The story changed by morning.
The report showed that the foundation had committed funds before the trust approved them. It also showed that the Calders had repeatedly asked for revised budgets and had not withdrawn the first grant payment. The edited clip still existed, but it no longer told the whole story.
The trustees scheduled a final vote for Friday.
My father asked me to meet him at the Mercer house. I said yes because I wanted the conversation, not because I expected it to fix anything.
He waited in his study. Everett was gone. My mother sat near the window.
"You forced a public inquiry," my father said.
"I released the audit the trustees requested."
"You released internal documents without consulting the family."
"The trustees approved it."
"You know what I mean."
"Yes."
