The Philanthropist's Danse

by Wornham, Paul

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  Larry entered the library and felt the hush of the quiet room envelope him. He saw Bethany with her back to the door, her arms hugged tightly around her body. His heart ached for her grief, and he was only too happy to try and ease her pain. He approached and stroked her hair gently before he took the seat opposite her.

  He was surprised to find her eyes clear of tears and a determined set to her jaw. He immediately knew something was up. “Philip said you needed comforting, but you look well, Beth. Especially after the shock of the French girl’s claim.”

  The corners of her mouth fluttered. She was struggling to maintain a stoic facade. “Thanks for saying so, Uncle Larry, but I’m a wreck inside.” She took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. “Philip, Junior and I have agreed that we must act quickly to save our inheritance. I can grieve later. First we have to take care of ourselves.”

  Her voice was firm, but MacLean could still hear the frayed edges of Bethany’s pain. He started to speak, but she hushed him with a raised finger. “Let me finish, Uncle Larry, and then we can talk.” He listened as she outlined their plan to form a voting bloc to protect their inheritance from their father’s bizarre scheme.

  Larry was pleased to hear they were acting together. “So who have you in mind to join your bloc?”

  He smiled, and Bethany knew he would not disappoint her. “We think the Elliots will be cooperative and Betty Freah too.”

  Larry looked at Bethany, surprised to hear her speak Betty’s name. She had never approved of her father’s relationship with a prostitute. “What arrangements do you have in mind for the people that join you, Beth? And who are you planning to eliminate first?”

  Bethany was pleased her father’s friend got right to the details, but there was something in the question that surprised her. “What do you mean arrangements?”

  “I mean, what’s in it for them? Or what’s in it for me, I guess, since you want me to help you.”

  She was irritated that he wanted her to spell it out. “Money, of course. We agree that, in return for supporting us, you’ll be guaranteed a share of my father’s money.”

  MacLean nodded, thinking. “I see, but how can anyone be sure your offer will beat what they might get by remaining independent? Or maybe a rival group might offer more?” He was thinking about Janice Elliot, she was one person who would quickly figure out how to sell her vote for the most gain.

  Bethany relaxed, Larry was testing the details, not the strategy. “We think we can get the Elliots cheaply, Freah may cost a little more.”

  She was thinking aloud and was surprised when MacLean interrupted. “And how much am I worth?”

  Her eyes searched his face to see if he were joking, but she did not see the usual crinkles around his eyes that often betrayed his teasing. She stumbled as she looked for words she had not thought would be needed. “Well of course you’d get something Uncle Larry, but how much do you really need? You’re already very wealthy.” She spoke lightly, but there was tension in her voice. Things were not going as she had planned.

  “Actually Beth, I’m not wealthy. Not anymore. Your father’s been supporting me for a while. So I’m afraid I’m going to insist on a fair share of his money.” Larry felt the burden of his dark secret lift a little, the humiliating truth was out at last. He felt no embarrassment. It was not his fault the family trust fund was broke. Larry had never taken much interest in the family fortune. He received monthly payments that supported his playboy life, and that was all that mattered to him. Until the day the checks stopped arriving.

  Bethany turned pale and regarded Larry with disbelief. “How can you not have money? Your family has had money forever.”

  She was skeptical, which irritated him. “Nothing lasts forever, Beth. Not with a crook running the trust. Not after the IRS demanded back-taxes and we found the vault full of dust but no money.”

  She understood suddenly. MacLean’s brother had managed their family trust, making the looting of his wealth a double betrayal. “I had no idea, I’m sorry. Of course, we can make sure you get enough…. I… we, just assumed...”

  MacLean placed a leathery hand over hers. “I’m sorry I have to ask, but will your brothers agree? I’m sure you expected me to help for pretty much nothing, right?”

  “We did think that, yes. But I think they’ll agree it’s better to give you a fair share than give any at all to Freddie Hagood.”

  Larry sighed and sat back, feeling the overstuffed leather soft against his tense shoulders. He had not thought about his financial troubles since arriving at the mansion. The news of his friend’s demise had filled him with sadness, not a lust for money. He understood the Thurwell’s plan and admired their ability to come up with a strategy to handle the challenge left them by their father. What MacLean could not understand, was why. Why had Thurwell turned on his friends and family at the end of his life? The scheme he had concocted was a cruelty MacLean never suspected his friend capable of. He wished he could put the money aside and get to the reasons behind the bizarre method of allocating Johnston’s fortune, but he needed to secure his own future first. And for that, he needed money.

  “I want fifteen per cent. If you split the fortune equally between twelve people, I could expect a little over eight percent. But you’re going to eliminate some people with less than that, perhaps even nothing. So, there’s plenty for the rest of us.”

  Bethany’s eyes widened with shock. “That’s a big number, Larry.” He noticed she no longer called him Uncle.

  “I’m worth it Beth and I can guarantee you’ll get Betty’s vote.” She paused. He was right, but Philip might be able to recruit Betty, so perhaps he wasn’t as valuable as he thought. “Ten percent. I can get the boys to agree to ten, fifteen is too much.” She already knew Junior would be furious when he heard about Larry’s demand.

  “Beth, I can’t afford less than fifteen percent. Your father’s support was keeping my entire family above water and I need to consider them as much as you.” He spoke the truth, but if necessary his family would survive with the sale of a few homes and pieces of art. Larry needed to secure his own future and pushed Bethany harder. “I’m guessing Freddie Hagood would offer me what I want.”

  She was incredulous. You wouldn’t Larry, not Freddie.” She was almost speechless, and he regretted the words as soon as he uttered them, yet remained steadfast. He needed what he needed, and if he had to play hardball to get it, so be it. Bethany shook her head. “You’d sell us out to Freddie Hagood?”

  “Not willingly. I’m sorry Beth, but you know Hagood will pay me what I need.”

  It took all of Larry’s courage to remain impassive in the face of Bethany’s obvious disappointment in him. She nodded. Freddie Hagood would do anything to secure a portion of her father’s fortune. It was well known only money drove Hagood, he boasted about it. “Twelve percent. Anymore and I’ll never get Junior to agree.” She was calm again. “There’s a good chance my father’s fortune is larger than you think Larry, so twelve percent is probably more money than you expect now at fifteen.”

  He smiled, she had raised the question he was certain was on everyone’s mind. Just how large was Johnston Thurwell’s fortune? “Do you know how much it is?” Bethany shook her head. “No, but I think it’s more than any of us realize.”

  Larry wanted to help Bethany and her brothers. He didn’t hate Hagood, but it would be easier for him to sleep at night if he stood by his friend’s family. “Okay, twelve percent then. Deal?” He offered his hand. Bethany had to take the chance her brothers would agree to the deal, but she needed Larry on her side before the meeting resumed. She took a deep breath and extended her hand, and they shook on the deal. Larry closed his left hand over their clasped hands and whispered. “I’m sorry, Beth.”

  She released his hand and let him go from her heart as well as from her company.

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  MacLean stood to leave and saw Caroline Smith watching them. He whispered a warning to Bet
hany and left, nodding at Smith as he passed. Her eyes showed considerable interest in what he and Bethany might have been discussing. Bethany was alone, and Caroline might not get another chance to speak with her. She sat in the chair Larry MacLean had vacated moments before. Bethany looked at her coolly. The two women had no friendship, but were professional enough to be polite. “I’m sorry for your loss.” Caroline said the line she’d practiced in front of the mirror last night to make sure it would sound sincere.

  Bethany thanked her, and Caroline noticed her demeanor had changed. Her eyes were clear and focused, the emotional wreck she had been last night was gone. Smith became more curious to know what had just been discussed with MacLean, but that could wait. “Bethany, I hope you know how much your father meant to me—”

  Smith’s voice was calm, but her stomach fluttered with excitement. She was certain she could secure a large share of the Old Man’s fortune. All she had to do was ensure they understood she was a valuable asset, loyal to their cause. Bethany raised a skeptical brow, but indicated the other woman to continue. Smith leaned forward to deliver her pitch, but saw Bethany’s eyes look over her shoulder. Someone was behind her. She turned in her seat and was surprised to see William Bird. Where had he come from? She cursed her luck. She did not want Bird to hear her making a deal with Bethany.

  The lawyer smiled at the two women. “It’s time to resume.”

  Bethany looked at Smith. “I’m sorry, but whatever you have to say will have to wait.” Smith nodded. “We can chat later, if you agree?” Bethany promised to find time later, and they walked to the conference room together.

  Bethany saw Philip hurrying toward her, and she moved away from Smith to allow him a chance to speak without being overheard. “Did you get him, is Larry with us?” She nodded, and he grinned. “Good girl, well done. But we didn’t have time to plan how it will work. Will he take his cues from you?” Bethany whispered hurriedly as the others were already seated.

  “I got Larry, and he promised us Betty, too. He will vote with us, but he didn’t have time to get Betty on board. We need to stall. There can be no further votes until we have our alliance locked down, okay?”

  Philip understood. He wanted to tell Bethany he had been close to recruiting Betty himself, but there was no time. He offered his sister his arm, and she smiled at her little brother’s gallant gesture, folded her arm into his, and they walked into the room with their hearts full of hope.

  Chapter Nine

  William looked around the table and saw an assortment of worried faces and poker faces. He knew that deal-making and maneuvering had begun, it was inevitable. He hoped the Thurwells had allied with each other. If not, the whole thing might be over before they even realized what was going on.

  Freddie Hagood looked unconcerned as he observed the group, much as Bird was doing. Have you made a move, Freddie? Bird wondered. Time would tell, but now he had to call them back to business. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ll resume now. Your introductions are complete, so I return the meeting to you.”

  Junior attracted people’s attention with a wave of his hand. He intended to chair the meeting.

  “Alright, now know who we all are, even if it is unclear why some of you are here.” He threw a dismissive look at Hagood and continued, feeling the thrill of power as everyone listened to his every word. “We must settle this business before the end of the day to avoid the ridiculous penalty. Everyone must realize that a smaller share today will be worth more than a larger share tomorrow.”

  Freddie interrupted. “I agree with Mr. Thurwell, we should settle this quickly. So let’s vote on equal shares, and then we can all go home equally rewarded.”

  Junior was startled to hear himself referred to as Mr. Thurwell, a title he associated with his father. He was more concerned that a large number of people were in agreement with Hagood. Everyone looked back to Junior. He silently cursed Hagood who was trying to paint him into a corner as the impediment to a quick agreement.

  Freddie appeared perfectly calm, which worried Junior. “Freddie, my siblings and I believe we are entitled to a much larger share than you others.” He realized his slip, but too late to take it back.

  “Well said brother. It is only correct that family comes first, non?” Camille was pleased Junior had made it so easy for her to remind everyone that she, too, was a Thurwell. Junior was furious. He reddened and wanted to scream to shut her up, but restrained his base instincts and forced a thin smile for the French girl. “Yes, of course, family first. If we can agree the family is entitled to seventy-five percent, we’ll distribute the rest equally and will all be home for dinner.” He suggested it without hope but was still taken aback at the force of the rejection.

  Everyone except his siblings and Larry seemed to be shouting at him. Junior looked around in panic. He saw Freddie’s face twisted into an ugly visage of greed and Janice Elliot openly mocked his proposal. Junior was only saved when Larry MacLean hammered his hand on the table and called the group to order.

  When everyone quieted, Larry spoke. “Now listen, what Junior suggested is fair, if you accept that the family deserves most of their father’s money.” There were murmurs of discontent, but everyone listened. “But my friend Johnston didn’t seem to think family was most important when he gave us each an equal vote, so what are we to think? If he wanted to give his children a large inheritance, why not just do it and leave them out of this farce? The fact is, we’re all here as equals, and we’ll have to agree a deal from that foundation.”

  Junior assumed Bethany had failed to recruit MacLean and darted an accusing glance in her direction. Her eyes were calm, and she gave him a barely perceptible shake of the head, a signal that MacLean was on board. Junior’s mind raced. Then what was Larry’s purpose with this speech?

  “My oldest friend in the world is dead, and for some reason, he saw fit to call the twelve of us here to share in his fortune. I, for one, would like to understand why each of us was invited. I think that is at least as important as who we are.” Bird watched MacLean with admiration. He’d managed to get everyone to calm down and think about why they had been invited here. Only Hagood seemed unmoved.

  Bethany added her voice to MacLean’s. The tearful girl had been replaced by the businesslike vice-president her father had depended on. “Larry is right. I want to know what each of you meant to my father before we make any decision about how to distribute his money. We all know why Larry is here, and myself and my family is obvious, even our… sister, is understandable.” She did not see the French girl’s self-satisfied smirk, but kept her eyes straight ahead. “I’m surprised my father invited Dennis and Janice, but I think I understand it.

  I can even understand why Betty is here. All of us had close connections to my father.” She paused, and the people she mentioned visibly relaxed, but they all stared intently at the remaining four.

  Junior recovered from his slip to pick up the thread. “Yes, well said, both of you. We should know why our father invited you here. Caroline, with all due respect, you were just another manager in father’s empire. He could have invited any number of his executives, but he didn’t. You run the Foundation yet were singled out to be here. I’m curious about that.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up his hand. “Let me finish. Then we have Freddie, father’s greatest rival. Why are you here, Freddie? I’m interested to know why he wanted you here.” Freddie shrugged. He was content to listen but not offer Junior an answer.

  Junior continued, pointing now at Ron Freeman. “Judge, there are questions about you that I’d like answered. Your membership in this group is a puzzle to me.” Freeman glared but didn’t respond. He didn’t dare. Everyone turned to look at the one person still to be addressed.

  Junior looked at the old lady. “Mrs. Tremethick. You are, by far, the greatest mystery. You claim to have never known my father and, considering the geography, I’d have to agree a connection is unlikely. Yet here you are, in my father’s mansi
on with an equal vote in how to divide his fortune. I want to know who you are, what you meant to my father and why you have no idea of the reason for your invitation.”

  Winnie regarded Junior with sad, tired eyes. She lowered her eyes and tried to ignore the eleven curious people staring at her.

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  Freddie Hagood looked calm on the outside, but he had not expected this turn of events. He had hoped for an easy vote to eject the old woman and then lobby more recruits to his alliance. Now he may have to explain his presence, and that was dangerous. The others could not discover his secret, or he would be at their mercy. He had to think, he’d had no time to prepare a cover for this eventuality. He cursed Johnston Thurwell. What had he been thinking?

  Larry looked at the lawyer. “William, do you know why these people are here?”

  “Larry, I can’t tell you. I can’t tell you anything unless my instructions permit it. My job was to get you all here, explain the situation and monitor your deliberations. Once you start voting, it’s my job to record the outcome of the votes and make the proper payments at the conclusion of your business. That’s all. I can’t chair the group, I can’t answer your question, and I can only offer limited advice. Is that clear?”

  Larry nodded. Bird had the trust of the group. He was the only common link between them, having arranged to get each of them to the mansion. Even the lies he had told had been forgiven. Each of them stood to be rich, what was the point of being angry with the man that brought them that opportunity?

  Freddie spoke before the others could continue. “I acknowledge I’m in a minority, but I disagree that investigating the reasons we’re here is more important than the fact there is a heavy penalty if we don’t reach an agreement before midnight.”