Chapter 4: The Voice Meredith Couldn’t Deny

“Naomi Bell,” the attorney said as she stepped inside.

“Meredith, move away from the folder.”

Meredith blocked the doorway.

“This is a family matter.”

Naomi raised the recording device.

“It became a legal matter when you filed that petition.”

Mrs.

Whitaker motioned her in.

Naomi sat beside me and removed three signed papers from her briefcase.

“I met with your mother twice this week,” she said.

“Once with her physician present.

She understood every provision of the new fund.”

Meredith’s mouth tightened.

“You coached her.”

“Then you won’t mind hearing her explain it in her own words.”

Naomi pressed a button.

Mrs.

Whitaker’s recorded voice filled the kitchen.

“I am creating this fund because Meredith canceled a scholarship without authority.

Carly did not request money, property, or employment.

This decision is mine.”

Meredith reached for the recorder.

Naomi pulled it back.

“There’s more.”

Another voice came through the speaker.

It was Meredith’s.

“Sign the moving papers, Mother.

I’ll handle the accounts once the house closes.”

Mrs.

Whitaker gripped the edge of the table.

“When did she record that?”

“The day you brought her documents to my office,” Naomi said.

“You asked me to check them.”

Meredith turned to her mother.

“You went through my papers?”

“They had my name on them.”

“I was trying to simplify your life.”

“You were trying to control it.”

Meredith pointed at me.

“She filled your head with this.”

“I didn’t know there was a foundation until today.”

“That won’t matter when your cleaning clients learn you accepted a position from a confused woman.”

I stood.

“Leave my clients out of this.”

“Then walk away.

Decline the trustee appointment and tell Willa to withdraw.”

“Willa earned that scholarship.”

“She’ll lose more than a scholarship if this becomes public.”

Mrs.

Whitaker stepped between us.

“Are you threatening a seventeen-year-old girl?”

“I’m warning Carly what scandal looks like.”

Naomi closed her briefcase.

“And I’m warning you that retaliation will be documented.”

Meredith grabbed her purse and headed for the back door.

I followed her onto the porch.

“Did you contact Willa’s school?”

She turned slowly.

“Ask the principal on Monday.”

“What did you tell them?”

“That a student may have received favorable treatment from a donor connected to her mother.”

“She hasn’t received a cent.”

“Not yet.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because my mother’s judgment began failing the moment she decided a cleaner belonged in my place.”

I took one step toward her.

“I never asked to be in your place.”

“You took it every Thursday for eight years.”

She walked to her car and slammed the door.

Mrs.

Whitaker came onto the porch, leaning on Naomi’s arm.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“You didn’t make her do this.”

“No, but I kept excusing her.”

My phone rang before I could answer.

It was Willa.

“Mom, the principal called me into his office.

He asked whether I pressured an elderly woman for scholarship money.”

“You did nothing wrong.”

“He said someone sent him documents.”

Naomi held out her hand for the phone.

“Willa, this is Naomi Bell.

Save every message and answer no more questions without your mother present.”

A car door closed at the curb.

A man in a gray suit walked toward us with an envelope.

“Carly Bennett?”

“Yes.”

He handed me the envelope and stepped back.

Inside was a temporary court order.

The new fund was frozen, Mrs.

Whitaker’s accounts were restricted, and Meredith had been appointed temporary financial guardian until a hearing.

Meredith lowered her car window.

“You should have taken the warning, Carly.”