“He will freak out,” Ellen stated. “This has got to be the strangest week we have ever had together.”
“Well, I won’t argue with that,” Sotello said, shaking his head. “I have had very few time periods in my life, which have made me second guess what I do for a living, but this past week has done it.”
“You can’t mean that Dad,” Ellen said. “Heck, things are just getting interesting.”
“I like things just a bit less exciting my dear. Let’s go meet this lawyer, and see if we can find the next key through this maze,” Sotello replied, as he scribbled a note for Craig. “I’ll call him if we get back, and he hasn’t called, or left a message. I don’t even want to discuss this stuff over the phone.”
Sotello parked his Dodge across the street on Broadway from the small office structure. He and Ellen walked across the street to the brown brick building. As they approached the entrance, a balding, heavyset man, just under six feet tall in height, wearing a dark blue, tailored three piece suit walked out to greet them. He stuck out his hand in greeting, and Sotello shook hands with him.
“I’m Stan Sheckley Mr. Sotello, please call me Stan.”
“Just call me Jim,” Sotello replied, gesturing to Ellen. “This is my daughter Ellen.”
Sheckley shook hands with Ellen, and gestured for them to follow him into the building. Inside the doorway of the place, Sheckley led them through a spacious waiting room and receptionist’s office, with a wall of Oak filing cabinets, and a large computer desk. The back office door led to a stunning mahogany paneled office, with matching desk, chairs, and walls of mahogany bookshelves. Lynn’s dog Tinker leaped up, from where she lay atop the deep piled burgundy carpet, to put both front paws on Sotello’s shoulders. She licked his face excitedly, as he ducked his head away, and Ellen laughed. Sotello ordered her down, and she obeyed instantly at the sound of his voice.
“I see you know Tinker here,” Sheckley smiled.
“Yes, fur face and I have met before,” Sotello said, shaking his finger at the dog. “No tongue in front of strangers you mutt. How many times do I have to warn you?”
Ellen had already dropped down next to the dog and began stroking her. She looked up at her Dad. “I will never understand why all the animals love you. You always act like they don’t exist, but you are the first one they run too.”
“They crave discipline, and they know where to find it,” Sotello informed her.
“Please sit down Jim, and we’ll get right to this. I hope you like the dog, because Lynn made her part of the deal,” Sheckley said, as he walked behind his desk to sit down.
Ellen sat in the plush, brown, tooled leather seat next to her Father. “We’ll take her Mr. Sheckley.”
“Who is this we you refer to my dear? You live in an animal free apartment building, as does your brother,” Sotello reminded her.
“You need another dog Dad, and you know it,” Ellen looked back over to Sheckley. “Go ahead Mr. Sheckley, sorry for the interruption. My Father just needs to be shown his place sometimes.”
Sheckley laughed as Sotello put his arm around Ellen. “You are so lucky you are injured little missy; but remember, one day you will be healed, and your reckoning will come.”
“Lynn gave me this sealed envelope to give to you in the event of her death,” Sheckley said solemnly, as he handed over a large manila envelope.
He waited while Sotello opened and read the letter.
Sotello read it silently:
Dear Jim,
Well, if you are reading this, then my partner in crime, Ramon, has taken offense to me reneging on our deal. I know I should have waited until you returned, but I never wanted you to know Ramon and I planned on murdering Adrian after Sanders paid off. I plan on offering Ramon fifty thousand dollars to forget this whole thing, but obviously my plan went sour, as just about everything else I’ve ever done.
Thank you for letting me get to know you, and your kids. It meant a lot more than you will ever know. Please take care of Tinker for me. Stan will give you another folder with my office safe combination, and the list of accounts no one knows about, and how to access them. I have about sixty-three thousand in the safe.
I, as it seems, am more of an orphan than you were. I leave you with all I own, because I do not want the state to get it. Do with it all as you wish. A detailed explanation of what Ramon and I had planned is in the other folder with my signature. Show it to Adrian when you see him, and tell him I’m sorry for dragging him into this, and tell him I at least had the courage to die trying to make it right. Take good care of those two wonderful children of yours, and think of me once in a while. I love you.
Lynn
Sotello looked up at Sheckley finally, as he put the letter back into the envelope. “She explained a lot of things Stan. It’s too bad she didn’t give me a chance to help her.”
Sheckley nodded. “She told me she could not bear to have you find out about this last part, and she really did think Mr. Bennet would listen to reason.”
“Then you know about all of this?” Sotello asked.
“She wrote out specific instructions for me in another sealed envelope. I know what she had planned now, and why she insisted on finally making out a will, after all the years I tried to convince her of the importance of having one,” Sheckley explained. “When I read of her death this morning, I was shocked, until I opened the envelope and read her explanation.”
“Lynn never had a will before Friday?” Sotello asked.
“Never, she told me she would rather leave it all in probate than give it away. I advised her to leave it to charity, but she just laughed at me. She had a very dim view of charities,” Sheckley said.
“I am afraid I share her view,” Sotello said. “Would you consider writing a contract between us, and becoming my lawyer?”
“I would be happy to draw up the arrangements,” Sheckley agreed.
“This whole thing may get more complicated, and I may need some instant legal advice. Did Lynn handle your fee with her already, or do you need me to release funds from the estate?” Sotello asked.
“Already taken care of,” Sheckley answered. “Would you like to just take copies of all the files and directions, and get back to me with any questions you might have? In the meantime, I will draw up a contract.”
“Very good,” Sotello said. “I appreciate this. I will go over all the information and then call you so we can get together. I guess I might as well take Tinker with me now.”
Sheckley smiled, handed over Tinker’s leash gratefully, and shook hands with Sotello and Ellen again. “Thank you both for coming down here on a Sunday. I had hoped you would agree to take Tinker today. I have a German Shepard at home, who hates other dogs. I will be handling the funeral arrangements. She asked to be cremated, and her ashes spread at the marina at Jack London Square. I will call you with the time of the ceremony.”
“Thanks, we will definitely like to attend the ceremony,” Sotello said as he and Ellen moved to the door.
“Oh, one more thing Jim,” Sheckley said, moving in front of Sotello. “Here’s a card with my cell phone number, and a bag of the dog food Lynn kept at her place for Tinker. Call me when you need me.”
Sotello took the food from him. “Thanks Stan, goodbye.”
Chapter 20
Preparations for Europe
Out in the Dodge, Tinker settled right down in the back seat as Sotello sat quietly. Ellen watched the look of confusion on her Father’s face with some concern. “You don’t look so good Dad.”
Sotello turned to her with a smile. “I’m fine. I’m having trouble figuring what in the world Lynn was all about. She resembled one of those toy boxes, where you opened one, and there was another inside, and another, and another, and another.”
“She seemed to be just plain confused,” Ellen said. “I hope with the information you have, Phillips will see the lunacy of going any farther.”
“From your mouth to God’s ear El,” Sote
llo added. “Let’s go see if Craig came back to the office.”
“He’s going to want to know what she left you. What will you do with what you find in the accounts?” Ellen asked as Sotello pulled away into traffic.
“I’ll have Stan deal with the IRS for me, and transfer the accounts into a long term trust until all of this fades into the past. I will use the cash she left in her safe to fund whatever we need to get this over with. If her house really has been left to me, I will allow you and Craig to move into it, if you like, whenever your apartment leases run out,” Sotello said.
“I wish in a way she would have simply left the whole thing to the state,” Ellen sighed.
“The guilt over profiting from another’s demise can cloud your mind. Lynn wanted something to come of her death, and to be remembered as something more than a scheming crook. We will do right by what she wished to accomplish,” Sotello replied. “I will miss her. She and I could have been friends eventually.”
“You’re wondering what you missed, which should have warned you of her ability to plot someone’s murder as cold-bloodedly as she did,” Ellen observed.
“Yea,” Sotello admitted. “I never saw any sign of a contradiction like that in her make up. I thought maybe she leaned towards being a cheap con artist, but maybe she just thrived on the complexity of her cons, and how many people she could draw into them.”
“That still does not explain her final actions,” Ellen pointed out.
Sotello smiled over at her, and then back at the road. “Did I say I had any idea what in the world inspired her actions over the last few days? Ramon may be able to shed some light on what happened.”
“Do you really think Sanders can find out from him what happened?” Ellen asked.
“I have no doubt Ramon will tell Sanders everything he knows about Lynn’s death, and what part he played in this underlying murder plot,” Sotello replied. “I need to call Sanders and tell him about the note Lynn left. I am sure he will be relieved to hear we have another card to play. We’ll need to get articles clipped on her death, and Ramon’s statement.”
“I’ll get a folder started. This may turn out to be a nice vacation in Europe,” Ellen informed him.
“Yea, right,” Sotello said. “You may have the most important selling job. Remember the purpose of what we are doing El.”
“Don’t worry, I can be persuasive,” Ellen reassured him. “Gina will at least understand who cares about her, and who does not.”
“That may be enough,” Sotello said as he pulled up across from his agency. Craig’s Camaro was parked out in front of the office. “Why does Manny the Mimic think he can park right in front of my business, in the best parking spot, when he knows I am coming back?”
“Craig thinks of himself as the master of all he sees, no matter where,” Ellen laughed.
Sotello nodded in agreement with a sigh, as he eased out of the driver’s seat. He let Ellen lead the way across the street and into the office. Craig came out of the back immediately to greet them. Tinker ran right to him, and offered a paw in greeting. Craig laughed as he knelt down to pet the dog. “So, what happened? I see Tinker has a new home.”
“Hello to you too, Number One,” Sotello said. “Pour us a cup of coffee, and I will let you peruse the latest chapter in our soon to be released movie: Life of Sotello.”
“Okay,” Craig laughed, leading them into the back kitchen. He poured them all a cup of coffee, while Sotello placed dishes with food and water down for Tinker. Sotello handed him the letter from Lynn, and the rest of the papers. Craig read through the papers in the folder with a look of consternation evident on his face.
“What in the hell does all this mean,” Craig asked finally.
“Your sister and I have been mulling that over ever since we left the lawyer’s office,” Sotello answered. “I came to the conclusion we will have to wait and hear what Sanders can wring out of Ramon, and then go over with the whole thing on a plate for Phillips to see. If you have any better ideas boy, I’m listening.”
“I have not a clue. You’ve come up with a better plan than I would have thought of. Can I go to Europe with you and Rocky Raccoon here?”
“I guess so,” Sotello laughed, as Craig ducked another attempt at an attitude adjustment from Ellen. “You two finish your coffee. I’m going to call Sanders on a secure line and let him know about this latest development.”
“If you want the mimic to stay alive,” Ellen said. “You better tell him to watch his mouth.”
“Yea,” Sotello said. “He’ll listen to me.”
Sotello went into their conference room and set up the secure phone. He dialed Sanders’ number. Sanders picked it up on the first ring. “Darren, I know you were not expecting a call, but some new information has come into my possession.”
“Good news, I hope,” Sanders replied.
“Lynn made a letter up before she died,” Sotello said. “She states she and Ramon had planned to kill Phillips after you paid off. She laid out the whole thing, so I can take the letter with me when I go overseas. I believe Phillips will see the light; and once your daughter knows the whole story, I do not believe she will take much convincing as to what she’s mixed up in.”
“That is good news. I thought we would have nothing to convince her with, after Lynn died,” Sanders replied. “I have my lawyer going in to see Ramon first thing tomorrow morning. Anything in particular you would like in the way of information?”
“I could use a signed statement agreeing with what Lynn had planned,” Sotello answered, “and I would be interested in why he went ahead and killed her. She offered him fifty thousand dollars to simply forget the whole thing.”
“I will have my lawyer find out,” Sanders promised. “Anything else?”
“Lynn made me the only heir to her estate,” Sotello added.
Sanders began laughing. He stopped abruptly. “Sorry Jim, I just cannot fathom what in the world that woman was really after.”
“Welcome to the club,” Sotello agreed. “I’m the president. Talk to you tomorrow then?”
“You bet.” Sanders hung up.
Sotello walked back into the kitchen and poured himself another cup of coffee. “Well, Sanders liked the news. He will call me tomorrow after his lawyer visits Ramon.”
“When do you plan on leaving?” Craig asked.
“By the end of the week, if the arrangements can be made between Lynn’s ceremony, and settling the details of the estate. Most of it I will leave to Sheckley. I liked him,” Sotello answered.
“I wondered about how fast you proposed making him your lawyer,” Ellen said.
“He knows Lynn. He practices contract and tax law. I need someone in on the details of all this with just those qualifications. Lynn trusted no one, but she trusted her affairs to Sheckley. If first impressions mean anything, I believe she made a wise choice,” Sotello pointed out. “How does our business affairs look Ellen? Anything out of the ordinary come up while Craig and I were gone?”
“Just the confirmation from the Taiwanese about coming to San Francisco and staying from October 20th to the 23rd. I handled the rest of the calls. They were mostly just information gathering. I will finish them up on Monday after class,” Ellen replied.
“I guess we should adjourn to our own little worlds, and enjoy what we have left of Sunday,” Sotello said. “Anyone wish to go out to dinner tonight?”
“I have a date,” Craig put in. “I will have to take a rain check on the dinner.”
“I also have a date,” Ellen added. “One of the guys in my Analytical Geometry and Calculus class asked me out to discuss the class, and offered to catch me up on the homework.”
“Gee, that sounds like fun,” Craig remarked, “but I guess you raccoons have to take what you…” Craig jumped up from the table as his sister again made a vain attempt at the side of his head. “Careful Sis, you will hurt your ribs, and you will only have yourself to blame for it.”
“Hold him d
own Dad,” Ellen directed, “while I pound him.”
Sotello was still laughing at the raccoon comment. “Since neither of you wish to go out to dinner tonight, I guess I will just go home and enjoy a quiet evening with my new dog.”
“You could leave her here at the office,” Craig suggested.
“I don’t mind bringing her home. She’ll be fine. I’ll take her for a long walk when we get to the house,” Sotello said.
“You aren’t planning on getting out your old ten speed and riding her around, are you?” Ellen asked.
“Why yes I was, thank you for asking,” Sotello replied.
“Craig, remind me to call all the local hospitals tomorrow morning,” Ellen directed her brother, as Craig quickly pulled out a notepad and nodded in agreement.
“Are you two ungrateful miscreants hinting I am a danger to myself when I ride my bike?” Sotello asked indignantly.
“Walk Tinker around the block Dad,” Ellen ordered. “If you insist on riding the bike, put some training wheels on it.”
“This anecdotal insult relates to my taking a header, while walking Gyp many years ago, doesn’t it?” Sotello continued.
“Hey, he remembers El,” Craig cut in. “Maybe his brain wasn’t as badly damaged as we had thought.”
“Get out,” Sotello ordered. When they were slow in moving, Sotello started up from his chair, which caused an instant retreat to the door. Ellen turned, wagging her finger at Sotello.
“Remember, walk boy, walk,” she told him. She ran for the outer door as Sotello came after her. He watched them hurrying to their cars, turning to mouth the word walk every few steps. Tinker had come up beside him, and put her snout under his right hand. Sotello knelt down to pet her.
“You don’t think I’m over the hill, do you girl?” Sotello asked. Tinker barked as if in reply and offered him her paw. “Two kids in college, and you’re smarter than both of them, huh? Come in the back room with me while I work out, and then you and I will go see your new home.”
The phone rang as Sotello dried off from his shower. He went into the kitchen to take the call. “Oakland Investigations, James Sotello speaking, may…”
Sotello: Detective, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 1) Page 22