Sarah read the ownership document twice.
For six years, Gregory had described the diner as a struggling family business that he personally kept alive.
He told employees that his uncle had left him the restaurant and that he alone was responsible for its future.
The records painted a different picture.
Andrew Whitmore's investment company had purchased a controlling interest in Miller's Family Diner nine years earlier.
Gregory remained as operating manager under a separate agreement.
After Andrew died, that interest passed into the estate.
Evelyn had legal authority over it, subject to the estate's administration.
"Does Gregory know?" Sarah asked.
"He should. He signed the management documents."
Sarah felt her anger rising.
"He told us he owned the whole restaurant."
Evelyn opened another folder.
Financial records suggested that Gregory had been charging the diner unusually high management fees.
Those fees went to a corporation connected to Victor.
At the same time, employees received repeated explanations about insufficient funds for raises or repairs.
"The figures need a full audit," Evelyn cautioned. "But there's enough here to justify serious questions."
Sarah remembered Denise working double shifts while caring for her sick mother.
She remembered the dishwasher whose hours were cut after he reported a broken freezer.
She remembered Gregory collecting money from employees who made small mistakes.
"Can the staff recover what they're owed?"
"If wages were unlawfully withheld, we'll make sure the claims are investigated."
Sarah looked down at the document.
For years, she had felt powerless because Gregory could threaten her livelihood.
Now she realized he had been using authority granted by someone else.
Evelyn continued.
"Rebecca is reviewing the management agreement. If the documented breaches are confirmed and the required procedures followed, we can remove Gregory."
Sarah did not smile.
She had hoped for that possibility, but the situation was too serious to celebrate.
"What happens to the employees if the diner closes?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you about."
Sarah looked up.
Evelyn leaned forward.
"Andrew bought small businesses because he believed they mattered to local communities. He would have hated the way Gregory treated people."
She paused.
"I don't know much about running a diner. But I've seen how you treat customers, and several employees have already spoken highly of you."
Sarah shook her head.
"I'm just a waitress."
"You're a waitress who knew what to do when a frightened child needed help."
Before Sarah could respond, Rebecca called Evelyn.
Investigators had obtained a court order requiring Fairhaven Asset Recovery to preserve relevant documents.
But employees at the storage facility reported that someone had requested an emergency disposal of archived boxes earlier that morning.
And the person authorizing the request used Gregory Vance's credentials.