Mom’s letter explained everything. She had deliberately made Dad co-trustee, but she’d included one crucial protection: every withdrawal also required approval from an independent attorney, Mr. Callahan. She had distrusted Diane even then. If anyone tried bypassing that requirement, the trust would automatically freeze and remain inaccessible until I turned thirty. My father hadn’t forged anything—but he’d allowed himself to be pressured into signing.

An hour later, Dad called from a parking lot. Diane had convinced him the money was being used for legitimate family expenses, and he’d been too ashamed to admit what happened. I immediately contacted Mr. Callahan. He confirmed he’d never authorized a single withdrawal. The bank had already flagged every transfer connected to Vanessa’s Martha’s Vineyard wedding. The trust was frozen, and the expensive vendors had spent two weeks waiting for payments that were never going to clear. But my binder contained something even more damaging.