Chapter Eight
The next morning, Noel left the others at his apartment while he visited his father’s office and called a meeting with his board members.
After a short angry encounter, he made them see that his father and brother weren’t capable of what they were accused of.
They’d never have brought about the plant failure in Bedford Falls.
The new chairman of the board, a middle-aged black man who his father had always held in high regard spoke first, his expression full of distaste for what he was about to say.
“Look, Noel, we all understand that you want to protect the Bradfords’ good name.
We held both your grandfather, George and your father in high esteem.
Because of that, we’ve kept everything as quiet in the industry as possible.
But the facts are clear. Your brother, Harry, was in charge of the distribution center, and your father was his direct superior.
That was their end of the business, and I’ll add here, the business your father started forty years ago.
We all relied on them to make sure it thrived. And it did until this situation.”
Another man, James Lauer, who’d been with the firm for ages, a friend of the family Noel had met on numerous occasions, cut in, “Son, if I hadn’t studied the records with my own eyes, I’d never have believed this to be true.
But I did see them, and they were authentic and unquestionable.
You saw them too. Huge amounts of money were being drawn from those accounts systematically and the only two people with immediate access were Harry and George.
They’d even set up a bogus account so they could transfer the funds overseas.
The bank showed us those documents. You can’t believe we would have taken anyone’s word without having our lawyers do in-depth research.
I’m afraid everything has been confirmed. ”
“I still don’t believe it’s true, but if it is, I will reimburse every penny if it takes me the rest of my life.
Those stockholders will not lose their investments.
I’ll start proceedings to sell the family home and other assets we own.
Just so you’re all aware, my next step is to go and spend time in Bedford Falls and do some digging.
When I know more, I’ll contact you with updates.
Can you give me more time before this gets out? ”
The others at the large oval table seemed uncomfortable, many wore closed expressions, some were downright angry and disgusted.
But the men who’d known his family the longest gave voice to their thoughts, and after a brief discussion, it was agreed upon.
They’d allow Noel a limited time to learn the truth. He had until Christmas, two weeks away.