Chapter 3 - THE FIRST DOCUMENT
Helen’s attorney was named Rachel Sloan.
She had handled Thomas Carter’s estate.
Rachel arrived at the house while Jason was at the gym.
Helen handed her a folder.
Bank statements.
Rachel frowned.
“Why do you have these highlighted?”
“Because I don’t recognize the transfers.”
Twenty-three thousand dollars.
Then forty-eight thousand.
Then twelve thousand.
Payments to:
CARTER MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC.
Rachel looked up.
“Jason’s company?”
Helen nodded.
“What services?”
“He says property management.”
“For this house?”
“Yes.”
“Did you sign an agreement?”
“No.”
Rachel searched county and corporate records.
Carter Management Services existed.
Manager:
Jason Carter.
Then she found a contract.
Signed:
Helen Carter.
Monthly management fee:
$7,500.
Reimbursement authority:
up to $50,000 without further approval.
Helen stared.
“That is not my signature.”
Rachel compared it to estate documents.
Close.
Not identical.
Then another file.
A home-equity line of credit application.
Requested:
$600,000.
Status:
pending.
Applicant:
Helen Carter.
Co-borrower:
Jason Carter.
Helen’s face went white.
“I never applied for that.”
Rachel’s expression changed.
“This is no longer just about him being cruel.”
Helen whispered:
“What is it?”
“Financial exploitation.”
Then Rachel turned the page.
There was a physician letter attached.
It stated Helen had:
progressive cognitive decline,
difficulty managing finances,
and increasing dependence on her adult son.
Helen stared.
“My doctor never wrote that.”
Rachel looked closer.
The letterhead was real.
The doctor’s name was real.
The signature?
Maybe not.
Then Helen understood.
May you like
Jason was not simply waiting to inherit.
He was preparing to take control before she died.
