tone changed. Just slightly. “I’ve never touched Allison.” “You grabbed her arms.” Silence. Then a short laugh. “So now she’s telling stories?” Margaret’s heart sank. He had confirmed enough. “You should be careful,” Derek continued. “Allison is fragile. She gets confused. You know that.”
Margaret thought of every time he had described Allison as forgetful, emotional, unstable. A strategy. Not a personality conflict. A strategy. “Put her on the phone.” “No.” “Then this conversation is over.” “Actually, it isn’t.”
Derek’s voice hardened. “You left belongings here. I need to know when you’re coming back.” “I’m not.” Another pause. Then he said the sentence that removed any remaining doubt. “And the letter?” Margaret felt the blood drain from her face.
“What letter?” Derek chuckled. “Don’t insult me.” Margaret said nothing. “I saw the envelope this morning,” he said. “Fancy paper. Raleigh address. Henry’s old business contacts, maybe?” Margaret’s breathing became shallow. He had seen it.
Perhaps not opened it. But he had noticed it. That meant he knew the trust had contacted her. “Whatever is in that letter affects Allison,” he said. “Which means it affects me.” “No,” Margaret replied. “It doesn’t.”
His calm disappeared. “You don’t get to decide that.” Margaret almost smiled. He had no idea how wrong he was. “Good night, Derek.” “Margaret, if you—” She ended the call. Then she immediately called Claire.
By midnight, the strategy changed. They would no longer wait. Claire prepared formal notice that Derek had no ownership interest in the condo and no authority over Collins Meridian assets. Security access to the building’s private property systems would be reviewed the next morning. Any attempt to borrow against the property would be reported.
But Margaret insisted on one condition. “Allison stays protected.” Claire nodded. “The trust can offer her temporary housing, legal support, and independent financial counseling.” “What if she refuses?” “Then we cannot force her.” Margaret hated that answer.
Yet she understood it. Allison had to choose. The next morning, Margaret received a photograph from an unknown number. It showed the guest bedroom at the condo. Her suitcase had been opened. Drawers pulled out.
Mattress lifted. Derek was searching for something. Below the image was a short message. He thinks you hid documents here. Margaret stared at the screen. A second message arrived. This is Allison. New phone. Don’t reply yet.
May you like
Margaret’s eyes filled. Then a third message appeared. I want to leave. Margaret stood so fast her hip protested. Claire looked up from across the room. “What happened?” Margaret turned the phone toward her.
For the first time since this began, hope and terror arrived together. Because Allison had finally chosen to leave. And now they had to get her out before Derek realized it.
