Chapter 2 - The Dead Father
Daniel reached for the folder.
Colonel Harris moved it out of reach.
“Answer me.”
Margaret’s voice became calm again—the polished tone she used whenever cruelty needed to sound respectable.
“Emily was not capable of managing a national housing trust in her condition.”
“My condition?” Emily whispered.
Margaret looked at her.
“You were emotional.”
Colonel Harris’s jaw tightened.
His daughter had grown up on military bases, attended public schools and worked through college.
Daniel’s family owned luxury developments and private clubs.
From the beginning, Margaret treated Emily as if marrying wealth had rescued her from an inferior life.
At dinners, she called Colonel Harris “a government employee.”
She referred to military housing as “subsidized neighborhoods.”
And whenever Emily disagreed, Margaret reminded her that Vale families did not create scenes.
Colonel Harris opened the folder.
The transfer would give Daniel temporary control of the Harris Military Family Housing Trust.
Temporary control became permanent if Emily remained medically unavailable for thirty days.
“How many days has she been confined here?” he asked.
Daniel looked away.
“Eleven.”
Emily closed her eyes.
They only needed nineteen more.
Colonel Harris turned a page.
The trust controlled affordable housing near twelve military installations.
More than four thousand homes occupied by enlisted families, injured veterans and surviving spouses.
Daniel had not been trying to manage Emily’s inheritance.
He had been trying to control where thousands of military families lived.
Then Colonel Harris found the attached redevelopment plan.
Six housing communities were marked for demolition.
In their place:
Luxury apartments.
May you like
Private retail.
And two Vale-branded resorts.
