“I’m hoping others will agree to contribute to this effort. To get things started, I’m going to do my part. Effective today, three-quarters of all my earnings, including touring, record sales, downloads, and merchandise, will go into the trust.
“There are no loopholes in my commitment to this battle. All my contracts with the record label, agent, and management are ironclad. Seventy-five cents of every dollar will go to the fight against childhood cancer. That’s a good reason to buy my music, even if you don’t like it.”
Cory laughed before turning serious. “I can’t do this alone. I’m hoping the steps I’m taking will set an example for others with similar resources and profiles. It’s important to take a stand, and I’m hoping others will follow my example.
“This is not an easy challenge, but I believe with all my heart that, together, we can do this.
“I can see a cancer-free world. It’s not that far ahead. Can you help us get there?”
* * *
As the SUV headed down Broadway, Cory powered up his phone. There were four missed calls. All from Tower.
Cory would have preferred to talk to Tower on the phone, but doing it in person was what Dr. Bruno would have wanted. He was afraid to see him alone, but Cory couldn’t allow anyone to hear the conversation.
The SUV pulled up to his lawyer’s office. Cory said to Tracy, “If I’m not back in twenty minutes, come up to the seventh floor and get me.”
“Who are you meeting?”
“It’s a personal thing.”
Cory swallowed hard as Brenda showed him into Tower’s office. The lawyer had both feet on the desk and a smile on his face.
“You think you’re pretty cute, don’t you?”
“I had to do what I did.”
Tower swung his feet off the desk. “Do you really want to go head-to-head with me?”
“Look, you got greedy, wanting half my earnings. End of the day, you were no better than Bonner.”
“I earned it. You got a bargain on the shooting incident; you have to make it up.”
“I’m done with blackmailing. The money you wanted is going to help kids with cancer.”
“If you go through with this scheme, the pictures will get out and you’ll be ruined.”
“If they do, I’ll get you disbarred. You’d be breaking attorney-client confidentiality.”
Tower laughed. “Who counseled you on that? You think I won’t get the charge dropped?”
“I’ll tell the press everything. That you made a deal with Bonner and paid off half the divorce attorneys in the city not to represent my wife.”
“Incentives are very effective.”
“It’s illegal.”
“Try and prove it. They were paid to research your assets, and that conflict prevents them from representing your wife.”
“You got an answer for everything, don’t you?”
Tower smiled. “I appreciate the compliment.”
“Yeah, well, I’m taking you down.”
“Listen, you little smart-ass, before you threaten me, you better have evidence, hard evidence. Otherwise, get back in the playground.”
Cory took his phone out and waved it. “Is a recording of this meeting hard enough for you?”
“You’re recording this?”
Cory tapped on his phone. “Yup, sure am.”
“Give me that phone.”
Cory tapped his phone. “The audio file is on its way to my manager. He has instructions to release it if anything happens to me.”
“I’ll destroy you. Don’t fuck with me.”
“I have nothing to lose, and I’ll take you down with me.”
Chapter Sixty-Five
Cory steered the SUV onto the ramp for I-95.
“Mom and I wanted to tell you something. We just started working with a Realtor, and we’re going to be moving out of the place in Manhattan as well.”
“Moving?”
“Yes, I know you like the apartment, but we’re going to move into something smaller.”
“How come?”
“Well, we can use the money we’ll save to help find a cure for childhood cancer.”
“Mary said you were giving all our money away.”
“Not all of it. Just a good piece of it. But we’ll still be more than fine. At this point, it makes sense to save as much as we can and see how things go.”
“But where are we going to move to? Back to our old place?”
“Nah, we’re going to stay in the city. You won’t have to change schools. There’s a lot of new buildings we’re looking at. The apartment will just be smaller.”
“Am I going to have my own bedroom?”
“Of course. And one for Tommy and a place for grandma when she stays over.”
“Okay. I’m really glad you’re helping sick kids, Dad. It’s nice of you.”
Cory smiled. “It’s the least I could do.”
Linda said, “Your father is a good man. He knows that helping others is really important. Doing something for someone else gives you a great feeling.”
“I know, Mom. I like to help people too.”
“I know you do. You’re always helping me.”
“How long till we get there?”
“Navigation says ten minutes.”
Cory pulled up the driveway of a cedar-shingled cottage. “This is it, kids.”
Ava said, “It looks pretty old.”
“It needs a little fixing up, but it’s got a lake out back.”
“Really? Our own lake?”
“It’s not ours. All the houses around it use it. And the best part is the owner left a little boat for us.”
“With a motor?”
“Yup. It’s nothing big, but it’ll be fun.”
“Look, there’s some kids riding bikes over there.”
Linda said, “Most of the families here have children your age and younger. That’s why we decided on this house.”
“That’s cool. I never had anybody to play with at the other house.”
Cory patted Linda’s thigh. The move from the Connecticut estate was going to work out. Despite how badly Cory had handled success, Ava’s value system was intact.
* * *
Cory came off the elevator and stepped around the boxes filling the foyer. Linda was in the kitchen.
Cory kissed her cheek. “What are you making?”
“Shrimp and veggies. How’d it go?”
“Good. There’s this one kid, he’s got leukemia, he picks up anything I show him. I had to give him some diminished scales to occupy him.”
“A prodigy?”
“Maybe. Dave called, and Disney is interested in ‘Milky Way Express.’”
“What? Oh my God, that’s great.”
“They’re about to start an animated movie where the characters are figures from the constellations. It’s a pretty cool concept. They have high hopes for it, signed up a bunch of big actors for the voices.”
“It sounds like it could be a winner.”
“Dave said that because all my contracts have genre clauses, that I can keep this outside of the trust, and we can keep whatever it makes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but I told him no. It wouldn’t be the right thing to do.”
Linda smiled at him. “I’m proud of you.”
* * *
Bruno was right. Holding a secret was mind poison. Even though Tower had left him alone, Cory needed to get it out. He needed to be honest with Linda. And he wanted to tell his kids. Tommy was too young, but for Ava it would be one of the most important life lessons one could learn.
Linda came out of the bedroom. “He’s finally asleep.”
“He was overtired. Maybe we shouldn’t have taken him to the show.”
“No way, he’s your number one fan.”
Cory shrugged. “Look, I have something to tell you and Ava.”
“What?”
“It’s a long story. Get Ava, and I’ll tell you.”
<
br /> The End
* * *
If you enjoyed it, please consider telling a friend or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend. Thank you, Dan
Dan has a monthly newsletter that features his writing, articles on Self Esteem & Confidence building, as well as educational pieces on wine. He also spotlights other author’s books that are on sale. Sign up—www.danpetrosini.com
Books By Dan
Luca Mystery Series
Am I the Killer—Book 1
Vanished—Book 2
The Serenity Murder—Book 3
Third Chances—Book 4
A Cold, Hard Case—Book 5
Cop or Killer?—Book 6
Silencing Salter—Book 7
A Killer Missteps—Book 8
Uncertain Stakes—Book 9
The Grandpa Killer—Book 10
Dangerous Revenge—Book 11
Suspenseful Secrets
Cory's Dilemma—Book 1
Other works by Dan Petrosini
The Final Enemy
Complicit Witness
Push Back
Ambition Cliff
Cory's Dilemma Page 23
