Chapter 21 - THE WOMAN WHO REMEMBERED THE GENERAL
The breakthrough came from an unexpected source.
An elderly woman named Helen Carter contacted the foundation.
She was ninety-one.
She had worked as General Reed's private secretary during the final years of his life.
Valerie visited her personally.
Helen lived in a small apartment filled with photographs.
She recognized Valerie immediately.
“You have his eyes.”
“My grandfather?”
Helen smiled.
“Both of you.”
Valerie showed her the disputed amendment.
Helen's hands trembled.
“I remember this.”
“You were there?”
“I typed it.”
Valerie leaned forward.
“Why wasn't it registered?”
Helen sighed.
“Because the General was dying.”
“Why didn't his attorney file it?”
Helen looked away.
“He was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of losing control.”
Valerie's heart sank.
“Who?”
Helen finally answered.
“The attorney.”
She explained that the General's attorney had wanted to keep the Reed estate under private family control.
The General disagreed.
He wanted the money to protect children.
The attorney had delayed filing the amendment.
Then the General died.
Helen kept a copy because she feared the original would disappear.
“Where is your copy?”
Helen pointed toward a wooden cabinet.
Valerie opened it.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
And inside the envelope was a letter.
General Reed had written it to his future heirs.
Valerie read the first sentence.
If you are reading this, then someone has tried to make my fortune more important than the reason I earned it.
Her eyes filled with tears.
May you like
The case had just changed.
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