by Adam Zorzi
“I just need a few moments, please. This is all so…unsettling.”
“Of course.” Bowles rose. “My secretary and I will step outside for a bit. Feel free to rest on the sofa.”
Bowles returned in about fifteen minutes and walked to where she was now seated on the sofa.
“Better?”
“Yes, thank you. The water helped and I did lie down until the spell passed.”
“Good.” He pulled up the knees of his trousers to prevent creasing before he sat on the sofa. “This is a distressing time for you. Why don't we table our discussion. I'll examine the documents, summarize the contents, and itemize the assets associated with each trust. I'll note if any of them refer specifically to dissolution of the marriage.”
“That would be so helpful,” she said softly.
“We can meet again after you've had a chance to review them.”
“You're so thoughtful. Thank you.”
“It shouldn't take more than two days to prepare the summary. I'll call you when it's ready.”
A look of horror crossed her face. “No, Mr. Bowles, please don't do that.” She dabbed at her eyes again. Tissues sat on the end table next to the sofa. She took a handful. Her voice quivered. “I can't risk my husband seeing any of this. May I call your secretary in two days to ask if it's ready and make arrangements to pick it up?”
He nodded. “I understand. I'm sure Mr. Ramsay is aware of the terms and assets of the trusts, but I understand your need for discretion. You don't want Mr. Ramsay to know you've made inquiries.”
“You don't have to tell him about my…inquiry?”
“No, Mrs. Ramsay. I'm not obligated to inform Mr. Ramsay of your request. The two of you are equal beneficiaries.” He was so helpful, yet he failed to mention he'd tell Daniel in a heartbeat if asked directly about her questions.
Bowles extended his hand to help her to her feet and asked his secretary to escort her to the elevator and down to the lobby. She would have considered this a gentlemanly gesture had she not guessed the real purpose was to limit any liability should she hurt herself on her way out.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
April
Damn. Could his life get any worse? Dan ran through the park without pacing himself. His father had died. He'd lost his dog, he was still sleeping in the guest room, and now, he'd lost his job. Reduction in Force.
It had always been a possibility. The governor had built his campaign on eliminating government waste. Dan couldn't argue with the logic. He had the most seniority in the department and made the most money. Having overseen the installation of a new system, he could be replaced with a less experienced person for half his salary. The system itself eliminated the need for three jobs.
He couldn't get full pension benefits for another fifteen years. He wasn't worried about the long term. He'd been single until he was forty and lived frugally. He and Jill were comfortable and had retirement savings. He'd just inherited a sizeable amount from his father. In the meantime, he needed to find a job. Like employers were eager to hire men over age fifty.
He ran out of energy and plopped himself under a young magnolia tree beside the running path. A petal fell on him. He reflexively picked it up and smelled it. Bella. Bella loved magnolias.
Dan put his head between his knees and sobbed. He held his knees with his arms and rocked himself back and forth. He didn't know how long he did that, but rain started to drip and then fall on him.
He got up and walked home.
***
“Dan, what's wrong?”
He showered after his run, put on sweats, and lay down on his single bed. He thought he might nap before Jill and Katie got home. Sleep was his answer to everything. Problems didn't go away and situations didn't change, but he was blissfully unaware of them while he slept.
Jill walked into the room, sat on the bed, and felt his forehead. It was the first time she'd touched him voluntarily in a long time. “You're warm and a little clammy. How do you feel?”
There was no positive spin. “I got fired.”
“Dan. Why?” Worry creased Jill's forehead.
“Nothing personal. Part of the division's plan to streamline.”
“You said when the launch of a new system was announced two years ago that this could happen.”
“And it did.”
“Anyone else?” Just like Jill. Worried that other people were hurting tonight, too.
“Three analysts. Two of them saw it coming and had just been waiting to take new jobs. The third wants to try staying at home. She's got three kids.”
“Janice?” Amazing. She remembered everyone's name.
He nodded.
“Her husband has a good job, though, doesn't he? They'll be okay.”
“Yes, they will. So will we.”
He wanted so badly to reach up and stroke her face in reassurance, but didn't think it would have the intended effect.
“Are you sure?” Jill had a terrible poker face. She was scared.
“Absolutely. We can go over things later, but we have plenty of savings, the house and cars are free and clear, and Katie, sorry, Kaitlyn's school is paid by her trust. We'll be fine. We just have to be careful.”
“You're not saying this just to keep me from worrying?”
“No. I'm confident we'll be fine. You have a job. You still like it, don't you?”
“Very much. I got a new client. Pop-up stores. It's going to be such fun coming up with a marketing plan to build the brand.”
“Congratulations. Are you the lead?”
She made a face. “Co-lead with Chloe. She's a pain, but I can finesse her. Dinner's almost ready. Red beans and rice. Do you feel like eating?”
“I don't think my stomach can take that. I ran faster than I should have. I'm light-headed.”
She moved her hand from his forehead to his wrist to check his pulse. If he didn't know better, he'd have said she was a champion girl scout. She was superior. She'd taken wilderness survival courses and could treat anything from snakebites, frostbite, to cardiac problems. Or at least recognize them. She'd been invaluable that awful day Rob came to tell them of his father's death.
“A little fast. I'll get you an aspirin. Sleep for a bit, and I'll bring you something to eat later. Are you warm enough?”
He hesitated.
She pulled the quilt up to his neck and took a blanket from the closet and folded it so he could easily reach it if he needed it.
When she was back with the aspirin and a glass of water, he asked how Katie was. “Still missing Abbie. I can't imagine what happened to her. I hope she comes home soon.”
“Me, too.”
She turned out the light and left the room.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Dan sat in bed with pillows behind his back eating dinner on a tray. “Perfect,” he said.
“There's nothing better than scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, and orange juice to cure just about anything,” smiled Jill. “You can have ginger ale for dessert.”
She'd turned on a low light in the room. It was enough but not too much. Her features were softened by the light.
“What happened on your run?” she asked in a solemn tone.
“I ran too fast and then hit the wall. This job thing is just the cherry on top of everything else. I sat under a magnolia tree and had a good cry.”
“Oh, Dan,” she look small and young.
“Then the rain came and you know the rest.”
“Did you sleep?”
“Yes, it felt good. I think my temperature's down and I don't feel light-headed.”
“Do you think Mørk is coming?”
“Mørk has taken up residence. I've been on meds since Dad died. I see Dr. Spellman Tuesday. I don't think I need any adjustments before then.”
“Okay. That's means a stricter schedule, too.”
“It'll be harder now without a job to occupy me for most of a day.”
“
You're not going back at all? Not even for two weeks?”
“No. Someone in Human Resources called each one of us in for a meeting and had us sign a release that we understood the circumstances of our terminations. We were asked to leave. My salary for the final two weeks will be automatically deposited in our bank account.”
“We'll really be all right?”
“Yes, Jill. I have a packet of termination papers to go through. You and I can go through our accounts and see if we need to make any changes, but we're okay. I promise.”
A shadow flitted across her face.
No, his promises weren't worth much these days. “There's no need to panic. Dr. Spellman will encourage me to take a break before job-hunting. I'm going to have to re-brand myself. I've worked for the state my entire career. I don't know how to break into the private sector.
“Maybe it's time to do something new. I hear rap DJs make good money.” She laughed.
“Okay, where do I go to rap DJ school?”
“Your daughter's room, I think.” She smiled.
“It's not the rap I mind; it's the background. I can't understand the words.”
“Dan, you can't hear the words,” she teased.
He was hesitant to make a suggestion, but decided he had nothing to lose. “Jill, what I'd really like is to take a vacation. I want to get away. I want to hike, climb rocks, ski, anything to keep my mind quiet.”
She didn't say anything immediately.
“I'd have to look at Kaitlyn's calendar.”
“No, I want to be spontaneous. Around your job, of course, but Kaitlyn can stay with Suzanne and Rob or Sophia's parents or Josie's. Hell, your mother could come up for a week.”
“You're either desperate for a vacation or delirious.”
“Hey, you're the one with the problem with her. She doesn't bother me.”
“Dan, I don't know if I'm ready.”
“I'm not going to push. I'm not asking to be back in your bed. I just want to go away and I want to be with you. No strings.”
“You're right. I need a break, too. Let's do it.”
“Yes,” he pumped his fist in the air. “We can do travel searches tomorrow.”
She stood and took his tray. “I'll bring you ginger ale, and then it's lights out for you.”
He hadn't felt so hopeful in a long time.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
She waited quietly in the Wealth Management reception area of Virginia's largest bank in downtown Richmond. Daniel's father had loved the feeling of having money in the main office of a bank. He’d said it seemed solid and secure and thought customers received better attention. At least, the staff dressed better. He’d hated to go into a branch to find women in cheap, brightly-colored pantsuits and men in shirtsleeves rather than a suit.
“Mrs. Ramsay, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.” A well-dressed, polished middle-aged woman introduced herself. “Please come this way.”
She stood and followed the banker into a large elevator and down one floor to the safe deposit area.
“Do you have your key?” The woman admonished herself. “Of course you do. That's why you're here.” The banker opened the vault door, and together, the two women unlocked the Ramsay locker. The banker pulled out the long box and carried it into one of the four nearby private rooms. She placed the box on the counter and pulled out a Chippendale chair upholstered in Williamsburg blue damask.
“I hope you'll be comfortable here. Would you like coffee or tea, Mrs. Ramsay?”
“Thank you, no.”
“Then, I'll leave you. Just press the green button on the side of the counter when you're ready. I'll come get you. Feel free to press the white button if you need assistance.”
“Thank you. You've been very helpful.”
The banker backed out of the room.
After examining the room for security cameras and finding none, she proceeded with her mission. She opened the box and slowly examined its contents. The senior Ramsay's birth and marriage certificates. No other documents. Rob probably had everything else.
Gold coins. She counted seventy-five. In today's market that would be just under $100,000. Daniel probably considered it rainy day money.
Daniel's great-grandmother's jewelry included a gold wedding ring, several gold bracelets, and what must have been an engagement ring. She took out a jeweler's loupe and examined the delicate filigree ring with what appeared to be a one carat Ideal cut diamond. Nice.
The earrings were breath-taking—diamond open cut drops, ruby and diamond double cluster drops, and sapphire cabochon clips surrounded by diamonds. A heavy diamond and pearl brooch was the last piece. The cut and clarity of the stones from each piece were very good.
No girl would ever wear these. Even if the stones were reset, a twenty-first century woman wouldn't want anything here. Why was Daniel keeping them? Especially now that he'd lost his job. Daniel was sentimental, but this was too much. Keeping tens of thousands of dollars of heavy, ornate Russian jewelry in a box when the family was on a tight budget seemed too sentimental. Surely, there was a market for them with wealthy collectors.
She made a startled noise when she found a picture of the baby taken in the hospital. Of course. Daniel was superstitious and a bit anxious. He probably thought if a tornado tore through their neighborhood and leveled their house, they wouldn't be crying over a lost baby picture.
Daniel had mentioned keeping his childhood toys before his parents' estate sale. There were Batman action figures—Batman, Robin, The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, and the Batmobile along with The Beatles trading cards and a 45rpm record of “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. She'd always preferred Tina Turner's version. She could never remember who wrote it. There was also a ticket stub from a Washington Redskins game dated 1975. Daniel must have gone with his father and Rob.
There was nothing else here. No love notes. No greeting cards. No letters.
She breathed a sigh of relief and pressed the green buzzer.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
“Are you sure we can afford for me to go?” Jill asked again.
“Yes,” he responded impatiently. “You're just driving sixty miles to a meet. Your bike is tuned up. You've got gear. You packed food. The only cost is gas. It's nothing. Besides, Kaitlyn's at a sleepover, so there's no need to rush back. You said someone in the club lives in Fredericksburg and offered a place to crash if any of you are too tired to drive home, right?”
He'd loaded her bike onto the car yesterday afternoon because he knew it would be still be dark this morning if she left at the proper time. Standing in the kitchen, now dressed in her thin warm-up clothes, Jill looked small and helpless. “Dan, I'm afraid we're going to lose everything. That Kaitlyn will have to leave St. Margaret's. We can't get a refund on her summer camp. We can't live on my salary.” Her voice quivered.
“Stop it, Jill.” His patience was shot. It was too early for him to be up. He seemed to unable to soothe Jill's irrational concerns. “We went through our finances together. The house and cars are paid for. Our expenses are low. Kaitlyn's trust pays for her education through veterinary school or a PhD if she wants it. We just inherited money from my father. I'll get another job. It might take longer because I'm over fifty, but I'll find one.” He stopped short of asking her to trust him. “Why are you thinking about this now? Do you not feel well? You know I think you're pushing yourself. You had major surgery in August and have been hitting the gym hard for the past few months.”
“I feel okay. “
“Then what? Are you nervous?”
She nodded.
“Jill, go. Concentrate on something other than what's going on here. You'll be with your team. You've been planning to do this one hundred mile race for two years. You've already lost months of training. I'd prefer you not do it this year, but if you're determined to compete you've got to be prepared. Go. Just go.”
He could see traces of tears welling in
her yes. She'd cried so much he'd become immune to her tears. He sometimes thought of them as manipulative not sadness, but he knew that wasn't the case with Jill. God, he hated that haircut. It emphasized her soft brown eyes that seemed sunken and defeated.
He didn't have the energy to go through another round of reassurance and plans. In the past three days, Jill had changed her plans as often as she questioned whether she should go. She wanted to make the trip in one day, but she wasn't in peak shape. She might not be able to make the roundtrip drive and train. Maybe she should spend the night with another cycler. Maybe she should attempt the roundtrip. Maybe she shouldn't go at all. He couldn't discuss it any further. She should go, train, and see how she felt about making the return trip. Done.
“Good luck,” he said and walked towards the stairs. He needed to work on his résumé. A beautiful spring Saturday and he'd be at the computer researching jobs. He intended to sleep for a few hours first.
“I'll call if I'm going to be later than ten.” She left through the back door.
Later, sitting alone in front of the computer overlooking the magnolia trees in the front yard, Dan grew restless. The sun was out and the weather was warm. There was life outside. Here, in this house, there was nothing but silence and his dark thoughts. Mørk bayed.
Shut up, Mørk. He wasn't going to squander this beautiful day inside. He was going for a long run. Outside this neighborhood, this city, this county.
Dan changed into his running clothes, grabbed his keys, and fled.
***
Dan returned about seven. He felt less stressed and had a clearer mind. He'd needed to get away and just run until he couldn't. He still hadn't gotten used to coming home to a house without Abbie. He missed her greeting of frenzied barks. No one had ever been so enthusiastic to see him so consistently.
On the way to the stairs and a shower, he stepped into the den and removed Abbie's bed. He put it in the utility closet where it could be stored until she came back. In the meantime, he didn't have to look at the constant reminder that Abbie wasn't home.