Bank On Love

by Iris Bolling

  “How long are you staying here?”

  “As long as it takes for me to get my life together. I fell a long way down into a dark spiraling tunnel, Winnieford. I anticipate a steep climb back up.”

  “The best to you, Walker.”

  “Before you go, Winnieford, how are you doing…really? Gary mentioned the steps Grace took with Hepburn. I’m sure it had to be difficult for you.”

  “It is, Walker. But at the same time it is important that we know exactly what happened to Hepburn.”

  “I agree.” He nodded. “Let Grace handle that situation. Hep wouldn’t want you to have to suffer through the details. That’s why he wisely left Grace in charge of things.” He caught the expression on her face then held his hand up in surrender. “That was not meant to imply you could not handle things.” He took a step back. “Finding the right words and the way to say them is new. Please have patience with me.”

  “I’m going to leave while we are on a decent note.”

  Walker nodded. “Thank you for coming.”

  “Good luck to you, Walker.”

  Standing in the doorway he watched as Winnieford walked down the hallway to the exit. That had gone well. Actually, better than he expected. “The seed has been planted.”

  Walker waited a few moments to ensure no one was around. He opened the closet, reached into the jacket then pulled out the concealed cell phone. He looked around then turned the phone on. He sent a short text message. She’s pulling out now. As soon as he saw the message was delivered and read, he immediately deleted it from the history.

  Winnieford Dunning was still reeling from the loss of her husband, the shooting at the bank and the attack from William Mitchell. For a month she was led to believe Hepburn had died of a heart attack. Now, there was a possibility that that was not true. The children thought there may have been foul play when it came to Hepburn’s death. As a result, they’d had her beloved Hepburn exhumed. Their thoughts had been confirmed. Someone had done this to Hepburn. It felt as if she was losing him again, just when she was coming to terms with him being gone. Adding to the hurt was that the man who had been Hepburn’s second in command for years had lost his mind, shot up a number of employees at the bank then come onto their property and attacked her at Hepburn’s gravesite. The dirt on the grave caved in, landing his body on top of Hepburn’s coffin. At the time it seemed as if Hepburn had reached up from the grave to pull William off of her. During the same timeframe, the children discovered Walker Jr. had been dealing with what they believed to be a branch of the Russian mob. It was believed that they were attempting to infiltrate the inner workings of the bank to use it for cleaning their illegal gains from their other criminal enterprises. For his own safety, Myles had Walker placed in the rehab center. They all hoped that Walker would remain there until the Russians could be dealt with. Exactly what Myles planned to do, Winnieford did not know, but she trusted her son to do what was best for the family, including Walker.

  “Oh, Walker.”

  Winnieford shook her head as she pulled through the security gate of the facility. Traffic was light for that time of morning, Winnie thought as she reached the light. The area was a little distance from downtown Richmond, which she guessed was a good thing for the residents at the facility. Looking around, she did not see much of anything that would entice the people to make a run to get high or drunk. Making a right turn to go towards the highway, she saw a strip mall. The sign indicated there was a tea shop she liked inside.

  “I could use a nice soothing cup of tea after listening to all the bull Walker had to say.”

  She turned into the parking lot, then drove slowly to find the tea shop. “There it is.” She smiled. It looked like a sit in location, where she could take a minute to unwind and really filter through what Walker Jr. could be up to. She parked the car, got out and walked into the little shop. There were two booths, one on each side of the room and four tables. Two on each side right in front of the windows. Walking down the center of the shop she saw shelves of different teas. Black tea, green tea, decaffeinated tea, of all types lined the walls. There were even different kinds of sweeteners to choose from.

  “Oh, this is my kind of place.” She smiled at the cashier.

  “Why thank you,” the woman with a southern accent replied. “I built this from the ground up because tea lovers need a place to go just like the coffee lovers have, don’t you agree?”

  “I certainly do.” Winnieford smiled. “You have such an array, tell me, what would you recommend for someone who just heard a bunch of crap and needs to soothe her nerves?”

  “You just came from the facility, huh?”

  “Yes.” Winnieford raised an eyebrow then rolled her eyes.

  “I have just the tea you need.” The woman nodded in understanding. “You go have a seat and I’ll bring it right out to you. Now, you are not the type who is afraid of a little pick me up in your tea are you?”

  “Not at all.” Winnieford smiled as she took a seat in a booth, placing her purse next to her then taking a deep cleansing breath. She pulled out her cell phone and called her sister-in-law.

  The call was answered on the second ring. “Hi, Viv. I just left your brother.”

  “Let me have it,” Vivian said.

  Winnieford could hear the despair in her voice. “He was full of remorse for all he has done in his life.”

  “Really?”

  “Hell no!” Winnieford replied. “I don’t know who Walker thought he was fooling with the ‘I have to make amends for what I did and I need you to forgive me’ speech. I listened, but I wasn’t buying it.”

  “Maybe he means it this time.”

  “He will have to show me before I believe anything he has to say.” The woman appeared at her table. “Listen, Viv, I’ll call you back with the details once I get on the highway.” She disconnected the call then looked up at the woman.

  “Now, this has a little chamomile to calm your nerves, mixed with a little lime instead of lemon and I may have added a drop or two of bourbon, and a mint leaf to give it a little kick. Sip it and tell me what you think.”

  Winnieford sipped the tea, closing her eyes to savor the flavor. “Hmmm, this is soothing. Really hits the spot.”

  The chime on the door sounded.

  “I’ll be right with you,” the woman said to the new customer. “You sit there and enjoy that.”

  “Thank you, I will,” Winnieford replied as she sat back to enjoy her moment. The voices faded in the background as she reflected on Walker’s words. Somewhere in there was a clue as to what he was up to. The problem was he sounded very sincere, and almost had her until he made the comment about Grace. There was something in that part of the conversation she needed to concentrate on.

  “Winnie?”

  She looked up to see a woman staring down at her. It was a tall slim woman about her age. Her salt and pepper hair was cut in a fashionable bob and she was dressed in a pair of slacks, a navy top and had a strand of pearls around her neck. There was something familiar about the woman, but Winnieford could not remember her name. Angel, Angela…. “Angelina?”

  “Yes, you remember me.”

  “You worked at the bank a few years back,” Winnieford replied, smiling.

  “You’re being kind. It was more like thirty years ago,” Angelina laughed. “What are you doing out this way?” She asked as she looked around.

  “I was visiting someone in the area and spotted this tea shop and thought it was a good place to relax before getting back on the highway. What about you? Do you live out this way?”

  “My husband and I moved here when we married. It’s the reason I left the bank.”

  “Oh, I did not know that. How is your husband?”

  Winnieford regretted the question the moment she saw the woman’s expression. She knew that look all too well.

  “I lost him about six months ago.”

  “I am so sorry,” Winnieford replied knowing the feeling.

&nb
sp; Angelina shook her head. “Day by day,” she replied. “I was very sorry to hear about Mr. Dunning. How are you doing?”

  “Day by day. As you said.”

  “Would you like for me to set your tea at the booth?” The owner of the shop asked.

  “No,” Winnieford responded. “Why don’t you join me? Unless you are expecting someone.”

  “No, I saw the shop and decided I needed some comfort.”

  “Well now.” The owner smiled. “Why don’t you have a seat right here and get comfortable.”

  “I would enjoy that if you don’t mind,” Angelina said to Winnieford.

  “Not at all. Please.” Winnieford pointed to the seat.

  “All right. I’ll just text my son,” Angelina said as she pulled out her cell phone. “He’s been a little uneasy since his father died. If he calls the house and I’m not there he will worry.”

  “I have five of them that try to keep up with me so I do understand.”

  Angelina sent her message. “I often wonder how do they think we survived before they got here.”

  The two women laughed, they continued talking as they sipped their tea.

  Back at the rehab facility, Walker checked his watch. Two hours had passed since Winnieford left. There should be a response by now. He walked into his closet, looked back to make certain no one was coming, then checked his cell phone. He smiled at the one word message.

  “Contact.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Jonathan was trying to decipher the information he got out of Jack. Why would Dewberry want info on Preston Long? He pulled up the information he had on Long, then reviewed it again. There was nothing that stood out, nothing to make him take a second look. That made Jonathan uneasy. Dewberry did not request information frivolously. There was always a purpose. With that in mind, Jonathan began a deeper search into Preston Long’s life. He needed to know everything that Dewberry knew.

  ###

  Daisy was in the kitchen preparing lunch when the doorbell sounded. She checked the clock, then walked into the foyer to answer the door. Agent Byron Roark, with his piercing dark eyes and wholesome good looks, was there.

  “Agent Roark, thank you for coming.” Daisy smiled as she stepped aside to allow him entrance to the house. “I’m afraid we don’t have long. Grace called to say she was going to meet you here around one.”

  “Hello, Ms. Miller.” Roark looked around.

  “Come this way.” Daisy walked through the foyer, past the living room, dining room, family room, towards the back staircase, then down the hallway leading to Hepburn’s office. “We’ll talk in here.” She opened the door then let him inside, closing it behind them. “You sit here.” She pointed to Hepburn’s chair behind the desk. “I made copies of everything. If you need the originals I have them in the safe.”

  “This is a little unusual, Ms. Miller,” Roark stated as he took a seat. “I need to ask you a few questions before I review the information.” He checked his watch. “Let’s get started. We should be able to cover a lot of ground before Grace arrives.”

  “All right.” Daisy sat in the chair in front of the desk. “As I told you on the phone, Mr. Hepburn gave me instructions to contact you if anything happened to him. It was his way of protecting Mrs. Dunning even in death. He trusted you to know what steps to take next.”

  Roark smiled. “It is an honor to think he trusted me at that level. So, tell me what I’m looking at.”

  “This” - she reached across the desk to point - “is a recording of a discussion between Walker Sr., Walker Jr. and Hepburn Dunning. On it you will hear Walker Sr. strip Walker Jr. of any connection to the bank, including his shares and percentage of ownership. I believe Grace has the written documents to support the recording. This flash drive is on Cainan Scott. You will understand when you view it. And this” - she pointed to the folder - “is an arrest warrant sworn out by Mr. Hepburn on behalf of Dunning Bank & Trust against Walker Dunning Jr. for embezzlement. If Walker was to try to do anything to Winnie, I was instructed to call the number on the card and turn the document over to the agent. He said that I was to instruct you to prosecute Walker Jr. to the fullest extent of the law. So I called you when the children discovered Mr. Hepburn was murdered.” She stood. “I’m going to get you a cup of coffee while you look over the information.”

  “Thank you,” Roark responded without looking up when she walked out of the office.

  Before reading the report, Roark checked pages to ensure it was a legal document. The signatures, date and stamp of receipt by the local FBI office were all in place. He wondered how Mr. Dunning had gotten his hands on the original arrest warrant. The agency was known to hold off on arrests for a variety of reasons. He wondered why the original agent on the case made that decision. Then he sat back and read the file. The gist of it was that with the assistance of a bank teller, Walker Dunning Jr. had conspired to embezzle ten million dollars from the dormant accounts at the bank. Several documents listing transactions carried out by the teller, with Walker’s signature authorizing the withdrawals were in the file. There was a written confession from both the teller and Walker Jr. There was also an agreement to not press charges against the teller in exchange for her testimony against Walker, along with an agreement to put the case in abeyance. That froze the statute of limitations, making the case still active. Smart move, he thought as he set that folder aside.

  There was a light tap on the door, followed by Daisy walking in.

  “Here is your coffee,” she said as she placed the cup on the desk. “Are you finding everything okay?”

  “Yes, and thank you.” Roark looked up. “Do you mind if I use this computer?” He pointed to the laptop on the desk.

  “No, here.” She walked around to the laptop then opened it. “Let me put the password in for you.”

  “Mr. Dunning gave you these documents for safe keeping and shared his passwords to his computer with you. That is a clear sign of unquestionable trust.”

  “Yes, it is,” Daisy said as she stood. “You should be able to get in now.” She nodded towards the laptop. “Yell if you need anything more.”

  “I will,” he replied as he watched her walk out the room. Why did Mr. Dunning give this information to Ms. Miller rather than his own children, he wondered as he put the disc of the recording in the drive of the laptop then clicked it on. The recording started with what seemed to be a heated discussion between three men, who Ms. Miller identified as Walker Sr., Walker Jr. and Hepburn.

  ‘Jr., The bank is not your bottomless pit of income. From this moment on you are hereby stripped of any connections to or earnings stemming from the bank. Your shares will be turned over to Hepburn. He will be named the CEO of Dunning when I retire.’ ‘Dad, don’t do this,’ another voice interceded. ‘Family First and Foremost, good or bad, Jr. is still family, he is the first born. Control of the bank should go to him.’ A different voice spat out, ‘Don’t plead my case. I can stand up for myself, Hep. You’re probably the one who put Dad up to this. You and that wife of yours.’ ‘Don’t you dare put Winnie in this. This was your doing, nobody else.’ The other angry voice yelled, ‘You do this and I will make sure she pays with her life and every one of her bastard children.’ The second voice raged, ‘Jr., are you crazy? You just threatened my wife and children over some crap you did, you started.’ The older voice came back in. ‘Family Integrity, First and Foremost, Hepburn. Do you see that in your brother? I do not. No more protecting your brother.’ Hepburn’s voice chimed back in. ‘Dad, he has no way to support himself. At least give him the annual funds allowed to all of us. Give him that, Dad.’ Walker Sr. spoke. ‘He just threatened your family.’ ‘He doesn’t mean that, Dad.’ ‘Like hell I don’t. Ever since you brought that woman into this house she has done nothing but undermine me to Dad.’ ‘That is not true, but I will say this, touch Winnie and you will regret it.’ ‘It is done. Jr.’ the voice of Walker Sr. boomed out. ‘It is done. You are stripped of everything and I mean e
verything. As CEO if you choose to distribute an annual allowance to him and your sister it is on you. I believe Jr. has gambled away enough of the family’s earnings. And to be clear, Jr., don’t expect to see your name in my will.’

  Roark continued to listen to the argument on the recording. At the end he heard the chilling words of Walker Dunning Sr.

  ‘Hepburn, you have the mind of a leader with the heart of a brother. Walker does not have the same for you. He is filled with ill-will towards you and your family. I believe he is capable of committing hateful acts. Do not trust your brother. Move your wife and children from his reach. I strongly suggest you reach out to Daisy Miller to protect your family. She is insightful and loyal. Place this recording and the arrest warrant in a secure location. You may need to take the steps to have Walker Jr. incarcerated. This is a time when you must erase your brotherly love for him from your heart. Protect your family and the bank at all cost.”

  “Whew,” Roark exhaled. He turned off the recording, then dislodged the disk from the drive. He then picked up the other flash drive with the name Cainan Scott taped across it. He placed it in the USB opening of the laptop then waited for it to boot up. He put all the documents back into the folder, along with the disk. The computer beeped. Looking up he was surprised to see there was folder named WP14562 on the drive along with a video.

  “What was Hepburn Dunning doing with a Witness Protection file?” Roark sat up then clicked on the video. A young African American male appeared.

  “My name is Cainan Scott Wagner. I am an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. I was working undercover with the Giuliani family in New Jersey. Using the information I discovered, the family was charged with a multitude of crimes under the RICO racketeering statute. Once I testified before the grand jury, several hits were ordered against me. After reviewing the situation, the prosecutor believed simply placing me in the Witness Protection program would not be enough. They believed the Giuliani family would retaliate against my family. Therefore, the decision was made to fake my death then place me in Witness Protection for an added layer of protection, until the case comes to trial. Outside of WITSEC, only three people are aware of this situation - the prosecutor who placed me here, my father and Hepburn Dunning. My contact at WITSEC is Marshall Thomas Wrangler.”