Chapter 6 - Richard Sloan
Richard had retired two years earlier.
Seventy-one.
Respected.
Family friend.
He handled Dad’s estate.
My home purchase.
Even Ethan's trust after my first wife, Rachel, died.
That realization chilled me.
Ethan was my son from my first marriage.
Sophie was my daughter with Vanessa.
Richard had legal access to all three children’s records.
I contacted a new attorney before confronting him.
Then we reviewed Dad’s estate files.
One trust stood out.
Carter Family Protective Trust.
I had never seen it.
Beneficiaries:
Daniel Carter.
Issue of Daniel Carter.
That meant all my biological children.
Ethan.
Sophie.
And Lily.
Trust value:
$14.6 million.
But distributions had been made for years to an account controlled by Richard.
Lily's share.
Vanessa knew about it.
“Is that the box?”
“No.”
“What is?”
“Dad kept copies of Richard’s withdrawals.”
“So Lily has evidence he stole from her.”
“Yes.”
“Then why were you beating Ethan for her location?”
Vanessa went quiet.
Because there was something worse.
“What aren't you telling me?”
“Richard called me.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“He knew Lily was here?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I don't know.”
“What did he say?”
“If I didn't bring him the box, he'd tell you everything.”
I stared.
“You were more afraid of me finding out you hid my daughter than of Richard?”
“I panicked.”
“You attacked an eight-year-old child.”
“I know.”
“No. I don't think you do.”
She cried.
I didn't soften.
Then she said:
“Richard said the box contains something about Rachel.”
My first wife.
Ethan’s mother.
Dead five years.
Car accident.
Suddenly I couldn't breathe properly.
“What about Rachel?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Richard had represented us during Rachel's estate.
He knew details nobody else did.
Lily apparently discovered Dad's records and ran to our house because she trusted Ethan.
Why him?
Vanessa answered.
“Lily met Ethan before.”
“When?”
“At school.”
Different grades.
Same campus.
Lily had approached him months earlier.
Told him she was family.
Ethan believed her because she knew private things.
“What things?”
“Rachel’s nickname for you.”
Only a handful of people knew that.
Dad knew.
Richard knew.
Then Ethan walked into the room holding the stuffed rabbit from the attic.
“There’s something inside.”
A zipper hidden beneath one ear.
I opened it.
Inside was a small brass key.
Tag:
R.S. — 214.
May you like
Richard Sloan.
Room 214.
