Promise Not To Tell(12)

The Kenningtons were brilliant when it came to business, but they were also notorious for their family dramas. They were known for their volatile tempers. They harbored grudges, engaged in multigenerational feuds and usually racked up multiple marriages.

Cabot reached for the phone on his desk. Get it over with, he thought. Then he could start thinking about tomorrow morning and Virginia Troy.

A woman with a smooth, polished voice answered on the second ring.

“Burleigh Hammond.”

“Cabot Sutter returning a call from —” Cabot broke off to glance at the sticky note. “From J. L. Burleigh.”

“Yes, of course, Mr. Sutter.” The polished voice warmed instantly. “Mr. Burleigh is expecting your call. I’m afraid he’s on the other line. Will you hold?”

Cabot glanced at his watch. “He’s got thirty seconds.”

Burleigh took the call immediately.

“Thank you for returning my call, Mr. Sutter.”

It was a lawyer’s voice: sincere; trustworthy; very, very smooth. It was a voice well suited to telling a story to the jury. “Ladies and gentlemen, you have the rare opportunity to right a terrible wrong. My client is an innocent man.”

“I got your message,” Cabot said. “What is this about?”

“You are no doubt aware that your grandfather passed away two months ago.”

“I heard.”

“My firm is handling the estate. As I’m sure you can imagine, it is a very complex situation.”

“That’s your problem.”

“I’m calling to let you know that, due to a small technicality in the will, you are entitled to receive a very nice sum of money.”

Cabot sat very still. “Is it the customary one-dollar bequest acknowledging that I’m a descendant so I can’t sue on the grounds that my grandfather was unaware of my existence?”

“I can assure you, this is considerably more than one dollar,” Burleigh said. “The amount in question is twenty-five thousand dollars.”

So, definitely more than the token dollar that was employed to prevent a member of the family from obtaining grounds to sue. But twenty-five grand was pocket change for the Whittaker Kennington estate – probably the equivalent of one dollar to the old bastard.

But a nice windfall in my world, Cabot thought. It would cover the rent on his overpriced Seattle apartment for a few months and leave a little extra that could be used to upgrade the agency’s computer systems.

“Got to admit, I’m surprised,” he said. “Any idea why the old man decided to acknowledge my existence?”

“When people reach the end of their lives, they often reflect on the past and experience regrets,” Burleigh said.

“I heard he died in his girlfriend’s bed. Doesn’t sound like he was spending a lot of time brooding on the past.”

“Don’t believe everything you see in the media. Unfortunately, the circumstances of Mr. Kennington’s death have become fodder for the tabloids. Your grandfather was a rather colorful personality.”

“That’s one way of describing him.

“Mean, unforgiving, tyrannical womanizer would be another way,” Cabot added under his breath.

“As I was saying, you are to receive the twenty-five thousand dollars,” Burleigh continued. “But there is some paperwork involved.”

“Sure. Just overnight it to my office.”

“I’m afraid it’s a bit more complicated than that. The easiest and fastest way to handle it would be in person.”

“I’m working a case. I’ll call you when I’m free.”

Burleigh chuckled. “I wasn’t suggesting that you go to the trouble and expense of traveling all the way to San Francisco. It’s my job to do the running around. I can fly up to Seattle with the check tomorrow, if that’s convenient.”

“No, it’s not.”

“It won’t take more than ten minutes to explain the technicality in the will. Once you sign the papers, the money will be yours.”

“Fine, but, as I told you, I’m working a case. I’ll be out of the office for the next few days. I’ll get in touch when I return.”

“I’m afraid this is a matter of some urgency,” Burleigh said.

Cabot paused, absorbing that information. “What happens if I don’t sign those papers?”

“In that event I’m afraid I will not be authorized to give you the check. As I said, the situation is somewhat complicated.”

“How much time do I have?”

“I was hoping we could wrap this up in the next day or so.”

“In my experience, a good lawyer can usually stall indefinitely when it suits him.”

“Mr. Sutter, I urge you to keep in mind that there is twenty-five thousand dollars at stake here. If you delay too long, another clause in the will kicks in, voiding the bequest.”

“Send copies of those papers to me. I’ll take a look at them.”

Burleigh cleared his throat. “As I said, the matter is complicated. I’d like to be on hand to explain the details.”

“Look, I don’t have time to argue about this. Send the papers. I’ll contact you after I’ve looked at them.”

“Very well, if you insist.” Burleigh sounded annoyed but resigned. “Your case must be quite important if you’re willing to put off receiving a check for twenty-five thousand dollars.”