Chapter 9: The Last Document in Beverly's Envelope
Renee arrived at the library twenty minutes later.
She walked straight toward Jada's table, holding a printed email from the bank.
Mason stood when he saw her.
"Mrs. Carter.""
Renee nodded.
"Thank you for bringing these documents.""
Mason looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't know about any of it.""
"I believe you.""
Jada handed her the account statement.
"Mom, look at the transfer.""
Renee examined the page.
Then she looked at the email.
The bank had received a request to update the contact and ownership information associated with a property financing application.
The request was incomplete.
But it listed Tasha as a proposed property contact.
Renee read the details carefully.
"How could he do this?""
Mason looked down.
"He told my mom it was an investment arrangement.""
"Did she agree?""
"She thought it was just about the apartment.""
Renee closed her eyes.
"Of course she did.""
Jada leaned forward.
"Can he actually transfer the house?""
"Not without proper authorization," Renee replied.
"But I want a lawyer to review everything.""
She looked at Mason.
"Does your mother know about this new request?""
"Not yet.""
"Call her.""
Mason stepped away from the table.
Renee turned toward Jada.
"Did you get everything?""
"Almost.""
Jada showed her the message Lionel had sent.
She won't check anything. She's too busy with school.
Renee read it.
Her jaw tightened.
"He thought you wouldn't notice.""
Jada looked at her.
"He thought I was stupid.""
"No, sweetheart.""
Renee took her hand.
"He thought you were too busy surviving the life he made difficult for you to question him.""
Jada looked down.
That sentence hurt because it was true.
For years, she had worked, studied, and tried to become independent.
She had never realized how much of that independence had been necessary because her father kept choosing to spend their family's money elsewhere.
Renee put the papers back into the folder.
"We're going to the attorney tomorrow.""
Jada nodded.
Then Mason returned.
"My mom wants to meet you both.""
Renee considered it.
"Today?""
"She said she's willing to bring the original documents.""
Renee glanced at Jada.
"Let's do it.""
An hour later, the three of them were sitting around Tasha's dining table.
Tasha had prepared a folder containing the original truck financing agreement, account statements, and copies of emails.
She looked exhausted.
"I didn't know he was using your information," she told Renee.
"I understand.""
"I know that doesn't fix anything.""
"No, it doesn't.""
Tasha nodded.
She placed a new document on the table.
"This is what I found in the apartment.""
It was a property-related agreement.
Renee scanned the first page.
The document described a proposed transfer of financial interest in the Westerville apartment.
Lionel's name appeared as the primary party.
Tasha's name appeared as the intended recipient.
But there was another section.
A statement of assets and liabilities.
Renee looked at the numbers.
The listed assets included their suburban family home.
The listed liabilities included several personal loans.
And under the section marked SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION was a reference to Renee's financial information.
"Why is my information here?"" Renee asked.
Tasha looked uncomfortable.
"Lionel told me he had your permission.""
Renee shook her head.
"How many times did he tell you that?""
"Many.""
Tasha sat down.
"He said you were aware of the apartment. He said you wanted Mason to have a stable place to stay when he visited. He even told me you had offered to help with the bills.""
Renee stared at her.
"Did he ever say we were separated?""
"At first.""
"And later?""
"He said we had a private arrangement.""
Renee gave a small nod.
"That explains everything.""
Tasha looked down.
"I know you're angry with me.""
"I'm angry about what happened. But I'm not going to pretend I know everything you believed.""
Tasha wiped her cheek.
"I should have asked more questions.""
"So should I.""
The two women sat in silence.
Then Jada noticed something at the bottom of the agreement.
A witness signature.
She leaned closer.
"Mom.""
Renee followed her gaze.
The signature belonged to Beverly.
Tasha nodded.
"Beverly witnessed the document.""
Renee looked up.
"She knew about this?""
Tasha hesitated.
"She knew about the apartment arrangement. Lionel said she was helping him organize the property documents.""
Renee leaned back.
For a moment, she felt the old anger returning.
Beverly had known about the apartment.
She had known about Mason.
She had accepted money to stay quiet.
And now there was a signature proving she had been more involved than she had admitted.
"Did Beverly know I hadn't signed these documents?"" Renee asked.
Tasha shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Jada picked up the document.
"Why would Aunt Beverly sign as a witness if she thought Mom agreed?""
Nobody answered.
Tasha opened another folder.
"This is why I wanted to show you something else.""
She removed a printed email.
It was sent from Lionel to Beverly.
The date was two months earlier.
The subject line read:
*PROPERTY TRANSFER — FINAL STEPS.*
Renee read the first paragraph.
I need you to confirm the documents are in order. Renee still believes the house is protected under our original agreement. Once the loan is approved, I'll handle the remaining details.
Renee stopped.
She read the sentence again.
"Original agreement?""
Tasha nodded.
"That's what I asked him about.""
"What did he say?""
"He told me it was a financial arrangement between him and Renee.""
Renee looked up.
"There is no original agreement.""
Tasha pulled out another page.
"Then what is this?""
It was an old document.
Dated four years earlier.
A household financial authorization form.
Renee's name appeared at the bottom.
Again, the signature looked like hers.
Again, she had never signed it.
But this time, there was something different.
The document contained a clause authorizing Lionel to manage certain financial transactions on behalf of the household.
Renee read it carefully.
Then she noticed the witness section.
Beverly Carter.
Her sister-in-law had signed it.
Renee pushed the paper away.
"She told me she had only discovered the apartment last summer.""
Tasha lowered her eyes.
"I think she knew more than she admitted.""
Jada looked at her mother.
"Are we sure she wasn't helping him the whole time?""
Renee didn't answer.
She had spent the previous night believing Beverly was finally coming clean.
Now she wasn't sure whether Beverly had confessed because she felt guilty or because Lionel's plans were beginning to collapse.
Tasha stood and walked toward a cabinet.
"I kept one more thing.""
She returned with a small envelope.
"This came to my apartment last week.""
Renee opened it.
Inside was a printed photograph.
It showed Lionel and Beverly sitting together at a restaurant.
They were not sitting across from each other.
They were seated side by side, looking at a document.
The date was visible.
Three weeks earlier.
Renee studied the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
"Someone left it under my door.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
Tasha pointed to the table in the photograph.
A folder lay open between them.
The same folder Renee had seen at Beverly's house during the cookout.
Renee felt her pulse quicken.
"Did you ask Lionel about this?""
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
"He said Beverly was helping him prepare a surprise for you.""
Renee almost laughed.
"A surprise?""
Tasha nodded.
"He said he was going to put the family house into a trust.""
Renee looked at the photograph again.
Then she noticed something written on the back.
A handwritten note.
Ask Beverly who owns the company.
Renee turned the photograph over.
"Which company?""
Tasha pointed to the document visible in the picture.
Renee zoomed in with her phone.
The company name was printed across the top.
*BC FAMILY HOLDINGS LLC.*
Renee looked at Jada.
"BC.""
Jada frowned.
"Beverly Carter?""
Renee nodded.
Then she called Beverly.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Beverly answered.
"Renee?""
"Who owns BC Family Holdings?""
Silence.
"Beverly?""
Her sister-in-law exhaled.
"Where did you get that name?""
"Answer me.""
Another pause.
Then Beverly said:
"I do.""
Renee closed her eyes.
"Why is your company listed on Lionel's property transfer documents?""
Beverly's voice trembled.
"Because he told me he was protecting the house.""
"From whom?""
"Creditors.""
"What creditors?""
"Renee, I swear I didn't know he was planning to transfer it to Tasha.""
Renee stared at the photograph.
"Then why is your signature on the authorization?""
Beverly began crying.
"Because he told me you had already agreed.""
Renee's voice hardened.
"You keep saying that. Did you ever speak to me?""
"No.""
"Did you ever ask me?""
"No.""
"Then why did you sign?""
Beverly sobbed.
"Because I believed my brother.""
Renee closed her eyes.
For several seconds, all she could hear was Beverly crying through the phone.
Then Beverly said something that made Renee sit upright.
"There's something I haven't told you about the $12,000.""
"What?""
"It wasn't a loan.""
Renee frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Beverly's voice dropped.
"Lionel didn't borrow that money to support Tasha.""
"Then what did he use it for?""
"He transferred it to BC Family Holdings.""
Renee looked at the photograph.
"Why?""
"Because he told me the company was being set up to protect the family home.""
"And who was the money for?""
Beverly went quiet.
Then she whispered:
"Me.""
Renee froze.
"What?""
Beverly continued.
"Lionel promised me a share of the house if I helped him complete the transfer.""
Renee stared at the phone.
Her sister-in-law had not merely been protecting Lionel.
She had been promised something in return.
"How much?""
"Twenty-five percent.""
Renee felt sick.
"Of my house?""
"Yes.""
Jada covered her mouth.
Renee looked at the table.
For years, Beverly had stood beside her at family celebrations, eaten at her table, watched Jada grow up, and called Renee her sister.
All while secretly participating in a plan to take part of the family's home.
"Why are you telling me now?"" Renee asked.
Beverly's voice broke.
"Because Lionel called me this morning.""
"What did he say?""
"He said the deal was off.""
Renee waited.
"Then he told me I needed to take responsibility for the documents if anyone asked.""
Renee's expression hardened.
"He wants you to take the blame.""
Beverly began crying harder.
"Yes.""
Renee ended the call.
Tasha stared at her.
"What are you going to do?""
Renee gathered the documents.
"Something I should have done years ago.""
She looked at Jada.
"We're getting every original document, every bank record, and every message we can find.""
Jada nodded.
Then Renee looked at Tasha.
"And nobody signs anything else for Lionel.""
Tasha shook her head.
"Not again.""
That evening, Renee received an email from the attorney's office.
The subject line read:
*URGENT — PROPERTY AND FINANCIAL DOCUMENT REVIEW.*
She opened it.
The attorney had examined the preliminary documents and found something concerning.
The transfer request wasn't simply an attempt to borrow against the house.
It appeared to be part of a larger arrangement involving a company registered under Beverly's name.
But the final paragraph was the one Renee couldn't stop reading.
We also discovered a notarized document dated four years ago that appears to grant Lionel Carter authority to act on your behalf in certain property matters. Before taking further action, we need to establish whether you personally appeared before the notary.
Renee stared at the screen.
She had never visited a notary for that document.
She had never signed it.
And she was beginning to understand that the most dangerous part of Lionel's secret life wasn't the woman in Westerville.
It was how many people he had convinced to help him turn his lies into official paperwork.
Her phone rang.
The attorney.
Renee answered.
"Hello?""
The attorney's voice was serious.
"Mrs. Carter, there's one more issue. The notary who witnessed the document is deceased, but we located the original notarial journal.""
Renee gripped the phone.
"And?""
The attorney paused.
"Your husband wasn't the person who appeared before the notary.""
Renee's stomach dropped.
"Who was?""
May you like
The attorney took a breath.
"Your sister-in-law, Beverly Carter.""
