“There you are. Come and look.”
We went with her through the bedrooms, the office, the sitting rooms, the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, and on. I didn’t feel like I lived in this house-but it was a wonderful, beautiful place where I’d want to feel at home.
“I’m amazed,” I said. “We only moved in today?”
“Is it still today?” Katie said. “It seems like a month since this morning. There’s still so much unpacking to do. I told the movers to be back tomorrow.”
Eric wandered off in search of a television, to catch up on the latest tidbits, and I led Katie back up to my perch above the fireplace. “I really am amazed,” I said. “It’s the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s what I’m good at.”
“You’re good at so many things.”
That bought me one of her most beautiful smiles. “We’ll be happy here, Jason.”
“Together? I’m still the same person, you know.”
“I think you’ve changed.”
No. “You’re just seeing a different side.”
“It’s your good side. You aren’t so moody all the time.”
“You hardly ever see me.”
She was too blissful to disagree. “That’s because you have so much to do. You’re important now. It makes you feel different.” She leaned against my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you. You’re doing so many good things, and you’re doing them so well. You have purpose.”
“That would be nice.” I’d let the other comments slide.
She laughed.
I had to laugh, too. Maybe I really had changed. “Okay. But just being rich and important isn’t enough.”
“Then nothing is.”
“There must be something.”
“Being together is enough for me.”
It was for me, too.
It was just after six. I was looking through drawers and closets in the bedroom when my cell phone rang, and it was Pamela.
“Reporting in,” she said. “Detective Wilcox of the state police will see you tomorrow at nine in your office. Nathan Kern called. And tonight, you and Fred should be at the downtown Hilton at eleven to meet Clinton Grainger. There’s a bar off the main lobby. If he’s not there by midnight, we should try to reschedule for the weekend.”
“Thanks, Pamela. If there’s anything else, let me know.”
“Yes, sir. Have you been watching the news?”
“No.”
“The four executives you fired yesterday have been charged with lots of crimes.”
“Lots?”
“Lots and lots. They are all in custody for the moment, until they get out on bail.”
“Oh well. I’m not surprised.”
The Gang of Four. I was hungry for Chinese. After I hung up, I looked for Katie.
“Is Rosita planning dinner tonight?” I asked.
“No. I told her not to.”
“Did you even have lunch?”
“Just a sandwich… no. I never ate it.”
“Tell her to order a mound of cashew chicken and pork lo mein, and anything else she thinks would go with it. And I’ve got a meeting downtown tonight, late.”
I went to my new office. The movers had done a good job; even my books were in the right order on the shelves. I organized and filed for a while, and then I remembered Nathan. I never had called him, and he would have received the file I’d sent him with no explanation. I finally found him at home.
“Jason? This is Nathan.”
“Pamela said you called,” I said.
“Yes. I realize you’re having a very busy day, and I’m sorry to bother you. But I received the envelope you mailed to me. I looked through it briefly, and I thought I should call.”
“That’s fine. I was going to call you, but I forgot. I didn’t need you to do anything with it. I just wanted to have a copy of the papers in a safe place.”
“Oh, of course. I understand.”
“The FBI has a copy now, and so does the newspaper and everyone else, so you probably don’t need to keep it.”
“I should destroy it, then?”
“Whatever. That would be okay.”
“I will, then. I’ve been following the news since yesterday. Jason, I’m very impressed that you’re doing this.”
Quickly, I booted up the platitude server. “I wanted it all to come out.”
“I said I thought it would be a noble thing.”
“I don’t know. It won’t really hurt me much, and I’ll have a clean conscience. I may not even need the foundation anymore. I won’t have any evil deeds that I need good deeds to balance against.”
He must have known I was joking, but he still took it seriously.
“Well, that would be your decision of course, Jason.”
“I’m not being serious. But I’m looking forward to being rich without being corrupt.”
“That’s not easy to do.”
“I’ll give it a try.” I was really just trying a little banter, but he was the wrong person for light conversation. I should have just answered his question about the envelope and hung up.
“You might consider it first.” It would have helped if the man had a sense of humor. Or maybe he did. Maybe he was joking, too. “Remember, it isn’t the source that makes the wealth good or bad. It’s often the wealth itself that is the issue.”
“Well… I will remember that. But this is a fresh start and maybe that will make a difference.”
He knew when to yield. “In any case, I’m sure your actions yesterday and today will produce great benefits.”
“Thank you.”
“And I hope that it can all be settled peacefully. Have you communicated at all with the governor or his staff?”
“I’m meeting with his chief of staff tonight.”
“Mr. Grainger? Oh, really!” He paused-apparently another phone had rung. Then he was back. “Have you spoken with him before?”
“Twice, briefly. You know him?”
“I’ve worked with him on a number of inner-city projects that the governor took a personal interest in. He has the governor’s ear, Jason. If anyone can work things out, he’ll be able to.”
“I’m hoping we can work something out.”
I feared that the joy with which I was anticipating dinner might be diminished slightly by that conversation. But it wasn’t.
Dinner was very nice. I’d seen no sign of Francine-she didn’t drive after dark, so she’d been gone for a while. Eric was still with us.
I complimented Rosita on her excellent dinner as she cleared away the white cardboard and chopsticks, and she said it was an old family recipe. We even looked into the kitchen to see her progress in organizing her new domain.
Two new maids were to report to work tomorrow, and gardeners were already employed. Home, sweet home.
At ten o’clock I gave Katie instructions to get to bed early, and I left for the Hilton. It was a longer drive downtown from this house.
Now I had time to think.
I didn’t believe it anymore, what Nathan had said. Wealth and power don’t corrupt. It’s just that corrupt people often became wealthy and powerful.
I had changed in four weeks. It wasn’t for the worse, though. Maybe I’d said I’d never take the money, but I knew better now. I’d done nothing wrong in getting it, and I wouldn’t have to do anything wrong to keep it. I was going to keep it. I will be rich, I will be powerful. I accept it. Melvin Boyer knew his son, and he’d made the right decision.
Angela? Five days ago I’d been slapping myself about being at fault for her death, but that wasn’t really a reasonable way to look at it. I’d smothered a political attack against myself. I’d had every reason to believe that the suspicion of murder was unfounded. Unfortunately, I’d been wrong. But life goes on. For the rest of us, anyway.
The police were still clueless. They wouldn’t have been able to prevent it even if they had kept the investigation open. I’d made the right decision.
Melvin? I’d had nothing to do with his death; that was all on his own head. With as many enemies as he’d made, it was a wonder he’d lasted as long as he did. Melvin Boyer. Now, there was a paradigm of corruption, a man who was ruthless to begin with. He’d made his fortune because he was cruel and smart and lucky. But a person didn’t have to be that way to be rich. I wouldn’t be. I had him as an example of what to avoid.