Some background
Some background
Thomas (oh how I hate seeing, saying or writing that name).
This evil viscous con man had need given the gift of looks and charisma. He could charm the devil.
After college my dad got him a job will Merrill Lynch as a stockbroker. He was with them about 20 years. Then decided to strike out on his own with some other guys, open a new company and move to Florida. My parents n I had know idea this move was to create a fictious company INHI with the ambition to extort 8 MILLION DOLLARS from ordinary people. He had the gift of gab and ultimate patience to do it. While at Merrill Lynch (my understanding is he was forced out or fired), he traveled the world, best clothes, etc. We rarely saw him for many years except on occasion. He cared about nobody. Dad and mom would be quite upset, months go by, no word from him, he'd say he'd be coming home for this or that, never showed up. Dad always said, don't count on him coming unless you see him walk through that door. I can recall some mothers days when my mother never got a call. One time I asked him why n he said he was out in the middle of the ocean for days fishing.
All the time our family had a party or celebration, dad would say HE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HES MISSED.
Dad always handled this monster in his own way. If an issue came up dad would say let him handle it don't get involved with him. Dad was my rock, the family rock. I never worried because I had my dad.
I respected my dad more then anything. There were times dad shared things with me and I just listened. I felt very bad for my dad but all I could do was be the best daughter I could.
All the years my father invested any money thru Thomas with Merrill Lynch (20 years), my parents NEVER EVEN MADE ONE DIME - quote.
Thomas asked my dad to borrow $1,000 n dad gave him a check. Thomas forged it and made it $11,000 THEREFORE WIPING DADS ACCOUNT OUT. my father stopped receiving his monthly statements and called about it and that's how he found out.
Things were always missing and dad would send emails to us asking if we know anything about it. Tools, a table, moms wedding rings, you name it. One time I was invited to toms house (one time since I've known him), his girlfriend opened the basement door to show me it was a basement nothing down there EXCEPT THE TABLE HE STOLE FROM,MY PARENTS HOUSE.
One evening I asked into dad's home office and he was sitting there in deep thought. He said he's thought and thought and thought about his family and my mom's to try a figure who Thomas is, who else in the family was like him, and the end result NO ONE.
Another time I again walked in dad's office and again he was in deep thought. He looked at me and said, "Linda, my only other choice is to never see my son again." We both just somberly looked at each other, I felt his tears and pain. I could just be the best daughter I could be for my parents.
Jesus, what didn't I know that my father could not share with me and I was to afraid to ask.
A couple of other true stories in the future:
NANA and INHI
