Chapter 14 - The Third Signature
I told Adrian the bylaws had to be wrong. My father repaired cameras. He didn't vote on charity budgets.
"He was named an independent community trustee before he died," Adrian said. "Grandmother added the seat after he raised concerns about oversight. The foundation never updated the public roster."
"So the vote passed to me?"
"Potentially. We need a probate attorney to confirm the succession clause."
Simone reviewed the documents before I signed anything. She found the clause, dated years before the fraud. It named the adult heir of the Bennett household as successor to Daniel's seat. I was the oldest.
"It's legitimate," she said. "But understand what this means. They have a reason to attack you that has nothing to do with that video."
I already understood. Vanessa had tried to humiliate the person whose signature could open the accounts.
I returned to Sterling House in a gray coat, accompanied by Simone and Ortiz. The ballroom had been cleared. Someone had replaced the shattered rose arrangement, but a pale stain remained between the marble tiles.
Eleanor was waiting in her study.
"I should have come to your father's funeral," she said.
"Yes," I answered.
Her eyes shone. "I thought paying for your brother's tuition would make up for something."
I stared at her. "You paid Noah's tuition?"
"Through a scholarship. Without your knowing."
"That wasn't yours to hide from us."
"No," she whispered. "It wasn't."
She handed me a folder containing Daniel's original trustee appointment and a handwritten note: A board needs someone brave enough to say no.
Adrian and I signed the request for a special accounting. Simone witnessed it. The papers went to the foundation's counsel and the state attorney general's office at the same time.
By dinner, the foundation had forty-eight hours to produce its records or face an emergency court petition.
Vanessa sent a message from her private number.
YOU CAN HAVE THE MONEY BACK. ALL OF IT. JUST LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE.
May you like
I didn't reply.
Then a second message arrived: ASK YOUR BROTHER WHY HE TOOK MY CALL.
