Bill Harvey Collection

by Peter O'Mahoney

  “Straight to the point. I like that.” Harvey smiled. “Let’s talk about your niece, Anna Lempare, and the conditions of the will that relate to her inheritance.”

  Ms. Lempare motioned for Harvey to take a seat on the regal couch in the living room. He sat on the hard cushion with an open posture; his legs spread wide and his arms resting on his lap to subconsciously show Ms. Lempare that he was the alpha in the room.

  Ms. Lempare gracefully sat down on a white armchair opposite him, delicately crossing one leg over the other, sitting with a perfect posture. It was a position that was practiced many times in her youth and had stuck with her for life.

  “I would offer you a coffee, however, I don’t imagine that this discussion will last that long,” Jessica stated without a hint of embarrassment.

  “I wouldn’t want to put you out.” Harvey laughed at her abrupt statement.

  “Anna is trouble. She always has been. Even as a child, she was trouble. And I knew that she would be trouble as an adult. She’s always off with the fairies dreaming about one thing or another, traveling to this country or that country. If she was blonde, you might say that she’s a ‘bimbo.’” Ms. Lempare was uncomfortable with the word. “It’s impossible to talk to her about anything, let alone the technicalities of law. She won’t even allow me the pleasure of a five-minute discussion about the will. Hopefully, you can get through to her in that regard and advise her that the will isn’t up for negotiation. Her grandfather wrote the will with her best interests in mind, and I intend to see his wishes sustained. And… well, it might help sort out a few other things.”

  “What things?”

  “Anna’s misbehavior.”

  “Misbehavior? I’m sorry, but you’ll have to explain that further for me.”

  “That young lady is always finding a way to get herself into trouble. She’ll chase it until it has nowhere else left to hide. When she isn’t running around the world, she’s protesting about the most ridiculous things. Last month, I saw that she was in a protest about the use of pig meat. Can you believe that? She was protesting about the cruelty to pigs. Well, I’ve never heard of such a thing. How ludicrous. Anna really does need more discipline in her life.”

  “And you believe that if Anna enrolls in Army Basic Training, it will teach her that discipline?”

  “It’s not about what I believe. This is about what is written on a legal document that was penned by her grandfather. Regardless, I agree that enrolling in Army Basic Training will instill discipline into her psyche. It will teach her more restraint, and then she can take those skills with her for the rest of her life. And I must say, I’m not sure why she’s so against the training. It’s only ten weeks of her life. She can make that sacrifice. Our family has certainly made more of a sacrifice than what is asked of her.”

  “I’m not sure that Army Basic Training will suit her personality,” Harvey quipped. “And your family has made enough of a sacrifice for this country. I can understand that after losing most of her family to war, she’s reluctant. She doesn’t believe that war solves problems.”

  “War doesn’t solve any problems. I don’t believe in war. My brother and his wife’s father did, and that’s why they gave the ultimate sacrifice. I have a lot of respect for that. While war will not solve Anna’s problems, Army Basic Training will. Anna is impulsive and lacks restraint. Her grandfather would be so disappointed if he saw her today.”

  “Are you disappointed?”

  “Oh, no. I’m quite happy in fact. I would happily give all the inheritance to the Recovering Veterans charity. They do a lot of work for vulnerable people, and my family’s history is one of service to our country. My parents were in the war, and my father needed support when he returned home. Back then, there was nobody there for him. If he had a support network like the Recovering Veterans charity, then he would have been better equipped to return to normal life. And of course, I lost my brother and my sister-in-law to war, may they rest in peace.”

  “Do you have a lot to do with the charity?”

  “Of course. Have you even read the will, Mr. Harvey?”

  “I have had some time to familiarize myself with it.”

  “Then you would understand that I donate the amount of interest from the money that the trust generates to the charity each month. There’s a small fee paid to the bank, but other than that, all the interest from the twenty million dollars is donated to the charity, along with some of the funds. Despite the decrease in interest rates, it’s still a sizable sum each month. I’m told that the estate is their biggest contributor.”

  “You know the employees of the charity quite well then?”

  “John Morgan, or ‘Bud’ as he’s known, is the head of the charity, and he’s a very nice man who would do anything for me. He even organized a small birthday party for me last week. The other fellow there, Frank Matthews, is also a lovely person.”

  “I may have to meet with them at some point.”

  “I can also tell you that while they are lovely men, they would not be happy that you’re here discussing the terms of the will. They are very proud of the work that they do, and without the funds from the estate, they would struggle to perform the tasks that they do.”

  “Are they veterans?”

  “Yes… well, yes and no.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Harvey questioned.

  “Everyone has their secrets.” Ms. Lempare paused before she continued. “While they’re lovely men, they do have a history of violence. That happens a lot to men that return from war. I would be careful where you step.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “Oh, no.” She waved her hand. “Please don’t interpret my comments like that. All I’m saying is that they are men with a history of violence. While they might have their moments of intensity, they are such generous men. Nothing like you.”

  “Like me?” Harvey questioned with a smile.

  “You’re unsophisticated, upfront, and while you seem very intelligent, you’re quite rude.”

  “And how have you come to that conclusion?” Harvey laughed, amused by her comments.

  “I’m a very good judge of character.”

  “It appears, in this case, that you are not.”

  “Don’t mistake my ability to make judgments on one’s character as rudeness. That isn’t my intent. However, I do have complete faith in my judgments. It’s a skill I developed early in life, and I’ve rarely been mistaken.”

  “You do have a lot of confidence, Ms. Lempare.”

  “I do.” She dwelled on that thought before continuing. “I should also let you know that I’m up for a fight. It was entrusted to me to maintain this will, and that’s what I’ll do. I’ll work hard on this matter and ensure that the conditions are met. If you want to come up against me, then you must be prepared for a fight.”

  “I have no doubt about that.” Harvey laughed again.

  For the first time in a long while, Jessica smiled genuinely. “How is it that I can help you today, Mr. Harvey? What is it exactly that you want to know? I’m sure you haven’t come here just for a chat. So, quit stalling and get to the point. What would you like to ask me?”

  “Certainly. The will states that the trustee can change the conditions of the will, with the conditional support of the Recovering Veterans charity. However, if their support isn’t provided, then the trustee may change the conditions of the will if your decision can be legally satisfied to be in the best interests of Anna Lempare. With that in mind, is there any chance that you’ll consider an agreement to change the conditions of the will?”

  “No.”

  “Perhaps we should at least have a discussion about the conditions before you provide such a closed answer.”

  “The conditions written by my sister-in-law’s father were for Anna’s benefit. He entrusted me with the estate, and he knew that I would see the conditions of the will through. I have no interest in dishonoring his memory by changing it, and I’ll ensu
re that his wishes are followed.”

  “You’re not even open to a discussion?”

  “No.”

  “May I ask why not?”

  “Because the conditions of the will are very clear.” Her fists clenched. “Any man off the street could read that will and understand the conditions. Just because Anna doesn’t agree to the conditions doesn’t mean that we should change them. Her grandfather earned that money, and he rightfully set the conditions. It’s not up to me to negotiate the terms. If her grandfather wanted it to be flexible, he would have stated as such. But he didn’t. That’s clear in the will.”

  “And you believe that the military training will be in the best interests of Anna?”

  “This isn’t about what you or I believe.” Her finger pointed in the air. “This is what Anna’s grandfather thought was the best thing for his granddaughter. Even when she was a child, we could tell that she had a rebellious streak. Her grandfather knew that and decided that if she enrolled in Basic Military Training, then it would increase her discipline. The condition is for the best interests of Anna.”

  “I believe the intent of the conditions was education, not restriction. It was her grandfather’s intent to educate her, not tie her down. I’ll argue that the intended purpose of the conditions was for the benefit of Anna, and those intended conditions can be achieved in other ways.”

  “And as the trustee, I believe differently. That’s my right.”

  “And if we were to prove that Anna’s grandfather believed that military training wasn’t the best thing for his granddaughter?”

  “Good luck proving that. Her grandfather has been dead for ten years.”

  “I see that you were mentioned in his will, and that along with some money, he also left all his other possessions to you.”

  “That’s correct.”

  “Did he keep any diaries or notes?”

  “Yes, he did.”

  “May I see those notes?”

  “Why should I consider helping you? I’m under no obligation to assist you.”

  “I’m not here to attack your character. I’m here to make sure this case doesn’t go to trial. If it does, I’m sure that all manner of things will be discussed out in the open. That may not be to the benefit of your family.”

  Ms. Lempare paused, and ran her hands over her skirt, smoothing out any potential creases. “I have no skeletons in my cupboard, but I do understand what you’re saying. Our extended family history is… interesting.”

  “Do you know where he would’ve kept his notes?”

  Jessica sighed, standing up from the armchair, an air of elegance in her movement. “It appears that I was mistaken about you. You’re very clever. Follow me this way.”

  Following Jessica through her apartment to a spare bedroom, Harvey guardedly entered the room where she had stored a large number of parcel-sized boxes. She studied the names on the boxes, and eventually, chose one. “Mr. Harvey, can you remove this one?”

  With a grunt, he lifted two heavy boxes from the pile and then removed the selected one, placing it on a small office table in the room. Cautiously, Jessica removed the lid and glanced inside.

  “These are his notes. He kept a number of diaries over the years, and he wanted me to keep them. You may review them as much as you want, but I cannot imagine that you’ll find much in there.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I would actually like to know if you find anything. I haven’t looked through all of them. I’ve only flicked through a page here or there. He was an interesting man, but he had terrible handwriting. I cannot stand terrible handwriting, and reading those diaries gave me quite a headache.”

  “I’ll review these notes and let you know.” Picking up the box, he started to head towards the exit to her apartment.

  “Mr. Harvey.” She stopped him. “I must admit something before you leave.”

  “Go on,” Harvey indicated.

  She drew a long breath, looking to the floor.

  “One year ago, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Anna doesn’t know that. She has already lost so much of her family, and I didn’t want to worry her any further—not that she would worry anyway. I’ve only been given a short time to live. Maintaining this estate is all I have at the moment, and I intend to see the conditions through. Donating the interest to the charity each month provides great satisfaction in my life.” She sighed again. “I have nothing against Anna. I don’t like her as a person, but I wish her all the best in the future. After all, we’re the only family we both have left. If you can prove me wrong about her grandfather’s objective, then I’ll be happy to change my decision, but I’m doing what I think was her grandfather’s intention.”

  “Thank you for your honesty, Ms. Lempare. I’ll keep you informed about what I find.”

  “And…” She paused for a moment, before choosing her next words carefully. “Be careful. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in life, it’s where there’s money, there’s danger.”

  CHAPTER 3

  When Harvey arrived at his office the next morning, Anna was waiting for him, sitting patiently next to Kate’s reception desk. Anna had the same posture as her aunt; her legs crossed, hands on her knees, an uncomfortably straight back.

  Smashing her fingers aggressively on her computer keyboard, Kate had a look of disdain for Anna, and it was obvious their personalities clashed.

  “Anna is here,” Kate snapped as Harvey walked in the door. “But you have another appointment in twenty minutes. I told Anna that you can’t possibly fit her into your schedule this morning, and she’ll have to wait until this afternoon to meet with you, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “Good morning, Kate. And yes, I can see that Anna is here.” Harvey grinned, and turned to Anna. “Good morning, Anna.”

  “How did it go?” Anna asked, jumping up as Harvey walked through the reception area and towards his office. “What did my aunt say? Is it sorted already? Did she just keel over and say yes to everything? Please, tell me that she did.”

  “I can see why you need a lawyer to press ahead. Your aunt isn’t a very reasonable person to negotiate with,” Harvey stated. “We had a discussion about the will, but it wasn’t very productive. Come into my office, and we will discuss it further.”

  “But Bill,” Kate complained. “You can’t fit her in. Your schedule is full today. You have a meeting with Mrs. Jonas in twenty minutes, and she really doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

  Harvey glanced at Kate, and he could see the loathing on her face. “I’m sure I can fit her in,” he said. “Mrs. Jonas won’t mind waiting for a few moments.”

  “I’ll make a note of it,” Kate grumbled as she started bashing on her computer keyboard. “But Mrs. Jonas isn’t going to be happy.”

  “Thank you, Kate. You do a wonderful job.” He winked.

  “Did you see any cracks in her armor?” The young girl questioned as she followed Harvey’s broad shoulders into the office. “After all, that’s what you’re known for—reading people like a book.”

  “There were no cracks in her armor, and this isn’t resolved yet.”

  “Why didn’t you hypnotize her and change her mind? Isn’t that what you do?”

  “That’s not what I do. I’m a lawyer. I do things by the book, and I work hard at finding solutions. That’s what I’m known for,” Harvey stated as he placed his briefcase on his desk, gazing out to the view from his office window. From the tall window behind his desk, he could see the urban sprawl of Los Angeles stretch deep into the horizon. He loved this view. It was his view, his place to think. “And I must say that your aunt seems like the perfect citizen.”

  Anna exhaled loudly, slumping into the leather chair like a spoiled child who had been told that they could not have any more ice cream. All the form had gone from her posture, and she sat like a rebel; her legs wide apart, her shoulders slumped, face looking dejected.

  “She’s always been the perfect citizen. She’s always h
ad that wall up. It’s like an impenetrable roadblock to prevent anyone from knowing who she really is. I hate it. I’ve tried to get close to her, but she’s so determined not to show any emotion that I can’t possibly know who she really is. I’m sure that if I got to know the real woman behind the wall, I might even like her. But I guess that’s why she’s a sixty-two-year-old unmarried spinster.”

  “Just because she’s unmarried doesn’t make her any less capable of administrating the will. If anything, it might make her more suitable.” He sat down behind his large Oakwood desk, looking off to the law books on one side of his office, and then back to the psychology books on the other side. “She seems to be the perfect person to administer this estate. Unless there are skeletons in her cupboard, there’s no way that I can dispute her capability in a court of law.”

  Anna crossed one leg over the other, and sat up straighter. He made a mental note of her chameleon capabilities—this was a woman who could change her attitude to fit into almost any situation, with the exception of the army. There was no way that Harvey could imagine this idealistic girl slugging it out in the mud of Army Basic Training.

  “My aunt and I have always had a personality clash. It’s always been that way. Some of my earliest memories as a child are arguing with her. We’ve had so many arguments over the years. She was my guardian after my father died, and I had to live with her for a while. It was a hard time in my life, and she copped the brunt of my emotions. But I’ve never seen her be nice to people—she isn’t good with kids, or adults for that matter. She’s extremely prim and proper… and I’m… not.”

  “She’s quite rude as well.”

  “Very rude. You should see how she treats her cleaner. She treats him like a piece of dirt. She doesn’t even acknowledge that the man exists most of the time. She even put a hidden camera in the living room to make sure he wasn’t stealing any of her things. But if I had told you how bad she was earlier, I don’t think you would’ve believed me. I thought it was better if you formed your own opinion of her first.”