Chapter 13 - THOMAS REED
Thomas Reed lived in a small house overlooking Lake Geneva.
He opened the door before we knocked.
“You’re Frank’s boy.”
Michael swallowed.
“Yes.”
Thomas looked past him at Lauren.
His expression softened.
“And you came back.”
Lauren nodded.
Thomas invited us inside.
His living room was lined with legal books and old photographs.
Michael didn’t waste time.
“My father left you documents.”
Thomas looked toward Rachel.
“So someone finally found the letter.”
“You knew?”
“I wrote it for him.”
Thomas sat down slowly.
“Frank discovered what Diane had done about six months before he died.”
Lauren asked, “About Noah?”
“That.”
Thomas looked at Michael.
“And much more.”
He explained that Diane had gradually taken control of company finances while Frank’s health declined.
She moved money.
Reassigned ownership interests.
Created consulting companies.
Paid relatives to vote with her on board decisions.
Frank initially trusted her.
Then he discovered the transfers.
“He was going to remove her from the company.”
Michael stared at him.
“Why didn’t he?”
“He died first.”
The room fell silent.
Thomas raised one hand.
“Frank’s death was natural.”
I hadn’t realized where my mind was going until he stopped it.
“He had advanced heart disease.”
Michael nodded slowly.
Thomas continued.
“But three days before he died, he signed a new trust.”
“For Noah?”
“For both grandchildren he expected to have.”
Michael frowned.
“At the time Noah was the only one.”
“Correct.”
Thomas looked at me.
“The trust was written broadly.”
I felt my pulse increase.
“Emma?”
“If she is Michael’s biological or legally recognized child, yes.”
Michael sat straighter.
“What did Dad put in it?”
Thomas stood.
He crossed to a locked cabinet.
From it, he removed a long sealed envelope.
“Thirty-eight percent of Halston Development.”
Michael stared.
Thomas placed it on the table.
“Diane currently controls those shares because she filed an older version of Frank’s estate plan.”
Rachel whispered, “She concealed the amendment.”
Thomas nodded.
“And forged documents afterward to make the older structure appear valid.”
Michael’s face hardened.
“Why didn’t you come forward?”
“I tried.”
Thomas looked ashamed.
“Diane threatened litigation.”
Rachel frowned.
“You were Frank’s attorney.”
“I was also seventy-one, caring for a dying wife, and tired.”
He looked at Michael.
“Cowardice can wear respectable clothes.”
Nobody responded.
Thomas slid the envelope toward Michael.
“I should have given you this years ago.”
Michael didn’t touch it.
Instead he looked at Lauren.
“Noah should have had this years ago.”
Thomas nodded.
“Yes.”
Michael finally took the envelope.
Then Thomas said, “There is one more thing.”
He looked at me.
“Diane knows this document exists.”
My stomach tightened.
“How?”
Thomas answered.
May you like
“Because Karen called me yesterday.”
*
