by Nick James
“I’m not quite following?”
“It’s really very simple, actually. I’d like you to, well, bring matters to a close for him, end his suffering.”
“Bring? What the hell are you talking about? You’re not seriously suggesting euthanasia? Are you crazy? I could lose my license, but why stop there? I’d end up in prison and rightfully so. If that’s your game, Custer, I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong…”
“Really? It’s not like I’m asking you to shoot the man or strangle him, I was just thinking that…”
“For God’s sake, I took the Hippocratic oath. Do you have any idea? How dare you even suggest…”
“Oh please. Lets be honest, Doc. You took a wedding vow, too, but that didn’t stop you from getting into the predicament you’re in now, did it? And I’m just guessing, but there were probably women before Emily and there have no doubt been women after her. What’s it gonna take? I mean you inject a barbiturate and he’ll just rest all nice and peaceful. Then you give him a little muscle relaxant and the heart just takes a break, so-to-speak.”
“You’re insane. I ought to phone the police right now.”
“I suppose if you want to. Of course I’ll deny it and nothing will happen. They’re not going to do a damn thing and you know it. But Emily, how soon before she raises the rent, Doc? How soon before your wife hits you with a multi-million-dollar lawsuit? Then you can just sit back and watch everything you’ve worked so hard for your entire life, you can just watch it all slip away. This guy I’m talking about is hooked up to IV’s, he’s sleeping most of the day, just drifting away. Hell, it won’t take more than a minute of your time and you don’t even have to actually touch him. You’ll just be doing the medical thing, a goddamn act of mercy.”
“I’ve had enough of this,” Antonnini said and turned to walk away.
Bobby grabbed onto his arm and spun him back around. “Forty-eight hours, Doc, that’s the window. You let me know or you can wait and just lose everything.” Then he released his grip, walked away, and left Antonnini standing there.
Chapter Fourteen
Back in the office, Marci flashed her shark smile as she handed Bobby two pink message slips the moment he stepped off the elevator. Both were from Addison Denton. Fortunately she hadn’t left her last name and Marci didn’t seem to have put it together.
He was heading down the hallway after crumpling the messages when Bennett popped his head out of his office and called. “Say Custer, a moment of your time, please?” It sounded more like a command, and very un-Bennett like. Bobby’s earlier conversation with Montcreff and then Antonnini just fifteen minutes ago, not to mention Lindgren’s unscheduled appearance in the middle of the night, had done nothing to improve his attitude.
When he entered the office, Bennett was already standing behind his desk waiting impatiently. “Thank you. Maybe best to close the door if you wouldn’t mind. Take a seat,” Bennett said, then seemed to nervously fidget with a stack of files on his desk. “Please, have a seat, Custer, have a seat.”
“What’s this about, Bennett?”
“Bit of an update for you. I think I mentioned the other day that we’ve, oh, how should I put it? We’ve been able to reacquire Chuck Larson and Jerry Downs from the old acquisitions group. Not to mention we’ve got two more on the line that appear to be ready to come back. Here’s our problem. With four of them coming back, well, I’m afraid were going to need that office you’ve been using.”
“By that office? Am I to assume you mean the one I’m in right now? The one you told me there’d be no problem keeping?”
“Well, yes, obviously. At the time that appeared to be the case. As you are aware circumstances have changed. Now, it would seem to me, to us, that for the good of the firm…”
“And, where exactly do you think I should move to? Or, am I out of line in thinking I even have a position here?”
“Well, no, no. That’s certainly not the situation. As I’ve told you before, you’re a valuable member of our staff.”
“Member of your staff?”
“Believe me, we want you on our team. I think if you could see fit to return back to the office you were using prior to where you are now, things will work out just fine. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, necessarily, but on the other hand having these two returning and with the potential of two others, I’m sure you can see the logic…”
“Actually, Bennett, no, I really can’t see the logic, any logic for that matter. I’ve held onto the Montcreff business for you. I mean you lose that account and you can just about close the doors here. I’ve never asked for much, and I suddenly feel as though I’m being thrown overboard for a bunch of shysters who were so loyal to the firm that they ran off in the middle of night with their clients and the only reason they’re coming back is because they screwed it up.” Plus, the fact that I put Nate Anderson and Angie Benedict in an unmarked grave up in the north woods.
“I was hoping you could see things our way. After all, let me remind you that technically you’re unable to practice law. By the way, that didn’t stop us from providing a rather cozy domicile for you along with…”
“And I appreciate that fact. It’s why I work as hard as I do. Not able to practice? I see that as a mere technicality, which is why we’ve had a couple of entry-level people doing the grunt work at my direction. I might add at a substantial savings to the firm since you’ve seen fit to move Noah Denton into retirement status and live off my almost twenty years of experience.”
“I understand what you’re saying, Custer, but I’m not really sure that’s the issue here.”
“Actually, Bennett, I think it’s exactly the issue. I tell you what. Here’s what I propose. You have a nice chat with the other partners, Sawyer and Allan, and let them know I’ll be receiving a modest increase of, say fifty thousand dollars over the course of the year and that I’ll be moving into Noah Denton’s office. There, problem solved. You’ve got office space for the acquisition guys who tried to rip you off, and I’m happy. Anything else?” he asked, then stood.
“I hope you’re joking, because that’s simply not going to work. That’s a partner’s office and simply not how we operate here.”
“Not going to work? Not how you operate? Denton’s office is empty. I’d like it, and by the way, I’ll hold on to the largest client this firm has and all for just another measly fifty grand. That’s chump change, Bennett, and you know it. You like your warm weather vacations, your lunch and sauna every day, not to mention your two to three hour work day. I don’t think it’s too much to ask. After all, I’m the guy doing all the heavy lifting.”
“You’re not practicing and you will not be able to practice, ever. You have been disbarred, Custer, disbarred.” Bennett said. Then Bobby watched him literally grow red faced.
“Okay, I tell you what. Why don’t you think about it? Maybe sit down with your partners and between the three of you come to a decision about which one is going to call Morris Montcreff and tell him they’ll be handling his account. Then, while he’s attempting to convince Montcreff he won’t completely fuck it up, the other two can be passing out pink slips to everyone here, because in short order you won’t have the business to support your staff. Fair enough?” Bobby smiled.
“I’m not finding one damn thing funny about that suggestion.”
“It’s a little more than a suggestion, Bennett. Right now, I know where all the bodies are buried with Morris Montcreff. I’ve been going back and forth through his files for months. He’s not going to put up with someone else starting from scratch, not to mention someone who isn’t too happy about taking on the task. Who’s going to do it, you? You’ve worked too hard to get where you’re at to go back to a hundred-hour work week. Sawyer and Allan? My guess is Montcreff won’t give either one of them the time of day. But go ahead, might as well give it a try. What do you have to lose? Well, except the firm and everything you’ve worked for.” It was on the tip of his tongue, the barb sta
ting that Bennett Hinz had never really had to work for anything in his life, but he swallowed it, saved it for a later date.
“Even if I wanted to, they’ll never go for this.”
“I have all the faith in the world in you, Bennett. Enjoy your day,” he said, then strode out of Bennett’s office and headed for the elevator.
“When will you be returning, Mr. Custer?” Marci asked.
“I’m not sure. Maybe check with Mr. Hinz on that,” he said then stepped onto the elevator.
He pulled over to the curb just a minute or two into his drive home and dialed the number. “What is it?” Montcreff growled.
“Sorry to bother you, Sir. Just back from a quick visit to Mr. Denton. Unfortunately, no change. I could also use your help on a matter.”
“Oh?”
“Seems some sort of internal craziness at the firm. They’ve suggested putting a couple of new hires on your account, using it as a learning process. I’ve suggested to the partners that’s not the best idea. My thought is to keep as much information as possible regarding your dealings private.”
“Who in the hell came up with that idea?”
“I’m not sure, Sir. Frankly it has all the makings of some sort of accounting foolishness, trying to save a buck.”
“Who’s head do I tear off over there?”
“Actually, someone will probably be calling the next day or so. If you maybe just mentioned how you felt about the idea…”
“I’ll be doing more than that. Jesus Christ,” Montcreff screamed and hung up.
Chapter Fifteen
Not a bad day, Bobby thought. He’d almost shot Gregory Lindgren, he threatened Emily, Doctor Antonnini, Bennett Hinz, walked out on his job and it was still the middle of the afternoon. As long as he was doing so well, he decided to drive past what was left of the house he had theoretically rented to Camila. He hadn’t been back since the day they fled the place.
The street looked the same. Well, except that there was no black SUV with tinted windows parked at either end of the block. He drove down the street and parked in front of the lot where the house used to stand. He climbed out of the Mercedes and just stood in the street looking at what was left. A couple of the limbs along one side of the large cottonwood tree in the corner of the lot appeared to be singed and charred. The sidewalk running up to the recently planted hedge suddenly stopped about where it came even with four brick pillars, maybe three feet high, that the front porch used to rest on.
You could still make out where the foundation walls were, leaving a sort of footprint of the structure as a reminder. It was all filled in with sand, now. Compliments of the city and Bobby was sure he’d be getting a bill within the month. Beyond where the back steps used to be, the brick patio was still there, and most of the cedar fence that surrounded the back yard. Maybe five or six feet of the fence on either side of where the house had stood were missing, and the first couple of boards had the telltale signs of fire. The garage looked to be okay, if you discounted the grey sheets of plywood screwed into the structure covering the windows and the rear door.
Just looking at the place brought back nightmare memories of shots ringing out, rounds clanging off of shovels and equipment, part of the door frame suddenly torn away like some invisible monster had taken a bite out of it as Bobby jumped through the mist of blood from Crewcut pulling Camila closer to him so he wouldn’t get shot. He could hear the noise, smell the rounds, see people falling. It all played in his head in slow motion, like a bad movie, and he just stood there unable to turn it off.
“Ain’t no one home, I guess,” a voice called behind him and he turned to see two teenage girls giggling as they hurried down the street.
Idiots, he thought. Two dead that the cops knew about. More like five or six if he really thought about it, remembering the bodies Ignacio and crew had tossed into their cars.
It suddenly dawned on him that the two bodies could well have been the two people he had shot, the one in the basement and the other up at the top of the basement stairs. Or had there been three? He suddenly couldn’t seem to remember, it all just sort of ran together.
He walked around the foundation and into what had been the back yard. The gas grill was gone, an expensive item, relatively new. He bet that if he drove down the alley he’d spot it sitting in a neighbor’s yard, not that he intended to do anything about it. Probably good that they’d grabbed the thing before the city trashed it. He walked around to the alley side and stared at the blood stain on the concrete pad that looked like someone had halfheartedly washed away with a garden hose.
He wondered about Camila and the child, Valentina. Then before he knew what had happened, he had his phone up against his ear listening. It was answered just after the third ring.
“Si.” The voice said, making it sound more like a question.
“May I speak with Luis, please?”
“Mr. Custer, to what do I owe the honor?”
“Hi, Luis. I’m sorry to bother you. If you have a moment to chat. I wanted to check with you about your sister. How is she doing?”
“She is improving every day. Able to take small steps, but from where she was just a week ago, this is a very good thing. She is tough, my sister.”
“I would love to see her.”
There was a momentary pause. “I’m afraid that would not be for the best. Please know I will pass on your best wishes. I speak with her every day.”
“Would it be possible to call her?”
“I’m afraid that is out of the question, also. But as I said, I will pass on to her your thoughts and prayers.”
“And your daughter, she’s well?”
“She is.”
“Thank you for your time, Luis. Sorry for my interruption, I’ll let you get back to your day.”
“The pleasure was mine, Mr. Custer. Are you wearing the ring?”
“I’ve haven’t taken it off. It reminds me every day of your sister and your daughter, I pray for them.”
“And they for you, Mr. Custer. Thank you,” he said and hung up.
Bobby looked around a final time at what was left of the site, then climbed back in his car and drove off.
Chapter Sixteen
He knocked on Emily’s door at exactly seven-thirty. She opened the door a moment later. At first he thought she was wearing an apron, then realized it was a low cut dress, not cloth, more of a rubber sort of thing and black, shiny black. It was incredibly short and unbelievably tight. The top appeared too small for her breasts and was held up by a strap maybe an inch wide that ran around the back of her neck. From the erect nipples and the center slit running almost up to her waist it was clear she had nothing on underneath.
“Right on time,” she said and placed her hands around his hips.
“Is that thing rubber?”
“Latex, actually. You like?”
“Maybe let me in before you have every guy on the street knocking on your door,” he said then stepped in and closed the door behind him. She barely moved and he had to brush against her forcefully to make it in and close the door behind him.
“So, you like?” she asked again. She flared her nostrils and appeared to be breathing heavily. Her pupils seemed to be dilated. “You didn’t answer me. Do you like it?”
“Yeah, sexy, real sexy. But look, I want to talk to you, have a chat about your early morning friend.”
“A chat? Wasn’t it you who said you were going to fuck my brains out? Didn’t you leave me this gentle reminder,” she said then pulled the latex top down exposing her breasts. They were marred by black and blue marks, four of them across the top and one on the side of either breast, from his hands when he’d grabbed her in the kitchen and squeezed as hard as he could just before he left.
“God, Emily. I’m so sorry, I had no idea. I was just so upset, the cops, your friend the…”
“I loved every second of it,” she said, then ran her hands down to his belt as she dropped to her knees and began to undo the b
uckle.
“No, we should talk first. There’s a lot…”
“There’s plenty of time for that, but first you’ll have to come up with the price of admission,” she said unzipping his trousers.
* * *
The roast was done to perfection, the baked potato delicious, even the vegetable, some sort of carrot thing was excellent. Bobby took another sip of wine and the moment he set it back down on the table Emily reached for the bottle and refilled his glass.
“I’d like to be at least semi-conscious when we go to bed.”
“So you’re staying?”
“If you promise it will just be the two of us.”
“God, I’m so sorry.”
“I know, it’s not your fault.”
“I don’t know. I guess looking back it was one of the reasons we drifted apart. I mean there was never any real breakup or anything. We just didn’t see one another, then the phones calls stopped, and then the next thing I know, the stupid bastard is at the foot of my stairs with a broken leg and you’ve got a gun on him.”
Imagine. And all you did was blackmail him. “Like I said, he fell.”
“Well, he seemed to suggest that you…”
“Honey, he broke into your house, just for starters. The fact that you’re not pressing charges, that’s your decision, but I don’t get it.”
“I know. I guess I just thought it would do more harm than good. I mean, he’s got a broken leg, he’s going to have to explain that to his wi… er, to everyone. I mean a trial, the whole burglary thing. I just don’t see it helping him in any way.”
“Why do you want to help him? The guys a nut case.”
“Granted, he’s got some issues. He’s also got a lot of money. He’ll get professional help and hopefully get straightened out.”
