Throughout all of known history, there have been things that human beings didn't understand. Whether it was the sun setting, gravity, or disease; mysteries abounded. In ancient times, some of this was attributed to gods or other supernatural forces. As the human race evolved and came to better understand science, most of these things were explained, if not always fully.
But what if some of the myths and legends were true?
Adam Raleigh was by all accounts a typical, American man. He grew up in the middle-class, small-town boy; graduated high school and college and had a good job at an engineering firm. Even his appearance was fairly average. Six feet tall, medium build, good-looking, but not to be confused with an underwear model. Just another average "Joe" living his normal life.
Only a few aspects of Adam's life were extraordinary. One was his supposed family history. There had always been speculation within his family that they traced their lineage back to Sir Walter Raleigh, the famous English explorer. Adam had heard the stories from his grandfather, but he never truly gave them any credence.
The other extraordinary item about Adam's life was his girlfriend.
Laura was like something out of a dream. She had been a gifted student all her life in whatever subject she had studied. She found her passion in medicine and had just received her doctorate, about to begin her residency. Not only did Laura have the brains, but she also had an unbelievable dose of beauty. Five foot nine inches with dark complexation thanks to her partly middle eastern heritage, flawless skin, large D-cup breasts, and an ass that had gotten looks of lust from the straightest of women.
Many men, and even a few women, were jealous of Adam for winning this goddess. Adam himself was usually stunned by the love she had for him. He had many thoughts in the year they had been together that she could do far better than average old him. But she always just brushed such talk aside, showing him complete love and devotion. He was actually getting ready to propose to her, having secured the reluctant permission of her mother, when tragedy struck.
His beloved grandfather, who had raised him and been his only family, died suddenly. He was too young to remember the train derailment that had taken his parents and grandmother, not even one year old. It had always been just the two of them, but Adam had never once felt deprived of any love or affection. The news hit Adam like a bullet while Laura was there to console him as best she could.
They flew up to New England together for the funeral and to settle his grandfather's estate. The family home was on a lake in New Hampshire where Adam had spent the vast majority of his life. They arrived to find the house in typical pristine order, only the debris left by the paramedics being out of place. It felt eerie to Adam to be there, knowing that his grandfather would never been there again. Laura came up from behind Adam and wrapped her arms around him.
"How are you doing?" she asked with her typical, loving concern.
"I really don't know," he answered truthfully, trying to take everything in. "It just feels so odd."
"I know, honey," she said turning him around to give him a proper hug. Laura's hugs always made him feel warm inside and this was no exception.
They drove over to the morgue so Adam could do the formal identification. When they got there, the family doctor Dr. Harper was there to meet them. He gave Adam a warm hug as he had known him since he was a small boy.
"I'm so sorry, Adam," the doctor told him during the hug. "Tuck was a good man, salt of the earth."
"Thanks, doc," Adam said releasing him. Dr. Harper than saw the woman with him.
"You must be Laura," he said extending his hand in greeting. "Tuck certainly wasn't lying about you being a real beauty," he added with a smile. Laura had gotten complements about her looks virtually all her life and was very used to them by now.
"Thank you," she responded politely. "Did you know Mr. Raleigh well?"
"Nearly 40 years," Dr. Harper said proudly. "I've been his doctor even back when he and Ethel started dating," referring to Adam's grandmother. "I hear you're joining the profession yourself." Laura nodded her head as they went into the body storage area.
The medical examiner opened one of the vaults there and pulled out a body on a tray, covered by a sheet. Adam had known that he would have to do this and steeled himself to it as best he could. The ME pulled back the sheet enough to show Adam the face of fallen grandfather. Adam could only nod in reply, not wanting to see his grandfather like this. The ME put the sheet back and placed him back inside. Laura gripped his hand in support as Adam looked up to Dr. Harper.
"Do you know how..." Adam said with everyone clearly knowing what the question was.
"Massive heart attack," Dr. Harper replied. "He was already gone by the time the medics came."
"Were there any warning signs?" Laura asked putting her doctor "hat" on.
"None," Dr. Harper replied solemnly. "He'd just been in for a physical only last week. He was in excellent health for a man ten years younger," he said forlornly. "It was just one of those things."
Adam signed the paperwork he needed to so that the body could be sent to the funeral home. The funeral itself was a nice service and well attended, half the town seeming to make an appearance to pay their respects. Adam was courteous with all the attendees, but still withdrawn. A local lawyer was also there and asked that Adam come to his office the next day, as he had his grandfather's papers. He told him he would be there.
The next morning, Adam and Laura walked into the offices of Bernard Eccles, ESQ. Mr. Eccles greeted them warmly and invited them back to his office.
"Mr. Raleigh, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about your grandfather. He was a wonderful, friendly man."
"Thank you, Mr. Eccles. He was indeed."
"So, to the matter at hand," Mr. Eccles said, settling in. "As your grandfather's sole remaining relative, naturally everything was left to you."
Adam nodded knowing that was part of his will.
"This includes the house obviously, the stocks and bonds, access to his bank accounts and so forth." Adam was nodding his head hearing nothing out of the ordinary.
"There's really only one or two items that bare some scrutiny," he said still going through the papers on his desk. "The first is the family trust."
"The what?" Adam said sitting up a bit more.
"Your family trust," he said more clearly. "Where all your family money comes from."
Adam was truly confused now. His face gave it away.
"Surely your grandfather talked to you about the family trust," Mr. Eccles said with a slight smile.
"Sir," Adam said trying not to look like an idiot, "I don't know anything about a family trust. My grandfather had a pension, but I don't know about anything else."
Now it was Mr. Eccles turn to look puzzled.
"No," he said looking through more documents, "no, your grandfather had no pension. He drew all his money from the trust since the 1990's."
