The Philanthropist's Danse (7 page)

Freddie shifted in his seat. “Judge, your problem is you’re basically an honest man. You’re not used to having to act innocently, I think most of the time you
are
innocent. But you did something to earn yourself a place at this table. Johnston Thurwell brought you here to share in his fortune. When I see a random act of generosity like that, I get curious. I’ve seen smaller sums of money turn up a body or two before now. Is there a body in your story Judge?”

Freeman said nothing as his dreams of a future in politics dissipated like smoke in the wind. “What do you want, Hagood? What do I have that you want?” He sounded bitter, and he felt that way, his dream of becoming Georgia’s first black Governor was over because of a spoiled, rich white boy. He knew if Hagood followed up on his story he would be found to have acted inappropriately, at best. Freeman had few options, but he might still be able to walk away from the mansion with a small fortune as consolation for his lost future.

“Why, Judge, I want what you want.” Hagood warmed to his subject, he had overpowered the large man with only a mere suspicion of wrongdoing. “A man like me appreciates the long-term benefit of a loyal friendship with a successful politician, especially an untainted man like you.”

Freeman saw that the way out of his troubles would be at the cost of being indebted to a ruthless businessman. He looked at Freddie, and a spark of hope rose in his chest. He might yet become Governor, and later, if he could find a way to negate Hagood’s power over him, he would reclaim his independence. “I suppose that’s true. I could see where you might derive a benefit from such an arrangement.”

Freddie smiled broadly clearly enjoying himself. “Oh, there’s more to it than that, Freeman. I need your cooperation here and now, at this meeting.” Freeman was made to wait as Freddie finished his coffee before continuing. “I expect the Thurwells to deal with the problem presented to them by their father’s unorthodox method of determining their inheritance. They will do their best to eliminate troublesome members of the group. People like me. People like you, perhaps. So it will be good for me and good for your future if we support each other.”

Freeman thought about it and saw that Hagood made sense. The Thurwell family might try to eject him with a tiny slice of the fortune, or worse, nothing. They would eject anyone they considered a threat to their rightful inheritance. Hagood owned a business empire and a vast fortune. He did not need more money. If the Judge was thrown out, he’d have no money, and would still face Hagood’s threat to dig into events in Macon.

Freeman weighed his limited choices and saw the inevitable path. It was better to leave this place with a share of the fortune than with no money and no future. He swallowed his anger and ignored his conscience for only the second time in his life as he reluctantly agreed to Hagood’s terms.

Jeremy stood at the coffee bar and watched the two men part. He wondered what had been discussed. Whatever it was, it had been one-sided. Freddie Hagood walked away from the Judge looking like a contented cat while Ron Freeman slumped in his seat and resembled the remains of an unfortunate canary.

T
he Thurwell’s agreed Bethany should represent the family to recruit Larry to their cause. She waited in the library, alone with her thoughts. Her grief seemed manageable now she was following a course of action. Philip had gone to find Larry to send his father’s old friend to Bethany, so they could talk in the privacy of the library. Junior had agreed to mingle to lessen any suspicion of a brewing plot.

Philip found Larry in the lobby with Betty and noticed how close they stood to each other. He approached them with a friendly smile. He liked Betty and thought his Old Man had deserved the time he spent with her. She saw Philip nearing and muttered something that made Larry turn. “Phil, how are you holding up, son? This day becomes more bizarre by the hour.”

“I’m fine, Uncle Larry, but Beth’s hurting. Could you talk to her? She’s in the library. Perhaps you could take a shot comforting her?”

Philip saw MacLean’s immediate concern. He would do anything for Bethany, so persuading him to visit her was an easy sell. Larry excused himself to Betty, thanked Philip for keeping her company, and walked with quick strides to the library. Philip and Betty strolled around the perimeter of the lobby and chatted easily, pausing only when they reached the doors to watch the raging storm outside. Another ten inches of fresh snow had wedged into the corners of the entrance, and the day was eerily dark for the mid-morning hour.

$

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.

$

MacLean stood to leave and saw Caroline Smith watching them. He whispered a warning to Bethany 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.