Darren swallowed and took a sip of his water. “Sounds like the plot of one of those crime shows. We’ll try calling, but he won’t pick up, and we’ll find out he was murdered in the morning.”
Chet snickered. “I doubt that. Skip works all the time, and he never goes anywhere without security. He was kidnapped when he was sixteen. He waited until his abductor was asleep and snuck out, ran for an hour until he came upon a road, and then walked for another couple hours, dodging every car in case it was the guy who took him, before finding a gas station and calling the police. Skip is almost never alone, and when he is, there is someone outside the door. His apartment has twenty-four-hour security, and he has a button in every room where he can summon them. Let’s say he’s a bit paranoid.”
“What was college like for him? I mean, with all the security.”
“He was better then. The memories of the incident weren’t as fresh, but he had someone he could call twenty-four seven. But, apparently, once he started working and became more known, he was accosted, and that was that. He lives with the security of the century.”
Darren shook his head. “That’s too bad. No one should have to live in that kind of prison.”
Chet snorted. “You should see his building. It’s like a home and a community put together.”
Darren took another bite of his French dip and swallowed. “A cage is still a cage, even if it is decked out with the latest everything. Just because it’s gilded doesn’t mean it can’t feel like a prison.” He lowered his head. “And believe me, cages come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, they’re house-shaped, and sometimes they’re career-shaped and built by fathers.” He held his gaze until Chet lowered his. Chet knew Darren was right and that his life was a bit of a cage as well.
“I guess we all have our cages. Sometimes it’s just easier to stay in them than to fight to get out.” He finished his sandwich and drank the water. When Darren had to go back to work, he squeezed his hand and told him to ask for the check. Then heopened the bag he’d placed near his feet and pulled out his iPad, settling in to read until Darren was done and they could go back to his home to make the call.
An hourlater, he pulled up in front of Darren’s house and parked along the road. Then they went inside. Darren went to his room to change clothes and then joined him in the living room. He was jittery and flopped down on the sofa. Chet pulled out his phone and set it on the coffee table before calling Skip.
“Chet,” Skip said when he came on the line.
“Hey, Skip, I’m here with Darren, the beneficiary of the house and things that were listed in the will.” He glanced at him. “There are a few things you need to know, including why I called you. Darren is one of those really good people, okay? His grandmother left him the house, and he lives in it. But he works three jobs to pay the taxes and insurance and to try to live his life.”
“Man. That’s determination,” Skip said.
“Thanks,” Darren told him.
“So your help is really appreciated,” Chet told him, and took Darren’s hand. “And so is your time, so let’s get to it.”
“Yeah. I read the will, and your aunt… she’s a real piece of work. I mean, to try to pull something like this. It’s ballsy and kind of stupid. First thing, the way the will is written, the house and contents were a specific bequest. It was included in the same section as the bequests for your grandmother’s son and daughter. Those bequests were set aside. So, assuming that the estate was settled correctly, and I have no indication that it wasn’t, your aunt is entitled to nothing more. These purported debts that she came up with recently are immaterial.”
“Excuse me?” Darren said.
“They’re immaterial and likely bogus. See, she was involved right up front with the estate. She was a beneficiary, so she was well aware that the estate was being settled, and she did nothing. Now she comes forward with this new suggestion of debts. No way. That’s ripe for fraud, and the law states that debts must be brought forward in a reasonable time. Given the fact that she was a beneficiary and received her inheritance, the reasonableness time for her is long past. In fact, it could be argued that period ended right after she received her inheritance because she was part of the process.”
Darren smiled. “So, what do I do?”
“In my opinion, contact the estate lawyer and tell him what I told you. Drop my name if you want, but this is bogus. And if that doesn’t get you anywhere, then challenge the signature because it wasn’t witnessed. This document is just a list of times she supposedly sent her mother money. It’s not like it’s some binding loan agreement. However, if you want to put a nail in this coffin, if you have access to your grandmother’s bank account records, see if she even actually got this money. Check the statements. If this is made up, then you have a case for fraud.” Skip seemed pleased with himself.
“Thank you,” Chet said.
“Yes. I appreciate this very much,” Darren told him. “The house you’re talking about is in Mendocino. That’s where Chet and I are now.” He seemed more relaxed.
“I love that town. People are really nice there,” Skip said. “Maybe I should come up to visit.”
“You should, Skip. Definitely. I can highly recommend it.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “I’ll be heading back to New York in a few days. Call when you’re on the east coast, and we’ll get together.”
“I will. I’m going to an opening at the Met next month. I’ll leave you a ticket for my box.” Chet shivered and not in a goodway. “I have another call coming in but reach out if you need anything else.” Skip was gone, and Chet put his phone back in his pocket.
“His box?” Darren asked.
“Yes. Skip is in San Francisco. The main office of the law firm is in New York. His family owns a box at the Met. They’re really old money. His great-great-great-grandmother helped with the building of the original Metropolitan. So, they are founding members of the society, and they have a box set aside for their use.”
“Okay. They have piles, I get it. But why the shiver?”
“Because he’s going to drag me to the opera. It’s his passion. He will be transported on beautiful voices to lands far away… and I’ll look at my watch, wondering when it will be over.”
Darren laughed. “Better you than me. Though it would be fun to go to the theater.” He sat back on the sofa and yawned. “I think I’m out of energy. I’ve been going on pure adrenaline and fear, not that it’s over….”
“It’s not,” Chet told him. “What Skip said is right, but that doesn’t mean that your aunt can’t try to stir up trouble. What we need to do is prove that her claims are false.” He leaned forward. “In business, you want to be the one holding the cards. And right now, your aunt is doing that. She can cause trouble. But if we can prove that her claims are false, then you hold the cards, and I bet it would be nice to have something to hold over her. Maybe you could force her to get on her broom and fly back to Oz.”
