Chapter 6 - The Doctor’s Letter
The report was dated eight months earlier.
Eli read it twice.
Possible cognitive decline. Episodes of confusion. Recommend further assessment.
Signed by Dr. Martin Wells.
Evelyn’s primary care physician.
“Possible,” Evelyn said. “Recommend.”
Paul folded his hands.
“The court will consider it.”
Eli pushed the document back.
“This doesn’t declare her incompetent.”
“No.”
“So why are you threatening her with it?”
Paul’s gaze remained calm.
“I’m explaining risk.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You always had a talent for making threats sound like invoices.”
Paul ignored the insult.
“Vanessa is concerned.”
“Vanessa mortgaged my orchard.”
“She acted under authority she believed valid.”
“You drafted that authority.”
Paul’s jaw tightened.
“I drafted documents at your request.”
“I requested a limited authorization during rehabilitation.”
“My notes differ.”
“Then produce them.”
Silence.
Eli watched him.
That was the first crack.
Paul closed his briefcase.
“Beacon Crest could foreclose.”
“So you keep saying.”
“The development sale is the cleanest solution.”
“For whom?”
“For everyone.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“No, Paul. For someone.”
Paul rose.
“I have represented this family for twenty-six years.”
“And somewhere along the way, you began representing its money instead.”
He stared at her.
Then he turned toward Eli.
“Your grandmother is making decisions based on emotion.”
Eli replied, “It’s her property.”
“You think that check makes you independent?”
Eli’s skin prickled.
“How do you know about the check?”
Paul stopped.
Evelyn’s eyes sharpened.
Nobody outside the house and June Mercer’s office should have known.
Paul recovered quickly.
“Vanessa called me.”
Eli remembered Vanessa leaving in fury.
Possible.
But something felt wrong.
Paul put on his coat.
“Think carefully, Evelyn.”
She opened the door.
“I finally am.”
After he left, Eli locked it.
“Do you believe Vanessa told him?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because Vanessa did not know the amount until last night.”
“So?”
Evelyn looked toward the road where Paul’s taillights disappeared.
“Paul knew before asking.”
Eli frowned.
“He said ‘that check.’”
“Yes.”
“He could have meant any check.”
“He knew.”
Evelyn’s certainty unsettled him.
The next morning, Sarah Klein arrived with an independent geriatric specialist.
Evelyn consented voluntarily to a capacity evaluation.
Two hours later, the doctor closed her notebook.
“Mrs. Harper, you know the date, location, nature of your assets, immediate family members, and consequences of the transactions we discussed.”
Evelyn smiled.
“I also know my grandson drinks too much coffee.”
Eli raised his cup.
The doctor continued.
“I see no basis to conclude you lack financial decision-making capacity.”
Sarah looked satisfied.
“Document everything.”
They did.
Later, Sarah examined the old power of attorney.
“The notarization is a problem,” she said.
“Why?”
“The notary stamp belongs to Paul’s former paralegal.”
“Former?”
“She died in 2022.”
Eli looked at the document.
The power of attorney was dated 2024.
Evelyn whispered, “Then the notarization is impossible.”
Sarah nodded.
“If this copy reflects the original document, yes.”
For the first time, they had something concrete.
Not poor judgment.
Not family conflict.
Potential forgery.
Sarah advised contacting law enforcement but warned that financial investigations took time.
Evelyn agreed.
That afternoon, Eli drove to the apartment building with the $250,000 check still undeposited.
He stood beneath the leaking roof and watched water drip into a bucket.
A tenant named Mrs. Alvarez approached.
“Your grandmother okay?”
“I think so.”
“She always fixes things.”
Eli looked at the ceiling.
“Not lately.”
Mrs. Alvarez lowered her voice.
“That man told us not to call her.”
“What man?”
“The lawyer.”
Eli turned.
“Paul?”
“I don’t know his name. Gray hair. Fancy coat.”
“When?”
“Months ago.”
“What did he say?”
“That Mrs. Harper wasn’t handling things anymore.”
Eli felt cold.
“Who did he tell you to call?”
Mrs. Alvarez walked to the noticeboard.
A laminated sheet hung beside the mailboxes.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CONTACT — NORTH RIDGE RESTORATION
Eli photographed it.
At the bottom was a phone number.
He called.
A recorded voice answered.
“North Ridge Restoration. Please leave a message.”
Eli recognized the voice.
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It wasn’t Paul Denton.
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