The Philanthropist's Danse (31 page)

W
innie Tremethick read the letter from Charlie Wells and cried. His words reminded her of the days she’d enjoyed at a time in her life when she had thought the best had already come and gone. Her memories of being a widow in love were fresher now than they had been in forty years. She was no longer afraid to remember, there was no pain left in the memories, only the joy and love from a long ago place. She couldn’t recall a day spent with Charlie when the sun hadn’t shone and the meadows weren’t laced with flowers. She knew it was a ridiculous trick of the mind, but she didn’t fight it.

She read Charlie’s words again. They seemed so vibrant she could almost hear his voice speaking the words as her eyes moved across the page. Winnie held the letter close to her chest, closed her eyes and fell asleep in her chair.

$

Janice and Dennis Elliot sat in uncomfortable silence. He had followed her to their suite from the conference room, but she didn’t want his attention. She was upset by her conversation with Betty and needed time to think. Dennis had refused to leave until she explained what had upset her and the angry silence had begun.

Dennis was confused. This morning he had felt so close to her, it was like the start of their marriage again. Now a familiar coldness had returned, and Dennis pondered the things that bothered him in the last few days. He was still troubled by Janice’s explanation about their bonus. When he thought about why she might have tried to keep it secret, none of the possible answers made him feel better.

He thought about Junior’s attack on his wife and wondered again how she had come to be in his room. She claimed Junior called her and offered her money if she went with him after the deal was done. But what if that were not true? Dennis realized the arrangement might have been initiated by his wife, not Junior. His mood darkened as he thought through the timeline. It was possible she had made an offer to Junior in return for more money and that Junior had only taken what was offered. She had said nothing to Dennis about the attack until after he discovered the marks on her body.

He had let the details slip by him in his anger at Junior, but now he looked at his wife and worried she had played him for the fool. He felt nauseous and knew that as soon as his wife felt better, they would have a frank conversation.

$

Bethany sat on the edge of the bed with her sister lying behind her. They were physically close, but there was animosity between them. Bethany sighed and tried to start the conversation over. “Camille, please let me explain why I had to stop Junior getting thrown out. Please. Just listen, I beg of you?”

Camille rolled on to her back, and Bethany flinched as she saw her pretty sister’s beaten face. She had trouble talking through her swollen mouth. “Look at me Bethany. He beat me like a dog and you let him off the hook. I understand. I do. I am not really your family, even now. I’m your second-class half-sister. Deny it, if you can.”

Camille’s words stung, but she was mistaken and Bethany had to make her see. “No Camille, you’re wrong. I hate Junior for what he did to you. I’ve heard rumors that he treats women badly, but I’ve never seen it, you must believe me. I will have nothing more to do with either of my brothers when this is over. I don’t know who they are anymore. Philip killed a man in Georgia and tried to kill William, and I will never forgive Junior for what he did to you.”

She wiped a tear from her cheek as she spoke and she saw through blurry eyes that Camille was listening. Bethany hoped her appeal would be enough. “I had to stop Junior from being disinherited, or I would never be free of him. Do you understand? He would always be after me for support. I needed Junior to receive his share of my father’s fortune. He can look after Philip from his share. I want nothing more to do with either of them.”

Camille listened and in her heart knew the explanation was true. Bethany had secured a better future for herself by allowing Junior to keep a share of his inheritance. Her injured face softened, and she reached out and touched her sister’s arm gently. “You are cutting yourself off from your family? That is your plan?”

Bethany turned, her eyes brimmed with tears. “Not all of it, Camille. I wish we had met under better circumstances. Truly, I do. But I find having a sister to be a comfort and I want us to be friends. Can we still be friends, even after all this?”

They looked at each other for long seconds before Camille opened her arms and welcomed Bethany into a warm embrace. They each dissolved into tears and hugged and whispered comforts to each other. Bethany’s heart broke at the idea of abandoning her brothers, but it was soothed by the hope of a better future with her sister.

$

Caroline Smith sat alone in her suite. Her shoes were kicked carelessly across the floor, and her head was a jumble of thoughts. She should be celebrating, her goal of being rich had been realized, but instead she was numb. She missed her family, something she had not done all week and was suddenly ashamed to think of.

Their lives would be better now that they had real money. Her husband could retire from the teaching job he hated. Caroline smiled as she thought of him, but the smile faded as her mind replaced his face with Junior’s on the night he attacked his sister. Caroline held her head in her hands. The images and sounds of that night haunted her.

She looked at the telephone and prayed for it to ring with news that William Bird had completed his task, and she could get out of this place. The mansion made her feel sick, despite its luxury. It was a cold, evil place, and she would not be sorry to leave it.

$

Ron Freeman came across Larry MacLean in the hallway. He had escorted the sisters safely to Camille’s room and was headed to his own suite. The Judge stopped and waited for Larry to reach him. They regarded each other coolly, and then Freeman offered his hand. Larry looked surprised but took the offered hand.

“Congratulations Mr. MacLean, on our settlement. I see no reason for unfriendliness now the worst is over. I’m pleased you got a full share, I must say I had no idea Freddie had tried to take advantage of you so cruelly.”

MacLean relaxed. “Thank you, Ron. I guess we both overcame the odds when they were stacked against us, right?” Freeman invited MacLean to his room for an early shot of something strong and Larry happily agreed. He would visit Winnie later.

The men each nursed a large glass of good whisky in Freeman’s room. “What do you think will happen to the Thurwell boys, Ron? Do you have any idea what Bill intends to do with them?”

Freeman looked at his glass as he considered the question, and then drained its contents in one large gulp. “I can’t say what is on William’s mind, and it may not matter. He says he has instructions of what to do in certain circumstances. If orders exist for either situation, his hands will be tied. Mine, however, are unencumbered by any allegiance to a dead man.”

His deep voice rumbled with anger and Larry noticed it immediately. “What do you mean, Ron? Are you going to do something?”

The Judge’s dark eyes glowered as he leaned forward. “Yes. I was complicit in allowing Philip Thurwell get away with a murder. I will not allow him to escape justice for his attack on William. I swore an oath to uphold the law, and I let myself down when I broke that promise. I won’t do it again. This time I intend to see Philip tried for his crimes.”

Larry nodded, he understood the Judge’s anger at being duped over the Macon incident, but he saw a problem. “Phil knows too much, Ron. He could bring you down with what he knows. Hell, with what he’s heard this week he could cause problems for a lot of people if he wanted to. Freddie might go to jail, Camille may be deported to face charges of her own, and I’m sure most of the others would not like the world to know their misdeeds.”

The Judge nodded but seemed set in his decision. “That’s true, Philip could cause problems, but I don’t think he will. Either way, I cannot let him off the hook, he must face a trial.” He reached for the open bottle and refilled his glass, offering it to MacLean, who declined.

Larry was worried, the Judge was not thinking straight, Philip was exactly the kind of person that would have no problem ruining others if he faced ruin himself. He possessed a selfish streak a mile wide and Larry knew it.

He thanked Freeman for the drink and left to visit Winnie, but he was anxious about the Judge’s plan. He thought he should warn William of the potential danger. He looked in the direction of Winnie’s room, but instead walked in the opposite direction toward the library, and William Bird’s office.

$

Betty knocked on the door and waited. It was a long wait, and she was about to give up when the door opened and she faced Dennis Elliot. She smiled. “Is Janice okay? Can I see her?”

He frowned. “What is it to you if my wife is alright or not?” His voice was cold and bluff, and Betty realized she had to be careful. He may have no idea that Janice had been attacked.

She gave him a rueful look and shrugged. “Dennis, I’m sorry, Janice and I talked earlier and I upset her. Could I see her and apologize, do you think?”

Dennis chewed over her request for a moment but stepped back and left enough room for Betty to enter. She squeezed into the room and flashed him one of her best smiles, hoping her charm would melt his icy demeanor. If it worked, she couldn’t tell. “She’s still upset, don’t make it worse.”

Betty nodded and stepped quickly into Janice’s bedroom, closing the door behind her to ensure privacy. The room was dim, there was only the soft gray light from outside, but Betty could see Janice on the bed, looking at her. “What do you want?” Her tone was cool, and Betty knew this was not going to be easy.

“You need to talk to William Bird. You need to tell him what happened to you.”

“I already told you, no. I’m not saying a word to Bird or anyone else. I made a mistake. I was greedy, and I paid for it. I don’t want William to know, and I’d prefer if you kept your business to yourself and left me to mine.” Janice was angry, but it wasn’t all directed at Betty, there was pent up fury at Junior too.

Betty thought about something Janice had said, something that made her think there was more to the story than she was telling. “What did you mean when you said you got greedy and paid for it? How did you come to be alone with Junior?”

Janice flashed a panicked look before she turned dark with anger, this time it was all for Betty. “Get out. Leave me alone and stop bothering me.” She called for Dennis, who arrived quickly and ushered Betty out of their suite politely, but firmly. He closed the door after her and sighed. He tried to understand what his wife had meant about greed.

He had listened to their conversation through the bedroom door and had been pained to hear his wife’s admission that she had done something to bring about the attack. She had not told him the truth, he was sure of it. He was also sure his wife had been dishonest about the bonus.

He heard Janice call, but he ignored her and went into the washroom and locked the door. He turned the shower on to drown out her voice and sat on the edge of the tub. He watched his reflection disappear as the mirror fogged up, sure that his marriage was as dead as their employer.

W
illiam Bird worked on the spreadsheet on his laptop. It was a simple list of the ten names that would share Johnston Thurwell’s fortune. They had agreed equal shares, which made the math easy. He waited for the Swiss bank to call with the exact value the fortune would be worth at midnight tonight. William wanted to be accurate to the penny.

He ran down the list. Every person on it had been changed by the experience of the last few days, and not just by money. These people, some of who had been close to Thurwell, and others who had been peripheral but pivotal, had all shared something of themselves, and few of them were better for the sharing.

He thought of the Thurwell brothers. Philip was disinherited and locked in the wine cellar. Junior was restricted to his room. He would take a tenth of his father’s money, but his future was uncertain following his attack on his sister. Bethany and Camille had found a bond and grown closer as the week progressed. William thought there was little chance they would remain close. The final vote appeared to have split them permanently. It was a pity, but he had seen better families fall apart over less.

It had been part of the Old Man’s design that the
Danse
would instigate conflict. He knew his children were spoiled and weak. It had been his intention for them to learn quickly to fight for something if they wanted it. Bird glanced up at the ceiling, as if to look toward his dead boss, and reflected that Thurwell had ignited more conflict than he could have anticipated.

The telephone rang and interrupted his thoughts. He picked it up and heard the clipped, efficient accent of the bank’s representative. William wrote a number down and repeated it back to ensure it was correct. He thanked the man in Zurich and hung up. He looked at the number and whistled softly, the amount was far higher than he had imagined.

He reached for his calculator and punched the keys to find the amount the group would share. The forty percent they lost to penalties would enrich the Thurwell Foundation. The sixty percent remaining for the lucky ten was a large enough number to change their lives. Some would be disappointed when they saw it while others would hardly believe their eyes.

Bird didn’t care what the beneficiaries thought. The numbers were what they were. The Thurwell Foundation would be grateful for the group’s failure to agree until the third day, an outcome that would have pleased the Old Man. The lawyer knew that the only thing the Old Man really cared about was that the Foundation was his legacy.

Caroline Smith would not lead the Thurwell Foundation upon her return to the city. Bird had instructions to fire her if she failed to resign by the end of the
Danse
. The search for a new leader would rest with the Board. William had a seat and would help make that decision, but Junior and Bethany would be removed from their Board positions before any hiring decision was made.

Bethany and her brother were out of the family business. They didn’t know it yet, but William would soon deliver papers to sever their employment with Thurwell Industries. The Old Man had seen no reason for the family that betrayed him to have any future role ruling his empire.

$

William realized his attention had wandered and returned to the papers in front of him. He divided the number by ten, wrote it once on the page and used his calculator to multiply it again by ten to make sure he was correct. Satisfied with his math, Bird took the spreadsheet and entered an identical number by each name. He checked his figures in the spreadsheet and smiled with quiet satisfaction when he saw his number matched the banks perfectly.

He opened the secure web page for the Zurich bank and punched his security code into his laptop. At the prompt, he placed his thumb on to a small black pad. He waited a few seconds while servers in Europe verified his password and thumbprint and issued authorization for him to continue. Bird called up the first name on the alphabetized list, Dennis Elliot, and transferred the first ten percent share into his account. He checked the number again and pressed the confirm button. He waited for computers in Switzerland to verify that Dennis was a rich man and then moved on to Janice’s account.

Bird worked down the list, checking and rechecking every entry before he confirmed it. He reached the last name on the list, Johnston C. Thurwell III and tapped the keys to give Junior his inheritance. He validated the entries as a batch and sent them to the bank. He closed the laptop and waited for the telephone to ring.

The banker in Zurich called precisely one minute later, the voice on the telephone belonged to a full Vice-President though William thought of him as a clerk. William verified his identity with a personal sixteen-digit pass code and waited. The number and voiceprint were confirmed as matches. The banker thanked William for his business, wished him a good day and ended the call.

$

It was nearly over. Ten lives had been changed forever by a few minutes of tapping on a keyboard and a thirty-second international call. William felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had wondered if he would ever get through this week, but now all he had left to do was deliver ten envelopes and host a dinner before he and his guests would part forever.

He still needed to figure out how to deal with Philip. He knew he was not able to be objective when the life Philip had tried to take was his own. He hoped now the
Danse
was almost over with, the Judge would agree to advise him. William wondered if pressing charges against Philip was even worth it. He had lost everything. Unless a sibling took pity on him, he would need to find an honest job to sustain himself, something for which he was in no way qualified.

William called Teterboro airport in New Jersey and spoke to Thurwell’s private pilot. He instructed him to be at the local airstrip early the next morning, fuelled for a trans-Atlantic trip. The flight from New Jersey was less than an hour, and the pilot promised he’d leave as soon as the local airfield confirmed it was open. He would file a flight plan to Exeter in England to take Winnie Tremethick home. Ten or so hours after leaving the mansion, the old woman would be home.

William made a call to the City and ordered eleven cars to be at the mansion at ten the next morning. He considered ordering nine, but had no confidence the Elliots would leave together. It was better to have one too many cars than suffer the embarrassment of having too few.

The drivers were instructed to take their passengers wherever they wanted, no matter the distance. William guessed most would go back to their homes, but some might prefer to head to new destinations where they could get away from their old lives.

$

William leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. He wanted to smoke a cigar. The Old Man had left him one of his favorite Hoyo de Monterrey’s to enjoy when the work was done. But it wasn’t over yet. He would not be finished until the last guest left the mansion and only then would he enjoy his cigar.

It was time for him to finish processing the settlements. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out twelve unsealed envelopes already labeled with the guest’s names. He discarded the ones labeled Philip Thurwell and Winnie Tremethick. One would receive nothing and the other already had her money.

He wrote the amount of their share on each of ten letters that also instructed the recipient how to claim their money. He decided to deliver the letters personally rather than hand them out in a group. It would make for a quieter life. He didn’t need the drama of some people gloating as others lamented.

Bird picked up the phone and called Jeremy. “The dinner will be tonight, in case you hadn’t guessed already.”

“Understood sir, I did take the liberty of beginning preparations. Are there any changes to the arrangements?” Bird smiled. If there was one thing he’d been sure of all week, it was that Jeremy was always one step ahead of him. “No Jeremy, we go ahead as instructed. Thank you.”

Johnston Thurwell had chosen what his guests would eat and drink at their final meal together. His plan was so thorough he had even prepared a seating chart based on his assumptions of how the week would go.

Philip would be included in the dinner. The Old Man was clear that even people who had been eliminated would attend the dinner. William told Jeremy the two of them would talk to the youngest Thurwell before he was allowed to join the others. They agreed to visit Philip later that afternoon.

The lawyer tidied his office, replaced the unopened yellow envelopes in his safe and secured his laptop. He slipped the ten envelopes into his breast pocket and left his office to deliver them to the guests. He decided to see them in the same order he had enriched them, alphabetically.

$

Janice pleaded at the washroom door for Dennis to come out. She heard water running, but he would not acknowledge her, and she was frightened he had done something to himself. She swore at him through the door and rattled the doorknob to no avail. He would not, or could not, answer.

She lifted her hand to pound the washroom door again when she was stopped by a knock at the door. She opened it quickly and pulled the lawyer into the room. William listened to her breathless account of Dennis in the locked washroom and wondered what had occurred to make him take refuge there.

He calmed Janice and told her to wait in the bedroom while he tried to talk Dennis out. William tapped lightly on the bathroom door and announced himself to Dennis. The lock clicked, and Dennis looked out through a small crack. Once he was satisfied William was alone, he stepped out. “I’m sorry for your trouble, Mr. Bird. I was trying to think, and Jan won’t let me have a moment’s peace, so I locked her out.”

William had a decent idea what the argument was about and wanted nothing to do with it. He reached into his pocket, selected Dennis’s envelope and handed it to the manservant with a smile. “Perhaps this will help smooth things for you. It’s your settlement and instructions for how to access it. There is also the number of an investment advisor that might be of help. He’s a good man, you can trust him.”

Dennis took the envelope with a look that approached reverence. His hands shook as he held it, turning it over and over. But he did not open it. “Thank you, sir. I don’t know what to say now it’s over. Mr. Thurwell was good to his word, he promised he’d take care of me, but I never expected this.”

William smiled. He knew the fondness Thurwell felt for Dennis and knew it would have pleased Thurwell that his loyal manservant was grateful. “I have to see Janice now. She has her own settlement here.” William showed Dennis the other envelope and saw his face cloud over. “Would you like to step out, so I can deliver her envelope without you two getting into a fight?”

Dennis looked embarrassed but thanked Bird for his suggestion and left, tucking his envelope into his pocket. He’d look at it when he found a quiet place to himself. Janice stepped out of the bedroom as soon as she heard the outer door close. She had listened to everything the two men said.

She looked at the lawyer and held her hand out. “Give it to me, I want to see.” He handed her the envelope, and she immediately tore it open. The number was written on the front page, she saw it right away and she gasped. “That much! I had no idea.”

He turned to leave, but she stopped him with a light touch on his arm. “Wait. Wait just a minute. Please?” He looked at her with a curious expression and she hesitated. She had been about to tell him of Junior’s treatment of her, but changed her mind. She had no need to dwell on the past now she was rich. “I’d like you to have Dennis’ things moved out of my suite. I don’t want him coming back.”

William nodded and asked if there was anything else, but Janice said she wanted to be alone. With some relief, he granted her wish.

$

William used a house phone to call Jeremy and make arrangements for moving Dennis out of his wife’s suite and asked the major-domo to tell Dennis of the new arrangements if he saw him. Then he walked quickly to Betty Freah’s door and knocked lightly. Betty answered the door in a short robe, her hair wet and tied back. “I’m sorry, Bill, I took a shower, I must look a sight.”

The lawyer thought she looked pretty good. Her legs were shapely, and she looked fresh and natural without make-up. “I’ve got your settlement, Betty.” She took the envelope with a giggle and took a little jump in the air with excitement, a gesture he found utterly charming.

“Am I deliciously rich, Bill? Did we do well?” He shrugged and suggested she open the envelope to find out for herself. She looked at him and bit her lower lip nervously as she worked the seal open carefully with a fingernail.

Betty glanced up quickly before teasing out the papers inside. “Oh my God! Oh, Bill.” She threw her arms around the lawyer’s neck and hugged him tightly. “I can’t believe it, thank you, thank you, thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek before she released him. She trembled all over with excitement. She was flushed, and William thought he had never seen her look so attractive. He collected himself and told her how she could claim the money, but she wasn’t listening. Betty danced from one foot to the other and her eyes sparkled with joy.

“I still miss him you know. Johnston meant something to me, but this sure makes grieving easier. Is that wrong?”

He smiled. “Not at all Betty. I think he’d be happy that you’re happy. Don’t forget we have the dinner later, okay?” She agreed, and when he left her she was dancing in a circle and singing happily.

$

Ron Freeman was half asleep on his couch when he heard a knock on his door and William Bird’s voice. He wondered what the lawyer wanted as he opened the door and invited him in. “Bird, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been thinking about Philip Thurwell and—”

He stopped when he was handed an envelope. Freeman listened to Bird explain what it contained. “I see. So this is what we’ve been fighting over. Well, let’s find out what we’ve won at the cost of so much heartache.” He tore open the envelope and looked at the number on the front page. He sat down heavily and rubbed a large hand over his head. It was a larger number than he had expected. He had been convinced the penalties had cost them dearly and had even wondered if he would have to continue to practice law. Now he saw that if he never raised a gavel again he would be just fine. Perhaps a political career might even be back on, if he could solve another problem.