Shadow of the Son, page 23
“In other words, Bernard’s days were numbered from the beginning.”
“Yes, and that contingency plan involved your father. At the next board meeting, your father walked in having purchased all the bonds from the family and having already converted them to company shares in his name. How exactly he arranged this, he didn’t say. With Lord Bromley on the board, the ownership picture changed dramatically. There were now three owners who controlled roughly a third apiece. Voting together, my father and yours had the majority and overruled Bernard. There was nothing he could do.”
“Nothing at all.”
“It was not a pleasant meeting. The merger with the new company is now in progress.”
“I see. My father had the swing vote. Giving Bernard fifty-five percent initially was brilliant. He stepped right into the trap. Who thought of that?”
“I did.”
“And the stolen briefcase?”
“In one of the planning sessions with my father I mentioned that if such a theft took place, Bernard would be so concerned with the possibility of a competing bid that he would push for the fastest closing possible. He would sign off on the convertible bond offering, rather than allow weeks of negotiations to come up with a better arrangement. Papa must have considered the idea worthwhile, because the briefcase was stolen shortly after.”
“Who did it, do you think?”
“Cobb, or one of his people. For what it’s worth, I thought that the contingency plan would prove unnecessary. Bernard stood to make a fortune if all he did was go along, but I was wrong about Bernard from the beginning. To Bernard, it was never about money. It was always about power and control. Unfortunately, I learned that too late.”
“I suppose he will have to be content with only moderate riches. Thank you for telling me. I have a few questions.”
“I’ll answer them if I can.”
“For the briefcase to be stolen, someone must have signaled the thief that the briefcase was available. Who did?”
“The night of the theft, Bernard, myself, and my parents had dinner at a restaurant on the other side of town. I was going to work in the hotel room, something I did regularly, but Papa invited us out and insisted we join them. He even picked up the tab himself, rather than have the company pay for it.”
“I see, and speaking of picking up the tab, he probably put up most, if not all, of the money that my father used to purchase the bonds from the prior owners.”
“I was too engrossed in the negotiations and too distracted by the issues with Bernard to pay much attention to anything else, but I would say that is a distinct possibility.”
“Unfortunately for Hugo, if he did, that didn’t prevent my father from turning the tables and betraying him. I imagine that by owning the shares, my father could vote whichever way he wanted. I’ll wager that he threatened to side with Bernard if Hugo didn’t agree to certain conditions of his own. Am I not correct?”
“You are in a clever mood this morning,” said Bruni. “But that isn’t the half of it. Your father has refused to sign over the shares to Papa now that Bernard is no longer in control. That was a critical part of the arrangement between them, and there is little my father can do.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Maybe. I don’t know the details to be able to determine that. I had made it clear at the beginning what could be done, and what couldn’t. Whatever was decided between them and arranged was done without my knowledge. Right now, the shares are in your father’s name, and to get his hands on them, my father must do whatever your father wants.”
53
“And Hugo has no recourse?”
“It’s called coercion, but proving coercion depends on the circumstances and the jurisdiction. There is also the clean hands factor, and that hinges on whose money was used to buy the bonds from the family. If it was Bromley’s, then the transaction could be legal. If it was my family’s money, it’s a different story. So far, Papa has not said one way or the other, and I have not asked the question. At some point, it will be necessary that I do, and I may have an ethical dilemma that I don’t want. For now, I’m out of the office. If I’m not there, I can’t ask and can’t be told.”
“I see. I suppose the best course would be to resolve the dispute between them.”
“Absolutely. It’s imperative.”
“Given that, what do you think my father wants?”
“I don’t know, other than that the library and the artifacts are key. Papa has never said specifically, and once again I haven’t asked. The auction the other week was meant to resolve the matter between them. Strangely, all would have been fine, and the matter dispensed with, only you showed up.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. The ownership picture changed, like it did when your father converted the shares. One moment Bernard was in control, and the next he wasn’t. You did the same. You became the new owner and stipulated that the artifacts remain here. Given that constraint, of course your father was going to arrive. What else could he do? Disposing of the library and the artifacts was the reason we were all here then, and likely why we’re all here now.”
“I see. Who would have won the auction had I not been present?”
“That is difficult to know. The end result would have been that my father recovered the shares, and your father owned the artifacts. What price each would have had to pay the other is not easily answered. It is that conflict that must be resolved, and how that is to be done is still on the table. I can guarantee that there is more to follow along those lines.”
“Each will take his pound of flesh.”
“Oh yes. My father, because he hates being compelled to do what he doesn’t want to, and yours, because my father failed to deliver the artifacts into his hands when he said he would.”
“What do you suggest we do?”
“At some point both men must sit down in a room together and hammer out a solution. Only you can arrange and oversee that. I have to remain outside those proceedings for obvious reasons.”
“That would make sense. I will try and arrange that. One thing you could do is speak with your mother. She might give you some insight. I’m sure she is aware of what is going on, and how far Hugo is willing to go to resolve the matter.”
“I’ll speak with her. Perhaps she can come up with an idea as well. The difficulty I see is in creating sufficient trust between you and my father such that he would willingly agree to sit down with you and yours. The expression ‘like father like son’ comes to mind, and he will wonder whether you might betray him and use the information I have given you against him. It’s how Papa thinks. On the other hand, if we managed to nullify the coercion factor, he would be indebted to you, and that could come in handy in the future.”
“What if my father dies before it’s resolved?”
“I’m sure both have considered that. Papa looks at everything, which means he has also considered the possibility that if your father dies, for whatever reason, you may not be the one who inherits. What happens to the shares then? You may look like the obvious choice, but it is more than likely that your father has made other arrangements and for that reason. Nothing is ever certain with him, least of all his will.”
“That thought never crossed my mind. It would also take my father’s death off the table as a workable solution to the issues between them. I’m sure my father made a point of mentioning that to yours. It would be like taking out an insurance policy.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, I’m certainly glad you mentioned that. On a much more positive note, your mother said that there is another reason you might wish to remain here for a while.”
“What was that?”
“She thinks you’re pregnant.”
“Really?” Bruni looked stunned. She took a long moment. “I’ve wondered about that,” she said finally. “Dagmar hinted and Mama is very perceptive, so I would take that as a confirmation. Wow! Who would have thought? We’re going to have a baby! That changes everything!”
“Happy?”
“You have no idea!” Bruni beamed. “Of course, growing as large as a refrigerator and getting stretch marks are not to my liking, but such discomforts are a small price to pay. I wonder if it will be a boy or a girl? We’ll have to find out. Whichever it is, our child will be absolutely gorgeous, and that thought makes me giddy. Now that I think about it, I’m sure I am, and that is a perfect reason for reducing my work obligations. It smooths out any potential friction with my father. The downside is that we may have two semi-permanent houseguests in the form of my parents. Still, I’m so excited!”
Bruni slid over to my side of the couch, and we held each other tightly.
“Will you still love me when I’m huge?” Bruni whispered.
“How could I not, when I always will?”
“That’s good. This makes everything different, you know.”
“How so?”
Bruni sat up and switched to her professional mode. She looked at me steadily as she said, “We need to resolve this mess and get your father out of this house. I’m sorry, but I want him gone.”
“I feel the same.”
“Good.”
A second later she smiled and looked the happiest I’d ever seen her.
“I can’t believe I’m pregnant. After this weekend, we really should plan our wedding, but on to more immediate matters. Do you have any more questions?”
“Only two. Your mother mentioned that I should ask you about Cobb. What do you know about him?”
“If your father wants something done, Cobb is the one who either does it or makes it happen. He goes too.”
“For sure. Last question, my father also mentioned that he has his attorney available. Is that you?”
“I work exclusively for my father. He has asked me in the past to help with a few of Bromley’s transactions with Cobb acting as intermediary. I reviewed the paperwork involved. My father also mentioned a couple of weeks ago that there were legal matters between this estate and your father. I’m not Lord Bromley’s attorney, nor would I ever be.”
“That answers the question. I apologize. I had to ask.”
“That man likes to seed discord whenever and wherever he can. It’s time to do something about him. Why don’t you have an audience with the emperor upstairs? He might have an idea or two. I’ll find out if Mama is up. Kiss me, and let’s get started. That man and his flunky will be leaving soon—both of them, face up or face down. It makes no difference to me.”
54
I found Johnny upstairs in the common room, scribbling on his yellow pad. The door to my room was still closed, but I was quite sure my mother would be up and about soon. I suggested that we take a walk outside so we could confer without interruption. He handed me a windbreaker.
The sun had barely risen as we stepped out the front door and walked around the house to the bench behind the stately cypress trees. There was no wind, and the sky was clear. I filled him in on all that Bruni had told me.
“Well, that explains several things and adds more complications,” said Johnny as we sat down on the bench.
“It does. How’s the plan?”
“Planning is only as good as the data to hand, and this last bit changes things once again.” He sighed. “At least we know what’s been driving events here. I suppose that’s something. I must integrate this latest information into my overall thinking. It might help if I expound a little and go from there.”
“Fair enough. Fire away,” I said, lighting a smoke.
“I’ll take one of those,” said Johnny. Once he lit it, he continued. “Based on what we know so far, Lord B. wants a number of pieces that Alice had in her possession for unknown reasons and has coerced Hugo into helping him get his hands on them. For what purpose remains a mystery. So far, so good?”
“For the most part. The questions I have are why involve Hugo at all? If my father has the documentation necessary to prove the artifacts are his, why not simply go to court?”
“I’ve considered that. To begin with, we know he specifically wants the figurine. He mentioned that in the letter. I’m sure Aunt Alice told him that she hadn’t received it when they were negotiating over the little pot. Likely, she’d had to repeat that a thousand times before he believed her. Legal was pointless until now.”
“That would make some sense. The only question Hugo asked me when he and I spoke was about the idol and the jewel. I told him that we’d found it, and that it had shattered.”
“Which is how Lord B. knows it’s here. I’m guessing the breakage was never brought up. That’s not something I’d want to mention when Lord B. has you under his thumb.”
I grunted.
“No grunting. That it’s broken has some serious potential and will cause a stir at the least. I’m not sure how to take advantage of that, but to return to your question, any legal threat Lord B. has conjured up is a lot of hot air no matter what documentation he says he has.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Your father’s life expectancy. He has a year or two at the outside, while you can string any proceedings along for many more, and that’s with only moderately competent legal counsel. Secondly, there are laws now about pilfering national treasures. He would have to specify the item, and that could lead to complications.”
“Interesting point. I agree. It’s an empty threat.”
“It is.” Johnny paused and smoked.
He continued, “I wish I had a more concrete plan but that’s not possible yet. For now, the best I can come up with are some educated guesses as to what went on. Still, they may prove useful. Would you like to hear them?”
“Please.”
“The first is that it’s likely that Hugo failed to mention the potential value of those shares to your father when the scheme was originally put forward. The second is that Bernard found out after he was booted from the management side and got in touch with Lord B. and told him. Bernard might also have told Cobb. After all, why would a Harley Street physician, with underworld connections per Stanley, hang around your father in the first place?”
“I’ve wondered about that,” I said.
“Perhaps Cobb stands to benefit from the shares in some way?”
“It’s possible. It is an odd relationship. I must speak with Stanley about Cobb.”
“I would. My last is that Hugo must have those shares back or risk a major financial setback. I mean, if he put up the money to buy the bonds from the family using Lord B. as an intermediary, that must have been quite a sum. He must be feeling some heat. I wonder if Elsa even knows how extended he is?”
“Bruni is speaking to her. If Elsa doesn’t know, she soon will.”
“Ouch. That could be painful and first thing in the morning, too. In addition, there are the odd extraneous bits that puzzle me—like your mother wanting to speak with Cobb. I don’t know what to make of that. What is really needed is for everyone to lay their cards on the table. The question is, how are we to make that happen?”
“Perhaps I’ll have to announce that there is to be a meeting in the library to resolve all the pending issues?”
“Use it only as a last resort. There are too many secrets between the parties involved. I would start with something unexpected, like telling your father that you’ve decided to do nothing for now and handing him back the envelope with the check. He’ll go ballistic, but he might let slip what he really has in mind. After the explosion, you can modify your position by suggesting that you and he sit down with Hugo to work out an incentive as to why you should do anything at all. It will mean that the two will have to work together to convince you, which is an interesting twist. Anyway, that’s the best I can come up with for now.”
“That isn’t bad. I’ll think on it.”
“Don’t take too long. Time is running out.”
“And patience,” I said.
“Patience?” asked Johnny.
“A less stressful and contentious atmosphere is necessary. We must get rid of Cobb and my father before Bruni gets involved. She may be pregnant, and she’s beginning to get a little ferocious.”
“Really? Pregnant? Congratulations! The news never stops. That means I’ll be an uncle of sorts! You know, I’ve always wanted to have a nephew or niece. Won’t that be something! Well, if you want your father and Cobb gone, then we must get busy. I think I’ll chat up Malcolm. He’s always in the background and might know something.”
“Do that. I’ll get with Stanley now.”
55
In the front hall, Stanley was checking the flower arrangements, and I asked him if he had a moment. On our way through the kitchen, I told Dagmar that last night’s dinner was unparalleled and never to be forgotten. She beamed and assured me there was more to come.
Once Stanley and I were seated in his office, I repeated what I had learned from Elsa, Bruni, and Johnny, and announced that Bruni was pregnant. Stanley folded his hands and considered what I had revealed.
At last he said, “Well, let us begin with my hearty congratulations to you both. Having a child in this house will be an unprecedented blessing. Dagmar, of course, informed me of that possibility some time ago; nonetheless, hearing it from you is a most welcome confirmation. Normally, I would offer a glass to honor such an occasion, but the hour is still early. On the other hand, a moment such as this can only happen once, and it is significant. Shall we?”
“Let’s.”
Stanley produced two glasses of whiskey. I noted that this brew had a different color than the previous ones. I was about to comment, when he said, “To begin, I wish to drink with you not as your servant but as your friend. May I do that?”
“You may indeed, Stanley.”
“May I also address you as Percy?”
