The Philanthropist's Danse (25 page)

Janice smiled at the Judge. He was adept at this. She shook the Judge’s hand, and even Dennis seemed keen on the plan. It was decided that Freeman would approach Freddie and Betty. If the Thurwells saw Janice or Dennis in conversation with the others, their plan might fail. The Judge hurried from the library in search of Freddie and Betty, aware that time was slipping away before the next session would begin.

J
eremy dragged Philip Thurwell’s unconscious body into the basement and across the stone floor of the mansion’s vast wine cellar. The young man had not stirred when he had been lifted out of the snow and carried to the house by the major-domo, assisted by two male staff. Jeremy fetched a sack of sugar from the dry goods store and placed it under Philip’s head. He threw a wool blanket over the prone figure because the cellar was cool, but there would be no other comforts.

Jeremy pulled the heavy oak door shut, turned the lock and dropped the key into his pocket. It would be William Bird’s decision what to do with Philip, but in the interim Jeremy did not intend to allow him further opportunities to cause trouble.

$

In the dining room, Betty Freah saw Judge Freeman’s imposing figure enter and look around. He was searching for someone and she was surprised when his eyes stopped on her. He headed over to join her and Freddie. Freddie had little interest in the Judge after the first day, but when Freeman was closer, Freddie saw he had a different look about him. Today he could believe the man was a Judge, he was not the broken man of yesterday. “Well, Judge, what brings you to my table?”

Freddie didn’t hide his disdain, but was surprised it had no effect. “I have an offer you need to hear, Freddie. The same offer is extended to you, Ms. Freah.” Betty was intrigued and was keen to hear what the offer might be, but she waited for Freddie to take the lead. Hagood wondered what the Judge was up to, but he would listen. He had made fortunes by listening when others were too busy talking.

“Okay, fine let’s hear it, Freeman.”

The Judge shook his head. “No, not here, Freddie. I have others that want to meet with you. We have a more private space in the library.”

Hagood snorted. “No, they can come here, why should I move?” He flinched at a sharp pain in his shin. Betty glared at him and delivered another kick under the table. Hagood was amused, but he got the point. “Okay, we’ll come with you and see what this is all about.” The Judge smiled and waited for Freddie to help Betty out of her seat. Betty gave Freddie a sharp look and exaggerated smile as she folded her arm through his and Hagood uttered a gruff laugh as they followed the Judge.

$

Larry washed his face in cold water and looked at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes looked haunted, and his skin seemed paler than usual. He had to get out of the mansion, back to the outdoors and his boat. Sitting in his dead friend’s country retreat in the middle of January did not suit him. MacLean desperately needed the torture to end, he felt trapped.

He would come to terms with his new financial situation soon enough. It would hurt to give Freddie half his share, but it was better than nothing. Larry pulled on a fresh shirt and glanced at his watch, he had another fifteen minutes to collect himself and then it was time to return to the stifling conference room.

He wondered if Mrs. Tremethick, his only remaining friend, could use some company. He caught a look at himself, who was he kidding? It was he that needed company, not the old lady. He left his room and headed down the hallway.

$

Freeman led Freddie and Betty to the nook where Janice waited. Dennis was busy repositioning seats he had collected from other areas of the library. Freddie said nothing, but was surprised to see who Freeman’s new partners were. “Judge Freeman told us there was something we had to hear. What is it?”

Hagood directed the question at Janice. There was no doubt in his mind who was in charge of the small group. Freddie liked Dennis, but the manservant was not a schemer.

Janice did not hesitate. “We want you and Betty to join the Judge, Dennis and I. Allied, we will have five votes, which should safeguard us against any effort by the family to rob us. It will also give us plenty of influence when it comes to deciding who gets what.”

Freddie knew safety in numbers was a sound plan. He glanced at Betty who looked tense but was listening. Freddie started to speak, but Janice held up her hand.

“There’s more, Freddie. Yesterday Dennis and I sold our votes to the family for a fee. Bethany renewed the family’s offer a few moments ago. We propose to accept it, but only to trick them into a false sense of security. Our real alliance will remain with this group. When the moment comes, Dennis and I will vote with you, Betty and the Judge. The family can go to hell.”

Freddie heard a thin whistle escape Betty’s lips as she looked at Janice. She never suspected the housekeeper capable of such devious plotting. He thought about Janice’s proposal and about his deal with Larry MacLean. Perhaps he could keep it, make an extra half-share and still benefit from Janice’s alliance.

“Okay, let me see if I understand this. You, your husband, and the Judge want Betty and I to join your group. At the same time, you and Dennis pretend to join Bethany and the family, but will vote against them? Is that right?”

Janice knew it was time to let Freddie do the talking. He’d agree or he wouldn’t. He looked at Betty who shrugged as if to tell him it was his decision. He turned back to the housekeeper. “I see a flaw in your plan, Janice. Splitting the fortune is unlikely to be achieved in one vote. I think it’s possible there will be three votes, maybe more, before this thing is through.”

She nodded, but Freddie saw she missed his point. He needed to spell it out. “You and Dennis can only surprise the family by switching your vote once. The first time you do it, the cat will be out of the bag and further votes will be tainted with suspicion, which would be counter-productive for all of us.”

Freddie had everyone’s attention now, even the Judge’s. No one had thought the idea through as far as Freddie. Freeman interrupted. “Freddie makes a good point, Janice. I had not thought of there being more than one vote, but he’s right. If you and Dennis switch the way you vote, it might hurt the family to the benefit of this alliance, but it will compromise any chance of success in the next round. It’s no good if everyone is worried about double-dealing and betrayal.”

Freddie nodded, the Judge had understood. He turned to Janice, who was upset. She wanted the satisfaction of seeing Junior’s reaction the moment he realized she had fooled him. She wanted to hurt him and was not happy to hear Freddie tell her the idea was a bad one. “I see your point Freddie, but wouldn’t we be better letting the family think they had two more votes? If Dennis and I refuse their offer, they’ll know we have another plan.”

Hagood nodded. “Yes, they will know, but it’s better for everyone that we reach a successful outcome tonight, before we suffer another penalty. We have a better chance of reaching a deal if we don’t play games. Think about the numbers, Janice. A motion needs nine votes to pass, the best we have is five. There are three family members left, and that’s enough to block any motion they don’t like, regardless of how you bait and switch.

“We could be deadlocked in the first round, and you and Dennis will have blown your play for no advantage. The family has the ability to protect themselves from being kicked out, what’s the point of pretending you support them when you don’t?”

Dennis whispered in Janice’s ear. “He’s right, Jan. It might be better to play this one straight.”

She was irritated at being denied her chance to trick Junior, but there was more than one way to win. “Okay, you’re right, Freddie. Dennis will refuse Bethany’s offer, but can we agree that we don’t let the family take one dollar more than the rest of us? No lion’s share for them. At most, they get the same as the rest of us. If you accept that condition, we have a deal, Mr. Hagood.”

Janice smiled as she spoke, a smile so full of malice that Betty felt a chill run through her. Freddie wondered what drove Janice’s animosity toward the family, but he didn’t care enough to worry about the details. She laid out a set of conditions he had no problem with and he agreed to Janice’s terms.

There was an audible sigh of relief, and they all exchanged handshakes in a complicated cat’s cradle of pumping arms. Freddie decided to come clean about his other deal. “By the way, we have six votes, not five. Betty and I have arranged a deal with Larry MacLean to make sure he is not thrown out empty handed. He will vote as I do, without question. I do not believe we need to include him in this agreement, let’s consider his vote a bonus.”

Judge Freeman looked at his watch and announced it was nearly time to reconvene. Dennis was dispatched to tell Bethany that he and Janice would not accept her offer, a duty he reluctantly accepted.

$

Winnie struggled to keep her eyes open as she listened politely to Larry MacLean reminisce about his old friend and her long-ago lover. Larry spoke of Johnston Thurwell, but she could only think of him as Charlie. Winnie was tired of Larry. He had woken her from a much-needed nap and now kept her awake with story after story about the past. She was too polite to say anything, but she was certain that a lot of what Larry was saying was pure fiction. She knew enough about men to understand that any opportunity to tell stories unchallenged led to embellishments.

Winnie looked at her wristwatch, they would head back downstairs soon, an idea she did not relish but which seemed less of a burden with each passing moment in MacLean’s company. She was in no doubt that if Larry talked uninterrupted for much longer, she would hear about how he and Charlie had slain dragons in their youth.

$

William was finally warm again after a long shower. He had eaten the soup Jeremy sent and felt better for it, but he could not stop his hands from shaking. He looked at them, turning them palms up, then palms down. They shook from the wrists to his fingertips though the nauseous feeling in his stomach had quieted. He had puked in the shower when he realized how close to death he had come. If Jeremy had not seen Philip leaving the house, he would be outside, dead on the snow-covered pathway to the boathouse.

Bird sat in a thick terry-cloth robe and watched his hands shake. He had tried to dress, but shirt buttons were an insurmountable obstacle with his fingers in their current condition. So he sat and waited for them to stop shaking. A knock at the door made him jump like a frightened rabbit, and he stared fearfully at the door, afraid that Philip had come to finish him. He sighed audibly when he heard the calm voice of Jeremy.

Jeremy stepped into the suite, looked once at the lawyer and immediately took control. Bird was in shock and in no shape to return to the conference room. He walked to the telephone and quietly issued orders to his staff. A few moments later, there was a sharp rap on the door and Jeremy admitted one of his staff, a burly young man with a shock of red hair. Jeremy ordered the man to stand guard outside the door and allow no one into the room. He placed a gentle hand on William’s shoulder and told him not to worry and then was gone.

$

Bethany’s eyes were wide with shock as she looked at Dennis’s apologetic face. The manservant had a hard time making eye contact with her. Camille had uttered some expletive in French and Bethany was glad her understanding of the language did not extend to gutter talk. Junior had left a few moments before, so she was spared the humiliation of his reaction. “Why, Dennis? Our offer was good enough yesterday, why not today? I don’t understand.”

Dennis mumbled an answer, but all she made out was his wife’s name. Bethany wished for the second time that she had thought to speak directly with Janice. Her husband was a poor go-between. Her immediate thought was that Janice was negotiating, but Bethany needed Junior’s agreement before she could increase her offer. He had left in search of Caroline Smith, there may not be time to figure out this unexpected reversal before they resumed.

She looked at Dennis, who seemed pitiful as he squirmed in his seat and rubbed his hands nervously. “How much will it cost today, Dennis? I assume that this is about money? Yesterday you would have received eighteen million dollars, but your bonus was conditional on finishing the business before the penalty was applied. Today’s offer was ten million plus another six if we wrapped up before midnight. Apparently that is no longer enough, so tell me, how much will it take?”

He gave her a strange look, but she paid it no attention. He had been odd since he returned. Of course, he didn’t have an answer. He would need to return to Janice, and the negotiations would drag on, perhaps too long. Bethany needed to negotiate directly with the housekeeper, but first she had to make Junior agree to increase their payout. She dismissed Dennis and left with Camille to find Junior. She saw the Judge and Freddie Hagood heading into the conference room and cursed, she was out of time.

$

Caroline saw Junior loitering in the lobby as she headed to the conference room, he was waiting for her. He fell into step next to her, and they walked together for a few paces before he whispered. “Okay, you’re in, but you’ll accept ten percent less than the family. It’s still a lot of money, Smith, you owe me.”

Caroline felt a surge of relief when she heard she was safe from any attempt to throw her out. For the first time that afternoon she allowed herself to relax and a bounce appeared in her stride as she entered the conference room.

T
he room filled quickly, and there was an excited buzz of conversation, punctuated by an occasional crackle from the fireplace. Judge Freeman waited to begin. He looked at William Bird’s empty seat and wondered what kept the punctual lawyer from being on time.

He was about to make a quip about timekeeping when he saw a suited figure stride into the room, but it died on his lips. It was not William Bird he saw, but Jeremy, the major-domo. Jeremy closed the heavy doors behind him and turned to face the room. He saw the Judge look from him to William Bird’s empty seat and back again, and he spoke before Freeman could frame a question.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the interruption, but it cannot be avoided. Judge Freeman, I understand you are the Chair?” Freeman nodded. “Then I must ask you to call an immediate recess until further notice.”

There was immediate uproar. Junior jumped to his feet and demanded to know what was going on. Others asked the same question, with varying degrees of volume and outrage. Jeremy held his hands up and waited for the noise to subside, he had no intention of trying to shout them down.

Eventually they got the message and quieted, and the Judge took charge.

“Jeremy, I’m not certain you understand that our business here is time sensitive. I assume you are here on Mr. Bird’s instructions, we would like an explanation, please.” There were murmurs of agreement, and everyone turned their attention to the major-domo.

“I am here on Mr. Bird’s behalf, but not at his instruction. I regret to inform you that during the last recess, Mr. Bird was physically attacked and is badly shaken.”

Jeremy waited as uproar drowned out his voice. He waited patiently for the room to fall quiet, making no appeal for calm but just waiting for them to settle. “Mr. Bird was outside when Philip Thurwell confronted him and attacked him with a weapon. Fortunately, I happened to be nearby and was able to intervene before Mr. Bird was injured. However, he is in shock and needs time to recover.”

Bethany slumped into her chair, unable to believe what she had heard. She knew Philip was capable of violence, not long ago he had admitted murder, to her considerable distress. It did not require a stretch of the imagination to see he would blame the lawyer for his disinheritance. She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. “Where is my brother now? Did you hurt him, Jeremy?”

Freeman was irritated at Bethany’s interruption, but understood her concern and indicated for Jeremy to answer.

“I had to restrain him, Miss. I had little time to act. Your brother was close to killing Mr. Bird. I hit him, once. It was enough to stop the attack. He is locked in the wine cellar where I intend for him to stay until I receive instructions from Mr. Bird.”

Bethany lowered her head and cried. She was fond of her younger brother, but recent hours had revealed a person she no longer recognized. A week ago, if she had been told the things she knew now about Phil, she would have laughed them off as wild fantasy. Today they were all too real, and she wept for the brother she thought she had known.

Junior stood and everyone took a collective deep breath, anticipating a fight. “You need to let my brother out of the cellar now. You have no authority to keep him down there.”

Jeremy was calm, but uncompromising. “Sir, with all due respect your brother is a dangerous man. He would certainly have killed Mr. Bird had I not intervened. He stays in the cellar.”

His resolve did not waver when he saw Junior puff up in indignation. “I said, let my brother out of the cellar. Now, do as you are fucking told.”

Jeremy opened his mouth to answer but was preempted by the Judge. “No, Mr. Thurwell, Philip stays in the cellar. Jeremy’s right, your brother is a menace. We need to know he is no position to attack anyone else. I imagine you have called the police, Jeremy?”

Junior was stunned into silence at the mention of the police. He instantly thought of the scandal if news of Philip’s attack went public. “Now wait a minute, Freeman. No one said anything about needing the police here. We can take care of this.”

Jeremy needed to get back to William, so he interrupted. “Please, everyone. I have not called the police. Judge, my instructions for this week are that no outside contact is permitted, short of a medical emergency. Mr. Bird will be fine, he is physically unharmed, but he is in shock. Once he feels better, he can decide how to handle the matter. Until then, I suggest you wait for him to recover and accept that Philip will remain in the cellar. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should see how Mr. Bird is doing.”

He walked to the door but was stopped by Bethany’s plaintive voice. “May I see him, Jeremy? Can I see Phil? Please?”

He turned and looked at his employer’s beautiful daughter. He hated to upset her, but her request had to be denied. “I’m sorry Miss Thurwell, that’s not a good idea. Perhaps Mr. Bird will allow you to see him, but it will be his decision, not mine.”

He saw her head drop as he left in a hurry. Junior was preparing to launch another salvo and Jeremy left before he had to listen to it. The Judge could sort out the aftermath of the news, the major-domo needed to be with Bird.

$

Judge Freeman pleaded for calm. Junior was furious and paced back and forth in front of the fire with a thunderous expression on his face. He was angry with his idiot brother, but was far more upset at being defied by a servant in front of everyone. Jeremy would pay a price for that slight, Junior would make him sorry.

Bethany worried about her brother locked in the cellar and about what would happen to him if the police were called. No one else was thinking about Philip, other than reassuring themselves that if he was locked up, he couldn’t hurt them.

Winnie whispered her concern for William Bird to Larry MacLean, a conversation that was picked up by Betty and Janice. Soon most of them were demanding that the Judge do something, anything. Freeman had no choice but to call another recess. They were unable to continue without William Bird. “Everyone, please listen. I’m calling another break, the length of which is uncertain, but which will be determined by how quickly William is able to rejoin us.”

He raised his voice over their objections. “I know we have a deadline approaching. I don’t know if circumstances allow for relief from the penalty, William can tell us that when he returns. But you all know we cannot continue without him. Anything we might decide in his absence would not be binding and would be a waste of our time. I will visit William and try to estimate when we might reconvene. Until then, please just wait patiently.”

They knew what he said was true, but none of them liked it. Junior swore at the Judge, but made no attempt to argue the facts of the matter. Freddie wanted to get the situation under control as much as the Judge did. “Freeman is right. There is nothing we can do until Bill Bird returns. We might as well accept it and do what we can in the meantime. Thank you, Judge, you’ll report back to us after you’ve seen him?”

Freeman agreed, grateful for Hagood’s support. His intervention had quelled the uprising that had threatened to overtake the group. He thanked them and left to see William Bird for himself.

Camille comforted her sister as best she could, which was little. Bethany was more confused than upset. She had trouble accepting the ugly truth about her brother and her heart ached to see him. She was annoyed with those that only had thoughts about how the delay would affect their money. It was as if neither Philip nor William mattered at all, only the money. Bethany shook her head and whispered to her sister that she had to get out of there, away from the others. They left together.

The others left in search of places to wait. Junior took Caroline by the arm, and they left together. Larry offered to escort Winnie, but she declined and waited until he had gone, before heading to her room. She could not bear the thought of being cooped up with his stories for more long hours.

$

Jeremy watched the lawyer as he rested. He looked comfortable wrapped in the thick robe, but his face was haunted. The problem was in his head, not his body. Jeremy knew it could take a long time for a person to accept they had come close to death. He’d seen it before.

Accidents had a similar effect on the psyche, but almost being murdered by another man left a mark. It not only shook the soul to face imminent death, it stripped away any last vestige of preternatural pride. William had been defenseless and on his knees before his would-be killer. There was no more complete a defeat for a man to bear. When the facade of human civility was stripped away, and a man had fought for his life and lost, it left a scar on the soul. Bird was in shock from the attack and his defeat by a feral force against which he had no defense.

Jeremy heard a light tap at the door. The red-haired man opened the door wide enough for Jeremy to recognize the large frame of the Judge. He nodded and Freeman was admitted. “I was hoping you’d come up here, sir. I hope I didn’t leave things too awkward for you downstairs?”

The Judge smiled, it was rueful but genuine. “It might have been worse. How is he?” Freeman walked to the bedside and looked at Bird. The lawyer was on his back, but his eyes were closed. If he knew the Judge was there, he made no sign.

“It’s shock. He was close to being beaten to death. He needs rest. It’s all I can suggest. We gave him a sedative to keep him out of it for a few hours.” Freeman agreed with the major-domo’s assessment of the situation even as his heart sank when he heard about the drugs.

“How long do you think he’ll need?”

Jeremy shrugged. “He might be okay when he wakes up. It might take longer, perhaps days. He’ll take a while to come to terms with the attack, but he should be able to function well enough for you to finish your business.”

Freeman nodded. “I hope so, I have no idea how much patience I can expect from the others, but until our friend here is able to join us, there is nothing I can do.”

The two men moved to leave, but Jeremy noticed the lawyer’s clothes were scattered over the floor and asked the Judge to wait outside for him. He picked them up, throwing the soiled suit and other wet clothes into a laundry bag. He went through the pockets to empty them and found a small metal box in the overcoat pocket.

He placed the box on the nightstand where the lawyer would find it when he woke. The major-domo left the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He ordered the red-headed guard to admit no one without his permission and then he and the Judge headed downstairs. Freeman wanted to visit the would-be killer, and Jeremy wanted advice.

$

Philip Thurwell’s head pounded. His jaw felt as if a truck had hit it. He opened his eyes and looked around the dimly lit room. He could see hundreds of bottles arranged in neat bins through the metal grille that separated him from his father’s wine collection. He sat up and instantly regretted it as nausea washed over him. He barely avoided throwing up. He wondered what had happened, he had been about to end the scumbag lawyer and then, nothing. He remembered nothing.

Someone had hit him. The pain in his jaw had come from a punch, but he had no recollection of who had thrown it. Whoever it was, he was a tough son of a bitch. Philip had been punched before, but never so hard. Hell, he’d never been knocked out cold before.

He threw the blanket off. He still wore his outdoor clothes and was too warm. He heard the sound of a key scraping in the lock and scrambled to his feet. He shook his head to clear it, but winced as bright light flooded in. Philip saw two back lit silhouettes enter the room. The door closed, and the gloom was restored. No one said anything and Philip waited anxiously for his eyes to re-adjust to the low light. After a few seconds, he found himself face to face with the Judge and the servant, Jeremy.

“What the fuck happened?” Philip stammered. He was nervous, aware he had no friends in his makeshift cell.

Freeman stepped closer to look at the young man. “What did you hit him with?”

Philip looked incredulously at Jeremy. He would never have guessed the quiet man was the person that saved the sack of shit lawyer. Jeremy held up his right hand. “Just this. I had no weapon. I didn’t think I would need one when I went after our friend here.”

Freeman whistled a low tone as he turned to Philip. “Son, you’re lucky he didn’t take your head off.” Philip recovered some of his bravado.

“Fuck you very much, Judge, for your concern. Now let me out of here, I’ve had enough of this place, I’m leaving.” He made a move toward the door but ran into a rock hard finger in his chest. He looked up into the Judge’s eyes and his heart quailed at the fury looking back at him.

Freeman growled. “You’re not going anywhere, son. You might have gotten away with murder under my nose once, but this time I’ll see you go to jail for trying to kill Bird.”

Philip took a step back, frightened. He had not been thinking about anything other than getting back at the lawyer when he’d left his room. He hadn’t meant to hurt him, but he’d lost his temper. “Hey, man. He’s okay, right? I never touched him, so no harm, no foul.”

Freeman shook his head. Philip couldn’t tell if it was a rejection of his plea or an indication of disgust, but it was certainly a negative reaction.

The two men turned and left. He heard the key turn and their muffled voices disappearing into the distance. The quiet of the cellar pressed in on his aching head again. He had his back to the wall and slid down it to the floor where he held his head in his hands and wept, more from frustration than remorse. Philip was in a world of trouble and, for once, he knew it.