Chapter 13 - GRANDPA’S TOOLS
Police took the threat seriously.
The toolbox was dusted for prints.
Nothing useful.
The man Jake sold the tools to was contacted.
His name was Frank Bell.
He owned a small repair shop in Oceanside.
Frank told investigators a man had bought the tools from him two days earlier.
Cash.
“Description?” Jake asked.
Frank hesitated.
“About sixty. Expensive watch. Gray Mercedes.”
Dad.
Jake paced Daniel’s office.
“He bought them back just to threaten me?”
“Maybe,” Daniel said.
“No.”
I looked at the note again.
“Dad knew those tools mattered to Jake.”
The message wasn’t about money.
It was control.
I called Dad.
Daniel told me not to.
I called anyway.
He answered immediately.
“Emily.”
“Did you leave the toolbox?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then how did you know I was talking about a toolbox?”
Silence.
Got him.
“You think you’re smarter than everyone,” he said.
“No. I just finally stopped believing you.”
His voice hardened.
“You’re going to regret this.”
“Is that another threat?”
“It’s advice.”
“No, Dad. Advice is what Grandpa gave you when he told you not to steal from your children.”
He hung up.
Three hours later, Dad’s attorney contacted Daniel.
They wanted a settlement.
A real one this time.
Full restoration of my trust.
Full restoration of Jake’s.
Restoration of Noah’s funds.
Dad would step down as trustee and surrender several assets.
In return, we would support leniency in any criminal case.
Jake stared at me.
“That’s everything.”
“No,” I said.
“What else do you want?”
“The truth.”
Daniel looked interested.
I continued.
“I want a written accounting.”
Rachel nodded.
“Every dollar?”
“Every dollar.”
“And?”
“I want a statement acknowledging what they did.”
Jake studied me.
“You want an apology?”
“No.”
I looked at Dad’s offer.
“Apologies are words.”
“I want evidence.”
The settlement meeting took place two days later.
Dad sat across from me.
Mom beside him.
Madison attended with her own lawyer.
Dad looked exhausted.
“You got what you wanted,” he said.
“No.”
“What else could you possibly want?”
I slid Grandpa’s letter across the table.
“I want you to read the last paragraph out loud.”
Dad didn’t move.
“Read it.”
His attorney whispered something.
Dad picked up the letter.
His jaw tightened.
Then he read Grandpa’s words.
“If Robert uses Emily or Jake’s money without their consent, it is theft.”
His voice cracked on the final word.
Nobody moved.
Then Jake leaned forward.
“And Noah?”
Dad stared at him.
Jake repeated the question.
“What about Noah?”
Dad’s face changed.
Not guilt.
Fear.
I noticed.
So did Daniel.
Daniel opened another file.
“Robert, there’s something you haven’t told us about Grace’s accident.”
Dad stood abruptly.
His attorney grabbed his arm.
“Sit down.”
My heart started pounding.
“What accident?” I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“The police report says Grace was driving a car registered to your father.”
May you like
Then he turned to Dad.
“And somebody tampered with that car two days before she died.”
