“Betty, my dear, thank you for your years of tenderness. You entered my life as a practical solution to a problem, but came to mean so much more to me. I understand it was difficult for you, tolerating how the other women in my life looked down at you. But you gave me more understanding and showed more respect and kindness than my own children. You will see that you meant more to me at the end than any of them. Take whatever money you got and enjoy a long retirement, you earned it in noble fashion.”
Betty smiled at the last sentence. It had been a long time since the philanthropist had touched her. He had been impotent for years. At first, he kept her appointments to maintain appearances, but soon they were friends, and she became his confidant. She looked at Janice and Bethany, two women that had always hated her and wondered what they would have made of the fact she and JT had played cribbage more often than they had played around.
William tensed as he came to the next page, the pleasantries were over.
“Larry MacLean, what can I say about you? You claimed to be my best friend, yet stole my first wife from under me, only to abandon her. You may know already what I did Larry, but in case it has not been told, I ruined you. I bought your brother and drained your trust fund. I owe you more, but I’m out of time and must be satisfied that you will be left with a fraction of what you were worth, even if you do get some of my money.
“I trusted you so much that when I discovered what you did I couldn’t believe it for a long time. I even argued you were so honorable that even if you had done it, you would have confessed. I was wrong, you have no honor, and I regret we ever met. My life would have been better without you in it.”
MacLean wore a stoic expression. He did not look at William but at a point on the opposite wall. He deserved it. He had enough respect for his friend to know he had earned his scorn. If Larry regretted anything, it was that he had never admitted his guilt and apologized. The barb about his lack of honor stung because once Larry had been honorable. Now his friend, his reputation and his family fortune were gone, and he had only his settlement to live out the rest of his life. By the time he had taken care of his family, Larry would be living a shadow of his former profligate lifestyle. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the lawyer move on and looked at his neighbor to watch her reaction.
“Caroline Smith, I don’t have much to say to you. I know what you were doing at the Foundation, and you will soon know how angry I was when I found out. You’re fired, of course.
“It’s possible you might have gotten your clammy hands on some of my money. Enjoy it while you can, because when you return to New York, the FBI will be waiting. I worked hard all my life and the Foundation is my legacy. If you thought you could corrupt it, you were wrong.
“Your personal greed will not sully my Foundation’s reputation and so you must be publicly punished to restore confidence in the good that my legacy can do. It’s possible you have learned of some indiscretions by your fellow participants this week. Let me caution you against using anything you know to plead a deal. I have enough dirt on your husband to put him in jail too, stuff I doubt even you know about. Breathe a word of what you might have heard this week and your children will grow up with two parents in jail.”
Smith turned as white as the silk scarf she wore over her evening dress and had trouble catching her breath. She reeled, she had thought she had finally achieved wealth but now understood she had lost everything.
William’s hands shook as he finished reading Caroline’s section. He suddenly understood what one of the yellow envelopes in his safe was for. It was labeled The Professor and had puzzled the lawyer from the moment he saw it. There was no professor among the guests, but Caroline’s husband held tenure.
William took a drink of water, his throat was dry.
“Dennis and Janice, two of my trusted and loyal people. You helped make my house a home and took care of everything for many years, thank you. I hope you are taking away some of my money, you deserve it. Thank you for the services you provided that went far beyond your normal duties. You know what I speak of, and that is all I will say.
“I have a gift for you, Dennis. As the longest serving person on my staff, I hereby instruct William to sign over my New York apartment to you. Call it insurance, in case the others managed to short change you and your wife out of my money. You’ll find the place is worth quite a tidy sum. Do what you want with the place. Sell it or live in it, but if you sell, you must share the proceeds equally with Janice. Bill, take care of that business as soon as you get back to the city.”
The Elliots exchanged shocked looks. Thurwell’s home in New York was a two-story 12,000 square foot penthouse apartment with Central Park views. Dennis had no idea what such a property would be worth, but Janice immediately estimated its worth and a wide grin broke out on her face.
Bethany and Junior stared open mouthed at the servants. Junior had figured his father’s properties would be returned to the family, but now the most valuable asset had been given away to his manservant. Junior wanted to protest, but no words came and he sat in furious silence.
William continued to read, but made a mental note about another yellow envelope labeled NYC Apartment. His hands shook. The philanthropist had even managed to surprise the man that had been by his side for the entire preparation of the Danse.
“Judge Freeman, we never met in person, and I owe you an apology. Had I been less invested in the reputation of my family name, you would not have been dragged into this sorry mess. I know now that what I asked of you was too much and what I did to secure your assistance was regrettable. I should have looked into you before I acted, not after, because I see I compromised a man of honor and integrity.”
Junior and Philip grunted, and some of the others rolled their eyes as they recalled the Judge had ruined their first settlement with a blackmail attempt. William ignored the interruption, and the Judge listened carefully.
“I hope you are taking away some of my fortune and that any difficulties I landed you in can be relieved. I believe you had designs on a political future, and I wish you well with your future endeavors.”
“Is that it? An apology and he hopes I got some money?” Freeman was surprised and felt slighted. His anger grew as he recalled the methods used to drag him into the plot to free the philanthropist’s no-good son. He looked at Philip, and made a decision. He apologized for the interruption as William moved to the last person in the letter.
As she heard her name, Winnie Tremethick bit her lip nervously.
“So I come to Winnie, my lost love. You might have received a letter by now that explains what you meant to me. If not, you will very soon. I wish you had accepted my proposal all those years ago, but it was not to be. Our lives took a different path, one that sent us in very different directions.
“I regret never seeing you again, Winnie. I wish I had tried to contact you sooner, but when I returned to America, I had to let Charlie Wells go. I had a wife and soon we had a son, too. Time escaped me, and now, when I have no time left, I find my mind returns to our one perfect summer. You saved my life and stole my heart, Winnie.
“I would trade it all in, everything I have now, everything I’ve built and bought in my lifetime. I’d give it all up if I could return to that cliff top and hear a different answer from your lips. I’m sentimental these days. It’s a new trait I find increases with every passing day. Knowing that I’m counting down my remaining time makes me nostalgic.
“I’ve made arrangements that you will be financially well off for the rest of your days. It’s the only thing I have left to give these days, money. I married twice in my life and fathered children that turned out to be nothing but trouble. As I look back, I know my marriages failed because I was never as in love with my wives as I was with you. The rest of what I have to say is in another letter and is for you alone.”
The old woman’s cheeks were streaked with tears as she heard the words from her old love. Had she paid attention, she would have s
een that others, too, had moist eyes. Bethany and Janice were moved, even though in Bethany’s case it had been tainted with a vicious barb. Janice held Winnie’s hand and felt her grip tighten as she wept and regretted her answer of forty years ago.
William saw the old woman’s reaction and Janice’s kind gesture. Even the hardened lawyer had a lump in his throat as he read Thurwell’s last words to Winnie. He coughed to clear his throat and gain the groups attention. He had one final paragraph to read.
“My time is almost over. It’s taken me three days to write this letter, and I get less done each day. The drugs dull my thoughts. I brought each of you here to either reward you or punish you, depending on what you deserved.
“I called this week the Danse, after my favorite piece of music. I head off to my death, but I’ve trailed you saints, sinners, leeches, loyalists and lovers along with me. Bill referred to this event as a meeting, but the label was inadequate. I have chosen to die without my family close by. I have my doctor and lawyer here to see me die. You twelve have been my puppets, but now the Danse is over. I release you back to your lives. Enjoy them, for now I know our time is too short.”
William folded the letter and looked up to see a wide variety of emotions on the faces before him. “Ladies and gentleman, this concludes the Danse. I wish you good night and will see you in the morning, before you depart.”
He turned on his heel and left the room. He had more work to do. He had discovered the meaning of two more of his yellow envelopes as he read the letter and needed to open them before he destroyed the Old Man’s letter. He also realized the conditions to open third envelope had been revealed and hurried to his office.
Chapter Forty
No one moved or spoke after William left. The words he had read replayed in twelve minds, some stinging with rebukes, some glowing with praise. Caroline Smith left first, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, her face deathly pale. She was shaken to learn of a pending criminal investigation. She had not been careful enough to survive a scrutiny of her deals to approve endowments. Once out of the view of the others she ran to her room, locked the door behind her and sat on the floor in the dark and sobbed at the prospect of jail.
She would have to spend a sizeable portion of her new wealth on her legal defense, and her chances of working again in any senior position would be over forever once the investigation made the news. She was ruined, and she sat on the floor and felt hate toward the vindictive philanthropist rise in her gut.
$
Bethany and Camille left together, each leaning on the other for physical and emotional support. Bethany was devastated by her father’s harsh words. She had expected something of a rebuke, and regretted he had shared his contempt publicly. Her guilt was overwhelming. What upset her most was that her father had denied himself the comfort of her company at the end of his life. It was the cruelest cut of all and left a wound she knew would never heal.
Camille was relaxed, she had gotten away with nearly no mention at all, but then she and her father had exchanged most of their unpleasantness face to face when she arrived to make her claim as part of his family. Her face was sore, and she needed more painkillers, but she would console her sister first. Camille had been surprised to find she actually cared for Bethany and had decided she would like to maintain their relationship. Nurturing the nascent sisterhood meant Camille had to put Bethany’s needs ahead of her own, so she popped a couple of pills and held her distraught sister’s hand into the early hours of the morning.
$
Freddie offered Betty Freah his arm, which she took with a wide smile and a flirty look. Both of them were happy in the knowledge that they had been true to their friend and had been recognized for it. Freddie suggested a glass of champagne and was pleased when Betty agreed, but it was a short-lived triumph when she immediately invited Dennis and Janice to join them.
Dennis agreed, but Janice declined. She wanted to chat with Winnie Tremethick and said she might join them later. Freddie caught the Judge’s eye to see if he wanted to celebrate with them and after a moment’s thought the Judge agreed. “Sure, I’d love to. Why don’t you three go and find a cozy spot in the library and I’ll ask Jeremy to deliver the champagne?”
Freddie thanked him and led Betty and Dennis to the library.
$
Janice smiled at the old lady, whose eyes were still moist. “You meant the world to him, didn’t you Mrs. Tremethick? Yet none of us knew you even existed. He carried your memory as a private thing all these years.”
Winnie nodded and dabbed at her tears with a tissue. “I feel so guilty. I should never have rejected him. I was too worried about what other people would think and that silly notion cost a wonderful man his happiness. I managed to forget him for a long time. I didn’t even know it was Charlie when I got here. I’ll never forgive myself for first rejecting him and then forgetting him. Not when he never stopped loving me.”
She smiled at Janice’s concern. “You’re a dear for keeping me company, but I think I’ll go to bed. I have to be up early tomorrow to fly home, and you should be celebrating with that husband of yours.”
Winnie saw a flicker of something ugly flash across Janice’s face and knew there was trouble in her marriage. But she kept her own counsel. The two women embraced, and Winnie went to her room, her heart filled with a warm glow from Charlie’s last words.
$
Philip looked across the table at his brother, who sat with a brooding expression. “Well, I guess Dad didn’t like either one of us much. Although, I think you might have gotten the worst of it.”
Junior nodded, he had been wounded by the hard words from his father, but at the same time the knowledge the Old Man had his final say was empowering. “He’s done now, though, for good. We’ll never have to look at his sour face again, brother. He’s humiliated me for the last time, and I don’t know about you but I feel better just knowing he can’t get in my way anymore.”
Philip waved his hand and snorted. “You always did let him get to you, Junior. You needed to care less about what he thought. I never worried and look what he did for me. I treated him like a cash machine, and he gave me what I wanted. Hell he even got me out of my jam. He was a pussycat. You just never had the balls to push it.”
Junior regarded his younger sibling with envy. It was true. Philip had always had it easier than him. He narrowed his eyes and decided to jab his reckless young brother out of his self-satisfaction. “So I suppose you’ll be asking me for money now? Can I expect the same gratitude?”
He was rewarded with a visible flinch from Philip, who instantly regretted his boast. “No. No way, Junior, not like that. Beth said she’d help. If you help out too, I’ll never have to bother anyone. Hell, I’ll ask the French bitch too, share the pain around the family, you know.”
Junior nodded, he knew he would have to give up something to his brother, just to keep him off his back, but he could make him squirm. “I’ll talk to Beth and see if she’ll talk to the other one. I don’t think she’d agree if I ask her.”
He chuckled as he saw a cruel smile form on Philip’s face. “Good idea. If she refuses, maybe it’s my turn to mess her up a bit.”
Jeremy interrupted the brother’s dark conversation when he arrived with two men at his side. “These men will see you to your rooms. You may visit with one another if you wish, but I cannot allow you free roam around the mansion. These men will stay with you until you leave in the morning. Good night, gentlemen.”
The Thurwell brothers did their best to ignore the men following them and went to Junior’s room to share a bottle of expensive brandy.
$
Judge Freeman intercepted the major-domo as he headed across the lobby and pulled out the sealed note he had stolen from the lawyer’s desk. “Jeremy, Mr. Bird asked that I give you this. It’s from Mr. Thurwell and was to be handed to you directly. There was some mention you would know what to do, but with regard to what, I’m afraid we’re in the dark.”
&n
bsp; Jeremy took the note and slipped it into his pocket without looking at it. “Perhaps that’s for the best, sir.” The Judge nodded and started to walk to the library when he remembered the champagne and called after Jeremy to have it delivered. Freeman’s heart pounded as he joined the others in the library. He had set something potentially deadly in motion, but he smiled when the others greeted him happily. They had few cares now that the riches were shared, and the dinner was over.
The Judge had persuaded himself that the philanthropist’s instructions were ambiguous enough that he had deniability should something happen to Philip Thurwell. The champagne arrived, and the small group broke into spontaneous applause as Jeremy uncorked it expertly and poured each of them a glass.
$
William looked up at the sound of applause that drifted into his office. Some of the guests were in the mood for celebration, even after the dinner and explosive letter. Bird could not hear distinct voices, but he guessed Freddie would be the leader of the group, and that it was made up of the people identified for praise in the philanthropist’s letter. He checked to make sure his door was locked and returned to the yellow envelopes, reading the labels with renewed interest now more had their meanings revealed.
He put aside two, one labeled NYC Apartment, and a second marked The Professor. He knew roughly what was in the first and only needed to keep the second safe as a method of controlling Caroline Smith. The lawyer continued to look through the envelopes one by one and then stopped to read the label of the last one again.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the philanthropist’s letter, looking for a phrase. He found it: “Saints, sinners, leeches, loyalists and lovers.” He looked at the last yellow envelope and read the label, For a Loyalist. There was no doubt the cryptically labeled envelope had been referenced in the letter. He opened the envelope and read the single sheet of handwritten text.
The Philanthropist's Danse Page 37