“But it mattered later, when the company became successful,” Natasha said. “You must have resented how Wardo set it up then.”
“No, I loved him like a brother. I made him a lot of money, but I never felt shorted. We both worked hard, but he had the original idea, and he got the ball rolling before I came on. I only had to take orders from eager buyers and watch it grow.”
“So if you didn't use your stock for collateral to Flash,” Ward asked, “what did you use for collateral for the loan?”
“When you sell the company, I'll get the six hundred thousand off the top of my end. I guess since you'll never sell, as an alternative, you could buy me out and I could pay Flash back from the proceeds of the transaction. I mean, I'm sure you don't want to ever see me again after my betrayal.”
“No,” Ward said. “I don't want to buy you out. I do that and I'd have to hire a sales manager, and I'd be incurring debt I don't need. I'll sell to Flash Dibble at the price he offered if he'll agree to take care of our employees the way I would have. He'll agree. He won't like sharing profits with employees, but he'll see it's smart business because they know what they're doing.”
Mark nodded.
Natasha spoke. “If Ward sells, and it's fine by me if he really wants to, he should take the video game out of the company. I'm sure you won't mind signing it away, Unk. He was just cutting the company in out of the goodness of his heart. He'll reimburse RGI for any money it put into the development.”
Mark looked surprised, but nodded. “It was Ward's idea, and he's the one who should own it. I never had anything to do with it. It's only right. Why should Flash get his hands on it?”
“Flash doesn't know about it, does he?” Natasha asked.
“No, he doesn't. I didn't tell him.”
“Because if you did, it might explain why he wants RGI so badly all things considered. It might explain a lot that's been happening.” She didn't elaborate, but Ward certainly understood.
“I don't want the company. Maybe Barney would have wanted it if he'd lived, but…” He looked at Natasha and smiled. “I know what is important.”
“But if Flash doesn't keep Trey away, he could destroy RGI.” Mark ran his fingers through his hair.
“Trey Dibble is dead,” Ward said.
If Ward had been holding a baseball, he could have slipped it into Mark's mouth without touching teeth.
FORTY-NINE
From the den, a fuming Natasha watched Ward and his uncle seated beside the pool in lounge chairs, talking as though nothing had happened. Despite what he'd told his uncle about selling to Flash Dibble, she knew Ward was deeply hurt and torn, and that he wouldn't say that to his uncle. Instead, he would suffer without venting, as usual. She watched for several minutes before she could stand it no longer and stormed outside.
When she approached, Mark looked up at her and made the mistake of smiling one of his patented isn't-the-world-an-oyster smiles.
“Unk,” she said. “I just wanted to say a couple of things.”
“Sure, Natasha,” he replied. “You can say anything to me. We're family.”
“Family. I'm glad you feel that way.” She saw Ward turn his eyes out toward the woods.
“Gambling is a sickness and I'm going to get help so I never do it again,” Mark added.
“Okay… Unk, I refuse to dismiss this by agreeing that you have a disease you should treat, and just letting it go. What you did is unforgivable, because Ward loves and trusts you like a boy trusts his father and you repaid that by betraying him in the worst way. Not because you stole money from him but because you took advantage of him at the lowest point in his life. If he hadn't been grieving for our son, I doubt you would have dreamed of stealing from him, or known he wouldn't be paying attention to the books.”
Ward turned back to the conversation, suddenly interested.
“I loved Barney,” Mark said. “His passing affected all of us deeply.”
“Don't you dare use our child's death as an excuse for your behavior. If only for the sake of his memory, and our grief, you should have never taken the first nickel. If Wardo was alive and you had pulled this crap, he would have prosecuted, and he would never have forgiven you as Ward seems able to do. That's because Ward is a better and far kinder person than his father was.”
“You aren't saying anything that I haven't told myself a thousand times,” Mark said. “I do love both of you.”
“You've put Ward in the position of sacrificing to help you, even though you have been working against his interest by plotting with the Dibbles. Don't you dare deny it. While selling the company will bring you both a lot of money, I do not believe he is going to sell because he wants the financial freedom but to pull your ass out of a fire you made.”
“Flash knows about the game, doesn't he?” Ward asked.
Mark shrugged and stood. “I don't know for sure, but I think he might. I guess I should go.”
“Yes, I think that's a good idea,” Ward said, standing. “I'll tell Gene to tell Flash as soon as the time is right. If he still wants it, without the video game.”
“Maybe Flash Dibble will let you work off the loan by selling cars for him,” Natasha said.
“I deserve that,” Mark said. “If there's anything I can do.”
“I can't imagine another thing you could possibly do for us,” Natasha said firmly. Her hands had been planted on her hips since she'd confronted Mark Wilson. At that moment she was furious with him, but she could never hate him, or anyone else. Neither she nor Ward had ever learned how to do that. And she knew that wasn't a bad thing; it just made them vulnerable.
As soon as his uncle was out of hearing range, Ward stood and said, “The truth is, I'd love to just sketch and paint and lead the reflective life of the artist.”
She laughed. “You should do exactly that, if that would make you happy.” Ward reached out and took her hand, and kissed her gently.
“You make me happy. Thank you,” he said. “I've never seen you so pissed off. Truth is, I should have said what you said to Unk. I just couldn't bring myself to do it.”
“That's okay, darling. Confrontation is what wives are for,” Natasha said.
FIFTY
Just after Mark left, Ward and Natasha took a quick shower together, which led to them ending up in bed afterward, drying themselves in the twisted sheets. If the phone in the den had chimed a minute earlier, it would have interrupted their passion. The doorbell rang.
Ward got off the bed, slipped on his boxers, and put on his robe.
“Where's that gun?”
Natasha put her fingers through her hair, thinking. She frowned. “I put it in the top drawer. I'm getting dressed.”
Ward went over and opened the drawer, looking in at the revolver and the bullets lying beside it. He lifted the gun and opened it, dropping in the five bullets. Putting the pistol into the pocket of his robe, he went to the front door without seeing who had called.
With his right hand gripping the weapon in his pocket, he opened the door to Agent Mayes, whose Crown Victoria was parked behind him. He had a laptop computer under his arm. The guard behind them had his phone in hand, mouthing that he had tried to call ahead.
“Agent Mayes,” Ward said, taking his hand out of his pocket.
“Is this a bad time?” Mayes asked.
“No, what can I do for you?”
“I thought I'd come by personally and give you some news.”
“Where's your partner?” Ward said.