Chapter 5 - PRUDENCE HAD ALREADY RESERVED ISAAC’S ROOMCedric barely slept.
At seven the next morning, he drove to Naomi Brooks’s office.
She had the revocation papers ready.
He signed them.
Naomi sent formal notice to schools, doctors, Ridgeway, the bank, and any institution where Prudence might attempt to use the old authority.
Then Cedric placed the Ridgeway brochure on Naomi’s desk.
“She enrolled Isaac.”
Naomi’s expression changed.
“Without your consent?”
“She used the power of attorney.”
Naomi picked up the brochure.
“That document never gave her authority for long-term residential placement.”
“She apparently convinced them it did.”
“Then Ridgeway has a problem too.”
Cedric leaned forward.
“Why would she want him in Utah?”
Naomi looked at him.
“What does Prudence believe happens if Isaac isn’t physically living in the house when the trust is signed?”
“She asked me that.”
“I know.”
“I told her nothing.”
Cedric frowned.
“Then maybe the trust isn’t the point.”
“What is?”
Naomi thought.
“Access.”
“To what?”
“To you.”
Cedric stared.
Naomi continued.
“Isaac is the person most likely to tell you what Prudence is doing.”
Cedric thought of the shoebox.
The photograph.
The overheard conversations.
“He sees things.”
“Yes.”
“And she wanted him away before I signed.”
Naomi nodded.
“Maybe because she needed time alone with you.”
Cedric felt cold.
“To do what?”
Naomi opened Cedric’s estate file.
“Let’s talk about the house.”
The property had belonged partly to Hannah through her premarital funds.
After her death, her share transferred to Cedric under survivorship provisions.
Cedric now owned it outright.
The trust would place the home beyond ordinary personal claims and preserve it for Isaac.
“Could Prudence stop that?”
“Not legally.”
“Could Nolan?”
“No.”
“Could anyone?”
“Only you.”
Cedric looked at her.
“If I signed something else first.”
Naomi nodded.
“Exactly.”
A loan.
A deed.
A lien.
A transfer.
Anything encumbering the property before the trust took ownership could create enormous complications.
Cedric thought about Prudence’s remark.
You always think paperwork makes things permanent.
“What if she planned to get me to sign something?”
Naomi looked concerned.
“Has she given you documents recently?”
Cedric thought.
Insurance renewals.
Household bills.
A folder Prudence placed on his desk last month.
“I signed something for a roof repair.”
Naomi sat straighter.
“What?”
“Contractor authorization.”
“Do you have a copy?”
Cedric searched his email.
Nothing.
Prudence handled it.
He called the roofing company.
They had no contract in his name.
No recent work.
Cedric’s pulse hammered.
Naomi said quietly:
“Cedric, you need to review every document you signed through Prudence.”
He drove home.
Mateo met him at the door.
“Something happened.”
Cedric stopped.
“What?”
“Someone came last night.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Mateo had returned early to retrieve tools.
He saw a gray sedan outside.
A man entered through the side door using a key.
“Did you call police?”
“I thought maybe he was authorized.”
“Did you photograph the plate?”
Mateo nodded.
Thank God.
Cedric called police.
Nothing obvious had been stolen.
But his home office had been disturbed.
One drawer slightly open.
Files shifted.
The locked cabinet containing property documents remained closed.
Then Cedric noticed the printer.
One sheet of paper in the output tray.
A copier error page.
He checked the device history.
Three weeks earlier, seventeen pages had been scanned to an external email address.
The address was partially visible.
nprice@...
Nolan.
Cedric’s stomach dropped.
He called him.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
Cedric drove to Nolan’s office.
The receptionist said Nolan had called in sick.
Cedric asked where he lived.
She couldn’t disclose it.
Cedric knew.
He had been to Nolan’s home for dinner.
Twenty-five minutes later, Nolan opened the door.
His face changed the instant he saw Cedric.
“Cedric.”
“Why did my printer send seventeen pages to your email?”
Nolan looked confused.
“What?”
“My property documents.”
“I don’t know.”
“Prudence?”
Nolan looked away.
Cedric stepped closer.
“Did you tell her about Isaac’s trust?”
Nolan closed his eyes.
“Come inside.”
That was the answer.
Cedric entered.
Nolan poured himself water with shaking hands.
“How much did she tell you?”
Cedric almost laughed.
“She didn’t.”
Nolan looked up.
“My eight-year-old did.”
Silence.
Cedric continued.
“She’s been abusing him.”
Nolan’s face went pale.
“What?”
“She arranged to send him to a residential facility in Utah.”
Nolan sat down.
“I didn’t know that.”
“Then tell me what you did know.”
Nolan rubbed his face.
“Your father made Prudence a promise.”
Cedric froze.
“What promise?”
“He told her this house would eventually be hers.”
Cedric stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because Dad didn’t own it when he died.”
Nolan looked at him.
“I know.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
Nolan swallowed.
“Prudence believes Hannah cheated her out of it.”
Cedric stopped breathing.
“Hannah?”
Nolan nodded.
“And she has spent years trying to prove the house was purchased with money that should have belonged to the Carter family.”
Cedric felt anger rise.
“What does that have to do with you?”
Nolan looked ashamed.
“She hired me to help find the records.”
“You work for me.”
“I know.”
“How much?”
Nolan said nothing.
“How much did she pay you?”
“Twenty thousand.”
Cedric stared.
“Why?”
Nolan’s eyes dropped.
“Because I owe money.”
“To who?”
Silence.
Then:
“The same people Prudence owes.”
Cedric felt cold.
“What people?”
Nolan whispered:
“A private lender.”
Cedric stared.
“And what did Prudence promise them?”
May you like
Nolan looked him in the eye.
“Your house.”
Related Stories
