“Of course. We can do anything you say. Do you accept the terms of Peter’s will?”
“I do and may God rest his soul. There won’t be a day of my life that I don’t think of Peter and thank him in my heart.” She couldn’t finish. She broke down.
Bobby reached in his jacket, bringing out a linen handkerchief with an F embroidered on it. “Here.” His eyes wa-tered, too.
She wiped her eyes. “Another question. Peter wishes Doug to succeed me, which really is the best plan—”
Bobby interrupted. “But he has no money.”
“We’ve got a few years left to figure out how to make sure he does have the resources to run the club. There are bigger obstacles. First, we must convince the club that the title of hunt secretary carries almost as much weight as master.”
“That’s saddling Doug with a hell of a burden,” Bobby blurted.
“It may be but it also ensures that those with a big ego and big pocketbook like Crawford might contribute generously if elected as hunt secretary. Look, once this will is read, no one but a bloody fool will try to fiddle with it. We need that land. It’s good land, too. We couldn’t possibly buy it. Not at today’s prices and it’s close to a hundred acres. The club will fall in line.” She held up her hand. “We’ll have to hear this, that, and who shot the cat but they’ll fall in. My question to you, Vin, is twofold: What if Doug should predecease me? Secondly, what if Doug were convicted of a felony?”
This got both men’s full attention.
Vin cleared his throat. “If Doug predeceases you, then you have the right to name your successor with the stipulation that it be someone Peter taught as a child.”
“And would we be within the spirit and scope of Peter’s will if, say, Doug committed a felony? I should say was convicted of a felony. Then would I have the right to name a successor? Again, someone who Peter taught.”
Flipping up pages of the will, Vin read intently. He cleared his throat again. “I think you would not be in violation of this will.”
Bobby, bolt upright now. “You think Doug killed Fontaine?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m asking a reasonable question. Personally, I hope Doug does succeed me. He will be a fine master once he gets the hang of it. Don’t jump to conclusions.”
Of course, they had.
CHAPTER 53
The motor purred as Sister Jane and Bobby Franklin sat in her Durango in the parking lot of Vin Barber’s law firm. Over a foot and a half of snow had fallen last night, the temperature stayed low, and the skies threatened more snow.
“Talk to me.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
That directive meant tell me everything and I know plenty as it is.
Bobby sighed. “When I thought you were searching for a joint-master I supported Crawford Howard. Let me hasten to add that was a grievous error and I have since repented of my ways.”
“In florid fashion, I’ve heard.”
“Uh—yes. Anyway, Fontaine found out—not that I was actively campaigning for Crawford. I’d only verbally committed to his support and I hadn’t yet lobbied other board members. Well, Fontaine threatened to take away his business from me and to make sure others shunned my press. As you know, Fontaine did use us for most of his needs. The income from Mountain Landscapes has been steady. Crawford threw me big jobs but I wasn’t sure if all of his jobs would outweigh Fontaine’s jobs and vice versa. I believed Fontaine’s threat. I was between a rock and a hard place.”
“Let me get right to the point, Bobby, and I ask this with no malice intended: Did you kill Fontaine?”
“No. I’d much prefer to kill Crawford.”
“That seems to be the prevailing mood.”
“About me?”
“No, about Fontaine’s death. When asked, people say they wonder why Fontaine, or they say exactly as you did. Curious.”
Bobby squirmed in his heated seat, the warmth toasting his back. “How do I turn this thing down?”
“Flip it off.” She reached over and cut off the heated-seat button. “The warmth in the car is sufficient, although I love these heated seats.”
“I carry my own heat with me.” He smiled sadly. “Now look, Sister, do you honestly think I would or could kill Fontaine Buruss because he threatened my business?”
“No, but I had to ask. But you could kill him if he threatened or harmed Cody.”
Bobby’s head rocked back a moment. “Why do you say that?”
“You tell me.”
“Rumor.”
“Have you asked her?”
“Of course not.”
“All right, then, let’s look at this from another angle. Do you think Cody had an affair with Fontaine?”
Bobby really squirmed in his seat now. “He was old enough to be her father almost.”
“Since when has that stopped a man?”
A sickly pallor flooded Bobby’s broad face. “Yeah. Is this relevant?”
“For Chrissake, Bobby, if I didn’t think it were, do you think I’d sit here for the sheer pleasure of making you uncomfortable?”
“I know. I know.” He gripped the handguard as though the vehicle were moving. “Do I think Cody had an affair with Fontaine?” An agonizing silence followed; then he spoke much too loudly. “Yes. Goddammit. Yes. I could have killed him for that. She’s made enough of a hellhole of her life as it is without him digging her in deeper.” He caught his breath. “Rehab and therapy. Betty and I have to go once a month along with the kids—I’m finding out stuff I wish I didn’t know. Cody would sleep with anyone to get cocaine—more than one at a time. I’m amazed she’s alive and not suffering from AIDS. And Jennifer has always worshiped Cody. That was misplaced admiration. I hope we’ve stopped this before she really follows in Cody’s footsteps.” He wiped his forehead with the palm of his hand. “If they were sons, I’d have thrashed them within an inch of their lives.”
She swallowed. “Bobby, we’ve known one another for a long time. Children go their own way and even if it’s the wrong way they have to learn. Cody had sense enough to put herself through rehab. She’s looking for a good job. Restaurant work brings her into contact with much of what she needs to avoid. It’s going to be difficult for both of your girls but Jennifer has an earlier start on cleaning up. Everyone knows Cody’s history here. At least Jennifer’s misdeeds are on a smaller scale. Cody’s back with Doug and if anyone can help her stay on the straight and narrow—it’s him.”
“I’m very grateful to him,” Bobby mumbled. “I behaved badly this summer. I even rejoiced when they broke up.” He stared out the window, tears rolling down his cheeks. “You know, I’m ashamed of myself. I was worried about what people would say.”
“Color.”
“That didn’t help. Money. You know a father likes to see his daughters married to men of means. Right now that seems—superficial.”
“It’s the way we were raised. And it’s not far wrong. Love is potent. Money is omnipotent. No father wants to commit his daughter to a poor man. Have you said anything to Cody about Doug?”
He shook his head. “No.”
They sat watching a few isolated flakes fall, presaging more to come.
“Maybe you should talk to Cody.”
“That’s what Betty says.” He turned his face toward hers. “I don’t want to upset her. I’m afraid she’ll go backward.”
“Admitting you were wrong about Doug isn’t going to upset her.”
“Actually, I was thinking about Fontaine. Asking her.”
“I don’t know. Done is done.”
His voice, barely audible, shook. “I don’t know if Jennifer will make it. She’s in trouble before Cody was—at her age—or, maybe I see it. . . . I didn’t see it with Cody. Jennifer’s still under my roof. I don’t know what to do.”
“Jennifer has your full attention. I suppose negative attention is still better than no attention. She’s always been in Cody’s shadow. I thank God I passed through adolescence before the words ‘self-esteem’ were uttered.” She sighed.