The Case

by Lee Cunningham

  Shane’s face took on a serious look, as he continued. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You know I have fallen in love with you. It’s just that I want you safe and protected forever, and that takes money, and I don’t have it. I didn’t mean we couldn’t find a way, dear,” Shane chided back smiling.

  Before Shane could protest any further, Pete said, “Walter, why don’t you tell the young man about his money.”

  Caught completely off-guard, Shane looked at Pete and said, “What money?”

  Walter stood up and walked toward Shane. “Well now, Shane, my boy, it seems that your parents left a very sizable life insurance policy for you. In addition to that, Pete eventually sold your family home and entrusted all the money left in the estate to my financial manager, Spencer, here.” Walter O’Leary placed a hand on Spencer’s shoulder, and continued, while Spencer adopted the Cheshire cat grin.

  “You were making your own way in life, and we thought it best that your money be grown to a point to give you real options you may wish to exercise, at some point in life. Your parent’s trust named Pete as executor. Your parents also instructed Pete to transfer your investments to you, when he believed you needed access to them, and then in the amounts he believed you needed at the time, until you were 45 years old, at which time all the remaining funds would be transferred and placed in your control.”

  “You never really needed anything your work income couldn’t provide. We took care of your security detail. Pete and I have made some modest additions to your investments over the years, but Spencer here has the information you seek. I think this is maybe a good time for Pete and Kate and I to leave you alone with Spencer. We have asked him to bring you up-to-date on your investments.

  Pete stood up with Walter to leave the room, but Shane held on tight to Kate’s hand and she knew not to move.

  “Please wait,” Shane asked. “Walter, you and Pete have been there for me when I didn’t even realize it. Now I want to be with Kate, and for Kate and me to be there for each other, and for both of you. It seems to me that all the cards need to be laid out on the table. We seem to be the family we all need and want. I’d like you and Pete to stay with Kate and I while we talk to Spencer.”

  Walter and Pete immediately reclaimed their seats. Walter exclaimed, “Marvelous, even more than I had hoped for, Kate. This truly is the exceptional man we always thought he was.” Turning to Kate, Walter added, pretending to be serious, “You’d better not screw this up, my dear, or I may just keep him, rather than you.” With that, everyone laughed.

  Finally Spencer had the floor, and while they sipped coffee, he went through a list of investments that Shane could barely believe belonged to him. Rounding off the numbers, and with recent estimates of growth not yet recorded for the quarter, Shane had amassed close to $17,000,000 dollars in the 16-½ years since his parents died.

  He sat back in shock and disbelief. “And just how little did you both add in these modest additions over the years?” he said, with a restrained laugh, while looking from Walter to Pete.

  They both grinned, and said in unison, “Just a little here and there,” bringing laughter from all at the table.

  “But, your dad’s law firm also added a sizable sum from another insurance policy the firm maintained for its partners. And some investment stocks, that split and doubled ten to fifteen times in those years, also helped immensely, thanks to Spencer” Pete added.

  “This is a lot to take in all at once, and I want to thank you, Spencer, for your diligent work,” Shane said.

  “Now, that’s not including the real estate investments,” Spencer added.

  Shane looked at Spencer in disbelief, and asked, “Real estate investments? I have real estate investments? When did I make real estate investments?”

  Kate squeezed Shane’s hand and nodded, as he looked from her to Spencer for an explanation.

  Spencer explained how the family believed that, due to the circumstances of both family murders, all real estate holdings should be held in the names of both the O’Leary’s, Shane and Pete, as equal partners in LLC’s. The thought being, that this would discourage any attempts on their lives for profit or revenge, while shielding the knowledge of their wealth from the general public.

  Spencer added that once the families became intertwined, Walter demanded this procedure for all his future investments. Through the years, the families had grown so close, they considered themselves one family, and there were no other heirs to consider. Eventually Walter and Pete instructed family attorneys that all real estate holdings, corporate holdings, and LLCs be reconfigured or transferred to the four partners, being Shane, Pete, Walter and Kate.

  “Your dad had a partnership in a house his firm owned at the beach. We purchased that house in the name of the first LLC that was set up to leave everything to you and Kate, and the idea just grew from there,” explained Pete.

  Spencer interrupted, “The total worth of just your share of real estate, alone, last year was estimated at a little more than $58,000,000, but that’s likely increased significantly in the past six months.” Shane was speechless. He looked at Kate, who nodded in agreement.

  “By the way, I love staying as a guest at your Harbor Island home. It is truly private and spectacular. You should visit it sometime,” Spencer added, with the Cheshire cat grin.

  With that, Spencer stood up, and said, “I’ll be leaving now to go back to the grind. Tough bosses to work for, you know,” he said, pointing to Walter and Pete. “Pete, please let me know if you want Shane to start signing the deeds, and how we want to handle the taxes in future years. Nice to finally meet you in person, Shane.”

  Shane stood up. Spencer shook Pete’s hand, long and hard, before he left.

  Shane sat down in a trance. After a lengthy silence, Shane looked at Kate and they both smiled.

  “No money excuses, now, Mr. Beckett,” Kate taunted.

  Shane grinned, and confided, “All my life, after my parents’ deaths, I thought I was surrounded by acquaintances, with few family and friends to lean on. It was always just me, Pete, and for a time, Claire and Heath. I was so wrong.”

  Walter walked over and took Shane by the hand, saying, “Acquaintances are always there when they need you. Friends are always there when you need them. My friend, Lee Cunningham, told me that many years ago, and I have found it always so true. Our family tried to do what family should always do, be your best friend when you needed us. And now, my boy, we are complete, family and friends for life.”

  With that, Walter gave Shane a hug, and asked, “Is there anything else we can do for you right now, Shane?”

  Without hesitation, Shane asked, slyly, “Just one thing. From now on, can I know what my family’s plans are, so I can be prepared to be a part of them?” They all broke out in laughter.

  Walter and Pete filled their coffee cups, and left in a serious discussion about some plan they were working on, and Kate and Shane stood there in wonderment, fingers interlaced, and their minds racing about future possibilities.

  5

  “The success or failure of fairness and justice in any society is dependent on the goals and ambitions of those in charge.”

  (Lee Parley Cunningham)

  Lee Sprague popped his head back in the door. “Your team is at your apartment, Shane. They’ll recover all your belongings, and clean out the apartment. The plan is to move your work tools to a desk we set up for you at our office here, if that’s ok. Lana will attend to your personal effects and clothing. Anything special we need to retrieve?”

  Shane thought for a moment as he considered Lee’s request, and said, “The only hidden items are two waterproof USB memory sticks taped to the top of the ceiling fan in the living room.”

  Shane looked at Lee and smiled, “You can’t have too many back-ups, you know.”

  Lee returned the grin. “Good place.” He closed the door.

  Kate walked Shane to a huge picture window, overlooking a space that would be a spec
tacular garden in the late spring or summer. She gazed hard at the cold landscape, as if trying to draw strength from its stark April beauty.

  “Shane, I want this to be right for both of us. I want you to be safe, so we can have a chance at a real future together. I don’t want to pressure you.” She stopped, her eyes troubled and searching.

  Shane placed his fingertips on Kate’s cheeks, and ran the back of two fingers down to her voluptuous lips. “What is it, Kate?”

  Kate released a sigh. “I don’t want it to appear to you that I, or we, have taken over your life. We’ve made some plans to help insure your safety. I made some plans, because I …I’m falling in love with you. And then, there is tomorrow, it’s going to be Friday. We must prepare for that, whatever that is. Everyone is concerned that you know you still run your investigation, even if the team is involved to assist.”

  Shane sighed, “I appreciate the concern, Kate, but it seems there has been a team involved in both of our lives for a long time. That won’t be an issue. I hated the apartment anyway. It’s very lonely there,” Shane emphasized, as he encouraged a smile from Kate.

  “And I believed, almost from the start, that this assignment should be run as a task force. I welcome having other professionals to work with, watching my back, and thinking of things I missed. I need other people’s perspectives. This is a complex situation. It’s no longer just an investigation into drugs, murders, corruption and missing people. It’s about our families’ murders and our future safety. And to be totally honest, this case is way too big and complex for one man…maybe even for one task force.”

  The look of concern had not left Kate’s face. “That’s not what’s worrying you, is it Kate? I trust you,” Shane encouraged. “What is it?” Kate looked down. “Please, talk to me,” Shane pleaded.

  Kate continued looking down as Shane’s tension grew. The knot of anxious uncertainty that new lovers feel made its presence known in his gut. As much as he loved the newness, he already looked forward to the confidence in a relationship that only time builds.

  Kate looked directly into Shane’s warm golden brown eyes. She had always thought they were wonderful eyes, enticing, and warm. Her own eyes began to glisten, as she held back tears of fear. Kate’s eyes were riveted to Shane’s. She was unable to look away, or break the lock she had begun on them.

  She finally found strength, compassion and love in the eyes staring back at her. She swallowed hard.

  “It’s only been one day, Shane, and yet I know I have loved you for so long. Will you move in with me, to our room? I’ll understand if you think it’s too soon. Most people would…think it’s too soon, I mean. I just need you, and want you, but I also want it to be your decision, too. Not something I force. I want you to need this too, as much as I do.”

  Shane smiled, as he once again touched the luscious troubled lips he longed to kiss. “Kate, I don’t think I could even sleep without you anymore. I don’t want to leave the room you’re in or even stop holding your hand. I can’t imagine not seeing you in the bedroom I walk into, or not knowing where you are 24 hours a day. I want to be side-by-side with you always.”

  Kate didn’t look convinced. Shane said, “Before, when I hesitated, I was just worried about your grandfather’s reaction, and how it would look to everyone else. There are so many people here. They don’t all really know me. But they all do know and love you and your grandfather. I want it to look right for them, too.”

  Kate pressed herself into Shane, and held on to him tightly. “Everyone will be thrilled we’re together. But even if they’re not, it’s the right thing for us, and the right time…and that’s what’s important.” Shane nodded in agreement.

  When the moment broke, Kate took Shane on a tour of the rest of the house, guesthouses and the grounds. She introduced Shane to staff members he had not yet met, and made sure he was familiar with everyone who should be on the property.

  Two hours later Lana returned with Shane’s belongings and clothes, checked with Kate and Shane, and then took everything to Kate’s room. The surveillance team placed Shane’s work tools, lap top, and back-up drives at his desk in the main house game room. The entire area had been converted into a meeting room and open-bay desk space. The teams agreed to have a 3:30 briefing.

  Technicians took over the task of monitoring the cameras, microphones and cell phone Shane had placed at the Magadinno compound. They also made another back-up copy of the intelligence Shane had acquired, and began merging it with their own intelligence. They searched for any discrepancies, and began the work of producing a combined master file.

  Shane marveled at the speed, organization and dedication with which the team worked. He felt a great burden begin to lift from his shoulders. This was a good change for the investigation, especially after Big John’s murder.

  Shane was left with Kate for some time off, as the rest of the team got everything ready. It was his first real day off in more than a week, and his body and mind needed the “R-and-R.” For the first time, the job stress seemed to leave him, and he and Kate settled into easy low-key conversation in a family room. They stroked each other’s hands, and interlocked their fingers as they talked. They soon found they were more comfortable, and more at ease in their own skins, when they were together, than when they were apart.

  Shane also discovered he was incredibly hungry. “I should have eaten more breakfast, Kate, but I didn’t want to let go of your hand,” he confided with a grin.

  Kate laughed as she admitted she was hungry too, for the same reason. They walked to the kitchen hand-in-hand. Everyone they passed seemed to already know they were ‘together,’ and everyone seemed pleased. Only approving faces greeted them. Shane couldn’t stop thinking how much his life had changed for the better with Kate. Even this soon he knew he would never want to go back to a life without her. They walked into a busy kitchen.

  “Ready for another masterpiece?” Jesse asked, as he stood proudly over another of his creations.

  Jesse had layered shredded smoked salmon onto thin slices of his freshly baked bread, riddled with baked-in nuts and seeds, and lathered with wasabi mayo. To this he added generous shavings of avocado, which he garnished with sprouts and a hint of diced red onion. Next he sprinkled on a layer of chopped roasted pine nuts. Finally, he covered this half with lettuce, added his secret seasoning, dotted the pile with thinly sliced cherry tomatoes, and married the two halves to create a sandwich phenomenon that begged for consumption.

  There were several platters of the sandwiches, and he promptly gave a plate with two to Kate and Shane, before he wheeled the remainder out on a stainless steel cart toward the task force room.

  “Enjoy! We’re having my slow-smoked mesquite prime rib, salad, and twice baked potatoes tonight at 7:30, if you can make it,” Jesse called over his shoulder, with a wave. “And you won’t want to miss dessert!”

  Shane and Kate sat and ate in the kitchen at a small table normally occupied by staff, as others prepped side dishes for the night’s dinner. Kate produced a cold, Eastern Oregon brewery IPA from one of the refrigerators. They inhaled the sandwiches, which they washed down with the beer. The flavors of the rich homemade bread, nuts, salmon, tomatoes, mayo and spices combined to create an incredible dining experience for Shane, who rarely made more than a tuna fish sandwich for himself during a workday.

  Kate explained, “The IPA is from Terminal Gravity in Enterprise, Oregon. We have a ranch in Wallowa County, and we always bring cases of the locally brewed beer home after we visit. The county is one of my favorite places in the late spring, summer and early fall. I hope we get to spend a lot of time there together.”

  Kate began filling Shane in on the family ranch, Wallowa Lake, the artist community of Joseph, and the layout of the rest of the rugged, picturesque area. She spoke with shining, excited eyes of the bald and golden eagles, elk and deer you could see while hiking or driving in the rural country. She regaled him with tales of the times she had spent on horseback
at the ranch. She described elk herds in the hundreds, huge mule and whitetail deer populations, and sunsets crowning the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area’s snow-capped peaks.

  The slightly bitter IPA complemented the sandwiches perfectly, and they both had a second microbrew as Kate talked. Shane appreciated a woman who was comfortable enough to eat in front of him and thoroughly enjoy her food and drink.

  Shane watched Kate as they ate, and was surprised that he found even the way she ate to be sexy. He liked everything about Kate. A weight of loss, grief and loneliness had been lifted from his body, mind and soul. He was happy that each minute he was falling more deeply in love with this wonderful, exciting, intelligent woman.

  Shane stared at Kate. Kate’s long, red fingernails beckoned to Shane to be nibbled on, even while holding a sandwich. Shane stood up quickly to redirect his passionate thoughts. The sight of Kate doing the simplest act boiled his blood with sexual desire.

  As if reading his mind, Kate said, flirtatiously, “We need a few fuel breaks to keep our strength up.” She smiled up at Shane, her velvety skin taking on a soft blush. The lovers were immediately lost in love-talk once again, as they dreamed about moments of love and passion the future promised…and the time, precious time, they would have to explore life together.

  The 3:30 briefing came all too soon, and the “war room” (as Walter called it) was packed. Jesse outlined details from Shane’s computer file his techs had managed to retrieve, compile and compare against their own intelligence. Jesse’s team had also completed an augmented photo array of the Magadinno crime family and known associates, with Franky at the top of his pyramid, and known associates split off into their own crime family or cartel pyramids. By the time the team had added vehicle and compound photos, and merged their intelligence with Shane’s, the array took up an entire wall in the massive workroom. Shane was more than impressed.

  Shane’s cell phone vibrated as a call came in. He made excuses to Sheriff Roberts to change the meet to the following Friday. He told him he had no new information, and needed to rest his leg, which he said had become infected. The change in plans seemed to surprise Roberts, and he insisted Shane make contact with the doctor who had seen him, to treat any infection, and report to him quickly. Shane promised he would do so. When he hung up, Shane gave Jesse the physician’s card, and Jesse began a background check on pretty, young Dr. Leslie Graham.