Page 53 of Denying Davis
“I never said that. Never. I didn’t find it acceptable, I found it abhorrent.” He drank the last of his bourbon. “And believe me, I’ve spent years wondering why he turned out the way that he did. I offered help many times. Counseling. The entire thing.” His face fell, and his eyes turned sad. “I wanted him to get better and to be his best self. He never did.”
In some ways, part of me had always known this about my father. He was a flawed, deviant, tough man—someone who had never allowed me to get close to him, a man I considered the opposite of myself. But hearing this latest detail about my dad was far beyond what I’d ever considered him capable of doing. The news was earth-shattering.
Part of me hated him. Hated our family.
“You knew all these things about Dad, but you were still willing to cover it up,” I finally said. “You werecomplicit. That’s just as bad, Grandad. It makes you no better than him, and it’s—”
“I wasn’t complicit, son. I was strategic.”
“Same difference.” I stood from the chair as a deep pounding began to build in my chest. “And, don’t call me son.”
“Why not? That’s what you are to me, kid.”
“I hate that term. Most of all, I hate hearing it from you. I’m not your son.”
“But—”
“No matter how hard you try, you won’t make me like you.”
I glared at him. I didn’t know what to think, or how to feel. Everything I’d ever thought about my grandfather was coming undone before my eyes. “All I can think of is this—you placed the company and your fortune ahead of what was right. What was moral. You were willing to use our money and our influence to keep someone from receiving justice, even if it was the wrong thing to do.”
“Things aren’t always so simple,” he replied, and his words were cold, unfeeling.
“This is unacceptable.” I’d unleashed my anger, and there was no turning back now. I backed away from the desk. “I’m disgusted. Sickened.”
He stood. “I think you’re overreacting. Take a few deep breaths and clear you head. Remember who you are. You’re an Armstrong for Christ’s sake.”
“No, no way. I may be in name, but I am not like you. Or Dad.” I held up my hand to stop him from responding. He needed to hear what I had to say, and he needed to hear it immediately. “It’s impossible for me tounderreactabout what you’ve just said. I am appalled. And I’m as sick overyourbehavior as I am his.”
“Please, son—”
“Never call me that again. I’m not your son.” I regarded him through my rage, and something clicked inside of me. This wasn’t the end of the story. Not even close. “Let me guess, though. There’s more?”
He answered with a light shake of his head.
“Jesus Christ,” I replied.
He chewed his ragged bottom lip. “I know you wanted to give Miss Green some money. But that account is now closed. And if she tries to access the account—it’s flagged as fraudulent.”
The account manager’s last statement didn’t make any sense to me. I asked her to repeat it, and then say it one more time.
“Fraud?” I finally asked, and the word tasted bitter on my tongue. “You’re accusing me offraud?”
“This isn’t an accusation; this is a statement of fact,” the woman replied in a crisp, no-nonsense tone. If I hadn’t known better, I would have mistaken her for a robot or a recording. “From what we understand, this account is the victim of identity theft, and I see here in the notes it was set up under suspicious circumstances a few days ago. In fact, it specifically says if a Samantha Green calls—”
“What?” I sank into the sofa. Everything around me felt heavy and strange. “I don’t understand. I have the paperwork here, and—”
“I’m afraid you aren’t able to access the account, Ms. Green. The money is not yours. Only authorized users may perform withdrawals or deposits on the balance, and that doesn’t include you.”
I was still confused and didn’t have a good reply.
“I’ve been asked to tell you not to contact us regarding this account again.”
“But—”
“As I said, the account was set up under fraudulent circumstances. And if you contact us again, you’ll be reported to the police.”
“The police?” My heart began thundering in my chest. “I mean—”
