Chapter 3: Judy’s Voice From the Past
“If you tell your sister Bruce is mine, I’ll petition for custody,” Douglas said on the recording.
“You don’t have the money to fight me.”
Judy’s voice shook, but her answer was clear.
“You signed away every claim before he was born.”
“I can challenge that.”
“You didn’t want him, Douglas.
You wanted my father’s money.”
Douglas lunged for the phone.
Judy’s attorney stepped back and held it against her chest.
“Turn it off, Helen.”
“So that’s your name,” I said.
“Why did you wait until today?”
Helen Ward looked at Bruce.
“Judy instructed me to remain silent unless Douglas tried to marry you.”
Douglas gave a bitter laugh.
“And you followed instructions from a frightened woman instead of the law?”
“I followed my client’s written directions.”
“Stop talking about my mom like that!” Bruce shouted.
I put myself between him and Douglas.
“You’re Bruce’s father?”
Douglas lowered his voice.
“Biologically, yes.”
Bruce caught my sleeve.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because your mother asked me not to,” Douglas said.
“She kept you from me.”
Helen’s phone shook in her hand.
“That is not what happened.”
“Be careful,” Douglas said.
“Your professional license survived once.
It may not survive again.”
I looked at Helen.
“What does he mean?”
“He filed a complaint after I prepared the document surrendering his parental claim.
It was dismissed.”
“It was dismissed because you hid evidence,” Douglas snapped.
Helen tapped the screen again.
Judy’s voice filled the church.
“You haven’t called Bruce in seven years.
Now Dad’s trust is about to transfer to him, and suddenly you want to be his father?”
The recording stopped.
Douglas stared at Helen.
“You edited it.”
“I have the original.”
“Where?”
“In the place Judy chose.”
I raised the brass key.
“Box 317?”
Helen nodded.
“At Union County Bank.”
Douglas reached into his jacket.
Several guests moved at once, but he only pulled out his phone.
“I suggest you think carefully,” he told me.
“If you open that box, I file for custody today.”
“You abandoned him.”
“I have a photograph proving I was there when he was born.”
“You also signed something.”
“You haven’t seen it.”
Bruce stepped beside me.
“I don’t want to go with you.”
Douglas’s face tightened.
“You’re confused.
Your aunt has poisoned you against me.”
“He learned your name five minutes ago,” I said.
“Don’t blame me for what your own silence did.”
The officiant came down from the altar.
“Douglas, this ceremony is over.
You need to leave.”
Douglas removed the wedding ring from his pocket and placed it on the altar.
“You think Judy protected you,” he said to me.
“She used you.
Ask Helen who has been controlling Bruce’s trust since the funeral.”
“I have.”
“No,” Douglas said.
“You only think you have.”
Helen touched my arm.
“The bank closes in forty minutes.”
Douglas smiled as we turned toward the doors.
“You’d better hurry,” he called after us.
“Box 317 was opened yesterday.”
