Nathan’s brother.
Michael Coleman.
The room shifted again.
Nathan looked at the document.
“Michael approved this?”
Thomas nodded.
Michael had died four years earlier.
Before Catherine.
Before the boys became sick.
Nathan stared.
“My brother managed the estate then.”
Mrs. Bennett said quietly:
“He handled the renovation.”
Nathan’s face changed.
Not suspicion.
Memory.
“What happened after the contractor reported the curing problem?”
Thomas pointed to a note.
“Michael instructed them to seal the section and continue.”
Nathan looked at him.
“Why?”
“Timeline.”
“What timeline?”
Mrs. Bennett answered.
“Catherine’s birthday party.”
The house had hosted eighty guests.
Michael did not want construction delayed.
One decision.
Make the deadline.
Hide the unfinished problem behind walls.
No one intended
harm.
Again.
Nathan looked suddenly tired.
“My brother rushed construction for a party.”
“Yes.”
“And years later that might have contributed.”
Maya said:
“Possibly.”
“Not certainty.”
“No.”
Nathan rubbed his face.
“Everyone in my family loved shortcuts.”
No one answered.
Then Thomas handed him another page.
“There’s more.”
I almost laughed.
Of course.
Michael had written an email to Catherine:
I know you hate the smell. Contractor says sealed wall is fine. I’ll redo it after the party.
Catherine replied:
Please do. Jacob has been coughing at night.
