by Roy Glenn
IN YOUR ARMS
In Your Arms
Roy Glenn
Copyright © 2010 Roy Glenn
Escapism Entertainment
Atlantic Beach, Florida
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
Phase 1
It was just after ten o'clock when Marcus Douglas arrived at the Marriott Residence Inn. That afternoon he had his secretary, Janice, get a room for him in her name, in case Randa was looking for him. He walked down the long hall to his room and stuck the key card in the lock. He entered in the room, dropped the key card on top of the television, and turned it on. While Brian Williams reported the day’s news, Marcus wandered around aimlessly.
This was his home now.
Marcus loosened his tie and took off his jacket. He reached in the pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. It had been five years since he smoked his last Kool. He sat down on the couch and lit up. He took a long drag, and then blew out the smoke. It hurt his chest and he coughed a little, but he hit it again. That day had been the worst day of his life.
If this was going to be his home for a while, there were a few things he’d need.
“Soap, toothbrush and toothpaste. Deodorant would be a good thing. And I need to shave in the morning.” He got up and started for the door. All he had were the clothes on his back. He would buy some clothes in the morning. “This is going to get expensive.”
Marcus drove his 750i BMW down the street and turned into Kroger’s parking lot. It had been years since he had to shop for himself. Randa did all that for him.
He picked up a basket and headed for the pharmacy aisles. The store was quiet and empty for the most part. Marcus had picked up just about all the items he’d come for when the quiet was interrupted by the sound of high heels, clicking against the tile. His eyes were immediately drawn to the sound. There was a sense of urgency in her walk.
Marcus glanced at her as she moved closer to him and had to take a closer look as she passed. She stopped and tried on a pair of sunglasses and kept on walking.
“I know her.”
He followed as she proceeded down the next aisle. When she stopped to pick up a box of hair color and some scissors, she turned and looked at him. Now he was sure. Although she turned away quickly, Marcus was sure that he knew her.
“Yvonne Haggler.”
It had been nine years since he’d seen her. She looked good, even better than she did nine years ago.
If that’s possible.
He remembered the day that she came to his office.
“Marcus.”
“Yes, Janice.”
“Your two o’clock is here.”
“Give me five minutes then send her in.”
Five minutes later, Yvonne Haggler was seated before him. She was an attractive young woman, barely twenty-one years old. She was simply, but tastefully dressed. She didn’t wear any makeup and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
“Mrs. Haggler, tell me what I can do for you?”
“Mr. Douglas, I need your help. My husband Richard died two months ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you, Mr. Douglas.”
Yvonne spoke with the deep Mississippi accent that she hadn’t managed to lose in the five years she’d been in Atlanta.
Yvonne was born and raised in Cold Water Mississippi. The oldest of nine children, Yvonne was an average student in her junior year in High School. She met Richard Haggler when she was sixteen years old. Richard was twenty-eight. Richard was born in Cold Water as well, but his family moved away when he was ten. He came back to town to settle some personal matters for his recently deceased mother. When he met Yvonne, he fell deeply in love with the pretty young girl.
Two weeks later, he asked Yvonne to marry him. When Yvonne accepted, Richard sought her mother’s permission to marry Yvonne and take her back to Atlanta with him. Her father had died three years earlier and her mother was having problems making it by herself with nine children. Yvonne’s mother had known Richard’s family when they lived in Cold Water and he seemed nice enough, polite, and respectful, and Yvonne did like him.
Richard had a good job and promised that he could make a better life for Yvonne in Atlanta. Cold Water was a small town and her mother didn’t have any money to send her daughter to college, and began to see this as an opportunity for her daughter to get away from there. Richard also promised he would be able to send her some money every week to help out with the family. After very long and deep consideration, her mother consented for her daughter to be married.
They were married in a simple wedding a week later. And that night they left for Atlanta. They moved into Richard’s mother’s old house in Clarkston, a suburb of Atlanta. Richard was an old-fashioned man and insisted that Yvonne not work. He told her she didn’t have to finish high school if she didn’t want to, but Yvonne felt it was important that she be the first in her family to graduate from high school.
Other than going to school, she lived a quiet, somewhat sheltered life as a housewife. She had a few girl friends that she met in school, but Richard thought it was inappropriate for a married woman to be going to nightclubs and things like that, so Yvonne made a very happy life for her and her husband. She was totally dependent upon Richard for everything. She didn’t mind, even though they didn’t have much money, Richard was a good man and he treated her like a queen.
“Richard left a ten thousand dollar insurance policy and I gave it to the funeral people to pay for his funeral. Well, my husband was a simple man and I thought he’d want to go out that way. The whole thing came to a little less than seven thousand dollars. They told me that they would take care of things with the insurance company and I’d get whatever was left over.”
“That’s pretty standard.”
“But I still haven’t got the money.”
“Was there some problem with the policy?” Marcus asked as he took notes.
“I don’t know, they wasn’t telling me nothing. Every time I called to find out what was going on they told me it would just be a few more days. Until two days ago.” Yvonne reached in her purse and pulled out an envelope. She took out the letter and handed it to Marcus. “I got this in the mail. They said I could get my money after I signed it.”
Marcus read over the letter while Yvonne continued talking. He glanced up at her and smiled. There was an innocence about her. She spoke without making eye contact. He thought that her accent was adorable.
“I showed that letter to my girlfriend, Tyisha. Her mama died last year, and she said she didn’t have to sign nothing like this. She told me I should show it to a lawyer.”
“Well, Mrs. Haggler, even though it doesn’t come right out and say so, this letter is worded to give them power of attorney to settle your husbands estate.”
“Estate? What estate, Mr. Douglas? Like I said we’re simple people, we got the house his mama left us. The house is paid for, but other than that, we ain’t got nothing.”
“It does seem a bit unusual to need power of attorney to settle an insurance policy. Have you spoken with the insurance company?”
“No, I just came to see you. Do you think I should sign it, Mr. Douglas?”
“No, Mrs. Haggler. I don’t recommend you sign anything until you get some more information about why this is necessary. Would you like me to look into this for you, Mrs. Haggler?”
&nb
sp; “Would you please, Mr. Douglas. Richard used to handle all the business for us. I’m not very good at talking to people like that.”
“I would be happy to, Mrs. Haggler.”
“Don’t have much money. I been getting by on what money was in the checking account. But I just got a job at Walmart and I’m not making that much.”
Marcus smiled at her as he got up and showed her to the door. “Don’t worry about that now, Mrs. Haggler. For now all you need to do is see Janice before you leave. She has some paperwork for you to fill out. I’ll look into it and get back with you in a few days.”
Marcus was glad for something different to do. He had opened his own practice a year ago and dealt with the usual stuff. Accident cases, divorce, DUI’s, but it would be nice for a change to actually help somebody. He would do it pro bono if he had to. Marcus checked with the insurance company, and as he suspected, they informed him that they were waiting to receive power of attorney from her representative in order to settle Mrs. Haggler’s claim.
As it turned out, although Yvonne and Richard lived a simple life, in their simple, paid for home in Clarkston, it wasn’t because they didn’t have any money. Richard not only left her a ten thousand-dollar policy, there was also one for two hundred and fifty thousand. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to the insurance policies, there was a trust fund he had set up for her to receive once she turned thirty, worth another three hundred thousand. He also owned a number of properties in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Marcus estimated his estate to be worth well over a million dollars.
A week later, Marcus called Yvonne and asked her to drop by his office that day to discuss her case. She told him she was working that day and asked if he would mind staying late until she got off.
“It’s my first job and I don’t want to lose it.”
He started to tell her that she could quit if she wanted to. But he didn’t want to tell her over the phone that she might stand to inherit quite a bit of money. Yvonne arrived at the office a little after seven thirty.
“Thank you for waiting for me, Mr. Douglas. Did you find out something for me?”
“As a matter of fact, Mrs. Haggler, I have some very good news for you. Your late husband does have an estate to settle and at this point, and mind you I’ve only made some preliminary inquiries; but I estimate your husband’s estate to be worth over a million dollars.”
“Whaaaat? You’re kidding, right? That’s not possible. Richard didn’t have that kind of money. Where’d he get it?”
“I don’t know at this time, but we’ll find out.” It was obvious to Marcus that Yvonne was taken completely by surprise by the revelation that she might be rich. “Do you know if your husband had a Will?”
“Don’t think so.” Yvonne said as her smile widened.
“Have you gone through his things?”
“No, I haven’t. I just didn’t have the heart to. It just didn’t seem right to start going through his stuff until he was resting peacefully. So I was kinda waiting to settle this business first, and then I would go through his things.”
“Do you know where your late husband worked, what he did for a living?”
“He worked as a property manager for Imperial Properties.”
“That makes sense, he owns quite a bit of property. He might even own the company. Mrs. Haggler, what I want you to do is go home, and go through your husband’s things. See if you can find a will or any other legal documents. Have you been to his office to clean out his desk? Or had any contact with them at all?”
“No.” Yvonne said with a shy-type of smile. “I never even called them to say he was dead. They didn’t call trying to find out why he didn’t come to work. I just figured they didn’t care.”
Marcus smiled and let out a little laugh. “Call me in the morning and we’ll make arrangements to go to Imperial Properties. But I don’t want you to go there by yourself.”
Yvonne went home and spent the rest of the night going through Richard’s things. By 2:00 am she had looked at every piece of paper, in every file in Richard’s office, but didn’t find the will. However, if there was any doubt in her mind that Richard was much more financially well-off than she was led to believe, none remained now.
Yvonne found bank and dividend statements, and she knew she was going to be rich. Yvonne left the office and headed for the closet in their bedroom. She stopped in front of the bed, realizing that this was the first time she had been in there since she found Richard dead of a heart attack.
Suddenly she felt tired. She’d gotten up early and had been on her feet all day running the register. Yvonne took a deep breath and resumed her search. Still nothing.
“Where else?”
She wandered around the house, searching, and by four o’clock, she was exhausted. She sat down in the living room and looked at their picture on the wall by the front door. That’s when she saw it.
“The hall closet.”
In a box on the shelf, Yvonne found a small metal box packed under a pile of old newspapers.
The metal box was locked, and for the next half an hour she tried to pick the lock with a hairpin. Finally, she went out to the garage and returned with a sledgehammer. The box surrendered its contents after her third swing.
Yvonne picked up the papers and went through them. She found an envelope marked Last Will and Testament. She stood there awhile looking at the envelope, but she was afraid to open it. She put the envelope down on the coffee table, layed down on the couch, and went to sleep.
Once Marcus reviewed the will, the rest was simple. In addition to the insurance policies, the trust fund and the property, as expected, Richard was majority owner of Imperial Properties and held stock in several companies. There was a provision in his will that in the event of his death, his partners would arrange financing to buyout his share of the company, and the proceeds from that sale be given to his chosen heir, Yvonne Haggler.
When it was all said and done Richard’s estate was worth $2.2 million. Yvonne had Marcus liquidate his entire holding. Marcus was able to convince her to keep the stocks and make some investments that would provide her with an income from dividends.
After all the transactions were completed, Yvonne moved to Los Angeles. Marcus received a letter five years ago from a lawyer named Tom Mack, informing him that he had been retained to handle her financial interests and that Marcus’ services were no longer required. Marcus never saw or heard from her again.
Until now.
Marcus moved closer to her as Yvonne read the label on the box of hair coloring she was holding. There was a certain sophistication about her now. She was no longer the innocent young girl he had turned into a millionaire.
“Yvonne? Yvonne Haggler?” he asked.
She jumped when he spoke, and she started to back away from him. Yvonne stopped and looked at Marcus, and then she smiled.
“Marcus Douglas. How have you been?”
“I’m doing okay.” Marcus replied, knowing he was lying. Other than seeing her, he felt terrible. “How about you? You look great.”
“Thank you, Marcus. Are you still practicing?”
She was even prettier than he remembered. She had lost her Mississippi accent in the last nine years.
“Yes, I am. The practice is doing quite well. I’ve added a few new associates since I last saw you. Why?” Marcus smiled. “Do you need a lawyer?”
“No, Marcus, I don’t think a lawyer is what I need right now.” Yvonne replied as she walked to the registers. Once she paid for her hair color she turned to Marcus. “It was great seeing you, Marcus. Maybe I’ll see you again while I’m in town.”
Marcus took out his wallet and gave Yvonne his card.
“Give me a call and maybe we can have dinner or a drink.”
“I’d like that.” Yvonne said, but she knew she wouldn’t be around long enough to take him up on it. Nine years ago she had what she called a schoolgirl crush on Marcus. She tucked his card in her p
urse. “Good night, Marcus.”
While the cashier scanned his items, Marcus watched Yvonne as she walked out of the store. She started walking through the parking lot when she noticed two men standing by her car. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked around the parking lot. There was nobody in sight. She looked around again. When she saw Marcus coming out of the store, she walked toward him quickly.
“Marcus!” she called, just as he reached his car.
“Hello again.” Marcus said, his smile growing.
“I was wondering about your offer for that drink. If maybe I could take you up on it?”
“Sure. You’ve got my card; just give me a call and we’ll get together anytime you’re free.”
Yvonne looked back at the two men standing by her car.
“Actually, I was talking about now. That is if you’re not busy.”
Marcus looked at Yvonne curiously. “No,” he said slowly. “I’m not doing anything right now.”
“Good.” Yvonne said and walked around to the passenger side of the car.
“What about your car?”
“Ahh, it’s not … it will be alright here for a while.” She got in quickly. Marcus closed her door, shrugged his shoulders, and got in on the driver side. He started the car and started out of the parking lot.
As they passed her car, Yvonne dropped her purse and busied herself picking up the contents until they were well on their way.
I don’t think they saw me, Yvonne thought.
She looked out the back window, and there didn’t appear to be anyone following, although she couldn’t be sure. Yvonne looked at Marcus and smiled as he drove, and continued to look behind her.
“Is everything all right, Mrs. Haggler?”
“Huh? Oh, everything is fine. Where are we going?”
“There’s an Applebee’s not too far from here.”
“Applebee’s? Isn’t there someplace a little more quiet? So we can talk and get reacquainted.”
“I’m staying at a Residence Inn not too far from here. I think they have a bar.”