INVESTED (Dunning Trilogy Book 1)

by Iris Bolling

  Winnie sighed. "Yes, I was going to give Myles the opportunity to walk away." She looked straight into Daisy's eyes. "Hep would never force any of his children to do something they did not want to do. And neither would I."

  "Humph," Daisy stammered out as she walked back over to the stove. "You and Mr. Hep and those high ideas of children knowing what is best." She placed the teapot on the eye of the stove with a thump. "When I was growing up as a child I did what I was told and liked it."

  "A hundred years ago," Winnie mumbled as she drank her tea.

  "What you say?"

  "I said the tea was cold." Winnie looked innocently at the woman.

  "Don't you sass me, Winnieford Dunning. I knew you before you were born."

  Why did people say things like that, Winnie wondered. "How could you have known me before I was born, Daisy? I'm older than you are."

  "My spirit knew you. That's how."

  Winnie stood and muttered, "I wish my spirit had warned me before we hired you."

  "And it would have told you what you already knew. I was the best thing to happen to this family."

  Winnie walked over and kissed the woman on her cheek. "That's the first thing I can agree with you on since I walked in the house." She patted Daisy on the shoulder as she sat the teacup in the sink. "Has AnnieMarie been down this morning?"

  Daisy sighed. "No. That child is so torn up inside. I just don't know what to do to help her."

  The telephone rung just as Winnie replied, "Time, Daisy, time and understanding will heal her."

  "Dunning residence," Daisy said into the telephone as she nodded her agreement. Winnie was walking out of the room when she heard Daisy say, "Mrs. Dunning is unavailable, Mr. Dunning. But I will give the message along with the others you left earlier."

  Winnie turned back with a questioning look and waited for Daisy to finish with the call.

  "Which Mr. Dunning was that?"

  Daisy hung up the telephone. "Never you mind. You don't need to be bothered by them right now." Not looking in Winnie's direction, Daisy went on preparing a snack. "You want some of this soup I'm putting together for Annie?"

  "No. I want an answer to my question."

  Pulling ingredients from the refrigerator, Daisy huffed. "Well if you must know, that was Walker Jr. calling. He wanted to know if you talked to the attorneys yet about Mr. Hep's will."

  Somewhat surprised, Winnie asked, "Walker asked you about that?"

  "No." Daisy shook her head. "I overheard him talking to you as if you were a child about Mr. Hep's will. It ain't none of his business what your husband put in his will. Hell, Mr. Hep ain't even cold in the ground and the vultures are after the bank," she huffed. "He wants no part of the hard work it takes to keep that bank running. Hell, soon he gonna be wanting this house and you too."

  Daisy was off on one of her tantrums again, but this time Winnie did not have the patience to wait until she finished. "What..." she cut in, "did he say...exactly. Not your interpretation."

  Daisy gave her one of those 'watch your tone' looks, then answered.

  "Mr. Walker Dunning Jr. wants you to call him the minute you get in to discuss the terms of Hep's will. He specifically asked if there was anything in the will reinstating the shares of the bank back to him."

  Winnie was stunned at the question. "Was there supposed to be?"

  "How would I know, I'm just the cook around here."

  Winnie stomped her foot. "Don't play that game with me, Daisy. You know more about what's going on with the family than any of us do. So spill it. Why does Walker think Hep would have gone against his father's wishes to give shares of the bank back to him?"

  "Because a few years ago Mr. Hep said he would think about it if Walker made an effort to stop gambling."

  "Oh," Winnie sighed. "Well, Hep never mentioned that to me."

  "That's because as soon as Walker Jr. left that day, Mr. Hep said he would give the shares back to Walker as soon as Lucifer stopped beating his wife. Then he told Myles the only way Walker would get his hands on any shares of stock to the bank was over his dead body and even then he would haunt his ass until he dropped dead with him."

  Winnie laughed lightly at first, then it turned into a full-fledged roar, with tears and all coming from her eyes. Reaching down she took off her shoes and pointed one at Daisy. "Now that sounds like Hep." She could hear Daisy laughing as she climbed the back stairs.

  Chapter Seven

  Daisy watched as Winnie walked up the stairs. She sobered and shook her head at the thought of what this family was about to go through. Mr. Hep was the true leader of the family and he had died too soon, way too soon. Daisy checked the stairs to make sure Winnie was out of hearing distance and then she picked up the telephone and dialed.

  "Dunning Bank & Trust executive offices, Mrs. Vazquez speaking."

  "Marie, this is Daisy. Has Walker Jr. tried to contact Myles today?"

  "Not that I'm aware of. Why? Is he bothering Winnie?"

  "He has called several times trying to reach her. This whole will reading needs to be done so things can settle down."

  "I agree, Daisy, however, neither you nor I have any control over the timing." There was a slight hesitation, then Marie continued. "Myles just left here," she said in a low voice. "He asked about Cainan Scott."

  "Did you tell him anything?" Daisy gasped. "What did he want to know?"

  "No, I did not. Legally we can't. I hate withholding information from Myles."

  "It seems to me, with Mr. Hep gone, they gonna have to talk to Myles eventually. For now, it ain't no need causing more problems for him or us. All we can do now is pray Mr. Hep put something in his will to let Winnie know."

  "If this goes public it could be a PR nightmare. I think we should turn it over to Myles."

  "At some point, I think you are right. But ain't no need putting anything else on that boy right now. He has that bank to deal with. You just make sure the investigation file is somewhere he will eventually see it. If he finds out on his own that will take us off the hook."

  "Already done. In the meantime, I'll keep Walker Jr. away from Myles, you keep him away from Winnie." Mrs. Vazquez cleared her throat. "Daisy, tell me something. Is there anything personal going on between Myles and Chrystina?"

  "You mean like man woman stuff?"

  "Yes."

  "No, not yet. She's a nice girl. Got her own for all I know. She ain't looking for no one to take care of her like that Savannah Whitfield. Why you asking?"

  "I don't know. Something in the way he talks about her. I could be wrong. Seeing something that's not there."

  Daisy shrugged her shoulders. "Keep an eye on it. Lord knows that boy is going to need someone to have his back. In fact I need to put him on notice about Walker Jr. and his mother."

  "All right, Daisy, you take care."

  Daisy held the disconnection button down for a few seconds then dialed another number.

  "Mr. Dunning, please. Daisy Smithers calling." Daisy waited until the call was picked up on the other end. "Myles, I thought you might like to know the vultures are beginning to circle around your mother. And if you are the man I know your father raised you to be you will put a stop to it right now."

  Myles held the telephone for a minute because it sounded like the no-nonsense woman who helped to raise him was in tears.

  "Daisy, what's going on?"

  "That no-good uncle of yours has been calling here looking for your mother all morning. Now I have put him off as long as I can. But he is going to get to her sooner or later. Now she got too much to deal with to have to put up with that nonsense."

  Myles just groaned.

  "And you know what he's after, the same thing that Mr. Mitchell is after. Your mother is a sweetheart with a heart of gold and you know what vultures do with sweethearts like her. Now, what are you going to do about it?"

  "What did Walker Jr. want?" Myles asked.

  "He wants her to give him back those shares to the bank your g
randfather took away. He thinks your daddy put something in his will. If he didn't you know he is going to try to sweet-talk your mother into doing it. And are you watching your back at that bank?"

  Myles never had a chance to answer.

  "You know that William Mitchell is as much of a snake as your Uncle Walker. He's going to try to take that bank over. And you can't let that happen. Your father and grandfather would turn over in their graves if you let that man get his hands on that bank. Now, what you gonna do about that?"

  Myles had to chuckle. "It is my first day as CEO, Daisy. There is a lot on my plate. Can I get a little time to take care of all of this?"

  "Ain't nobody give President Obama no time. That cartoon character-looking man demanding his birth certificate and such. Can you imagine that? That clown needs to be paying attention to his own finances. Maybe then he won't be filing for bankruptcy so many times. You're battling just like President Obama did. The old trying to turn things back to the way it was. Don't nobody want to go back there. I was raised during that time, I know what I'm talking about. We need to go forward and just like him it's your job to take that bank forward."

  "Daisy...Daisy," he called twice to get her attention as she rambled on.

  "Are you interrupting me, boy?"

  "Yes, ma'am, I am. I want you to listen to me. Walker Jr. is not to talk to Mother until I give you the okay."

  "All right, son. I can do that."

  "Also, Daisy, there is something I have to tell you."

  "What?"

  "My father trusted you with his children. Now I'm going to trust you with my mother. She is vulnerable right now. Neither of us is going to let anyone take advantage of her. You know I have to be here at the bank. So I am depending on you to handle things at the house. Set up the master guest suite on the first floor for me. I'll be staying there until things settle down." Daisy choked up.

  "You're a good son, Myles Dunning." Daisy sighed.

  Daisy heard the intercom in his office buzz. "Mr. Mitchell is here to see you, Mr. Dunning."

  "We'll talk more when I get home, Daisy."

  Daisy disconnected the call, hesitated then walked behind the kitchen staircase to Hep's home office. She closed the door behind her then walked over to the bookcase on the left of the room. Pulling out the red dictionary, the shelves separated revealing a safe in the center of the wall. Placing her thumb on the screen, the green light flashed. The door popped open. Inside she pushed the small recorder and disc to the side Hep put in her care and reached for the documents needed to stop Walker Jr. if he created any issues that will harm Winnie.

  She pulled the document out along with the business card that was attached to it. The FBI agent on the card was Byron Roark, Washington DC office. She opened the document and read. It was an arrest warrant taken out by Hepburn on behalf of Dunning Bank & Trust against Walker Dunning Jr. for embezzlement. If Walker was to try to do anything to Winnie, Daisy had been instructed to call the number on the card and turn the document over to the agent. If that were to happen Walker Jr. would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  Daisy exhaled, relieved to know the document was still in place. She folded the document and placed it back inside the safe.

  "Don't you worry, Mr. Hep. I'm going to make sure your Winnie is okay. If he comes anywhere near her again with this crazy talk about your will, I'll have his no good behind arrested and put away for life. I'm gonna make sure of it." She put the dictionary back in its place and watched as the shelves connected again.

  She opened the door to find Jerome standing outside the office. Startled, she gasped. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  "What going on with Mrs. Dunning?"

  "That Walker Jr. called again." Daisy shook her head as she rolled her eyes.

  "Questions on the will again?"

  "You know it," Daisy replied as she walked back to the kitchen with Jerome. "That man is the worst."

  "There is always one dark horse in the corral,” Jerome acknowledged. “Walker Jr. is it for this family."

  "I'm surprised he hasn't gotten himself killed or something."

  Jerome shook his head as he took a seat at the breakfast bar. "Nothing happens to men like Walker Jr. It’s the people around him who usually end up paying the price for his wrong doings. That's why I'm here."

  "Are you going to stay now that Mr. Hep is gone?"

  "That is going to depend on Myles. Where is Mrs. Dunning?"

  "Upstairs." Daisy smiled. "She's going to be all right. Just going to take a little time."

  "Oh yeah, she's made of good stock. She's going to make it through this," Jerome agreed. "How is AnnieMarie?"

  "The same," Daisy replied. "Marie mentioned Myles is asking about the Scott boy."

  Jerome hesitated. The reason he was there was because of Cainan Scott. The information was told to a few select people Mr. Hepburn trusted in the strictest of confidence. He was given a recording of the meeting between Hepburn and Scott's people. He put it in a safe place with no intention of turning it over to anyone unless it became a life or death matter.

  "Why is he asking about Scott?"

  "AnnieMarie is blaming herself for Mr. Hep's heart attack. They were arguing about Cainan Scott when it happened. He didn't want AnnieMarie seeing him. Did you listen to the recording? Is there anything in there that could help her?"

  "No, I didn't listen to it. I only secured it."

  "I hate seeing her walking around with a broken heart about her daddy and that boy."

  "She will figure things out on her own." Jerome rose to leave. "Has Mrs. Dunning been eating right?"

  "Not really. She's been faking it so Mr. Myles and the children feel better about going into the office. I talked to him about it. He's going to be staying here for a while. His assistant Chrystina is going to send some of his things over."

  "His assistant," Jerome laughed.

  Daisy joined in. "Yes, that is what he is still calling her."

  "When is that boy going to figure out he is in love with that woman?"

  "Probably not until it's too late and somebody else done scooped her up."

  "That girl isn't going anywhere." Jerome shook his head. "She is just as bad for him as he is for her. Love is just wasted on young people these days."

  "Amen to that," Daisy laughed. "Those two are just wasting time that is not promised to anybody."

  "You know he went to her house the night of the wake."

  "Stop it I say." Daisy turned to him, surprised.

  "Sure did." Jerome nodded. "I took him there myself and picked him up the next morning. He was in bad shape when I dropped him off. But walked out a man when I picked him up the next morning."

  "Do you think....?"

  "I don't think so. He was in pretty bad shape. Wouldn't have been able to get it up if he tried."

  "Poor baby." Daisy frowned. "Well, they'll have time to get it all together before it’s over with. As least that is what Mr. Hep said."

  Jerome nodded. "I think they could stand a little push. Like you said, tomorrow isn’t promised to anybody."

  Chapter Eight

  Myles' voice came through the intercom.

  "Tell Mr. Mitchell I'll see him as soon as I finish with this conference call."

  Chrystina smiled inside. He was making Mitch wait on him. Good for him. She knew Myles was talking to Ms. Daisy on the phone, but had hung up a few minutes ago.

  "Mr. Dunning will be with you in a few minutes. Would you like to have a seat while I get you a cup of coffee?"

  "I'll stand and I don't want any coffee," William snapped. "What is so important to make me cancel my afternoon appointments?"

  "I have no idea, Mr. Mitchell. But I don't believe Mr. Dunning will be too much longer."

  "Don't give me that brush-off. We all know you are his right arm, for the moment that is. So what does he want?"

  Chrystina did not like the implication, but was used to shielding her thoughts. After all, tech
nically, Mr. Mitchell was her boss so she sweetened her reply.

  "I was only asked to make the appointment, sir. I really do not know what the meeting will be about. Perhaps it's concerning whether or not you are going to continue in the role as Vice-President of the bank."

  Mitchell was stunned by her response. "Of course I am," he said with an air of superiority as he adjusted his blazer. "He cannot run this bank without me. Huh, if anyone should be concerned about their tenure here it should be you." He looked Chrystina up and down. "There is no way Myles is going to take you down the hall to the corner office." He smirked.

  The office door opened and William's whole demeanor changed. "Myles." He turned with his hand extended with an air of sincerity all knew was manufactured. "I understand you wanted to talk. I'm here for you, son. What do you need?"

  Chrystina looked over William's back at Myles then rolled her eyes. She could tell Myles held his laughter as he shook William's hand, then patted him on the shoulder.

  "Let's go into the office and talk."

  Myles shot Chrystina a look. She raised her eyebrow as she watched them close the door.

  "He is right you know," Nancy said from the hallway as she leaned against the opening to Chrystina's office.

  Chrystina looked over at the slim blonde with the fake eyelashes, nails, and booty pads.

  "Right about what?" she asked as she fumbled with papers on her desk.

  "There is no way Myles is going to take you down the hall to his new office." She took a step inside and shrugged her shoulder. "Oh, I don't think for a minute he is going to let you go. However, I just don't see you fitting in down the hall."

  "And why not?" Chrystina looked at the woman with a curious brow raised.

  Nancy laughed. "Come on, Chrystina. You know why."

  "No, I don't. Enlighten me."

  "Now, Chrystina, Mr. Hep selected every person in the front office for two reasons. They look good and they know how to socialize with the elites." She shook her head. "No disrespect intended, but you don't fit either category. I, on the other hand, grew up with the socialites. I know how to mingle." She flipped her long blonde hair across her shoulders. "And the looks, well, we both know I have you heads over heels on that front."