“We will take these to Marcus Reid,” I said. “He is my father’s estate attorney. He can bring this directly to the district attorney.”

Vanessa let out a harsh, dry laugh.

“We won’t make it to the district attorney,” she said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Grant and Helen have a backup plan if the audit is challenged,” she said, leaning closer. “I saw the email draft on his computer.”

“What draft?” I asked.

“An emergency resolution to liquidate the foundation’s assets immediately,” she said.

I stared at her, the room suddenly feeling very cold.

“He wants to shut down the foundation?” I asked.

“He wants to dissolve the entire entity,” she said. “If the foundation is liquidated, the physical archives are destroyed, the property is sold, and the remaining funds are absorbed by the holding company.”

“The holding company controlled by the Caldwells,” I said.

“Yes,” she said. “He is going to call an emergency vote to sell Whitaker House.”

My eyes drifted to the portrait of my father on the wall, his steady gaze looking back at me.