Chapter 13 - THE BOARDROOM
Michael's uncle Stephen had always smiled too much.
At holidays.
At funerals.
At board meetings.
Now I knew why.
He had been waiting.
The board met at noon.
Michael walked in with Lena and Detective Brooks.
I watched by secure video from home with Emma.
Stephen sat at the head of the table.
"Michael, this is painful for everyone."
"Save it."
"You are under enormous emotional strain."
"You signed a resolution based on a fake psychiatric report."
Stephen folded his hands.
"The board must protect the company."
"From me?"
"From scandal."
Michael placed Richard's blue ledger on the table.
"Then let's talk scandal."
Silence.
He projected the transfers.
Twenty-six million stolen.
Shell companies.
Charles's signatures.
Margaret's approvals.
Then one account connected to Stephen.
Three million dollars.
Stephen's face changed.
"That is not what it looks like."
Michael laughed.
"Apparently that's the family motto."
Two directors stood and left.
Another asked for counsel.
Michael continued.
"My daughter was injured as part of a plan to seize her trust."
Stephen snapped, "Don't bring family drama into corporate governance."
Michael leaned forward.
"My family is the only reason half this board has a seat."
That shut the room down.
Then Brooks entered with two federal agents.
Stephen stood.
"What is this?"
"Search warrant."
They seized board records.
Phones.
Computers.
Stephen was not arrested yet.
But he stopped smiling.
After the meeting, Michael called me.
"I think my father knew Stephen was involved."
"How?"
"The letter mentioned somebody he called S."
My stomach tightened.
Then Denise arrived at the apartment holding a small locked box.
"I found this in the linen closet."
It belonged to Margaret.
Inside were old letters.
Photographs.
And a DNA test.
Michael Patterson.
Stephen Patterson.
Probability of biological paternity: 99.98%.
I stared at the page.
May you like
Michael was not Richard's son.
He was Stephen's.
