“Take me to the lake house,” I said.
Daniel shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because the ledger is not the only thing there.”
My mother’s name rose in my mind.
“What else?”
“A letter from your father.”
The house seemed to grow quieter.
“Why would he leave me a letter?”
“Because he knew his health was failing. He wrote it before his final surgery. He asked me to deliver it when you were ready to hear the truth about the family.”
“And you decided I wasn’t ready.”
“I decided you were still measuring your worth by how many people obeyed you.”
I had no defense.
Daniel looked at Evelyn. “The ledger identifies the people who diverted money from the family foundations. Some were using those funds to influence local officials and business competitors. Your father discovered it late. He was afraid that exposing them would put the family at greater risk.”
