Chapter 10 - Rebecca Sloan
Rebecca Sloan was Everett's daughter.
She was also Halcyon's general counsel.
Mara had sat across from her in board meetings for six years.
"No," Mara said. "Rebecca is the person who approves our child-protection grants."
Daniel gave her a flat look. "Exactly."
Claire found a photograph clipped inside one guardianship file.
A younger Rebecca stood beside Charles Mercer, both of them smiling at a ribbon cutting.
Between them was Elaine.
Nora's mother.
Daniel called Nora.
"Ask Mom about Rebecca Sloan."
Nora put the phone on speaker.
Elaine had returned to the hospital after Charles left, shaken and silent.
At the name Rebecca Sloan, she dropped her coffee.
"Mom?"
Elaine stared at the floor.
"I thought that ended years ago."
"What ended?"
She sat slowly.
"Your father got into trouble when you were a baby. Debt. Bad investments. Everett offered him a way out."
Daniel's voice came through the phone. "What way?"
Elaine began to cry.
"They used family trusts as collateral. Not just ours. Other families too."
Nora felt sick.
"And the guardianships?"
Elaine covered her face.
"They needed legal control when beneficiaries were minors."
"You knew?"
"Not at first."
"When did you know?"
Elaine looked at Lucy.
"When they tried it with Daniel."
Daniel went silent on the phone.
Then a new voice spoke from the doorway.
May you like
"Your mother is lying about one thing."
Rebecca Sloan stood there.
