Daniel tracked down a retired accountant who had once worked for the Ashford family.
His name was Peter Lawson.
At first, Lawson refused to speak with us.
He said he had signed confidentiality agreements and didn't want trouble.
Daniel explained that we weren't asking him to reveal private information unlawfully. We wanted to know whether he could provide relevant evidence through appropriate legal channels.
After consulting his own attorney, Lawson agreed to an interview.
He confirmed that Thomas had questioned several property transactions.
He also recalled that Richard Ashford had ordered certain records moved from the main office to an off-site storage facility.
"Why?" I asked.
Lawson looked uncomfortable.
"He said the files were outdated and no longer needed."
"Did you believe him?"
"No."
He explained that the disputed transactions involved more than land.
Some properties had been used as collateral for loans. Others had been transferred through businesses whose ownership was difficult to trace.
Thomas believed that some families had been deprived of property through misleading agreements.
Lawson had not personally witnessed every transaction, and he could not verify all the accusations.
But he had retained copies of several accounting schedules because he had been concerned about discrepancies.
He agreed to give them to his lawyer for review.
When the interview ended, I asked whether he knew what happened to my father.
Lawson shook his head.
"I saw Thomas the week he disappeared. He looked frightened, but he also looked determined."
"Did he say where he was going?"
Lawson thought for a long time.
"He said he had found a way to protect the records from being destroyed."
My heart pounded.
"Did he mention a place?"
Lawson closed his eyes.
"Only one word."
"What word?"
"Harbor."
Click here to continue reading: PART 12: The Harbor Address
The Day a Millionaire Walked Into Our House
Part 11 of 20
