Page 24 of Fifty-Fifty

‘The cops think Dad was going to change his will. Is that true?’

He took a breath, held it in and leaned over the back of the chair. He shook his head. Then pushed himself upright and let the answer into the air as if he’d been holding it inside, like a long breath held tight under water. It burst out of him, breaking the surface of the conversation.

‘I was told the same thing,’ he said.

‘Who told you?’

‘The cops told me. They wanted to know if your father had spoken to me about changing his will. I said no, he hadn’t. At the end, you know, your dad wasn’t the man he used to be. He was forgetful. I don’t know if it was old age or something else. We still had breakfast together at Jimmy’s restaurant most days.

Apart from that, we didn’t talk much. He didn’t mention the will. When I heard

about Frank’s death, and the will, I called Mike Modine.’

She drained the last of the water, put the empty glass on the counter, and gave Hal Cohen her full attention. His knuckles sat like lumps of white fat on the back of his hands, such was the pressure he applied to the seat back. He appeared guarded, wary of saying something that could come back to bite him in the ass.

‘What did Modine say?’

‘He said your father had made an appointment to discuss his will on Monday.

He didn’t make it through that weekend. Look, that’s all I know—’

‘Did Modine say why my dad wanted to change his will? He was paranoid toward the end, you’ll remember.’

‘You don’t need to tell me that, sweetheart. Your father thought everyone was out to get him. He could remember who won every World Series since 1953, but

he couldn’t remember what he ordered for his breakfast at Jimmy’s. Modine didn’t tell me what your father wanted to change about the will. It may not have been anything to do with you or your sister.’

‘Has Modine been in contact with you?’

‘Not since I called him, the night your father was murdered. I’m one of the executors of the will, so I need to know what’s in it, and if it will still hold up.

Even if your sister is named in the will, if she’s convicted of killing your father then legally she can’t benefit from her crime. Same goes for you. I tried calling Modine today, but his secretary said he’s out of the country on vacation. I’m supposed to be helping oversee your father’s estate, but I don’t know what I’m

doing. Modine is no help.’

‘When does he get back from vacation?’ she asked.

‘The secretary didn’t know. Said she wasn’t exactly able to keep tabs on the senior partner. Modine doesn’t give a shit – all those corporate lawyers are the same. He’s probably drinking cocktails on a beach somewhere while your father

is lying on a slab with his …’

He cut himself off. Remembered who he was talking to.

‘It’s alright, Hal. Do you think my father was working with anyone new at the time he died? He seemed very distant at the end. When he wasn’t raving about

the IRS or whoever else was out to get him, he seemed – troubled.’

‘Well, a few months ago he did ask me if I knew any good private investigators. I don’t know what that was about, and again he wouldn’t tell me.’

‘I know you made some money working with my father. You were loyal to him.’

Hal nodded.

‘I want you to be loyal to me. When this is over I’ll be inheriting my father’s entire estate.’

‘You seem pretty sure of that,’ said Hal.

‘I’m innocent. I want you to help me. I will reward that loyalty.’