Chapter 11 - The Friend at the Table
Thomas Reed had stood beside Richard at Margaret's funeral.
He had held Ethan as a baby.
He had drafted the first Whitmore family trust thirty-six years earlier.
Now his credentials had been used to open the door Sophia needed.
Richard refused to believe it without proof.
Dana found proof.
Three weeks earlier, $250,000 had moved from Northline Advisory into an account owned by Thomas's adult son.
The memo line read CONSULTING.
Richard called Thomas and asked him to come to the estate.
He arrived before dinner, carrying the same leather briefcase he had used for twenty years.
When he saw Dana, his shoulders dropped.
"You know," he said.
Richard pointed toward a chair.
"Sit."
Thomas did.
Ethan remained standing behind his father.
"Did you help Sophia access my trust?" Richard asked.
Thomas looked at the floor.
"I reset the portal."
Ethan cursed.
Richard did not raise his voice.
"Why?"
Thomas's son had developed a gambling problem. Debts became threats. Julian offered money in exchange for administrative access.
"I told myself they only wanted documents," Thomas said. "Then Sophia asked about competency procedures."
"And you still helped her."
Thomas's eyes filled.
"Yes."
Richard felt tired rather than angry.
"What happens Sunday?"
Thomas looked up.
"They plan to present the assault allegation, Crane's medical file, and an emergency petition naming Ethan interim trustee."
"And the bridge loan?"
"Already drafted. Eighty million dollars to Veridian Health through a special-purpose entity."
Ethan laughed once in disbelief.
"Eighty million?"
Thomas nodded.
"There is something else. Sophia never intended to let you vote freely."
"What does that mean?"
Thomas opened his briefcase and removed a photocopy.
It was a resignation letter from Ethan Whitmore as interim trustee.
Signed.
Ethan grabbed it.
"This isn't mine."
Thomas swallowed.
"After the loan closes, Sophia becomes successor trustee."
Richard looked at his son.
May you like
Sophia had not been building a path around Richard.
She had been building one through Ethan - and then over him.
