Chapter 4 - The Message
Victor learned about the petition before Larry did.
A clerk at the courthouse had contacted the management office to confirm an address. Victor happened to answer the phone.
He immediately created a plan.
He sent Larry an altered screenshot of an email supposedly written by Charlotte.
The message appeared to say that Bethany should remove Larry from management, sell two buildings, and divide the money before he could object.
The real email said nothing about selling the properties.
Larry read the altered message three times.
His hands shook.
He remembered the years spent sleeping in empty apartments during renovations. He remembered repairing frozen pipes on Christmas morning. He remembered selling his truck to cover property taxes.
And now Bethany was planning to remove him.
Victor stood across from him.
“I warned you.”
Larry placed the phone on the desk.
“She wouldn’t do this.”
“She already did.”
“Why would a lawyer tell her to sell?”
“Because lawyers get paid when families fight.”
Larry stood abruptly.
“Where are they?”
Victor pretended to hesitate.
“I believe they’re meeting at Charlotte’s office.”
Larry grabbed his sunglasses.
Victor followed him to the door.
“Be careful. Charlotte will try to provoke you.”
Larry turned.
“Why?”
“To make you look unstable.”
The idea entered Larry’s mind like poison.
May you like
By the time he reached his truck, he was no longer going to ask Bethany for an explanation.
He was going to stop an attack.
