He would have reminded everyone that she was his mother, that she had sacrificed for the family, and that no outsider had the right to question her.
But he could not ignore the documents.
He could not ignore his father's letter.
And he could not ignore the fact that his mother had still not explained the transactions.
DEREK BENNETT:
"Mother, did Dad know where the money went?"
Patricia's face changed.
It was the smallest movement, a tightening around the eyes and a brief hesitation before she answered.
But Derek saw it.
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"He knew enough."
DEREK BENNETT:
"Enough for what?"
She turned away.
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"I need some time."
SAMUEL KEENE:
"You have had time."
Patricia faced him sharply.
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"How dare you?"
SAMUEL KEENE:
"Your husband asked for this review before his death. I have waited because he wanted the family to have an opportunity to resolve the matter privately. I cannot continue delaying it without a legitimate reason."
Derek looked at the folder again.
DEREK BENNETT:
"Was Caroline involved in the review?"
SAMUEL KEENE:
"Your father contacted her once to discuss a matter concerning the company's records. She was not given authority over the accounts, and she did not authorize the transactions under review."
Derek's face grew pale.
He remembered accusing Caroline of abandoning the family while she was serving overseas. He remembered telling relatives that she had never helped their father during his illness.
He remembered the arguments over money.
At the time, he had believed that Caroline was asking questions because she wanted to interfere.
Now he wondered whether she had asked because she had noticed something wrong.
DEREK BENNETT:
"Did she know about this?"
SAMUEL KEENE:
"She knew that her father had concerns. She did not receive the complete set of documents."
DEREK BENNETT:
"Why not?"
SAMUEL KEENE:
"Your father did not want her drawn into an investigation before the facts were established."
Derek closed his eyes briefly.
For years, he had treated Caroline's distance as proof that she did not care.
He had never considered that she might have been trying to respect their father's wishes.
He had never asked why she avoided discussing the family business.
He had simply assumed that her silence meant indifference.
DEREK BENNETT:
"I need to speak with her."
SAMUEL KEENE:
"That is your decision. But I recommend that you do so honestly."
Derek moved toward the door.
Patricia reached for his arm.
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"Do not go out there and make this worse."
He looked at her hand.
Then he gently pulled away.
DEREK BENNETT:
"I think we've made it worse by refusing to talk about it."
He left the room.
Samuel remained with Patricia.
For several moments, she stood motionless beside the table, staring at the letter her husband had written.
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"He always thought I was the problem."
SAMUEL KEENE:
"I cannot speak for everything your husband believed. I can only tell you what he asked me to do."
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"I kept this family together."
SAMUEL KEENE:
"Perhaps you did, in many ways."
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"Then why would he leave a letter like that?"
Samuel considered his answer.
SAMUEL KEENE:
"Because he believed that keeping a family together was not enough if the people inside it could no longer trust one another."
Patricia looked away.
For the first time that evening, she appeared older than her years.
The confident woman who had entered the gala believing that she could control every conversation now seemed unsure of what to say or where to look.
But even in that moment, Samuel could not know whether she was beginning to recognize the harm she had caused or merely regretting that the truth had become difficult to conceal.
He closed the folder.
SAMUEL KEENE:
"I will arrange for the documents to be reviewed independently. You will have an opportunity to provide explanations and supporting records."
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"And if I refuse?"
SAMUEL KEENE:
"Then the matter will proceed according to the appropriate legal process."
She looked at him sharply.
PATRICIA BENNETT:
"You would do that to a family you have known for years?"
SAMUEL KEENE:
"I would honor the responsibilities I accepted when your husband asked me to preserve these records."
He picked up the folder.
SAMUEL KEENE:
"That is what he paid me to do. It is also what I believe is right."
Outside, Derek found Caroline near the windows.
She was speaking with Captain Harris, who had just finished explaining the foundation's schedule for the remainder of the evening.
Derek approached slowly.