Chapter 6 - THE BENNETT DESCENDANTS TRUST
Mark’s grandfather built shopping centers.
Nothing glamorous.
Low brick plazas.
Grocery anchors.
Pharmacies.
Warehouses.
He left most assets in trust.
Richard became managing family representative for Mark’s branch.
Mark’s economic interest eventually passed partly to Noah and Sophie.
Current branch value:
Approximately $7.4 million.
Not cash.
Real-estate partnerships.
Investments.
Restricted distributions.
I had known Mark received occasional trust income.
I did not know numbers.
He hated discussing family money.
Now I knew why.
Richard had used branch assets as leverage for Bennett Development Group projects.
Some legitimate.
Some questionable.
Mark discovered two guarantees carrying signatures he denied.
Then a transfer approval.
Then the debt agreement involving our home.
He moved the house out of reach.
“Why not tell me?”
Dana shook her head.
“You need to ask that of the letters he left.”
Anger again.
Dead men make terrible defendants.
“What happens to the trust branch now?”
“Independent successor review.”
“Richard?”
“Temporarily suspended from unilateral family recommendation authority because Mark triggered an audit before death.”
I stared.
“Did Richard know?”
“He received notice two days ago.”
The day before the funeral.
Everything made sense faster than I wanted.
“He changed the locks because he knew.”
“Possibly.”
“And searched the desk.”
“Likely.”
“What was he looking for?”
May you like
Dana pointed toward the USB.
“Probably whatever Mark copied.”
