Chapter 6 - Charles Whitmore’s Plan
The chapel emptied slowly.
Some guests left.
Some remained outside whispering.
My mother took Emily to a private room with Michael’s wife.
I refused to let Rebecca or her family near her.
Then Charles requested a conversation.
Allison remained beside me.
So did Michael.
Charles did not seem bothered.
He behaved as though we were negotiating a contract.
“Rebecca loves you.”
He began.
“That isn’t the issue.”
“Actually, it is.”
“No.”
“The forged signature is the issue.”
His eyes moved toward Allison.
“That characterization is premature.”
Allison smiled coldly.
“My client says he did not sign.”
“Then someone made a procedural error.”
“A procedural error?”
I repeated.
“My daughter was scheduled to be taken to Connecticut tomorrow.”
Charles leaned back.
“Hawthorne Ridge is excellent.”
“I don’t care.”
“You should.”
He said.
“Emily has emotional dependency problems.”
I stared at him.
“You have met my daughter six times.”
“I rely on professional assessments.”
“What assessments?”
He opened his briefcase.
There were reports.
A psychologist’s letter.
Behavior notes.
A recommendation for structured separation.
I read the name.
Dr. Elaine Monroe.
I had never met her.
Neither had Emily.
“She never evaluated my daughter.”
Charles did not answer.
Allison took the document.
“This is signed.”
“Yes.”
“On what basis?”
“Observations supplied by Rebecca.”
My hands tightened.
Rebecca had described Emily to a psychologist.
Then used those descriptions to produce a recommendation.
“She told me Emily was becoming possessive.”
Charles said.
“She was sabotaging the relationship.”
“She’s seven.”
“So you keep saying.”
“Because everyone in your family seems to forget.”
Charles smiled.
“Daniel.”
“You are emotionally compromised where your daughter is concerned.”
“And you are emotionally compromised where Rebecca is concerned.”
That silenced him.
Then Allison asked.
“What happens financially if Daniel marries Rebecca today?”
Charles’s expression changed.
Very slightly.
“Nothing unusual.”
“Then you won’t mind answering.”
He paused.
“Rebecca’s family trust releases certain partnership rights upon marriage.”
I looked at him.
“What partnership?”
Charles exhaled.
“Our firms were preparing a joint acquisition.”
I knew about a possible acquisition.
I did not know marriage affected it.
He continued.
“Your father’s commercial holdings and our investment group together create substantial leverage.”
“And Emily?”
“Complicates succession.”
There it was.
May you like
My daughter was not a child to him.
She was a complication in succession.
