Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Secret Buried With My: The Secret Buried With My Father
For eleven years, I had believed my father died of a heart attack while Father
For eleven years, I had believed my father died of a heart attack while traveling for business.
Now my traveling for business.
Now my mother was telling me he had somehow been connected to my wife's final hours mother was telling me he had somehow been connected to my wife's final hours.
And my sister had known.
I sat in.
And my sister had known.
I sat in Attorney Whitmore's conference room, staring at the photograph of my father outside Attorney Whitmore's conference room, staring at the photograph of my father outside Danielle's hospital room.
"That's impossible," I finally said.
Whitmore Danielle's hospital room.
"That's impossible," I finally said.
Whitmore folded his hands.
"Why?""
"Because my father died folded his hands.
"Why?""
"Because my father died eleven years ago. Danielle and I hadn't even met.""
" eleven years ago. Danielle and I hadn't even met.""
"Then we need to understand why your mother mentionedThen we need to understand why your mother mentioned him.""
I picked up my phone and called her again.
This him.""
I picked up my phone and called her again.
This time, she answered immediately.
"Mom, where are you?""
time, she answered immediately.
"Mom, where are you?""
"At home.""
"Are you alone?""
A pause.
"Yes"At home.""
"Are you alone?""
A pause.
"Yes.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
I heard her breathing uneven.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
I heard her breathing unevenly.
"Your father didn't die while traveling, Marcus.""
I closedly.
"Your father didn't die while traveling, Marcus.""
I closed my eyes.
"What?""
"He died here in Atlanta.""
my eyes.
"What?""
"He died here in Atlanta.""
"That's what the death certificate says.""
"No. I mean"That's what the death certificate says.""
"No. I mean he wasn't alone when he died. And the he wasn't alone when he died. And the circumstances were not what we were told circumstances were not what we were told.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Mom, stop speaking in riddles.""
She began crying.
"Your.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Mom, stop speaking in riddles.""
She began crying.
"Your father discovered that Vanessa had been using his business accounts to move money. father discovered that Vanessa had been using his business accounts to move money. He confronted her. They had a terrible argument.""
" He confronted her. They had a terrible argument.""
"Vanessa was only twenty-two.""
"SheVanessa was only twenty-two.""
"She was already working for him. She handled some of his accounts.""
was already working for him. She handled some of his accounts.""
I looked at Whitmore.
He was taking notes.
"How much money?""I looked at Whitmore.
He was taking notes.
"How much money?"" I asked.
"I don't know exactly. Your father told me it was over I asked.
"I don't know exactly. Your father told me it was over three hundred thousand dollars.""
My stomach tightened.
"What three hundred thousand dollars.""
My stomach tightened.
"What happened after he confronted her?""
"Two days later, he happened after he confronted her?""
"Two days later, he died.""
I couldn't speak.
My mother continued.
"The police said it was a heart died.""
I couldn't speak.
My mother continued.
"The police said it was a heart attack. Vanessa told me she'd been the last attack. Vanessa told me she'd been the last person to see him alive.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Why person to see him alive.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Vanessa said your father had didn't you tell me?""
"Because Vanessa said your father had asked her to keep the financial problems private. She said telling asked her to keep the financial problems private. She said telling you would destroy the family.""
"And you believed her?""
"I was grieving, you would destroy the family.""
"And you believed her?""
"I was grieving, Marcus. I had just lost my husband. Your sister Marcus. I had just lost my husband.
Your sister was crying and telling me she was innocent. I didn't know what to was crying and telling me she was innocent. I didn't know what to believe.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"How does Danielle believe.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"How does Danielle fit into this?""
My mother was silent for several seconds.
Then she said fit into this?""
My mother was silent for several seconds.
Then she said, "Danielle found an old financial, "Danielle found an old financial ledger in your father's storage room. She recognized some of ledger in your father's storage room. She recognized some of the transactions.""
"What transactions?""
"Money transferred from one the transactions.""
"What transactions?""
"Money transferred from one of his companies into an account Vanessa controlled.""
I looked of his companies into an account Vanessa controlled.""
I looked at Whitmore.
He stopped writing.
"Did Danielle confront at Whitmore.
He stopped writing.
"Did Danielle confront Vanessa?""
"Yes. That's when everything became worse.""
I swallowed.
Vanessa?""
"Yes. That's when everything became worse.""
I swallowed.
"Mom, what did Vanessa do?""
"She threatened to tell you that your father had"Mom, what did Vanessa do?""
"She threatened to tell you that your father had been involved in something illegal. She said she could make it look as been involved in something illegal. She said she could make it look as though he had stolen money from his own company.""
I felt a though he had stolen money from his own company.""
I felt a wave of anger.
"My father wasn't a thief.""
"I wave of anger.
"My father wasn't a thief.""
"I know.""
"Did Danielle have proof?""
"She told me she did know.""
"Did Danielle have proof?""
"She told me she did.""
I looked at Whitmore.
"Where is that ledger?""
My mother whispered.""
I looked at Whitmore.
"Where is that ledger?""
My mother whispered, "I don't know.""
Then she added something else.
"Dan, "I don't know.""
Then she added something else.
"Danielle told me she had made copies. She said she was goingielle told me she had made copies. She said she was going to give them to someone she trusted.""
"Who to give them to someone she trusted.""
"Who?""
"I never found out.""
The call ended with my mother promising to come to Whitmore's office the following morning.
I sat motionless.
Whitmore finally spoke.
"Marcus,?""
"I never found out.""
The call ended with my mother promising to come to Whitmore's office the following morning.
I sat motionless.
Whitmore finally spoke.
"Marcus, your father and your wife's situations may be connected through the same financial records. We should obtain the original company documents before your father and your wife's situations may be connected through the same financial records. We should obtain the original company documents before drawing conclusions.""
"Can you do that?""
"I can begin the drawing conclusions.""
"Can you do that?""
"I can begin the legal requests.""
I looked down at the photograph.
"There's another question.""
"What?""
"Why was my father listed in legal requests.""
I looked down at the photograph.
"There's another question.""
"What?""
"Why was my father listed in the hospital records?""
Whitmore examined the photograph again.
"Your mother may be able to answer that tomorrow.""
At 3:40 p.m., I the hospital records?""
Whitmore examined the photograph again.
"Your mother may be able to answer that tomorrow.""
At 3:40 p.m., I picked up Lily from school.
Her teacher, Mrs. Collins, greeted me at the classroom door.
"Mr. picked up Lily from school.
Her teacher, Mrs. Collins, greeted me at the classroom door.
"Mr. Hale, could I speak with you for a moment?""
"Of course.""
She Hale, could I speak with you for a moment?""
"Of course.""
She glanced at Lily, who was putting her drawings glanced at Lily, who was putting her drawings into her backpack.
"She's been quieter than usual this into her backpack.
"She's been quieter than usual this week.""
I felt a familiar knot in my chest.
"Has week.""
I felt a familiar knot in my chest.
"Has something happened?""
"She asked yesterday whether children something happened?""
"She asked yesterday whether children can be taken away from their parents if they tell secrets.""
I went can be taken away from their parents if they tell secrets.""
I went still.
"What exactly did she say?""
Mrs. Collins lowered her voice.
" still.
"What exactly did she say?""
Mrs. Collins lowered her voice.
"She asked if a person could make her daddy disappearShe asked if a person could make her daddy disappear if she told him something important.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Did she if she told him something important.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Did she explain why?""
"No. But she seemed frightened.""
I thanked the explain why?""
"No. But she seemed frightened.""
I thanked the teacher and walked Lily to the car.
Once teacher and walked Lily to the car.
Once she was buckled in, I turned around.
"Sweetheart, can I ask you something?""
She nodded.
"Have you been worried about something she was buckled in, I turned around.
"Sweetheart, can I ask you something?""
She nodded.
"Have you been worried about something at school?""
"No.""
"Has someone said at school?""
"No.""
"Has someone said something that scared you?""
She looked down at her rabbit.
Then she whispered, "Aunt Vanessa said Daddy would get hurt if I something that scared you?""
She looked down at her rabbit.
Then she whispered, "Aunt Vanessa said Daddy would get hurt if I told.""
I felt my heart tighten.
"When did told.""
I felt my heart tighten.
"When did she say that?""
"Last week. When she say that?""
"Last week. When Grandma was taking a nap.""
I stared at her.
" Grandma was taking a nap.""
I stared at her.
"Where were you?""
"At Grandma's house. Aunt Vanessa cameWhere were you?""
"At Grandma's house. Aunt Vanessa came to get some papers.""
"What papers?""
Lily shrugged.
"She to get some papers.""
"What papers?""
Lily shrugged.
"She went into the little office.""
I took a slow went into the little office.""
I took a slow breath.
"Did she say anything else?""
Lily nodded.
"She said Mommy breath.
"Did she say anything else?""
Lily nodded.
"She said Mommy knew a bad secret about Grandpa. And if you knew a bad secret about Grandpa. And if you found out, everything would be ruined.""
I looked through the windshield.
My found out, everything would be ruined.""
I looked through the windshield.
My father.
Danielle.
Vanessa.
The trust.
The hospital.
Every piece seemed to be connected.
I reached back and took Lily father.
Danielle.
Vanessa.
The trust.
The hospital.
Every piece seemed to be connected.
I reached back and took Lily's hand.
"Listen to me. Nobody is going to hurt me's hand.
"Listen to me. Nobody is going to hurt me because you tell the truth. And nobody gets because you tell the truth. And nobody gets to punish you for speaking.""
She looked up.
"Promise to punish you for speaking.""
She looked up.
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
She nodded, but her eyes remained troubled.
Then she opened her backpack and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I?""
"I promise.""
She nodded, but her eyes remained troubled.
Then she opened her backpack and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I found this in Grandma's office.""
I unfolded found this in Grandma's office.""
I unfolded it.
It was a photocopy of an old photograph.
My it.
It was a photocopy of an old photograph.
My father stood beside a younger Vanessa in front of father stood beside a younger Vanessa in front of a commercial building.
On a commercial building.
On the back, someone had written:
*Peachtree Holdings — Original partnership meeting the back, someone had written:
Peachtree Holdings — Original partnership meeting.
I stared at the photograph.
At the bottom was a date.
The year my father died.
And in the corner, there was a handwritten reference number.
*PH-417.*
The same number as Danielle's hospital room.
I immediately.*
I stared at the photograph.
At the bottom was a date.
The year my father died.
And in the corner, there was a handwritten reference number.
*PH-417.*
The same number as Danielle's hospital room.
I immediately photographed it and sent it to Whitmore.
His response came within seconds.
Do not discard that paper. Bring it to my office. I recognize the reference.
I looked at Lily.
"Where exactly did you find this photographed it and sent it to Whitmore.
His response came within seconds.
Do not discard that paper. Bring it to my office. I recognize the reference.
I looked at Lily.
"Where exactly did you find this?""
"In Grandma's blue folder.""
"Did Aunt?""
"In Grandma's blue folder.""
"Did Aunt Vanessa know you Vanessa know you had it?""
Lily shook her head.
"No. I put it in my backpack because I liked Grandpa's picture.""
I kissed her forehead.
"You did a good job bringing it to me.""
That evening, Whitmore called.
had it?""
Lily shook her head.
"No. I put it in my backpack because I liked Grandpa's picture.""
I kissed her forehead.
"You did a good job bringing it to me.""
That evening, Whitmore called.
"Marcus, I've found something.""
I sat down.
"What?""
"The reference PH-417 isn't a hospital code. It's an internal account number from"Marcus, I've found something.""
I sat down.
"What?""
"The reference PH-417 isn't a hospital code. It's an internal account number from your father's former company.""
My stomach your father's former company.""
My stomach tightened.
"What was the account used for?""
"Property transactions.""
"Which property?""
"The Peachtree Street building.""
I stared at the tightened.
"What was the account used for?""
"Property transactions.""
"Which property?""
"The Peachtree Street building.""
I stared at the wall.
The building Danielle had inherited.
The building Vanessa claimed she deserved a share of.
The building connected to Lily's trust.
Whitmore continued.
"Your father and Danielle wall.
The building Danielle had inherited.
The building Vanessa claimed she deserved a share of.
The building connected to Lily's trust.
Whitmore continued.
"Your father and Danielle were apparently involved in documenting its ownership history. I were apparently involved in documenting its ownership history. I found an old corporate filing that suggests the property was originally purchased through a partnership.""
"Who were found an old corporate filing that suggests the property was originally purchased through a partnership.""
"Who were the partners?""
"Your father and Danielle's grandfather.""
I stood.
"What?""
"Your father contributed capital. Danielle's grandfather provided the partners?""
"Your father and Danielle's grandfather.""
I stood.
"What?""
"Your father contributed capital. Danielle's grandfather provided the land. The agreement specified that the property would eventually the land. The agreement specified that the property would eventually pass to the next generation.""
"To me?""
"Not exactly. pass to the next generation.""
"To me?""
"Not exactly. The original agreement named the first surviving child of the two family lines.""
I slowly understood.
"That means Lily.""
"Correct.""
I sat down.
Whitmore continued The original agreement named the first surviving child of the two family lines.""
I slowly understood.
"That means Lily.""
"Correct.""
I sat down.
Whitmore continued.
"But there's another name in the original agreement.""
.
"But there's another name in the original agreement.""
I waited.
"Vanessa was listed as a temporary administratorI waited.
"Vanessa was listed as a temporary administrator, not, not an owner.""
I felt anger rising again.
"She knew.""
"Possibly.""
"She knew the building was supposed to belong to Lily.""
"That an owner.""
I felt anger rising again.
"She knew.""
"Possibly.""
"She knew the building was supposed to belong to Lily.""
"That is what the documents suggest.""
I looked at Lily's drawing on the kitchen table.
She had drawn three people holding hands.
Her mother.
Her is what the documents suggest.""
I looked at Lily's drawing on the kitchen table.
She had drawn three people holding hands.
Her mother.
Her father.
Herself.
Then I looked at the photograph.
My sister had spent months telling a father.
Herself.
Then I looked at the photograph.
My sister had spent months telling a little girl that she wasn't entitled to what her mother left her.
But the truth was worse.
She had been little girl that she wasn't entitled to what her mother left her.
But the truth was worse.
She had been trying to take something that had never belonged to her.
Whitmore's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Marcus, there's one more thing. The original partnership agreement contains a clause trying to take something that had never belonged to her.
Whitmore's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Marcus, there's one more thing. The original partnership agreement contains a clause requiring an independent requiring an independent review if any administrator attempts to transfer ownership without authorization.""
"And?""
"Someone triggered review if any administrator attempts to transfer ownership without authorization.""
"And?""
"Someone triggered that clause eleven years ago.""
I stopped breathing.
"Who?""
Whitmore paused.
"Your father.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My father had known.
He had discovered something.
And the night he died, he'd apparently been trying to stop it.
Then that clause eleven years ago.""
I stopped breathing.
"Who?""
Whitmore paused.
"Your father.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My father had known.
He had discovered something.
And the night he died, he'd apparently been trying to stop it.
Then Whitmore said:
"The company has an archived recording of Whitmore said:
"The company has an archived recording of the meeting your father requested before his death. It may explain everything.""
I gripped the phone.
"Can you get it?""
"Yes.""
"Then get it.""
He lowered his voice.
"Marcus, the recording was the meeting your father requested before his death. It may explain everything.""
I gripped the phone.
"Can you get it?""
"Yes.""
"Then get it.""
He lowered his voice.
"Marcus, the recording was made on the same day your father died.""
And suddenly made on the same day your father died.""
And suddenly, I understood why Vanessa had been so desperate to keep, I understood why Vanessa had been so desperate to keep the past buried.
But I still didn't know what had happened in the past buried.
But I still didn't know what had happened in that hospital room.
May you like
And the next morning, my mother arrived carrying a document that would that hospital room.
And the next morning, my mother arrived carrying a document that would change everything.
