Chapter 6: What Gerald Sealed
Gerald was already at his desk when Julian arrived at ten minutes past six.
The estate file was open in front of him.
A second folder sat beside it, thinner, its cover unmarked.
Julian sat down across from him and said nothing.
Gerald took off his glasses.
He set them on the desk.
He looked at Julian the way a man looks at someone he has been dreading this conversation with for a very long time.
"Your father came to me in 1987," Gerald said.
"You were eleven.
He asked me to draw up a separate provision.
Confidential.
He said he would tell you about it himself when the time was right."
"He never did."
"No." Gerald opened the thin folder.
"He funded a trust.
Modest at first.
He added to it three times over the years — 1991, 1998, 2004.
The final balance, with interest, is just over four hundred thousand pounds." He turned the folder to face Julian.
"It was designated for a Thomas Doyle.
In the event of Thomas Doyle's death before the trust could be claimed, the provision stated the funds would transfer to his mother."
Julian looked at the figure on the page.
"He knew," Julian said.
"He knew Thomas was sick."
"A letter came to this office in 2001.
From Mrs.
Doyle.
Describing Thomas's condition and the cost of treatment." Gerald folded his hands on the desk.
"Your father instructed me not to respond."
The room was very quiet.
"He added to the trust in 2004," Julian said.
"Yes."
"Three years after he told you not to respond to her letter."
Gerald said nothing.
"He added money to a trust for a boy he had already decided not to help save." Julian sat back in his chair.
"And then he died and left you holding this file and said nothing to me."
"He said he would handle it himself."
"He didn't handle it.
He buried it and hoped it would stay buried." Julian stood up.
"Transfer the trust to Mrs.
Doyle.
Full amount, with all accrued interest.
Today if possible."
Gerald blinked.
"Julian—"
"She came to my house for eleven years looking for proof that her son mattered to my father.
I'm not going to make her wait any longer." He picked up his coat from the back of the chair.
"Draw up the transfer documents.
I'll sign them this afternoon."
"There's one more thing," Gerald said.
Julian stopped.
Gerald reached into the estate file and removed a single envelope.
Julian's name was written on the front in his father's hand.
"He left this with me the year before he passed," Gerald said.
"He told me to give it to you when I thought the time was right." He held it out.
"I've been waiting eleven years to decide when that was."
Julian took the envelope.
He didn't open it.
"Was there anything else in that file I don't know about?" he asked.
Gerald hesitated for just a fraction of a second.
"No," he said.
Julian looked at him.
Gerald picked up his glasses and put them back on.
He looked at the file.
May you like
He did not look at Julian.
Julian put the envelope in his coat pocket and walked out.
