Chapter 8: The Son Robert## Chapter 8: The Son Robert's Father Buried's Father Buried in Silence
Robert snatched the letter from my hands in Silence
Robert snatched the letter from my hands.
For one desperate second, he looked like the man I had married twenty-five years earlier: confident.
For one desperate second, he looked like the man I had married twenty-five years earlier: confident, quick-thinking, certain that if he reached for something first, he could keep it from becoming a problem.
Then he read the final sentence again, quick-thinking, certain that if he reached for something first, he could keep it from becoming a problem.
Then he read the final sentence again.
His fingers began to shake.
“Where did you get this?””
I stared at him.
“Your father wrote it to me.””
“No, he didn't.””
“My.
His fingers began to shake.
“Where did you get this?””
I stared at him.
“Your father wrote it to me.””
“No, he didn't.””
“My name is on the envelope.””
“He was sick when he wrote that. He wasn't thinking clearly.””
“Then why did you name is on the envelope.””
“He was sick when he wrote that. He wasn't thinking clearly.””
“Then why did you hide it?””
Robert folded the letter and pushed it into his jacket pocket.
I stepped toward him.
“Give it back.””
“No.””
“Robert hide it?””
Robert folded the letter and pushed it into his jacket pocket.
I stepped toward him.
“Give it back.””
“No.””
“Robert.””
“You have no idea what that letter could do.””
“Then explain it.””
He.””
“You have no idea what that letter could do.””
“Then explain it.””
He shook his head.
“Not now.””
I had heard those words too many times.
Not now. Not here. Not in front of the children.
Not when the business was struggling. Not when shook his head.
“Not now.””
I had heard those words too many times.
Not now. Not here. Not in front of the children.
Not when the business was struggling. Not when his mother was ill. Not when we were supposed to be celebrating.
There had always been a reason I should wait.
And his mother was ill. Not when we were supposed to be celebrating.
There had always been a reason I should wait.
And somehow, every time I waited, the truth became harder to reach.
I held out my hand.
“Give me the letter.””
Robert looked at my palm.
Then he laughed bitter somehow, every time I waited, the truth became harder to reach.
I held out my hand.
“Give me the letter.””
Robert looked at my palm.
Then he laughed bitterly.
“You really think you can take everything from me in one afternoon?””
“I didn't take anything from you.””
“You took my marriage. You humiliated me in frontly.
“You really think you can take everything from me in one afternoon?””
“I didn't take anything from you.””
“You took my marriage. You humiliated me in front of my family. You involved lawyers. Now you're digging through my father's private affairs.””
“You involved my sister, our children's inheritance, and our home in your of my family. You involved lawyers. Now you're digging through my father's private affairs.””
“You involved my sister, our children's inheritance, and our home in your lies. I am trying to find out how far you've gone.””
He turned lies. I am trying to find out how far you've gone.””
He turned toward Ethan.
“And you. You went behind my back to speak to Vivian Brooks?””
Ethan stood toward Ethan.
“And you. You went behind my back to speak to Vivian Brooks?””
Ethan stood beside the desk.
“You went behind Mom's back to build a company using her identity. I think we're past beside the desk.
“You went behind Mom's back to build a company using her identity. I think we're past the point where you get to complain about secrecy.””
Robert pointed at him.
“You're my the point where you get to complain about secrecy.””
Robert pointed at him.
“You're my son.””
“And I'm not your property.””
The words seemed to strike Robert harder than any accusation son.””
“And I'm not your property.””
The words seemed to strike Robert harder than any accusation had.
He lowered his hand.
For several seconds, he simply stared at Ethan.
Then he walked out of the office without another word.
I heard had.
He lowered his hand.
For several seconds, he simply stared at Ethan.
Then he walked out of the office without another word.
I heard his footsteps cross the hallway.
A door slammed upstairs.
Marcus exhaled slowly.
“Well his footsteps cross the hallway.
A door slammed upstairs.
Marcus exhaled slowly.
“Well,” he muttered.
“That went about as badly as it could.””
I looked at Ethan.
“What did your,” he muttered.
“That went about as badly as it could.””
I looked at Ethan.
“What did your grandfather mean by his first son?””
My son hesitated.
“I found something about that while grandfather mean by his first son?””
My son hesitated.
“I found something about that while researching the trust.””
“What?””
“Grandpa Charles had an older son before Robert.””
researching the trust.””
“What?””
“Grandpa Charles had an older son before Robert.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“An older son?””
“His name was Daniel Carter. He died when he was twentyI felt my stomach tighten.
“An older son?””
“His name was Daniel Carter. He died when he was twenty-seven.””
I looked toward Marcus.
He was staring at the floor.
“You knew,”-seven.””
I looked toward Marcus.
He was staring at the floor.
“You knew,” I whispered.
Marcus shook his head.
“I knew Charles had another son. I didn't know the details.””
“What happened to him?””
“Car accident,” Marcus replied.
“That's what I whispered.
Marcus shook his head.
“I knew Charles had another son. I didn't know the details.””
“What happened to him?””
“Car accident,” Marcus replied.
“That's what we were told.””
“When?””
“Thirty-two years ago.””
I did the calculation automatically.
Robert we were told.””
“When?””
“Thirty-two years ago.””
I did the calculation automatically.
Robert would have been seventeen.
A boy who had grown up believing he would inherit his father's business had suddenly become would have been seventeen.
A boy who had grown up believing he would inherit his father's business had suddenly become the eldest living son.
I looked at the letter's empty envelope.
“Was Daniel supposed to inherit the company?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“From what I remember, Charles always the eldest living son.
I looked at the letter's empty envelope.
“Was Daniel supposed to inherit the company?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“From what I remember, Charles always talked about Daniel taking over. Robert was still in school. He wasn't involved in the business yet.””
“And after Daniel died?””
“Charles changed. He became obsessed talked about Daniel taking over. Robert was still in school. He wasn't involved in the business yet.””
“And after Daniel died?””
“Charles changed. He became obsessed with protecting the company. He started making arrangements with lawyers and accountants. Nobody knew why.””
Ethan turned his laptop with protecting the company. He started making arrangements with lawyers and accountants. Nobody knew why.””
Ethan turned his laptop toward us.
“That's not all.””
A scanned copy of an old newspaper article appeared toward us.
“That's not all.””
A scanned copy of an old newspaper article appeared on the screen.
The headline read:
**LOCAL BUSINESS HEIR KILLED IN EARLY-MORNING COLLISION on the screen.
The headline read:
*LOCAL BUSINESS HEIR KILLED IN EARLY-MORNING COLLISION.*
Beneath it was a photograph of a young Black man standing beside a construction truck.
He had a wide smile, close.**
Beneath it was a photograph of a young Black man standing beside a construction truck.
He had a wide smile, close-cropped hair, and a small scar above his left eyebrow.
I leaned closer.
There was something familiar about his face-cropped hair, and a small scar above his left eyebrow.
I leaned closer.
There was something familiar about his face.
Not the features exactly.
The expression.
The way his eyes narrowed slightly when he smiled.
I had seen that expression before.
.
Not the features exactly.
The expression.
The way his eyes narrowed slightly when he smiled.
I had seen that expression before.
On Ethan.
“Where did you find this?”” I asked.
“In the county archives. I searched Grandpa's name andOn Ethan.
“Where did you find this?”” I asked.
“In the county archives. I searched Grandpa's name and found the article. There was another one published a week later.””
He opened it.
The second article reported found the article. There was another one published a week later.””
He opened it.
The second article reported that the police investigation had been closed after the collision was ruled an accident.
But a paragraph near the that the police investigation had been closed after the collision was ruled an accident.
But a paragraph near the bottom caught my attention.
Daniel Carter had reportedly been traveling home from a meeting with a family attorney when his vehicle left the road.
bottom caught my attention.
Daniel Carter had reportedly been traveling home from a meeting with a family attorney when his vehicle left the road.
No other passengers were listed.
I read the paragraph twice.
“Why would his death be connected to the family trust?””
Ethan shookNo other passengers were listed.
I read the paragraph twice.
“Why would his death be connected to the family trust?””
Ethan shook his head.
“I don't know. But Vivian's name appears in another document from that year.””
He opened a scanned letter his head.
“I don't know. But Vivian's name appears in another document from that year.””
He opened a scanned letter from Charles to an attorney.
The letter referred to an unresolved dispute over the ownership of Carter Construction and the rights of Daniel's future heirs.
Future heirs.
I looked at from Charles to an attorney.
The letter referred to an unresolved dispute over the ownership of Carter Construction and the rights of Daniel's future heirs.
Future heirs.
I looked at Ethan.
“Daniel had children?””
“That's what I'm trying to find out.””
Before I could answer, my phone Ethan.
“Daniel had children?””
“That's what I'm trying to find out.””
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
I nearly ignored it, but something made me pick up.
“Hello?””
A woman's rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
I nearly ignored it, but something made me pick up.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice spoke calmly.
“Mrs. Carter? My name is Vivian Brooks.””
I stood straighter.
“I'm listening voice spoke calmly.
“Mrs. Carter? My name is Vivian Brooks.””
I stood straighter.
“I'm listening.””
“I understand you've received a letter from Charles.””
“How do you know that?””
“Because Robert just called me and demanded that I withdraw.””
“I understand you've received a letter from Charles.””
“How do you know that?””
“Because Robert just called me and demanded that I withdraw my offer to meet with you tomorrow.””
I glanced toward the hallway.
“Why does Robert my offer to meet with you tomorrow.””
I glanced toward the hallway.
“Why does Robert believe you have the right to control his company?””
There was a brief pause.
“Because it was never believe you have the right to control his company?””
There was a brief pause.
“Because it was never entirely his company to control.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Then tell me the truth.””
“I will. entirely his company to control.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Then tell me the truth.””
“I will. But I need you to understand that what you're about to learn goes beyond the money.””
“I'm listening.””
“Charles Carter established a family trust before Daniel died. The trust included But I need you to understand that what you're about to learn goes beyond the money.””
“I'm listening.””
“Charles Carter established a family trust before Daniel died. The trust included provisions for Daniel's descendants, Robert provisions for Daniel's descendants, Robert's children, and certain properties held outside the construction business.””
“Why was Robert managing the trust?””
“He wasn't supposed to be the sole manager. He's children, and certain properties held outside the construction business.””
“Why was Robert managing the trust?””
“He wasn't supposed to be the sole manager. He was appointed to oversee specific assets under supervision. But after Charles died, Robert began acting as though he had inherited everything outright.””
was appointed to oversee specific assets under supervision. But after Charles died, Robert began acting as though he had inherited everything outright.””
“Could he legally do that?””
“That's a question for your attorney to answer after reviewing the documents. What I can tell you is that several transfers appear inconsistent“Could he legally do that?””
“That's a question for your attorney to answer after reviewing the documents. What I can tell you is that several transfers appear inconsistent with the trust's original terms.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why didn't you stop him?””
“I tried.””
Her with the trust's original terms.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why didn't you stop him?””
“I tried.””
Her answer was immediate.
“I sent notices. I contacted the estate attorney. I requested records. Robert claimed the company answer was immediate.
“I sent notices. I contacted the estate attorney. I requested records.
Robert claimed the company was restructuring and that the assets were being moved temporarily. Every time I asked for supporting documents, he gave me another explanation.””
“And the money?””
“That's was restructuring and that the assets were being moved temporarily. Every time I asked for supporting documents, he gave me another explanation.””
“And the money?””
“That's what I'm investigating.””
I looked at the documents on the desk.
“Why is D&C Strategic Holdings registered in my name?””
“Because Robert what I'm investigating.””
I looked at the documents on the desk.
“Why is D&C Strategic Holdings registered in my name?””
“Because Robert needed someone who appeared independent of the original trust.””
My blood ran cold.
“He used my identity to needed someone who appeared independent of the original trust.””
My blood ran cold.
“He used my identity to hide the company?””
“That appears to be what happened. But I want to be careful with my wording until the documents have been authenticated.””
hide the company?””
“That appears to be what happened. But I want to be careful with my wording until the documents have been authenticated.””
“Who owns the company now?””
“Carter Legacy Management LLC controls the holding structure. I serve as trustee“Who owns the company now?””
“Carter Legacy Management LLC controls the holding structure. I serve as trustee under the original agreement. I do not personally own the beneficiaries' assets.””
I looked at Ethan.
He nodded slightly, confirming what he had found.
“Then why did you tell Ethan you under the original agreement. I do not personally own the beneficiaries' assets.””
I looked at Ethan.
He nodded slightly, confirming what he had found.
“Then why did you tell Ethan you wanted to meet with me?””
“Because I believe you were made an unwitting participant in a financial scheme, and because you may be the only wanted to meet with me?””
“Because I believe you were made an unwitting participant in a financial scheme, and because you may be the only person who can help establish how it happened.””
“How?””
“Your husband has been submitting documents that claim person who can help establish how it happened.””
“How?””
“Your husband has been submitting documents that claim you approved transactions you never authorized. We need your account of what you knew you approved transactions you never authorized. We need your account of what you knew and what you signed.
We also need to determine whether any property was transferred or pledged and what you signed. We also need to determine whether any property was transferred or pledged without your informed consent.””
I glanced at the loan application.
“And Daniel?””
Silence.
Then Vivian said, “You without your informed consent.””
I glanced at the loan application.
“And Daniel?””
Silence.
Then Vivian said, “You found the newspaper article.””
“Yes.””
“Daniel's death was officially ruled an accident. But Charles believed there were circumstances surrounding it that had never been properly investigated found the newspaper article.””
“Yes.””
“Daniel's death was officially ruled an accident. But Charles believed there were circumstances surrounding it that had never been properly investigated.””
“Was Robert involved?””
“I can't tell you that. I won't accuse someone of a crime without evidence.””
“Then why does Charles's letter say you.””
“Was Robert involved?””
“I can't tell you that. I won't accuse someone of a crime without evidence.””
“Then why does Charles's letter say you should reveal the truth if Robert harmed his wife or children?””
“Because Charles believed Robert knew more about should reveal the truth if Robert harmed his wife or children?””
“Because Charles believed Robert knew more about the events leading up to Daniel's death than he had admitted.””
My hand went numb around the phone.
“Are you saying my husband may have had something to do with his the events leading up to Daniel's death than he had admitted.””
My hand went numb around the phone.
“Are you saying my husband may have had something to do with his brother's death?””
“I'm saying Charles left instructions that should be taken seriously. The original trust documents contain a sealed brother's death?””
“I'm saying Charles left instructions that should be taken seriously. The original trust documents contain a sealed statement that has not been released to the family.””
“What's in it?””
“I don't know everything it contains. Charles instructed statement that has not been released to the family.””
“What's in it?””
“I don't know everything it contains. Charles instructed the attorney to release it only if certain conditions were met.””
“What conditions?””
“Evidence that the trust had been the attorney to release it only if certain conditions were met.””
“What conditions?””
“Evidence that the trust had been misused, or that one of its beneficiaries had been deliberately harmed.””
I stared at the loan papers bearing my forged signature.
“And you believe those misused, or that one of its beneficiaries had been deliberately harmed.””
I stared at the loan papers bearing my forged signature.
“And you believe those conditions have been met?””
“I believe there's enough evidence to request a formal review.””
I swallowed.
“Can we meet tomorrow?””
“Yes conditions have been met?””
“I believe there's enough evidence to request a formal review.””
I swallowed.
“Can we meet tomorrow?””
“Yes. Ten o'clock. My office in Atlanta.””
“I'll be there.””
“One more thing, Mrs. Carter.””
“What?””
. Ten o'clock. My office in Atlanta.””
“I'll be there.””
“One more thing, Mrs. Carter.””
“What?””
“Do not let Robert convince you that this is only about the affair. The affair may be the least important“Do not let Robert convince you that this is only about the affair. The affair may be the least important thing he has done.””
The line went quiet.
I lowered the phone.
Marcus rubbed his face.
“Lord have thing he has done.””
The line went quiet.
I lowered the phone.
Marcus rubbed his face.
“Lord have mercy.””
Ethan closed the laptop.
“Mom, there's something else.””
I looked at him.
He hesitated mercy.””
Ethan closed the laptop.
“Mom, there's something else.””
I looked at him.
He hesitated before opening a message on his phone.
“Vivian sent me this last night. I didn't understand it before opening a message on his phone.
“Vivian sent me this last night. I didn't understand it until I saw Grandpa's letter.””
The message contained a photograph of an old family portrait.
Charles Carter stood in the center, wearing a dark until I saw Grandpa's letter.””
The message contained a photograph of an old family portrait.
Charles Carter stood in the center, wearing a dark suit. A young Robert stood on one side. On the other was Daniel, the older son.
Bes suit. A young Robert stood on one side. On the other was Daniel, the older son.
Beside Daniel stood a young woman holding a baby.
The woman had a familiar face.
I leaned closer.
It was Vivian Brooks.
And the baby she held had a small scar above his left eyebrow.
Theide Daniel stood a young woman holding a baby.
The woman had a familiar face.
I leaned closer.
It was Vivian Brooks.
And the baby she held had a small scar above his left eyebrow.
The same scar Daniel had in the newspaper photograph.
“Who is the child?”” I whispered.
Ethan looked at me.
“Vivian says Daniel had a son.””
My heart began to race.
“Where same scar Daniel had in the newspaper photograph.
“Who is the child?”” I whispered.
Ethan looked at me.
“Vivian says Daniel had a son.””
My heart began to race.
“Where is he now?””
Ethan turned the phone toward me.
The message beneath the photograph contained a name.
**Malcolm Brooks. is he now?””
Ethan turned the phone toward me.
The message beneath the photograph contained a name.
*Malcolm Brooks.*
I stared at it.
Then I looked toward the hallway where Robert had disappeared.
Because if Daniel had left a son, then Robert**
I stared at it.
Then I looked toward the hallway where Robert had disappeared.
Because if Daniel had left a son, then Robert hadn't simply been hiding a financial arrangement.
He might have been hiding an heir.
And if the family hadn't simply been hiding a financial arrangement.
He might have been hiding an heir.
And if the family trust was designed to protect Daniel's descendants, the money Robert had taken might have belonged to someone whose existence he had spent decades trying trust was designed to protect Daniel's descendants, the money Robert had taken might have belonged to someone whose existence he had spent decades trying to erase.
I looked at my son.
“Does your father know Malcolm is alive?””
Ethan didn't answer.
He to erase.
I looked at my son.
“Does your father know Malcolm is alive?””
Ethan didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
The look on his face told me that whatever happened next would determine more didn't need to.
The look on his face told me that whatever happened next would determine more than who inherited the company.
It would determine whether the Carter family had been built on a lie from the very beginning.
And than who inherited the company.
May you like
It would determine whether the Carter family had been built on a lie from the very beginning.
And somewhere upstairs, my husband was deciding how far he would go to keep that lie buried.