Chapter 6: The Truth Buried With My Grandfather
I had been eight years old when my grandfather died.
I remembered the smell ofied With My Grandfather
I had been eight years old when my grandfather died.
I remembered the smell of his tobacco pipe, the way he let me win at chess, and how he always kept peppermint his tobacco pipe, the way he let me win at chess, and how he always kept peppermint candies in the pocket of his cardigan.
I remembered the hospital room, too.
My grandmother had stood beside his bed holding his candies in the pocket of his cardigan.
I remembered the hospital room, too.
My grandmother had stood beside his bed holding his hand while my mother tried to keep me from crying.
Everyone said hand while my mother tried to keep me from crying.
Everyone said he had suffered a sudden heart attack.
The funeral was quiet.
The family gathered afterward at he had suffered a sudden heart attack.
The funeral was quiet.
The family gathered afterward at the Connecticut house, where my grandmother sat in the study for hours without speaking.
I the Connecticut house, where my grandmother sat in the study for hours without speaking.
I had never questioned the story.
Not once.
Now Daniel was telling had never questioned the story.
Not once.
Now Daniel was telling me that my grandmother had kept evidence concerning his death hidden in a locked archive.
"What evidence?"" I whispered.
me that my grandmother had kept evidence concerning his death hidden in a locked archive.
"What evidence?"" I whispered.
Daniel sat down.
"I don't know the full contents of the black folder. Your grandmotherDaniel sat down.
"I don't know the full contents of the black folder. Your grandmother told me it contained correspondence and financial records relating to the final months of your grandfather's life.""
"Did she told me it contained correspondence and financial records relating to the final months of your grandfather's life.""
"Did she believe he was murdered?""
"No. She never made that accusation to me.""
"Then believe he was murdered?""
"No. She never made that accusation to me.""
"Then what did she believe?""
Daniel hesitated.
"She believed someone had concealed information about his business dealings what did she believe?""
Daniel hesitated.
"She believed someone had concealed information about his business dealings before he died. She was particularly concerned about a meeting he had with Richard Whitmore.""
I before he died. She was particularly concerned about a meeting he had with Richard Whitmore.""
I stared at him.
"When?""
"December 2019. Six days before your grandfather died.""
The date stared at him.
"When?""
"December 2019. Six days before your grandfather died.""
The date on the document flashed through my mind.
December 18.
Six days before.
"What happened on the document flashed through my mind.
December 18.
Six days before.
"What happened at that meeting?""
"According to your grandmother, your grandfather returned home distressed. He told her he'd discovered a discrepancy at that meeting?""
"According to your grandmother, your grandfather returned home distressed. He told her he'd discovered a discrepancy in the original development agreement and that the Whitmore family had attempted to transfer property rights without the trust's consent.""
I felt in the original development agreement and that the Whitmore family had attempted to transfer property rights without the trust's consent.""
I felt a cold knot form in my stomach.
"And then he died.""
"Yes.""
"Did the police a cold knot form in my stomach.
"And then he died.""
"Yes.""
"Did the police investigate?""
"They investigated the death. The medical examiner attributed it to a heart attack. There was no formal finding of foul play.""
investigate?""
"They investigated the death. The medical examiner attributed it to a heart attack. There was no formal finding of foul play.""
"Then why did my grandmother keep the file?""
"Because she believed the business dispute had been concealed from the"Then why did my grandmother keep the file?""
"Because she believed the business dispute had been concealed from the people investigating the financial records. She wanted to preserve the evidence in case the agreement was people investigating the financial records. She wanted to preserve the evidence in case the agreement was challenged again.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She had gone very still.
"Daniel challenged again.""
I looked at Rebecca.
May you like
She had gone very still.
"Daniel," she said, "we need to be careful. Financial misconduct and a suspicious," she said, "we need to be careful. Financial misconduct and a suspicious
