by Dave Derin
I crossed the street and hopped into my own vehicle, then put it in drive and began the short drive home. I’d only been on the highway for about five minutes before a call came through on my car’s receiver.
“Oh, shit,” I muttered under my breath. “Of all the nights for Sully to call me, he chooses this one.”
I took a deep breath, released it, and then accepted the call. “Sully,” I exclaimed a little too cheerfully. “I am so sorry I haven’t returned your calls and emails. I have no excuse, other than I’m worthless.”
“Oh, come now, you aren’t worthless,” the silky baritone voice responded with a rolling chuckle. “But you are terrible at returning calls.”
“I know, I know,” I sighed. “I’ll work on that at my next professional development conference.”
“Yes, you really should,” Sully released another hearty laugh, then cleared his throat. “You should also come by tonight for a late dinner, if you haven’t already eaten, or just a drink if you have. We have some catching up to do.”
“You know, I could really use some of Mrs. Ames famous home cooking,” I replied as I took the exit toward my apartment. I glanced at the clock on my car’s display which read 7:38 p.m. “But I’ve got to be honest with you, Sully. I’ve had a hell of a day and I don’t have the brain power left to have a coherent conversation. How about we do breakfast tomorrow morning instead?
“Sure, John,” my pseudo-father replied kindly. “Go home and get a good night’s sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“What time are you thinking?” I asked and released a huge yawn.
“You forget I’m retired now,” Sully chuckled. “It makes no difference to me, just give me a call before you come over. We have a few things to discuss.”
“Alright, sounds like a plan,” I replied and guessed what things Sully had ominously referenced, I was pretty sure that me leaving the firm took him by surprise. “See you in the morning.”
“Have a good night,” Sully said, then added with a laugh, “And don’t stay up all night working on a case.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” I replied as I pulled into the parking garage of my apartment building. “I think I’ve had about enough casework for one day.”
We ended the call, then I parked my car and made my way to the elevator. I pressed the call button, then rubbed my tired eyes with both hands. The elevator dinged, and I removed my hands from my eyes to see the captivating image of Miss Katerina Volkov. She faced the left side of the elevator and held a silver-cased cell phone to her ear. Her short, black hair was styled in tiny curls that framed her delicate face. When she turned to face me, her cat-eye makeup made her dark brown doe eyes appear even larger than usual, if that were even possible. Her petite frame was draped in a black floor-length sheer overlay that covered a body-hugging, low cut cherry red dress that stopped only a few inches below her perky, round bottom.
“Good evening, Miss Volkov,” I said with a flirtatious smile once she’d stepped from the elevator. She sashayed forward on tall, strappy red stilettos to stand about a foot away from me, and her sweet coconut perfume reminded me of a tropical oasis.
“Good evening, 14B,” the mysterious dark beauty said with a sly grin. “It’s been a while.”
“It sure has,” I replied then crossed my muscular arms across my broad chest. “But I’m pretty sure you promised to pencil me in for drinks sometime soon, if I’m not mistaken.”
“I believe you are correct,” she said and batted her large, exotic brown eyes. “But unfortunately, I left my calendar upstairs.”
“Oh, you did, did you?” I asked playfully. “Well, how about one year from today, at this exact time, we meet right here at this elevator and go out for drinks? You can’t tell me you’re already booked a whole year out, can you?”
Katerina let out a beautiful, lyrical laugh and flashed me a smile with her lucious ruby red lips, then turned and slowly began to saunter toward her convertible.
“So, that’s a yes, then?” I inquired as I watched her tight ass swish in that sexy red dress.
“I’ll see you here in one year,” she continued to giggle as she unlocked her car and slipped into the driver’s seat.
I smiled to myself, then hopped in the elevator and headed up to my apartment. A year from now is better than never, and at least I could make her laugh. If you can make a woman genuinely laugh, the battle is already half won. I unlocked my apartment, strode toward my bedroom, stripped off my suit, and hung up the coat.
My stomach growled and reminded me I hadn’t eaten anything since brunch with Susanna that morning, so I opened the fridge and checked out my options. Leftover pizza, some fried rice, or a ham sandwich. I grabbed the pizza, popped it in the microwave, and poured myself a glass of water while it heated up. When the microwave beeped, I removed the hot plate with a towel-wrapped hand, then brought the plate and glass to the kitchen where I collapsed on the black leather couch and turned on the TV. I didn’t feel like watching anything that required brain power, so I flipped on the tube and hoped a cheesy action movie was on. Arnold Schwarzenegger's partially robotic face appeared on the screen, and I settled into the couch cushions and enjoyed Terminator while I ate.
When the movie ended, I put my dishes into the dishwasher and shuffled toward the bedroom. I slept hard that night and woke to the blaring sound of my phone alarm. It was 6:30 a.m., and I needed to get ready to meet with Sully. I was looking forward to seeing him, but was apprehensively curious about what he needed to speak with me about.
Since I wouldn’t be in court that day, I selected a pair of casual khakis and a deep blue polo shirt to wear. I walked to the kitchen and made myself a strong cup of black coffee.
I scrolled through the rest of my new emails as my coffee cooled. Estelle had written and said she had the design concept ready, and that she’d drop it off at the office sometime today. I took a sip of my Colombian coffee and sighed deeply as the warm liquid hit my stomach. I dialed Sully’s number and sipped my coffee while the phone rang.
“Well, good morning to you,” Sully answered cheerfully.
“Good morning, Sully,” I responded with a scratchy voice, then cleared my throat. I hadn’t spoken yet that morning, and my throat was still thickly coated from sleep.
“Need some time to wake up?” He asked with a chuckle.
“Nah, I’m fine,” I replied and took another sip of coffee. “What time is good for you this morning?”
“Head on over whenever you’re ready. Maria will whip us up some breakfast ,” my mentor responded.
“Oh fantastic, tell your lovely wife I can’t wait. I’ll see you at eight o’clock,” I responded, and couldn’t help but ruminate on what Sully could need to speak with me about that he couldn’t tell me over the phone.
“This may just be the most important meeting of your new career,” Sully chuckled with his smooth, baritone voice, then we said our goodbyes and hung up the phone.
I finished my coffee, set the mug in the sink, and left my apartment as I pondered what he could mean.
Chapter 11
The drive to Sullivan and Maria Ames’ home was a beautiful, scenic path through the pinewood forests of Texas. I pulled into his long winding driveway at 7:55 a.m. and slowly cruised around the pond in the middle of the circle drive to park in front of his impressive double-doored entrance. Sully’s house was a sprawling Mexican villa inspired dwelling made from stucco and white stone. A fifteen-foot-tall stone archway towered above the front doors of the three-story stucco house that was painted the color of red clay.
I stepped out of my vehicle and heard a splash in the small pond in the center of the circle drive. I glanced over to see a few dark green turtles with red and yellow markings on their faces dart into the pond, then stepped closer and saw three enormous koi fish, at least sixteen inches long each, slowly glide through the lilypad covered water.
“Good morning, young man,” a woman’s singsong voice called from the front stoop.
“Good morning, Ms. Maria,” I replied and quickly strode over to give her a big hug and a kiss on her smooth, tanned cheek. “You still look exactly the same as the day I met you.”
“Oh, you hush,” the sweet lady replied and playfully batted at my arm, then turned and walked barefoot through the dark wood front doors. “Come on in. Sullivan is out back by the pool. Breakfast is almost ready, so why don’t you head on back and join him.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I’m looking forward to a home cooked meal, especially one made by you.” I gave her a smile and followed her toward the kitchen.
“You’re too sweet,” my mentor’s wife replied. “Now, you get on back there and stop distracting me.”
Maria and Sully had been married for over forty years, but still acted like newlyweds most of the time. Even though she was in her sixties, Maria didn’t look a day over forty-five. The combination of her Mexican and Nigerian heritage had gifted her with gorgeous bone structure, flawless mocha skin, and shining black locks that were now streaked with silver. She usually kept her wavy dark hair long to her shoulders, but she had it pinned back today and wore casual jeans with a loose fitting bright blue knit top.
“Alright, alright,” I replied with a grin and held my hands up innocently. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I passed back through the foyer and turned right to walk through the Ames’ massive living room. The floors were laid with smooth, square sand-colored tiles, the walls were painted a textured light clay and cream, and exposed rustic wooden beams supported the twenty-foot-high cathedral ceiling.
I made my way across the sleek tile until I reached a ten-by-fifteen foot rectangular rug with a Native American pattern in turquoise, brown, cream, burnt umber, and deep red. Their plush, L-shaped beige sofa sat to the right of the rug with a few decorative pillows strategically placed on it that matched the artistic carpet. Across from the lavish couch stood a floor-to-ceiling white stone fireplace with a mantle made from wood that matched the ceiling beams.
A variety of traditional Native American and African art, including masks, decorative plates, sculptures, and paintings, were proudly displayed through the cavernous space. I passed through the ornately decorated room and stepped through the glass French doors that led to the Ames’ back patio, into a gorgeous outdoor oasis.
Lush green tropical plants surrounded a kidney bean shaped pool that was encircled by smooth white concrete. Brightly colored mosaic tiles in primary colors of red, yellow, and blue lined the pool that also featured blue lights which illuminated the water from below the surface. Vivid red, yellow, purple, and pink exotic flower blooms provided pops of color against the vibrant green backdrop. An outdoor stone fireplace stood past the pool, in front of which a semi-circle of cushioned benches, umbrellas, tables, and padded chairs were arranged methodically. Connected to one side of the tan stone fireplace was a built-in cooktop, and on the other side was a full wet bar with a sink, wine fridge, beer cooler, and an ice machine. Tall, spiky palms were lined behind the fireplace and gave the expansive backyard space a private feel. I walked toward the pool and admired the beauty of the perfectly landscaped patio.
Being a named partner in a powerful law firm certainly had its perks.
“Well, hello there, Mr. Stone,” a familiar voice spoke behind me. “I didn’t hear you come out.”
I turned around and saw that Sully Ames, a portly gentleman with a fringe of short white hair and a neatly trimmed white beard, smiled up at me from a crouched position in front of a shaded flower bed. He wore loose-fitting khaki linen pants, and a white Tommy Bahama shirt with brown leather sandals. A wide-brimmed gardening hat covered the bald spot I knew was on the top of his head, and silver-rimmed glasses sat low on his nose. Sully stood to face me with a steaming orange mug in his left hand, then walked forward to extend his right hand to me.
“You look like you should be on a beach somewhere,” I joked as I shook his extended hand firmly.
“One day soon,” he smiled and chuckled. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Sure, I’d love some,” I replied, then followed Sully around the saltwater pool to the white stone wet bar.
“So,” my mentor began as he poured hot coffee into a black ceramic mug, then turned and handed it to me, “I heard you have a little explaining to do.”
“Me?” I asked with feigned innocence. “I think you’re the one with some explaining to do, mister.”
Sully laughed as he raised an eyebrow at me, then took a slow sip from his orange mug, walked over to the padded bench in front of the outdoor fireplace, and sat down. I walked over and sat on the wooden padded bench that faced him and stared at him expectantly.
“Well, you invited me over,” I finally broke the silence. “So, you go first.”
“I suppose that’s only fair,” my retired mentor replied after a brief pause.
“Hey, guys,” Maria called as she strutted toward us. “Breakfast is ready. Do you want it out here or in the dining room?”
“Out here is fine, dear,” Sully answered with a big smile at his vivacious wife as she crossed the patio, stood beside him, and rested her small hand on his shoulder. “We’ll come in and fix our plates, and you go relax. You’ve put in enough work for a retired lady today.”
“You don’t have to twist my arm,” his dark-haired wife replied with a wink, then leaned down and gave him a kiss on his forehead. “I’m going to go read in the study for a bit, then.”
“Sounds good, dear,” Sully replied. “Thank you again for making breakfast for us. I love you.”
“I love you too, honey bun,” she said sweetly, then leaned down and gave him a soft kiss on the lips before she headed toward the back doors. Sully didn’t take his eyes off her until she was out of sight.
“Anyway,” he said and cleared his throat loudly. “Where were we?”
“We were about to enjoy some of your wife’s delicious cooking, that’s what we were going to do,” I announced and stood up from the bench.
“Yes, yes, we were,” he laughed as we walked together to the kitchen.
The Ames’ kitchen was a shining example of modern efficiency and traditional Mexican aesthetic. Brightly colored tiles in yellow, red, blue, and white topped the counters, and the room was lined with cherry wood storage cabinets. A center island stood in the middle of the spacious kitchen, and Maria had left a tantalizing spread of savory dishes for us. Stacks of fluffy eggs, chorizo, peppers, and onions wrapped in corn tortillas were displayed on a yellow oval platter. A large, clear glass bowl of sliced papaya, mango, and banana sat beside it with a red ceramic serving spoon sticking out of it. Beside the bowl of tropical fruit was a plate of sweet buñuelos, fried tortilla triangles with cinnamon and sugar, one of my favorite Mexican treats that Maria always made special for me.
We loaded our plates up with the delicious smelling food, made our way back to the outdoor dining area, then sat down at the umbrella-covered table. I immediately placed my paper napkin in my lap and began to dig in to the incredible homemade breakfast. The spicy, cheesy breakfast burritos tasted amazing, and the diced peppers added an extra crunch to the soft eggs. I took a bite of fresh mango, and the extra sweet juiciness made my cheeks tingle. I looked up and saw that Sully sat quietly and stared at his food. He’d only taken a few bites of his fruit, then set his fork down, picked up his coffee mug, and sighed deeply.
“So, you were about to tell me why you resigned so abruptly,” I said after I took another bite of my cheesy breakfast burrito, then leaned back and sipped my coffee.
“Yes,” he replied, then sighed again and looked down at the orange mug in his hands.
“What is it, Sully?” I leaned forward and put my elbows on the table as I studied his blank face. He had always been an expert at hiding his true emotions, which had made him an excellent litigator, but I could tell something was definitely wrong with my trusted advisor that warm summer morning.
“John,” his voice cracked, and he shifted in his seat, then
looked up with sorrowful brown eyes and met my own. “I don’t know how to make this any easier to say, so I’ll just spit it out. Last month, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors have given me about three months if I’m lucky.”
My mouth dropped open as I leaned forward and placed my mug on the table. “Oh my God, Sully,” I started to say, and my throat tightened up and made it hard to finish my statement. “I had no idea,” I croaked as I looked down and fought back the tears that prickled painfully in the corners of my eyes.
“John, it’s going to be alright,” Sully said calmly. “I’ve had to accept it, and Maria is working on it. It’s been very hard for her.”
“I can imagine so,” I replied softly then looked up to meet his gaze. “Does Swinger know?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “I told him the morning I resigned before I made the official announcement. I’d had the letter typed up for over a week and was just waiting for the right moment when everyone was at the office. I kept changing my mind and backing out until the firm became involved in that CUSA nightmare.”
“Yeah,” I nodded and rubbed my face with both hands. “It’s a heavy one.”
“So I’ve heard,” he looked at me knowingly. “At the time, we didn’t know how it would resolve. A case like that could take months, years even, to settle or litigate, so I made the decision then and there that I wouldn’t waste the last few precious months I had left on that case.”
“I completely understand that,” I replied and nodded my head slowly as I analyzed his face. He looked exactly the same as he always had, maybe a few pounds thinner, but his chestnut-brown eyes and wizened face still radiated a healthy glow. Although the food on my plate was delectable, I no longer had an appetite.
“So,” Sully continued after a silent moment, “Maria and I have decided to do something we’ve always talked about. We rented an R.V., and we’re going to just drive around the country without any particular destination, and just let the wind carry us wherever it chooses.”
“Wherever the wind chooses, huh?” I looked up and saw that my mentor smiled at me with raised eyebrows.
