Chapter 17: Earned

Nolan did not wait for his father to answer.

He pulled me through the revolving door into the lobby, and the staff of Tunstall Group parted for us.

Reporters flooded in behind, held back by two security guards.

A woman in a navy coat was waiting by the reception desk with a leather folder under her arm.

"You're late," she said to Nolan.

"I was on a train."

"I got your message at six. I drafted it in the cab." She looked at me. "Mrs. Tunstall. I'm his attorney."

"Avery," I said. "Please."

Nolan laid the two halves of the torn check on the marble desk, side by side.

Then he looked at me.

"This was in your mother's Bible," he said. "She kept it for you."

The lobby went quiet.

I stared at the signature, and then at the date.

"She never told me," I said.

"She wanted you to have something in your hands when you went after him."

My eyes burned.

"Is that why you were at Maple Court?"

"She knew who I was the second I walked in."

His mouth moved.

"She told me to sit down because I was making the room nervous."

I laughed, once, and wiped my face.

Behind us, Lionel had come in from the steps.

"What is this?" he said.

"I'm transferring my shares," Nolan said.

"You can't."

"The articles of the company say I can, to a family trust, at any time. I read them last night."

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