PART 10 — The secret of the old safe
“Come in, detective,” I said with a voice in which not a trace of hesitation remained. I completely ignored the panicky glances of Mark and Sarah and pointed toward the living room.
The detective stepped inside, shook out his wet coat, and laid a thick, soaked dossier folder on the dining table – the same table where Mark used to do his homework. Mark and Sarah nervously shuffled behind it, their faces pale from the accumulation of unexpected developments.
“What on earth is going on here?” Mark demanded to know, his voice cracking into panic. “Why is the police meddling in a civil probate issue?”
“This is long past a simple civil matter, Mr. De Vries,” Detective Visser replied coolly, opening the folder and pulling out a number of yellowed bank statements and legal documents. “This morning, right after Notary Van Houten activated the foundation, an old safe registered in the name of your father, the late Willem De Vries, was opened at the district archive. And inside we found documents revealing the true origin of this real estate.”
I sat down calmly on the sofa, watching the papers spread out before me. “What origin, detective?” I asked softly.
“The house on Lindelaan was not bought at the time with your husband's savings or his inheritance, Mrs. De Vries,” Visser said, pointing to an official document. “It was bought with money originating from a secret family fund belonging to your own family – money your father left to you after his passing, but which Willem back then, via a power of attorney you kindly signed at the time, used to purchase this property... in your name as exclusive private property.”
The silence that followed was deafening. I felt shockwaves pull through my body. My own father had left me that money. And Willem had used it back then... not as his own investment, but as protection for me.
