Chapter 3 - Thomas Carter Was Never Dead
Robert had not seen Thomas in twenty-eight years.
That was the first truth.
The second was worse.
Thomas had not disappeared voluntarily.
He had been sent to prison.
Michael stared at his father.
“For what?”
“Fraud.”
Margaret laughed sharply. “That’s the polite version.”
Robert ignored her.
Thomas and Robert had inherited Carter & Sons Manufacturing from their
father. Thomas handled finance. Robert handled operations.
Millions disappeared from employee retirement accounts.
The evidence pointed toward Thomas.
He pleaded guilty and served nine years.
Afterward, he vanished from the family.
Robert told Michael that his uncle had died because he believed the
truth would only poison a child.
Emily looked at him.
“You lied to protect Michael.”
Robert nodded.
“Yes.”
She touched her swollen cheek.
“Everyone in this family seems to have a different definition of
protection.”
Robert accepted the criticism.
Michael turned toward Margaret.
“How do you know Thomas is coming tomorrow?”
Margaret refused to answer.
Robert picked up Michael’s phone again.
The reservation had been made using Michael’s account, but the
confirmation email had been forwarded from another address.
Jennifer Walsh.
Michael frowned.
“I didn’t ask her to do that.”
Emily stared at him.
“You said this was your reservation.”
“I asked Mom to arrange a family dinner because I wanted to talk about
the separation.”
“So you did plan to announce it publicly.”
Michael looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“But not the cake?”
“No.”
“Not Jennifer?”
“No.”
“Not Thomas?”
Michael shook his head.
Robert called Jennifer.
She answered.
When Robert said Thomas’s name, she went silent.
Then she whispered:
“I think you all need to see what he gave me.”
“What did he give you?”
“A file.”
“About what?”
“Margaret.”
Margaret stood so quickly her chair scraped across the floor.
“Hang up.”
Robert stared at her.
Jennifer continued.
“Thomas says he went to prison for money he didn’t steal.”
Nobody moved.
May you like
Then she said:
“He says Margaret knows who did.”
