Linda was not the beneficiary.
I was.
I stared at Victor.
“Why?”
His answer was simple.
“Because you stayed.”
I almost laughed.
“I lived in Chicago for four years.”
“You still called every Sunday.”
Natalie continued.
If Victor was no longer able to manage his affairs, a successor trustee would temporarily handle the shares for him.
Eventually, according to his estate plan, the interest would pass to me.
But six weeks earlier, someone had attempted to change part of the arrangement.
Documents had been submitted naming Linda as the new successor trustee.
They carried Victor’s signature.
Victor said he had never signed them.
Then Natalie added:
“Grant was listed as the witness.”
That was the moment Mom’s cruise stopped looking like simple selfishness.
Something much larger was happening.
Mom had already withdrawn about $86,000 from the joint savings.
She had claimed the money was being used for household expenses and Victor’s recovery.
Instead, she had booked an expensive Caribbean cruise.
Grant was apparently going with her.
They were supposed to leave four days later.
But the visible savings suddenly seemed almost irrelevant compared with Victor’s trust.
If Victor could be portrayed as too confused or unwell to manage his affairs, the questionable paperwork could potentially give Linda enormous influence over the shares.
A detective named Marcus Bell arrived later that evening.
He listened carefully.
