by Mac Fortner
There was a slight murmur in the room. I found myself even making a low pitched sound.
“Kailey,” Alexis said, “You’re entitled to that money.”
“I don’t want it. I’ll live fine on three hundred million. Anything more I would find prolific,” she said. “My child will have plenty. I don’t want to divide a conglomerate that so many people depend on for their living.”
“If that’s what you want Kailey,” Alexis said, “then a lot of people owe you. Your child has a great mother. I hope you’ll let us be in his or her life.”
“You’re entitled to be close to your sibling,” Kailey said, “and you will be.”
“Alright,” Alexander said, “I’ll finalize the Will and make the arrangements. We’ll get together again and in a few days and sign the papers. Now, do you think I could have one of those drinks?”
Kailey and Alexis stood and hugged.
I told Kailey that was quite a sacrifice on her part, so many other families didn’t have to suffer.
“Cam, did you miss the part where I took three hundred million,” she said.
“No, I still remember that part,” I said.
“Would you walk with me for a minute,” she said.
“Sure.”
We excused ourselves and walked down the hallway toward the staircase.
“Where are we going,” I said.
“To my room,” she said.
“And why is that?”
“I feel like celebrating,” she said.
“I can’t do that,” I said.
“You could call Robin. She could join us.”
“Tempting,” I said. “Very tempting, but it just isn’t going to happen.”
“We’ll see,” she said and started up the stairs. “If you’ll excuse me for a while, I’m going up to celebrate alone. You know where you can find me. Toodles.”
I went back to the office.
“Where’s Kailey?” Alexis said.
“She went to her room to rest for a while. I think this was a little stressful,” I said.
Chad smiled at me and took a drink. I rolled my eyes.
“We’ll let her sleep for a few hours and then wake her for supper,” Alexis said.
“That would be good,” I said.
Her batteries couldn’t last much longer than that.
I stayed and had a few drinks with everyone, and we talked about the future. Where would Kailey go? How would she be as a mother?
“I hope she stays here until the baby is born,” Alexis said.
“I don’t see why she wouldn’t,” Chad said. “I don’t think she has anywhere else to go.”
At seven o’clock I excused myself and called for my limo.
“I guess the two of you will be staying here from now on,” I said.
“That’s the plan,” Chad said, “but we're keeping my condo in the city. There will be times when it will be more convenient.”
“Has it sunk in yet Chad? You’re a billionaire.”
“No, I don’t think it has. I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you. I’d be lying on the floor receiving CPR.”
I laughed. “You probably would. I’m close to it just knowing a billionaire.”
“Yeah, me too,” Chad said.
“Will Alexis be able to pay Kailey three hundred million, without liquidating any of the assets?” I said.
“Yeah, there is about five hundred million in cash.”
“I wonder how she knew that?” I said.
“Maybe Bill had told her,” Chad said.
Alexander came to the bar where we were standing.
“Crazy day,” he said. “Thought I’d fix a second.
“Have all you want,” Chad said.
Alexander fixed another drink.
“May I ask who set up the living trust for Kailey?” I said to Alexander.
“She did it herself,” he said. “I went over it afterward, but everything was in order.”
“Good for her. I’m glad to see she knows how to handle money.”
“She knows very well,” he said. “That’s quite a complicated ordeal.”
“Yes, I know,” I said.
We chatted for a few minutes, and my cell phone buzzed. The limo had arrived.
Chapter 69
I called Robin from the limo.
“Where are you?” I said
“Actually only about two blocks from your place. Are you home?”
“I’m on the way. Go on in and wait for me.”
“Will do. I’ll stop at the corner market and get some snacks,” she said.
“Great, there’s wine in the cooler. Pick one out,” I said.
“Okay, bye?”
I walked into the apartment to find Robin standing naked in the kitchen.
“Oh, it’s gonna be like that, huh,” I said.
“Join me?” she said.
I did.
“Kailey has been a lot of trouble,” Robin said, “but I have to hand it to her, she sure spiced up our lives.”
“Yes indeed. What kind of snacks did you get?”
“Really,” Robin said, “I’m standing here naked, and you want to know what kind of snacks I brought.”
“Yep, I’m hungry,” I said.
She opened the sack on the counter and poured the contents on the table top.
“M&M’s, cheese popcorn, pretzels, and bagels,” she said. “But the bagels are for breakfast.”
“Oh good, you’re staying for breakfast,” I said.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” she said.
Even though she was naked also, I still felt strange walking around the apartment this way. I fixed a Wild Turkey.
“No wine,” she said
“This first.”
The oven timer went off.
“Pizza’s ready,” she said.
“Thank god you brought pizza. I thought I was going to have to fill up on junk food,” I said.
“I wouldn’t do that. We’re having good ‘ole sausage pizza,” she said.
We sat out on the balcony and ate. At least it was getting dark now, and we weren’t as exposed as the last time.
“So how did the reading of the Will go?” she said
“It was a little strange,” I said. “Kailey turned down a billion dollars. She took three hundred million. She didn’t want to liquidate any of the businesses. She said it would cause hardship for the employees.”
“I hope she has someone to advise her on the money,” Robin said.
“It sounds as if she doesn’t need any help. She set up a living trust by herself. Her as the Grantor and her child as the beneficiary. JP Morgan Chase will be the trustee.”
“Really? I didn’t think she had it in her,” Robin said.
“One never knows.”
We ate and drank for a few minutes.
“How did the investigation on the files go?” I said.
“Roberts in the clear, but someone tried to set him up. The files have unquestionably been altered, but we can’t tell how.”
“It doesn’t have to be someone on the inside either,” I suggested, “Alexis said they send their records to Dillard and Shanks. Someone there could have embezzled the money, and now they’re trying to throw the blame somewhere else.”
We paused to eat more pizza, and I refilled our drinks.
“We only have a couple of days left together,” I said.
“I know. I try not to think about it. It depresses me,” Robin said.
“Yeah, me too,” I said, “but we’re both going to where we belong. You have a dream and a goal coming true, and I have my home back.”
“It’s a hollow victory,” Robin said.
“We’ll work it out. Enjoy your promotion,” I said.
“You’re right, let’s enjoy,” Robin said and reached for my cock.
The next morning Robin was up early.
“I have to get to the office. I’ve been thinking about the case all night. I have an idea of who might
be behind all this,” she said.
“Care to share?” I said.
“No, not yet. I have to connect some dots first.”
“Well don’t forget your bagel,” I said.
“It’s in the toaster.”
She was dressed, and I was still in my robe.
She looked at me.
“Are you practicing for Key West?” she said.
“We don’t need robes there. It’s au naturel.”
“Okay, mister au naturel, drop the robe,” she said.
By the time we came back from the bedroom, her bagel was cold.
“You can have mine,” I said.
“No, that’s for you.”
“I’m going for a run in the park. I’ll get one there,” I said.
“Okay,” she said and put the bagel in the toaster again.
She put cream cheese on her bagel and kissed me goodbye.
“See you tonight,” I said.
“Okay, I’ll call you when I can get away.”
When the door closed, I went to the cabinet and pulled out my white sack.
“Chocolate honey buns,” I said to myself.
Chapter 70
I received a phone call from Chief McNally around noon. He wasn’t in a good mood.
“Derringer?” he said.
I could tell he had been chewing on his cigar for a while. I could imagine the slobber running down his chin.
I knew who it was so I said, “Yes, this is Mister Derringer.”
“Mister huh,” he puffed.
“Yep.”
“What the hell was that at Per Se yesterday?” he said.
“It was a T-bone,” I said.
“You know what I mean. Givin’ the Commissioner a hard time in front of me.”
“Oh that,” I said. “He rubbed me the wrong way. I was there to enjoy my meal, not get the third degree from someone who hasn’t contributed a damn thing to the case.”
“He’s pissed. You might not want to go speeding or anything.”
“I’ll drive carefully,” I said. “Have you come up with anything new?”
“I wouldn’t tell you if I did,” he said.
“To bad. I was hoping we could exchange stories,” I said.
“What do ya’ know?” he said.
“Whadda you know?” I said.
“You first,” he said
“Okay, I’ll go first, or we’ll play this stupid game forever,” I said.
“Go,” he said.
“Eric Meninx had cancer, and a million dollars was transferred to his family’s bank account from an offshore account,” I said.
“I already knew that,” he said.
“Your turn,” I said.
“Okay,” he said, “Brady Osborn and William Arlington, were investigated for murder ten years ago.”
“I already knew that,” I said.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I know so much that if I had to take the time to tell you everything I wouldn’t have time for myself,” I said. “And why didn’t you already know they had been investigated?”
There was a brief silence on the phone.
“Look, I just called you to say, don’t get me in trouble with the Commissioner,” he said.
“Why didn’t you say so then?” I said. “I won’t.”
“Call me if you get anything,” he said.
“You too,” I said.
We disconnected.
I called Chad to see if he wanted to get in a round of golf.
“Sounds good to me,” he said. “But what about your arm?”
“I think it would do it good.”
“You’re on then.”
“When can you get away?” I said.
“About one-thirty. I’ll call the club and get a tee time.”
“Alright, see you there,” I said.
I dug my clubs and shoes out of the closet. They were both dusty. It had been a while. I haven’t played since I was in Key West.
I walked in the bar at the golf club at one-thirty. We had a two-fifteen tee time. Chad wasn’t here yet, but Kailey was.
“Hi ya Cam,” she said.
“Hi, Kailey. What are you doing here?”
“I came hoping to get in a round of golf. Talking about it the other day made me miss it,” she said. “What about you?”
“I’m waiting for Chad. We’re playing at two-fifteen.”
“Have you got room for me?”
“I don’t see why not,” I said.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see why not.
“Cool.”
Chad walked in the door and saw us.
He kissed Kailey and asked her why she was here.
“She’s playing with us if you don’t mind,” I said.
“Fine by me,” he said.
We teed off. My drive was a little left. I blamed it on my shoulder. Chad hit a bomb right down the center of the fairway.
“Nice shot,” Kailey said.
“Shall we move to the ladies tee box?” I said.
“If that’s what you want,” she said.
Kailey hit a screamer about twenty yards past Chad. It was a thing of beauty.
“Where did you learn to hit like that?” I said.
“An old boyfriend,” she said. “He played the circuit.”
She proceeded to beat us all day. She was a natural.
Afterward, we sat at the bar and had a drink. Chad and I licked our wounds.
“You missed your calling Kailey,” I said. “I’ve never played with anyone of your caliber.”
“Me either,” Chad said. “You must have played a lot.”
“I got around for a while,” she said.
Chapter 71
Robin came over around six. We had a drink and talked for a while.
“I’m going to Oklahoma tomorrow to see the McBride’s. I’ll be going to Key West from there,” I said.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ll be leaving for LA tomorrow evening.”
“I have reservations for eight o’clock at Per Se for old time sake,” I said. “Do you want me to cancel them?”
“No,” she said, “Let’s go out. It’s our last night on the town. We’ll come back here afterward.”
“Alright, it’s a date,” I said.
I fixed us another drink.
“Did your theory turn out to be right,” I said.
“I’m not sure yet,” she said. “I hope not.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, my suspect is Kailey,” she said.
“Kailey? No way,” I said. “She couldn’t orchestrate anything this complicated.”
“I don’t know, but I won’t move on it unless I’m sure.”
“Yeah, you have to walk on eggs with this case. Everyone is a suspect,” I said.
“Did you see Kailey today? It was your last chance you know,” she said.
“Yes, unfortunately for Chad and my egos, we did see her.”
“What happened now?” Robin said.
“Chad and I played golf at the club and guess who was waiting at the bar for us?”
“No, Kailey?”
“Yep, she wanted to play, so we humored her and let her join us,” I said.
“I bet that was ugly,” she said.
“It was. She beat us both. She’s a great golfer.”
“Really?”
“Really,” I said.
“She comes off as credulous, but I think she’s hiding a brilliant mind,” Robin said.
I laughed. “I don't believe so, but she was hiding a boyfriend who taught her to golf.”
“Maybe, but….”
“What else makes you suspect her,” I said.
“She had the most to gain,” she said.
“She would only get five million if he died–until the baby came along. The game had already started by then,” I said, “And, she was also shot.”
“Yeah, I thought about that,” she said. “I’m just kind
of grasping at straws.”
“Well don’t feel bad,” I said. “I’ve suspected Kailey on and off through this whole thing, but I could never come up with any evidence. I just don’t think she could pull it off.”
“Neither do I really.”
“I guess Alexis isn’t a suspect.”
“No,” Robin said, “that was cleared up. It turns out she was in line for the money either way and her father wasn’t holding anything back. She had total access to the whole fortune. Bill had been mentoring her to take over the company for years.”
“Well, it will be up to your replacement after tomorrow. So why don’t we just forget about it and have a romantic evening,” I said.
She smiled, “Works for me.”
We arrived at Per Se at eight on the dot.
“Hello Cam,” the hostess said. “Will you be joining the Kendall’s?”
“I didn’t know they were here,” I said.
“Yes, last minute reservation.”
“We’ll stop by their table to say hi,” I said, “but we’ll keep our table.”
Chad saw us and stood.
We all shook hands and hugged.
“How about joining us?” Chad said.
“We don’t want to impose,” I said.
“Nonsense, unless the two of you want to be alone. It is your last night here.”
We decided to join them.
“Chad tells me, Kailey kicked your asses today in golf,” Alexis said.
“Yes, it wasn’t pretty,” I said.
“She hasn’t come home since the game,” Chad said.
“Really? Is that unusual for her?” Robin said.
“Yeah, a little. I would think she would come back and take a shower if she was going out,” Alexis said.
“Well maybe she ran into a friend and got tied up,” I said.
The waitress took our drink order.
We ordered our food when she returned with the drinks.
“Have you decided to stay here and get rich?” Chad said to me.
“I’m rich enough,” I said. “More money would just be a burden.”
“Has your boat been repaired yet?” Alexis said.
“Diane said it should be ready in a few days. I’ll stay with her till then.”
“Have you settled in yet Robin?” Alexis said.
“They have a temporary condo for me. I’ll start home hunting when I get there.”
We finished our meal and talked about the events of the last six months. Mostly about Bloodshot. Robin said Robert was cleared and there weren’t any other suspects.