Chapter 8 - EVELYN COMES ALONE
Evelyn appeared at Nicole’s house three days later.
No Richard.
She stayed on the sidewalk.
“I need to talk.”
I almost said no.
Dana advised:
“Record only if lawful and counsel approves.”
Instead we met with lawyers.
Evelyn looked exhausted.
“What did Richard mean when he said the bag was gone?”
She rubbed her hands.
“Mark had a waterproof document bag.”
“I know.”
“Richard saw him putting papers in the Chevy.”
“When?”
“Two weeks before hospice.”
“What did Richard do?”
“Went looking.”
My stomach tightened.
“He searched the car?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“I stood in the garage.”
“Same thing.”
She accepted that.
“He couldn’t find it.”
“Because Mark moved it under the seat later.”
“I suppose.”
“Why did Richard care?”
“He believed Mark had taken company records.”
“Had he?”
“Yes.”
There.
“What records?”
“I don’t know everything.”
“What do you know?”
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“Richard used Mark’s signature.”
My chest tightened.
“On what?”
“Business guarantees.”
“Did Mark consent?”
“Not always.”
Not always.
A family euphemism for fraud.
Evelyn continued:
“Richard said everything would be corrected once the project refinanced.”
“And the house?”
“He said Mark owed us.”
“Did he?”
“We helped him.”
“That is not what I asked.”
She looked away.
“The original money was a gift from Richard’s father.”
Not Richard.
So the $410,000 debt was built from family money Richard had not personally loaned.
“Why help throw us out?”
Evelyn began crying.
“Because Richard said if we didn’t take possession immediately, Dana would freeze everything.”
I stared.
“You chose your money over your grandchildren.”
“No.”
“You stood behind the man who punched Noah.”
“I didn’t know he would.”
“And afterward?”
May you like
Silence.
That was answer enough.
