Chapter 5 - A Man Who Smiled Too EasilyLeonard Greer had the smooth voice of a man who practiced sounding reasonable.
At sixty-four, he wore tailored gray suits, expensive watches, and an expression of permanent professional sympathy.
He was the kind of lawyer who could make a threat sound like helpful advice.
"That room contains sensitive documents," he told Travis.
"Then it's fortunate we're handling them carefully," Travis replied.
Greer's smile thinned.
"I wasn't aware you had authorization to access it."
Mrs. Parker stepped forward.
"Mr. Hartwell and his daughter are here at my invitation. The library's records have been in my care for years."
"Mrs. Parker, your enthusiasm for this institution is admirable, but legal ownership is rather more complicated."
"Not as complicated as you're making it," Claire said.
Greer turned toward her.
"Claire. I had heard you were back."
"Apparently everyone has."
Zaya remained beside her father.
She noticed how Greer's eyes kept returning to Arthur's notebook.
"Are those Grandpa's things?" Greer asked her.
"Yes."
"You should let the adults review them. They're probably quite boring."
Zaya lowered her gaze.
"Some of them are."
"Exactly."
"But one says Grandpa didn't want you selling the Reading House."
The room went silent.
Greer's expression remained composed.
"Your grandfather and I discussed many possibilities, Zaya. Business can be confusing."
"Did he change his mind?"
"About what?"
"The Reading House."
Greer glanced toward Travis.
"Is this really an appropriate conversation for a child?"
"She's asking a straightforward question," Travis said.
The attorney sighed.
"Arthur understood that circumstances change. Preserving a legacy sometimes requires difficult decisions."
"Did he sign an authorization permitting the sale?"
Claire asked.
"I won't discuss confidential client matters in a hallway."
"Arthur is dead, Leonard. And a separate charitable trust owns the property."
"Which is precisely why this should be left to qualified professionals."
Claire moved closer.
"Then you'll have no objection to independent counsel examining the records."
Greer's smile vanished.
"I would caution you against creating unnecessary conflict."
Travis looked him in the eyes.
"We're past that."
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Greer adjusted his cuff.
"Your mother expects you at a board meeting Monday morning. I suggest you attend."
He looked toward Zaya again.
"And perhaps it would be best if your daughter spent less time among old files."
He left without another word.
The moment the front door closed, Zaya exhaled.
"I don't like him."
Claire gave a humorless laugh.
"Neither do I."
They spent the next hour creating a written inventory of the cabinet's contents.
Mrs. Parker witnessed the process. Claire photographed the files in place before anyone removed a page. Travis contacted Rachel Moreno's office and arranged for the materials to be reviewed.
Zaya carefully placed Arthur's personal letter inside a protective sleeve.
Then she returned the brass key to her handbag.
As they prepared to leave, Mrs. Parker approached her.
"Did your grandfather ever tell you why he loved this place?"
Zaya nodded.
"Because nobody had to buy anything to come inside."
Mrs. Parker smiled.
"That was part of it."
"What was the other part?"
The older woman's eyes filled with tears.
"Because when he was young, he watched his own father turn away families who couldn't pay their rent. Arthur never forgot what that looked like."
Zaya looked around the library.
Children's drawings hung from the walls.
A volunteer helped a little boy sound out words beneath a faded poster.
Near the front desk, a sign read:
EVERY STORY BELONGS SOMEWHERE.
She wondered how anyone could look at the place and see only expensive land.
That night, Travis visited his mother.
Evelyn was alone in the formal sitting room, reading beside the fireplace.
She looked up.
"You're late."
"I wasn't aware I had an appointment."
"Don't be unpleasant."
He remained standing.
"Why did you exclude Zaya at lunch?"
Evelyn removed her reading glasses.
"Oh, for heaven's sake. She had a perfectly comfortable table."
"By herself."
"She gets overwhelmed by adult conversation."
"She wasn't overwhelmed. She was embarrassed."
"Children need to learn not to make everything about themselves."
Travis felt the familiar pressure building in his chest.
For most of his life, that tone had ended their arguments.
Tonight, it didn't.
"She's your granddaughter."
"Of course she is."
"Then why do you keep referring to her as my girl? Why won't you acknowledge Lila as her mother when you introduce her?"
Evelyn's mouth tightened.
"I have always been civil to Lila."
"You once told her she'd never understand how this family works because she grew up in a rented apartment."
"That was a private conversation."
"It was cruel."
Evelyn looked toward the fireplace.
"Your father was a sentimental man. He liked making promises. Someone had to be practical."
Travis sat down opposite her.
"Did Dad leave Zaya a trust?"
The question landed like a dropped glass.
Evelyn went completely still.
Then she reached for her tea.
"Arthur made numerous estate provisions."
"That wasn't my question."
"Leonard handles those matters."
"Did Dad leave Zaya a specific beneficial interest?"
"Why are you asking me instead of your attorney?"
"Because you're my mother."
Evelyn set down the cup.
The porcelain clicked against its saucer.
"Your father wanted everybody to feel important. He never understood that wealth doesn't survive when it's divided among people who can't manage it."
"Zaya is twelve."
"Exactly."
"She has an independent trustee."
Evelyn's expression changed.
Not much.
But Travis noticed.
"Margaret Shaw has been filling your head with nonsense," she said.
"Margaret says she never approved the documents Leonard presented."
Evelyn stood.
"This conversation is over."
"No."
She stared at him.
Travis rose slowly.
"For once, Mother, it isn't."
A long silence settled between them.
Then Evelyn walked to a small writing desk.
She opened a drawer and removed a cream-colored envelope.
"I had hoped we could handle this privately."
She placed the envelope before him.
Inside was a proposed family settlement agreement.
Travis scanned it.
In exchange for a payment of $250,000, he would agree not to contest certain trust amendments, release specified claims relating to estate administration, and cooperate with the redevelopment transaction.
The agreement also contemplated his signing on behalf of Zaya.
Travis stared at the last page.
"You want me to give up her rights."
Evelyn's face hardened.
"I'm offering you a way to protect her future."
"By taking away something Dad left her?"
"By preventing an expensive legal fight."
Travis folded the papers.
"An attorney can tell you how little authority I have to waive a minor beneficiary's rights this way."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
"Be careful, Travis."
"Of what?"
She stepped closer.
"Your father left you a company that is closer to collapse than you realize."
Then she said something he would remember for the rest of his life.
"If this deal fails, hundreds of families will suffer."
May you like
Her voice fell.
"And when they ask who destroyed their livelihoods, I'll make sure they know it was you."
Related Stories
