Chapter 29 - the woman from the old photograph
At the company archives, we found an old photograph.
My father.
Richard.
Julian.
And a woman I didn't recognize.
Daniel identified her.
“Her name was Evelyn Grant.”
“Who was she?”
“She handled the original employee benefit program.”
I studied the photograph.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
We found her living in Arizona.
I called her.
She agreed to speak with me.
When I showed her my father's list, she became emotional.
“I thought someone would eventually ask.”
“Ask what?”
“Where the money went.”
I leaned forward.
“What happened?”
“Richard moved the fund.”
“Why?”
“He said it was temporary.”
“And did my father know?”
Evelyn nodded.
“He knew something was wrong.”
“Why didn't he stop it?”
“He tried.”
That answer changed everything.
My father hadn't simply suspected.
He had been fighting to correct it.
Evelyn handed me an old envelope.
“He left this with me.”
Inside was a letter.
My father's handwriting.
If I cannot finish this, give it to my daughter when she is strong enough to understand that money is never only money.
I couldn't breathe.
Evelyn looked at me.
“You're ready now.”
I opened the letter.
The first line broke my heart.
May you like
I'm sorry I left you with unfinished work.
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