“Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell had become concerned about unusual financial activity involving the trust established for Victoria. They began documenting those concerns months before their deaths.”
“What financial activity?” the judge asked.
“Attempts to borrow against assets that would eventually become part of the children’s inheritance.”
Denise shook her head furiously.
“That’s a lie.”
Her attorney touched her shoulder.
She stopped.
Daniel opened another folder.
“Three applications were submitted to private lenders using estimated values of property belonging to the Mitchell estate. Two contained signatures purported to belong to Robert Mitchell.”
He paused.
“According to a handwriting expert retained by the estate, those signatures were forged.”
Howard lowered his head.
I felt sick.
All those family dinners.
Christmas mornings.
Howard bringing Dad expensive whiskey.
Denise hugging Mom in the kitchen.
They had smiled at us while trying to steal from us.
But something still didn’t fit.
“Why didn’t my parents tell me?” I whispered.
