Margaret
looked at the locked cabinet.
“It was in there.”
Everyone turned.
The cabinet was nearly empty now.
Samuel searched again. The auditors checked every folder, every envelope, every binder.
No final report.
Jennifer turned away from the window.
“I took it,” she said.
Michael stood. “What?”
Jennifer wiped under her eyes with the heel of her hand. “I took it because Mother asked me to.”
“When?” I asked.
“Last week.”
Emma’s voice was quiet. “Why?”
Jennifer looked at her, and for the first time, I saw something like shame.
“Because Ashford asked for the original property chain. Mother panicked. She said if certain old papers came out, everything could be challenged. The restaurant. The land. Maybe even trusts Dad set up.”
Samuel’s jaw tightened. “Where is the report now?”
Jennifer looked at my mother.
Margaret said nothing.
“Jennifer,” I said.
My sister covered her face for a moment.
