Chapter 9 - The Other Sterling
Charles Sterling lived in a private rehabilitation center under another name. Officially he'd retired after heart surgery. Unofficially the family had stopped mentioning him at parties.
Adrian drove me there at dawn. Ortiz knew where we were going and warned us not to approach him without counsel. We went anyway, carrying nothing but questions.
Charles sat on a patio under a blanket, reading the financial section. He looked up when he saw me.
"You have Daniel's eyes," he said.
I didn't sit. "You were with him the night he died."
"Yes."
"Then tell me why you let the police call it an accident."
He put down his newspaper. "Because I was a coward."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Dad, what did you do?"
Charles had approved a private investigation into Elliot Price's dealings. When Daniel discovered the Willowbrook transfers, Charles ordered him to meet at a warehouse rather than the office. Elliot arrived first, furious. They argued. Daniel threatened to hand the ledger to prosecutors.
"I left to call my lawyer," Charles said. "When I returned, the loading gate had collapsed. Daniel was underneath it."
"Did you see Elliot touch the gate?" I asked.
"No. I saw him drive away."
"And you said nothing."
"Elliot told me Vanessa had signed documents she didn't understand. He said if I spoke, he'd put her in prison."
Adrian stared at his father. "You let another family bury a man to protect ours."
Charles's eyes filled. "Every day I know exactly what I let happen."
I wanted to shout. Instead I asked where the ledger was.
"Ruth has it," Charles said. "I helped her leave. I thought she'd come back when it was safe."
"Safe for whom?" I asked.
Charles couldn't answer.
As we left, a nurse hurried after us. "Mr. Sterling, your father's attorney called. He wants you to know the family trust meets tonight."
May you like
Adrian stopped walking. "The trustees can't meet without me."
"According to the attorney," she said, "they just voted to remove you."
