“He believed his mother was stealing from the foundation.”
I stared at it.
“He discovered donations routed through consulting companies. Properties purchased through shell corporations. Insurance policies altered. Trustees replaced.”
My mind raced.
“Why contact you?”
“I was the foundation’s largest outside donor.”
“And?”
Richard did not answer immediately.
“And Michael thought I was one of the few people Margaret couldn’t intimidate.”
I almost smiled.
Then I saw his face.
“There’s more.”
“Yes.”
He placed the flash drive on the table.
“Michael gave me records.”
“When?”
“Four days before he died.”
The room went silent.
Even my daughters seemed to feel it.
Richard continued.
“He asked me to hold them. He said if anything happened to him, I was to give them to you.”
My stomach twisted.
“Then why didn’t you?”
That question landed between us like a weapon.
Richard looked away.
“I tried.”
“Six years?”
