Even those who listened with sympathy looked at Bethany with discomfort. She had aborted her baby to punish her father. Winnie Tremethick lowered her head and whispered a prayer for Bethany. She believed the girl had mortally sinned and prayed for her soul. Judge Freeman did the same and sat with his eyes closed, deep in contemplation.
Junior was shaken by his sister’s admission. He realized his thoughts on the matter were filtered through his father’s own strong feelings. Now he was faced with the harsh truth of his sister’s actions, he found he couldn’t condemn her out of hand. “You’re right, Beth. The Old Man cut you out of his life for what you did. You know it, and I know it. So now we know why he didn’t want you at his bedside. Me too, I guess. We both betrayed him.”
Bethany looked at him, her eyes filled with tears, but he held up a finger to stop her saying anything. “Wait, Beth. I’m figuring this out. I’m not judging you, I’m not saying anything about what you did, or why. I never will.”
He shrugged as he finished, but Bethany knew it was as close to a selfless act as Junior was capable of and she smiled through her tears, grateful for his words. She looked at Philip, who shrugged. “We’re cool, sis. Just remember that, okay? Forgiveness is important.” She smiled, but didn’t understand what he meant. That would come soon enough.
William decided it was time to move on. He was not interested in hosting a debate on morality or religion. He had business to manage and brought everyone back to the job at hand. “Thank you, Bethany, you will continue. We only have two people left, Mrs. Tremethick and Philip. Once we’ve heard their secrets you may return to the business of dividing the fortune.”
He looked up and was satisfied their lust for a share of the money overrode any moral outrage they might feel, with the sole exception of Winnie. She looked like she had plenty left to say, but William acted to cut her off before things turned ugly. He reached into the pitcher and pulled a name out with a dramatic flourish.
He read Philip Thurwell’s name, but decided he needed to divert the old lady in case she was planning on making a scene.
“Winnie Tremethick. Mrs. Tremethick, it’s your turn.” Winnie looked dazed, as if she had not understood. “Mrs. Tremethick? Do you have any idea yet about your connection to Mr. Thurwell?”
She looked at the lawyer, he had always been friendly, but now seemed stern and businesslike. “Yes, I think so. Mr. MacLean helped me, and we’re sure that we’ve discovered my connection to Mr. Thurwell.” A flutter of excitement went around the table as they leaned forward to better hear the old lady. William was pleased that he had moved the group beyond Beth’s explosive secret. They were all eager to hear the story of the old lady and the dead philanthropist.
“I met Mr. Thurwell in the spring of 1965, by accident. He was traveling through the south of England under a different name, which is why I never heard of your Mr. Thurwell. Mr. MacLean helped me figure it out, he gave me some dates when he and his friend were out of touch and for most of 1965 they never saw each other. Right Mr. MacLean?”
“That’s right. Johnston took off without a word. He told Julie he was going to Europe and left. He just quit his job and went. He returned home at the end of the year, but never talked about where he had been or what he had done. It quite upset your mother, Junior, as you might imagine.”
Junior was silent. He hadn’t even been conceived in 1965, and it was odd to hear about his parents in a time when he wasn’t even a thought. He shot a look of contempt at Larry. He did not want him to mention his mother’s name with such familiarity. Instead, he looked at Winnie. “You said my father was traveling under a different name? Why?”
“I can’t say why. I knew your father as Charlie Wells. I only learned that he was really Johnston Thurwell in the past hour. I can’t explain something I wasn’t aware of, not forty years after it happened.”
William paid close attention to the conversation. In his safe was a yellow envelope with a name written on it, Charlie Wells. He would need to look at the contents of that envelope as soon as the next break came. He made a quick note to himself and then leaned in to hear the rest of the old lady’s story.
“I said I met Charlie by accident and that is exactly true. He crashed his motorcycle near my farm, and I found him in a very sorry state the next morning. I rescued him, patched him up pretty good, and he stayed with me until he was healed.”
“So he stayed with you and your family? Is that what you’re saying?”
Winnie looked at Junior, she knew the reason he wanted to know, and she knew she would disappoint him with her answer. She studied him, looking for any family resemblance, but she didn’t see it. Charlie had possessed a strong face with kind eyes and a manly frame. His son looked mean and weak, not at all like his father. “Charlie. Your father, I mean. He stayed at the farm. I was alone, my husband had died, and my children had already left home. I had them young. We didn’t used to hang around, like women do today.”
She shot a sharp look toward Bethany, but Junior interrupted and spoiled her chance to say something. “So you were alone with him? For how long?”
Winnie sighed, she guessed Junior would not care for the truth, but since he was insistent, she’d give it to him. “He stayed through the summer. As he healed and grew stronger, he started to help me out on the farm. I didn’t mind a strong back around the place, and he was good company. If you’re asking if there was more to it, the answer is yes, there was.”
She looked at Junior with unwavering eyes, and he dropped his gaze. His father had cheated on his mother even before he was conceived. It hurt, even though it was ancient history. Larry asked Winnie a question, one she had not fully answered in their time together. “How close were you and Charlie, Mrs. Tremethick?”
She looked at MacLean. She had been shocked at his flirtation and later affair with Thurwell’s wife, only to learn she’d committed the same sin, albeit unwittingly. Still, she liked Larry. He had been a gentleman to her. “Charlie asked me to go to Canada with him. I said I couldn’t and we parted soon after.”
She paused and remembered a late-summer evening on a cliff top. “Actually, that’s not quite accurate. Charlie asked me to marry him and go to Canada. But I had been widowed less than a year, and I had two children out in the world. I couldn’t just pick up and leave. He couldn’t understand why I had to stay, and he was angry when he left. We both said some things we didn’t really mean and they were the last words we said to each other, to my regret. I never saw or heard of him again, until this week.”
Larry whistled and Junior sat back, shocked. The others tried to imagine the old Englishwoman forty years earlier, having an affair with a man that would become one of the richest in the world. It seemed an incongruous match. Junior needed clarification. “You say my father asked you to marry him? But he was already married, to my mother.”
Winnie looked pained. “Yes. I’m sorry, dear. I had no idea he was already married. I didn’t even know he was American, he told me he was from Canada. I’m sorry. I never suspected there was a different truth to what Charlie told me.”
Junior was upset, but it was hard to be angry with the old lady. His father had been the problem. His father had always been the problem. He had abandoned his wife for almost a full year, carried on an affair with a farmer’s widow in England and returned without explanation to start a family. What kind of man had his father been? Junior realized he didn’t know his father, his friends or his siblings as he thought he had. We’ve all been hiding, he thought, none of us are who we seem to be.
“Is there anything else, Mrs. Tremethick?”
The lawyer asked the question as his own mind tried to absorb the new facts about his dead client. “No, dear. Unless you want me to tell you the details about his accident, I told it all to Mr. MacLean earlier though.”
William decided the details could wait, even though he was intrigued by the details of her story. “Not now, you’ve done what you needed to. We should move on.”
William looked at the sole piece of paper in the pitcher. He knew the name on it was Winnie Tremethick’s, but only Philip remained, so he left the paper where it was and invited Philip to speak.
Philip took a long look at Ron Freeman. Philip had already heard everyone else’s secret, but only one had anything in common with his own. He glanced at Camille, his new half-sister. He hoped her confession would be judged worse than his when all was said and done. It was time to find out. “Judge Freeman already told some of my story. He got caught up in it and is sitting at this table now, looking to profit from his involvement. Billy Bird was involved too, weren’t you Billy.” He sneered at the lawyer, who looked back with a blank expression.
“See, the thing is, I did kill a guy. I hit him with my Porsche, and he died. I used my phone call to call Dad, and he called Billy. Billy flew down to see the Judge, and I was sprung and life went on. That’s right, isn’t it, Bill?” Bird made no acknowledgement. He was puzzled and wondered where Philip was going with his story.
“There was only one detail you clever legal minds missed. I know Dad sent you to get me out of a jam Billy, and that was nice of you to get the Judge to see it your way. I don’t know what you said or did, but I appreciate it. The problem is, you keep calling it an accident. It wasn’t. I killed the motherfucker on purpose.”
Judge Freeman felt like he was going to have a heart attack. His mind was numb as he tried to comprehend what he had heard. Even William stared in horror at the youngest son. He had intervened in what he had thought was a tragic accident, not a murder.
Philip laughed as he watched the two men react. “Yeah. I killed him with my Carrera. The crooked fuck sold me some dope that had been cut so many times I would have needed to snort a pound of it to get a buzz. When I bitched about it, the prick pulled a gun on me and told me to leave town. So I did, but as I was heading out, I saw him crossing the road, strutting like he owned it. It was too easy. I floored it, and it was game over for him.
“You have to admire German engineering, he must have gone twenty feet in the air, but there wasn’t even a dent in the Porsche. They build cars even tougher than street dealers. They should use that in their fucking commercials.” Philip slouched down in his seat, he was done talking and now waited for the shit storm to hit, hoping it wouldn’t last too long before they got back to talking about money.
Freeman jumped to his feet and pointed at Philip. “I risked my career, my life to get you a pass on that incident.” He turned to Bird, who watched with some difficulty, his own face betrayed deep dismay. “Did you know about this Bird? Did you know that this... this thug killed that man deliberately?”
William shook his head, he had no words. He’d been as duped as the Judge had been. Even the Old Man had not suspected Philip of his crime. It was not the secret Philip was required to reveal. “No, I had no idea. I’m sorry, Judge. Philip has surprised me as much as you, this shocking news isn’t the secret he is required to share.”
Philip sat up quickly. “What? What did you say, Bill?” He looked frightened. He had no idea what other secret he could have. He’d done nothing worse than what happened in Macon.
“While your story is compelling and difficult for me to hear, it’s not what you’re required to share. I’ll ask you one more time, Philip. Share your secret with the group.” Bird’s voice was pure ice and his eyes filled with cold fury. He saw confusion on Philip’s face and felt a cruel pleasure as he realized Philip did not know what to say. “Philip, last chance. Start talking or you’re done.”
Bethany wanted to tell Philip to say something, to say what he had to say to make William stop threatening him, but she couldn’t find the words. Her brother had killed a man and did not care. She knew she should turn to her brother’s aid, but remained silent, she may have committed her own sin, but what she had done was at least legal.
Philip’s mind raced, he had been so sure the Old Man had found out the truth about Georgia. He had listened to the people around him tell their dark secrets, and it occurred to him his father had discovered all the worst things there was to know about those around him.
Only one other person in the world knew Philip had run down the drug dealer on purpose, but he had forgotten about her. He had convinced himself the girl must have emerged and sold the information to his father. Now he knew he had been wrong. There had been no need to tell the story of the murder, but he had no clue what he had to say to meet the condition. “I don’t know, what could be worse than killing a man? Jesus. Billy, give me a hint. Please?”
His plea was met with an impassive stare. Philip’s heart sank. He’d just taunted the lawyer and would get no sympathy there. He cast a wild look around the room, but no one could meet his eyes. “You can’t do this, Bill. I’m family, you need to help me. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”
William was angry, but kept his voice as even as he could. “Philip Thurwell, you have not met the requirements for continuing. You will leave this room and will have no further involvement in negotiations. You will not share in your father’s fortune.”
Philip paled as his panic rose. “Junior, you got to help me, man. Can’t you see what’s happening here?” Junior looked away, unable to meet his brother’s eyes. “Beth? Come on Beth. It’s me, your little bro. Stop him from kicking me out.”
Bethany shook her head. “I don’t even recognize you, Phil. You killed a man and look at the consequences.”
Philip’s panic stripped away the last vestige of his civilized veneer. “Yeah, Sis, I did. But you killed your baby, so tell me that we’re so different. Now help me out, you self-righteous bitch.”
Bethany recoiled as if he had slapped her. William’s voice cut through the silence. “Philip, will you remove yourself from the room, or do I need to have you removed?”
“Sure and who are you going to get to move me, Bill? I’d like to see you try and make me leave.”
William keyed a small button secreted under his desk. The door opened immediately, and Jeremy walked into the room. William nodded toward Philip, who stood defiantly in place. “Jeremy, Philip needs to be escorted to his suite, if you’d be so kind.”
The major-domo smiled perfunctorily and approached the youngest Thurwell. “Please, come with me, sir. There’s no need for trouble.”
Philip snorted and looked down his nose at the servant who stood calmly with his hands at his sides as if he were at attention. “I don’t think so. You’ll need to do better than this creep, Billy.” As he sneered, Philip aimed a powerful punch at the major-domo’s jaw. Without apparent movement, Jeremy avoided the blow and suddenly had Philip’s face buried in the tabletop with his arm raised painfully behind his back.
“Never mind sir. We’ll soon have you up in your room and comfortable.” He marched Philip from the room. The young man whined in pain as his nose dripped blood onto his shirt. He was forced to walk briskly or risk getting his arm broken. Another staff member closed the door behind them and left the group in a stunned silence.
“Was that really necessary, William?” Bethany broke the silence, her voice a whisper.
Bird saw everyone looking at him. He tried to smile but found his mouth was dry. “I’m sorry for the violence, but we would not be able to continue until Philip was removed. He was rather belligerent.”
He checked his watch, it was mid-afternoon, and he needed to call a recess to get to the yellow envelope labeled Charlie Wells. He wrapped up the meeting. “Each of you has met the requirements to continue, Philip has not and will receive nothing from Mr. Thurwell’s estate. I recommend we take a short break, it has been a rather intense session.”
Chapter Twenty
The group broke up slowly, but William left them and hurried to his office. He needed to see what was in the envelope with Charlie Wells’ name on it. The Old Man had made it clear that when an envelope was ‘triggered’ there was to be as little delay as possible before opening it.
Bethany mad
e a move to follow the lawyer, but found her way blocked by her older brother. “Where are you going, Beth?”
“Junior, we can’t allow Phil to be disinherited. I know he was a monster, but he’s our flesh and blood.” She moved to rush by him, but he grabbed her arm. “No, Beth, he’s out. William said so, and I agree. Besides, he’s only my half-brother, remember?”
Bethany looked into Junior’s eyes and saw no forgiveness in them. He squeezed her arm again, hard. She winced in pain as his fingers twisted her skin. “You do agree with me, right sister?” His face was so close to hers that she could smell old coffee on his breath.
“Please, Junior, you’re hurting my arm. Just let me talk to William?” Junior sneered and opened his mouth to speak but instead made an odd gurgling sound. He went pale, and his strong grip released her as he sagged at the knees. She saw Dennis Elliot close behind her brother. The manservant caught Junior under the arms before he hit the floor and helped him to a chair.
She looked at Dennis, confused by what happened. Had he attacked Junior? Then, just as suddenly, Janice was at her side. “Come with me, Miss Beth. Let the men talk.” Bethany allowed herself to be led away, still uncertain as to what had happened. Junior sat in the chair, trying to catch his breath. His ribs felt as if they were on fire. Dennis stood next to him and offered a glass of water. “Drink this. You’ll feel better in a few moments.”
Junior sipped the water and realized Dennis had jabbed him so hard it had taken his breath away. “Dennis? What the fuck? Did you hit me?” He sounded incredulous, and his temper flared until he looked up and saw the hate on Dennis’ face. His rising color faded to paper white again as Junior realized that Janice undoubtedly had told her husband what happened the previous night. The Elliots must have seen him grab Bethany’s arm and Dennis had jumped in to save her.
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