Chapter 3
The payments were labeled advisory fees.
Evelyn had approved them.
That was the worst part.
Every quarter, Garrett presented a summary of services Lawson Advisory supposedly provided in connection with the emergency financing.
Debt management.
Donor relations.
Risk consulting.
Evelyn had signed because the amounts were modest compared with the bridge.
One hundred twenty thousand the first year.
One hundred forty the second.
More after that.
Almost half a million dollars total.
Margaret had discovered the fees by accident.
She received an annual statement from the donor-advised account that originally transferred her money.
One line referred to a servicing arrangement she did not recognize.
She called the foundation’s accounting firm.
The accountant initially assumed Margaret already knew.
Then he realized she did not.
That was why she had come to the gala.
“I was going to pull you aside after the orchestra finished,” Margaret said.
“You should’ve called me.”
“I did.”
Evelyn remembered Dominic—no, not here. She corrected her thoughts.
Garrett controlled most of her calendar during gala week.
He often answered calls when she was in meetings.
“Did you tell Garrett why you were coming?”
“No.”
“Diane?”
Margaret hesitated.
“I told her I needed to speak with you about the old bridge.”
Evelyn closed her eyes briefly.
That explained the hostility.
Not everything.
But enough.
The next morning, Evelyn called the foundation’s outside accountant directly.
Martin Shea had worked with the organization for seven years.
“I need every document connected to the bridge financing.”
There was a pause.
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
“Garrett usually handles those requests.”
“Not anymore.”
Another pause.
“Understood.”
By noon, Garrett’s administrative access to the foundation had been suspended.
Evelyn’s attorney advised her not to remove him from unrelated family businesses until they understood the scope of the problem.
Garrett called immediately.
“You’re freezing me out because your mother showed you one statement?”
“I’m reviewing records.”
“You don’t trust me?”
Evelyn looked through the glass wall of her office.
Margaret sat outside with a bag of ice against her hip.
“I trusted you yesterday.”
Garrett said nothing.
Evelyn continued.
“That’s why today is a problem.”
She ended the call.
An hour later Martin Shea sent the first batch.
Evelyn opened the original bridge file.
Page nine contained a signature authorizing the Lawson advisory arrangement.
Margaret’s.
Evelyn stared at it.
Then walked into the next room.
“Mom.”
Margaret looked up.
Evelyn placed the page in front of her.
“You signed the fees too.”
Margaret’s face changed.
May you like
“No.”
Her signature was there anyway.
