by Nick James
“Okay, Emily, you’ve been drinking. I really don’t need to stand her and listen to you rant. Maybe call me when you’re sober.”
“You know what, I’ll call you when I’m good and ready, and not before. If you think you…”
“Not interested. Call me when you’re sober,” he said and stepped back out of the door pulling it closed behind him. He heard the lock snap, and then what sounded like the chain lock being set in place. Emily suddenly screamed some sort of invective from inside, but he was already halfway down the front steps couldn’t make it out.
“Everything go okay?” Miguel asked looking in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah. Couldn’t be better. I should buy a lottery ticket today, my luck is running so well.”
“Okay, it’s just that you seem to be laughing.”
“I’m just having a very wonderful day. Everything is working out. Hey let’s head home, I could use the rest of the afternoon off. I’ve got a lot of planning to do.”
“Home it is,” Miguel said.
“Maybe stop on the way, we’ll get some flowers and maybe a bottle of wine for Maria. She’s had a lot to put up with the last few days, I’d like to stay on her good side.”
“Miguel looked in the rearview mirror and nodded.
Chapter Thirteen
“Oh, Bobby, thank you,” Maria said, She wore a surprised look on her face as he handed her a large bouquet of flowers. She looked up at him and appeared about to cry.
“No, thank you…for last night and for everything, Maria. I wanted to tell you sooner, but, well, Miguel stepped into the room and I didn’t think you wanted him to hear.”
“Do you think he knows?”
Two women moaning and battery operated devices humming until four or five in the morning, Bobby thought. “No, I’m sure he has absolutely no idea what was going on.”
That seemed to bring relief along with a smile to her face and she said, “Let me put these in a vase. You’re home early. Dinner won’t be ready for another hour. You work so hard, you should take time to relax, let me make something for you to snack on?”
“No, thanks, but I’m just fine. But I’ve a lot of work to do, so I’ll be in my office. Just call me when dinner is ready. No pressure, just whenever it’s ready will be fine.”
He headed down the hall to his office, placed his laptop bag on the desk along with Emily’s insurance file, and the few personal items he’d retrieved from his office. He figured right about now Sawyer and Allen were wondering why they were unable to contact Morris Montcreff. Why he wasn’t returning their calls.
They’d probably attempt to make a personal visit tomorrow, maybe swing by Meyers bar where Montcreff used to have his private breakfast every morning, if they even knew about that. Be interesting to see the looks on their faces when they find out no one had seen him, or anyone else from the organization, for some time. He gave the two of them twenty-four hours before they contacted him, more than a little desperate.
He opened the insurance file and phoned the 800-number listed at the top of the policy. He worked his way up the chain for fifteen minutes before he finally got to someone who could help.
“Yes, thanks for taking my call,” he said. He gave them the policy case number from the file Bennett had signed, gave them his cellphone number and took note of the paper work needed to have the funds deposited in an account he could control.
He hung up and contacted Luis.
“Yes, Bobby?”
“Luis, thank you for taking my call. First of all, thank you for the gift of Martina, last evening, a very energetic lady.”
“It’s always nice to have some stress release,” Luis laughed.
“It was much appreciated, thank you. I’m calling regarding the insurance settlement I mentioned last night.”
“The woman killed in France. I’m sorry I’m unable to recall her name at the moment.”
“Saunders, Elizabeth Saunders. It’s a five-million-dollar policy. I’d like to deposit those funds in an account outside of the United States and then distribute them accordingly. The family will receive one-point-five million, we’ll establish the new firm with two-point-five million, and then a half million each to you and me.” He waited for a long moment hoping the scenario he’d just described would be acceptable.
“You’re sure?” Luis asked. Bobby couldn’t read the tone, was it unacceptable or was the man pleased?
Finally, he blinked first. “Luis, I want to be sure this is acceptable to you before I put things in motion. My next step is to forward account information to the insurance company, once I get the signatures from family members authorizing me, actually the new firm, to represent them.”
“Thank you, it’s more than acceptable, so acceptable I’m thinking of sending Martina back over to you tonight.”
It was Bobby’s turn to laugh. “Thank you, not that I wouldn’t enjoy myself, but perhaps a few days to rest up would be in order first.”
“I think she might say the same thing,” Luis said. “I’ll have someone forward account information to you. I think for quick distribution, Panama would be our best opportunity. I have some existing contacts there. The firm I use will be happy to help, for a modest fee.”
“How modest?”
“Modest,” Luis said and didn’t add anything further.
“I would also like to begin work in earnest at the new firm,” Bobby said. “The sooner the better.”
“You’re going to leave your current position?”
“I’ve left it,” he said seeing no benefit in giving Luis specific details. “I want to get going as soon as possible on the Montcreff properties. That’s going to take a lot of time. We’re going to need staff who know what they’re doing and can appear in court.”
“How was it taken, your leaving? This won’t cause problems with the Montcreff properties? ”
Bobby half laughed. “With the death of Bennett Hinz the two remaining partners are Sawyer and Allen. They’re incapable of keeping the firm together. They’ll probably lose their acquisition team, and then a host of staff and associates as things begin to go down the tubes. I suspect they’ll attempt to harass me for a bit, but with their hands full, everything falling apart, and attempting to hold onto their own book of business, in the end they simply won’t have the time to sort out the Montcreff account and well, there really isn’t anyone they can talk to.”
“I’ll have someone bring you to the new office in the morning, we can meet there. Let’s say we meet at nine o’clock. Does that meet with your your approval?”
“Would it be better if Miguel brought me? He’ll be driving me every day so he might as well learn where it’s located.”
“Yes, that does make sense. He’ll bring you tomorrow,” Luis said and then disconnected.
Bobby stared at his cellphone as the screen went blank wondering where the hell the new office was, then decided he didn’t have to worry about it. Luis would inform Miguel.
Chapter Fourteen
At twenty minutes before nine, Miguel pushed his breakfast dishes toward the center of the granite topped counter, slipped off his stool, and said, “We should leave if you want to be there at nine. I know Luis will be there to meet you.”
Bobby nodded and thought, finally. He felt as though the clock had ceased to move ever since he woke just a little after five in the morning. Now, finally, it was time to go. He nodded, told Miguel, “I’ll catch up with you.” Then watched until Miguel went out the door and headed for the elevator.
He picked up his laptop bag, checked for about the sixth time to make sure the Saunders insurance file was in there, then drained his coffee mug and pushed it toward Maria.
She picked up his mug and took a few steps to set it on the counter over the dishwasher. “It will be wonderful. I’m very happy for you and wish I was going with you,” she said.
He stepped over, placed his hands on her shoulders and said, “Do you want to go? You can come and…”
“No. It wouldn’t do. This is the first day, a big day for both of you, and the business. I’m sure Luis will have something prepared and he would not look kindly on my interference.”
“You wouldn’t be interfering, you…”
“No really, it is best that I stay here. I’ll prepare a very nice dinner in honor of your success.”
He nodded like he understood, which in a way he did, then hurried out the door. He took the elevator down to the lower parking level. Miguel had the car waiting in front of the door by the time Bobby walked out and climbed into the back seat.
It was a short drive, just a couple of blocks away from the penthouse. It took no more than five minutes and, as it turned out, made the new office just that much closer than the old one. He thought about the turmoil that had to be brewing at what was left of Denton, Allen, Sawyer and Hinz right about now and smiled to find himself disappointed to be missing it. It would be sad, in a funny way, not to be able to watch things collapse around the two of them.
Miguel pulled into a parking place on a side street and turned off the car. They were just one block from the river bluff and a block from the St. Paul courthouse where Bobby had spent uncountable hours until his indictment and sentencing.
“This is it,” Miguel smiled and gave a tilt of his head to the twelve-story granite building on the corner. Bobby had been past the building countless times, but had never had a reason to venture inside. “Come on, your new office is on the top floor.”
They entered through a revolving door in the front of the building. The lobby was dark, with black granite walls that looked like they hadn’t been updated since the Eisenhower administration. Three elevators were off to the right.
The doors opened almost immediately and they stepped into a wood-paneled elevator that looked like it was right out of the roaring ’20’s. Miguel pushed the button for twelve and smiled. They rose slowly, and just about the time Bobby wondered if they’d ever make it to the twelfth floor, the elevator gave a frightening, jumpy stop. The doors slowly opened into a dimly lit hall.
The floor looked to be polished concrete and the various office doors were dark-stained oak with a frosted glass window in the upper half. The name of whatever organization was located on the other side of the door had been painted on the glass with black enamel. The unit number was painted in the lower right hand corner. Each door came with a brass mail slot centered just beneath the frosted glass.
Miguel walked halfway down the hall then stopped in front of the door labeled Privado Law Group and smiled.
“Privado?” Bobby asked wondering who in the hell that was.
“Privado, it means private.”
Bobby nodded, liked it, thought for half a moment, and decided it was a pretty good choice. A hell of a good choice as a matter of fact.
Miguel turned the door knob only to find that the door was locked. What looked like a door bell was mounted on the door frame, but Miguel knocked softly and a moment later a large man Bobby recognized, but couldn’t remember his name, opened the door.
“Pepi,” Miguel said and stepped into a small reception room. The walls were painted a sort of beige-white and the room smelled of the new beige carpet covering the floor. There was a wooden receptionist counter, chest high with a black granite counter top maybe ten feet in from the door. A black desk chair, still covered in plastic sat behind the counter. Luis suddenly stepped into the reception room from a hall off to the right of the counter.
“So?” he asked, then smiled and raised his hands to indicate the room.
“I’m loving it,” Bobby grinned. “Luis, the name, Privado Law Group, it’s perfect.”
“Wait till you see your office, come on,” Luis waved him forward with his hand and together they walked down the hall past four identical offices. The doors were open on each office and a desk draped in plastic with a black, wing-backed desk chair and two black client chairs all shrouded in plastic were identically positioned in each office. Luis stopped at the end of the hall, flashed a grin at Bobby, then opened the door.
The room featured two large windows behind a massive, carved, antique desk. All four corners of the desk featured a carved lion’s head. A manila file folder was centered on the desktop. A large grey steel safe sat in the far corner of the office. A black leather winged-back chair sat behind the desk with the two standard client chairs just in front of the desk. Off to the side, a black leather couch and winged-back chair were positioned around a coffee table. Just behind the chair was a marble-topped buffet with six crystal glasses and three decanters. Each decanter had a silver tag wrapped around its neck labeling the contents, ‘Whisky’, ‘Whiskey’, and ‘Bourbon.’ The floor was polished oak covered with three large, matching red and blue oriental rugs. Soft music was piped in from somewhere.
“So, you like, my friend?”
“It’s, it’s wonderful, fantastic, Luis. I honestly don’t know what to say.”
“Good, I’m glad you like it, because you’re going to be spending a lot of time here, working. That file on the desk is the information you’ll require for the off-shore account. I’ve alerted them. You need only call and they’ll contact the insurance people with the proper documents. But first let me show you the broken room.”
“I think you must mean the break room,” Bobby said.
“Hmm? Yes, break, broken, you know what I mean,” Luis said then headed out of the room.
The break room had four tables with two chairs at each table. A refrigerator stood at the end of a black granite counter, at the moment the refrigerator doors were open and the shelves were still wrapped in plastic. A coffee pot and an electric kettle sat on the counter. The white porcelain sink was one large bowl, the granite counter top ran right up to the edge of the sink, flush with the inside of the bowl, giving the impression of the sink being mounted from beneath the counter top.
“It’s all very wonderful,” Bobby said. “Now we just have to get some quality people to fill those offices.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve taken the liberty of having interview appointments beginning in two days. Everyone subject to your approval, of course. That should give you time to become established in your office and familiarize yourself with the building and the layout here. We’ll have to find a receptionist, too.”
“Is Martina available?” Bobby joked.
Luis looked at him, but didn’t smile.
“Sorry, a bad joke. I would never get anything accomplished.”
Luis nodded, but still didn’t smile. “Let me show you the file room.” he said and stepped back out of the office. “That’s your conference room, there” he said pointing off to the side toward three floor to ceiling windows with a beige curtain drawn across. He didn’t bother to stop and kept moving as he headed around a corner.
The file room sat next to the break room, behind a fireproof, grey-metal door. The room was a smaller version of the one at Denton, Allen, Sawyer and Hinz. Two desks sat facing the wall. Large, fire proof file cabinets sat in the middle of the room. A sprinkling system ran down the center of the ceiling and two fire extinguishers were mounted on the walls. A long wooden table was positioned against the wall just next to the door and piled high with boxes. Bobby recognized the boxes as the ones containing all the original Montcreff files.
“I think my first order of business will be to get all those files put away properly. To be honest, I’ve been more than a little concerned with them just sitting in boxes. If anything were to happen to them it could scuttle all our plans.”
Luis nodded. “I’ll let you get started. Phone me at the end of the day and let me know your progress.” He placed a hand on Bobby’s shoulder. “I’m only successful if you are, my friend. We’ll leave you. No need to see us out, the door locks automatically.”
Bobby nodded and watched Luis until he disappeared down the hall. He opened the first box of Montcreff files, reviewed the contents and set them off to the side. He wandered out to the front offic
e, checked the door to make sure it was locked, took a moment to look into the four identical offices, then headed back to the file room.
Chapter Fifteen
It was the middle of the afternoon before he felt comfortable with his organization of the Montcreff files. He walked back to his new office. A set of keys now sat on top of the manila file folder on the desk. The keys to the office, he realized. It had never even dawned on him that he’d need a set and he quickly placed them in his pocket. His cellphone rang and he checked the number. Charles Sawyer. Not bad, twenty-six hours since Sawyer and Allen had told him his services were no longer needed. He let the call drop into his message center.
He sat down behind his new desk for the first time and ran his hands across the brown leather surface. The leather was embossed in a gold Victorian looking design that ran all the way around the edge of the desk. The leather was a deep, rich brown color and he could detect just the slightest hint of a soft leather scent as he ran his hand over it.
One by one he pulled open the carved drawers on the desk, all empty. He opened the bag with his laptop, removed it and turned it on. He pulled out the Elizabeth Saunder’s insurance file, opened the file on his desk that Luis had left and phoned the highlighted international number. A pleasant female voice answered on the second ring. In just over twenty-five minutes he had his off -shore account opened and waiting for the insurance deposit of five million dollars. A task made simple, no doubt due to the influence Luis brought to bear in advance.
He thought about phoning Emily, and decided to wait. Hopefully she’d sober up and would have some recollection of his stopping by yesterday. If she didn’t, the worst possible scenario was that Bobby and Luis would simply keep the entire five-million-dollar payment for themselves.
