Chương 9
"I received your email."
"Did my mother send you something?"
"Not yet."
Ryan exhaled.
"But there is something you need to know."
His relief disappeared.
Hargrove continued.
"Your mother called my office twice this week."
"This week?"
"Tuesday and Thursday."
Ryan looked at Nora.
"What did she want?"
"Information I would not give her."
"What kind of information?"
"Whether you had submitted your beneficiary acknowledgment."
Ryan's stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"She said she was helping the family coordinate documents."
"She isn't."
"I gathered that."
"Did she ask about the disclaimer?"
"Yes."
Ryan's fingers went cold.
"Specifically?"
"Very."
Hargrove paused.
"She asked what happens if one beneficiary voluntarily refuses his share."
Ryan stared at the floor.
"Did you tell her?"
"I gave only general information."
"Which means?"
"That a valid disclaimer may cause the disclaimed interest to pass according to the governing instrument and applicable law."
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
"She wouldn't understand that."
"She asked a follow-up question."
"What?"
"Whether a signed disclaimer had to be notarized."
Nora's eyes widened.
Ryan gripped the phone tighter.
"What did you tell her?"
"That the requirements depend on the document and jurisdiction, and that I would not advise her regarding another beneficiary's rights."
"Would mine need to be notarized?"
"Yes."
Ryan almost laughed from relief.
"Then she can't do anything."
"Mr. Mercer."
Something in Hargrove's tone stopped him.
"What?"
"A notary acknowledgment can be forged."
Ryan went still.
The lawyer continued.
"It can also be fraudulently obtained."
Nora shifted closer.
Ryan put the phone on speaker.
Hargrove said, "I am not suggesting that has happened."
"But you're worried."
"I'm cautious."
"What's the difference right now?"
"Evidence."
Ryan almost smiled despite himself.
He liked Hargrove immediately.
"What should I do?"
"First, do not sign anything from any family member related to your father's estate."
"That part won't be difficult."
"Second, send me a copy of anything you signed for your mother in June, if you can obtain it."
"I don't have it."
"Then ask the lender involved in the refinance for the executed packet."
Ryan frowned.
"Would they give it to me?"
"If you were a co-signer, likely yes, though procedures vary."
"I was."
"Good."
Hargrove paused.
"Third, if you discover that a signature page was used for something other than what you intended, preserve everything."
"Messages?"
"Messages, emails, envelopes, scans, dates, names."
Nora nodded as though the lawyer could see her.
Ryan said, "What about my sisters?"
"What about them?"
"They're beneficiaries."
"Correct."
"Do they know?"
Another pause.
Hargrove said, "I cannot disclose my communications with other parties beyond what is appropriate."
Ryan felt frustration flare.
"They're my sisters."
"I understand."
"Can you at least tell me whether you've contacted them?"
"I can tell you notices were sent to all identified beneficiaries."
"When?"
"Six weeks ago."
Ryan looked at Nora.
"If they got notices, why are they searching my house?"
"I can't answer that."
"Could my mother have intercepted them?"
"I can't answer that either."
Ryan pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.
Hargrove continued.
"Mr. Mercer, I can tell you something else."
Ryan waited.
"Your mother's address was initially listed as the forwarding address for two of your sisters."
"Which two?"
"Paige and Brooke."
Ryan's eyes closed.
Marla had known exactly where their notices would go.
"What about Tessa?"
"Separate address."
"Did hers come back?"
"I should not discuss delivery details tonight."
Ryan heard the boundary and forced himself not to push.
"Okay."
"One more point."
"Yeah?"
"If there is any possibility of coercion or misuse of your signature, do not confront anyone about specific evidence until you know what exists."
Ryan looked at Nora.
"Why?"
"Because evidence disappears."
The sentence was quiet.
It changed the room.
Ryan thanked him and ended the call.
For several seconds, he and Nora stared at the phone.
Then Nora said, "Your mom got Paige and Brooke's letters."
"Maybe."
"Ryan."
"I know."
He stood and walked two steps before the IV pole stopped Nora from following with her eyes comfortably.
He came back.
"Sorry."
"You don't have to pace in a three-foot square."
"I'm trying not to punch furniture."
"Hospital furniture is probably expensive."
"That is genuinely helping."
Nora pulled the blanket tighter around her legs.
"What are you thinking?"
"That I should call Paige."
"No."
"Just ask whether she got anything from the lawyer."
"That's exactly what he told you not to do."
"He said don't confront them about evidence."
"Calling Paige at one-thirty in the morning to casually discuss inheritance would be subtle."
Ryan exhaled.
"Fine."
His phone buzzed again.
This time it was Brooke.
Not a call.
A message.
Are you still at hospital?
Ryan showed Nora.
"Answer that," she said.
"Why?"
"Because Brooke showed me Paige's post."
Ryan typed yes.
Brooke replied almost immediately.
Is Nora okay?
Ryan stared at the words.
He typed, Doctors are watching her.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Then:
I didn't know she hadn't eaten.
Ryan felt anger rise.
He typed, You were in my apartment.
Nora touched his arm.
"Don't attack her."
"I'm stating a fact."
"You're angry at four people, and Brooke is the only one texting about me."
Ryan deleted the line.
He wrote, What did you think was happening?
Brooke took nearly a minute to respond.
Mom said Nora was being dramatic and refusing food to make us feel bad.
Ryan looked at Nora.
She turned her face away.
He typed more slowly.
Did Nora refuse food?
Brooke replied:
Not exactly.
Ryan's jaw tightened.
What does that mean?
Another pause.
Paige ordered pizza.
Nora said she couldn't eat it.
Mom said if she wanted something else she could make it herself.
Ryan stared.
Brooke sent another message before he answered.
I offered to go get soup.
Paige said stop babying her.
Ryan looked at Nora.
"Did Brooke offer you soup?"
Nora nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she didn't get it."
Ryan read the next message.
I should've gone anyway.
The anger inside him shifted.
Not gone.
May you like
Not forgiven.
Just moved.
