Chapter 9 - The Brother Who Knew Less
Lucas followed me into the courthouse hallway.
“Mom.”
I kept walking.
“Mom, please.”
I stopped near the elevators.
“What?”
“I didn’t know about the affidavit.”
“That makes one of us.”
“I swear.”
“You also borrowed against the trust.”
“I know.”
“You skipped your father’s funeral.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
The elevator doors opened.
I did not get in.
“Why, Lucas?”
He looked down.
“Because I was angry at him.”
“For being broke?”
“No.”
That answer surprised me.
“For what?”
Lucas swallowed.
“Dad fired me.”
I had not known.
“When?”
“Five months ago.”
“Why?”
“He found out I was sending internal reports to Northstar.”
The truth sat between us.
“You betrayed him.”
“I thought the sale was happening anyway.”
“You thought wrong.”
“I know that now.”
“Did you apologize?”
“No.”
“Did you come to his funeral?”
His eyes filled.
“No.”
I had never seen Lucas cry as an adult.
It did not erase anything.
But it mattered.
He wiped his face angrily.
“I kept telling myself he did this to me. That he humiliated me. That he chose the company over his sons.”
“He was protecting it from you.”
“I know.”
The elevator chimed again.
Lucas reached into his coat.
“I have something.”
He handed me a small digital recorder.
“What is this?”
“Dad gave it to me the day he fired me.”
I stared at him.
“I never listened to it.”
“Why?”
“Because I was too mad.”
I pressed play.
Robert’s voice came through softly.
“Lucas, if you ever listen to this, it means you finally stopped being angry long enough to hear me. You’re not a bad man. But you are becoming one.”
Lucas shut his eyes.
Robert continued.
“I know about the loans. I know Mark pushed you into Northstar. I also know you can still walk away.”
There was a pause.
Then:
“If I die before you fix it, tell your mother about the Cincinnati account. She won’t find it in the Ford.”
I stopped the recording.
“What Cincinnati account?”
Lucas looked confused.
“I have no idea.”
My phone rang.
Dana.
“Eleanor, don’t go home.”
My stomach tightened.
May you like
“Why?”
“Someone broke into your house.”
