Chapter 19: The Board Meets

The invitation was one line long.

It said the trustees of the Thornquist family trust would meet at ten on March 3.

It said Miss June Boyle was welcome to attend and sign a release.

Under it, in Gordon's own hand: Bring your father. He should hear this.

"He wants an audience," Sean said.

"So do I," I said.

At 2:10 that morning I turned eighteen, sitting on the closet floor with my laptop on my knees.

Cal knocked at three, and handed me a cupcake with a birthday candle stuck in it, already melted down to a stub.

"It's the only candle we had," he said. "Dad's been saving it since the Fourth."

I ate the whole cupcake and cried a little into the frosting.

At ten, we walked into the Thornquist tower on Park Avenue, all five of us.

Lou wore his one suit, which was brown and too short in the sleeves.

Cal had pressed his shirt.

Lexi wore the plain navy dress Sean had found her, and Sean held her hand until the elevator opened.

The boardroom was on the fortieth floor, with a long glass table and seven trustees in dark suits.

Gordon sat at the head of it.

He rose when he saw me, and he smiled his fundraiser smile.

"Miss Boyle. And Mr. Boyle. Thank you for coming."

"Where's the release?" I said.

His lawyer slid a document toward me.

It said I would withdraw every claim.

It said the hospital error would be called a tragedy for all.

It said the Boyles would receive eight million dollars and their silence.

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