Chapter 11 - THE PROMISE THAT COST MY FATHER HIS LIFE
Ravi's father had known the truth about Kiran's kidnapping.
And instead of trusting the police, he'd secretly asked Michael Harper to help find his missing son.
I sat beside Ravi inside the old Greedy family estate, staring at the letter.
Its date was fifteen years earlier.
Two years after Kiran disappeared.
Ravi's father, Anthony Greedy, had written it shortly before his death.
Michael,
You were right about Gabriel.
I've reviewed the accounts, and the ransom money never reached the people who claimed to be holding Kiran.
Gabriel transferred it into companies he secretly controlled.
If you can help Thomas bring my youngest son home, I will make sure your family is protected.
I looked at Ravi.
"Your father knew?"
His expression was devastated.
"Apparently."
"Why didn't he tell you?"
Ravi shook his head.
"I don't know."
He continued reading.
I have established a trust for Diane and any future children Michael may have. This is separate from the money promised for his years of service.
If anything happens to me, the trust must remain protected.
Ravi lowered the letter.
"My father died six months after writing this."
I swallowed.
"How?"
"Heart failure."
I looked at him.
"Was that ever investigated?"
He nodded.
"The medical records supported natural causes. But Gabriel took control of the finances afterward."
I thought about all the years Sadi and I had struggled.
The rent notices.
The overdue bills.
The nights I'd skipped dinner so she could eat.
All while money intended for our future sat somewhere beyond our reach.
Ravi looked at me.
"I'm sorry."
I shook my head.
"You didn't know."
"But my family benefited from the lies."
"Then help me put things right."
He nodded.
"I will."
We spent the afternoon examining the remaining records with Rebecca Sloan.
The original trust documents confirmed that my father had been promised a substantial financial settlement for his work and the risks he'd taken while helping the Greedy family.
The fund was structured to benefit my parents and their children.
When my parents died, control should have passed to an independent trustee acting for Sadi and me.
Instead, Gabriel used forged documents to seize the money.
Rebecca looked up.
"We have the evidence needed to pursue recovery."
My heart began racing.
"How much?"
She studied the statements.
"The original amount was approximately two point four million dollars. Additional investment gains and recoverable proceeds will need to be calculated."
I stared at the table.
For years, ten thousand dollars had seemed impossible.
Now I might recover enough to secure Sadi's future.
But I wasn't thinking about luxury cars.
Or designer clothes.
I was thinking about our apartment.
Her school.
The orthodontist.
The chance to finish my education without working until midnight.
Then Rebecca opened a second envelope.
Her expression changed.
"Ravi, there's another document."
He looked up.
"What?"
"A letter your father left for you."
Ravi took it.
His fingers tightened as he read.
Then he looked at me.
"My father knew Michael planned to confront Gabriel the night your parents died."
My heart stopped.
Ravi turned the page.
"And he left instructions for what to do if Gabriel tried to silence him."
I leaned forward.
"What instructions?"
Ravi's face went pale.
"He named a witness."
"Who?"
May you like
Ravi whispered the name.
"Your sister, Sadi."
