by Eric Rill
“How can you say that, when you did so much to bring so many people to justice?”
“I’m just glad it ended when it did. I don’t think I could have handled another day.”
“Are you going to take Hank Morton up on his offer?”
“I don’t know. I mean, it’s a huge step up, but I may be done with the cops and robbers stuff.”
“I’m not familiar with the machinations of the Columbus Police Department, but special assistant to a big shot cop sounds pretty impressive to me.”
“Yeah, but I wonder if Morton is making the offer because I got so much publicity with all the busts, and it would put him in the spotlight.”
“Angela, it doesn’t matter why he’s doing it; what matters is if it’s something you want.”
“I’m going to give it some thought.…”
Nick, not realizing that Angela had more to say, had news of his own. “Speaking of change, they’re replacing the signage on the hotel next week. The Crown will become The Cromwell Hotel. I don’t want any links to the past. Certainly not when it comes to my father. But it all may not matter in the long run. The feds are talking about seizing the hotel.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. And besides, didn’t you tell me that your father never allowed any money laundering at the Crown?”
“You’re correct on both counts, but they say it was one of his assets while he was doing all that shit and therefore they have the right to seize it.”
“Do they?”
“My lawyer seems to think it’s fifty-fifty. And, whichever way it goes, it will take at least a year. So I am plowing ahead, hoping it will be resolved in my favor.”
“This whole thing must be so painful,” Angela said.
“When I think that my son and my wife would still be alive if Levin and my father hadn’t been such greedy crooks… I realize I wouldn’t have met you, but…”
“Your wife is someone who will be in your life forever, as will Billy.”
“It’s really hard, but I know I have to try to move on.”
Angela paused for a moment and then said, “Nick, there’s more. It’s not just Morton’s offer. I just received another one.”
“What do you mean?”
“I got a call a few days ago from a multinational firm. The senior vice-president flew in yesterday to interview me and offered me a job on the spot, subject to references and a background check. They’re looking for someone to head a new division, providing security to high-powered executives and actor types. I told him I wasn’t sure I would be the most qualified for something like that, but he seemed to think my experience would add a lot to the position.”
“That’s great! Would I know them?”
“I don’t think so. They’re out of Chicago.”
“So, they’re going to set up shop in Columbus, too?”
Angela looked down at the mosaic-tiled floor and then back up at Nick. “The job is based in Chicago.”
“Chicago?”
“I’m not sure I’m going to accept it, but the money is great and the opportunity to travel and learn new things is…”
“Angela, you know how I feel about you. Selfishly, I want you to stay here, but…”
“Nick, a move like this may or may not be a good thing career-wise. Frankly, I’m afraid I may fail. It’s a big job, bigger than I ever dreamed I would get. And, besides, I really don’t want to leave you. I know I can never replace your wife, and that’s not what I want.”
“You know I have feelings for you. But think about it, Angela—if you pass up this job to stay here, you’ll never know if you could have done it. And you might end up resenting me.”
Angela leaned in and squeezed Nick’s hand. “I get the message. You don’t have to say anything more.”
Nick smiled at her. “Whether you accept the job or not, it doesn’t have to be the end of our relationship. Chicago is not that far away.”
ALSO BY ERIC RILL
An Absent Mind
Pinnacle of Deceit
The Innocent Traitor
About the Author
Eric was born and raised in Montreal and now divides his time between his residence in Panama and international travel. He has two sons and a diverse group of friends scattered around the globe. His hobbies include trekking, scuba diving, and collecting antique carpets.
Eric first ventured outside North America when he was thirteen and was sent to Switzerland for the summer to perfect his French. That was the beginning of a traveling life that would eventually lead him to visit over one hundred countries. At sixteen he moved to Connecticut to attend Cheshire Academy, then to Ithaca, New York where he graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in political science, before receiving an MBA from UCLA.
After graduate school he joined an international hotel chain where he held several executive positions in the United States, Canada, and abroad before becoming president of the company's worldwide hotel group. At that point he was responsible for over five hundred hotels.
Ultimately, Eric started his own company, buying and managing hotels in the United States and Canada. At the same time, he began writing, first a diary, then short stories, all of which, initially, he filed in his desk drawer. But he eventually realized he was more a "creative" than a "corporate" type. He sold his business, moved to the Caribbean, and began writing. He has authored three additional novels, AN ABSENT MIND, THE INNOCENT TRAITOR and PINNACLE OF DECEIT.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Jim Phillips passed away at age sixty after a long battle with lung cancer. He was a partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in Columbus, Ohio, where he headed the firm’s white-collar crime defense group. He was also general counsel to the National Fraternal Order of Police, and had been tapped to be special prosecutor for the largest securities fraud case in the history of the state of Ohio.
Jim was instrumental in my gaining access to various senior members of the Columbus police department as well as detectives, patrol officers, and members of their aviation unit. He also introduced me to the chief coroner of the city morgue and to FBI special agents in the money laundering section so that my work of fiction would be as authentic as possible.
More than all of the above, Jim was a dear friend whose intellect, humor, and kindness I truly miss.
In addition, I would again like to thank my editor, Sharon Nettles, and my copy editor, Carol Edwards, for their valuable contributions. And I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge Christine Schaffer, my partner, for her insight, caring, and patience during the writing process. Finally, a big “Thank you” to Jim Brodsky, Andrée Laganière, and Chris Dymond for their support.
Table of Contents
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Also by Eric Rill
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Copyright
Copyright ©2016 by Eric Rill, All rights reserved.
Published by Avante Press
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether el
ectronic or mechanical, without express permission by Avante Press, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
All images, logos, quotes, and trademarks included in this book are subject to use according to trademark and copyright laws of the United States of America.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015951448
Cover and Interior Design by Damonza
ISBN: 978-0-9910144-7-7
www.ericrill.com