Part 59 (2/2)
”Can I trust you?”
”Of course!”
Simone set the gla.s.s on the coaster. A soft breeze stirred. Its gentle wind cooled her. ”I want a baby. I've always wanted his baby. But, well see, the doctors say I should be pregnant by now.” Her eyes lifted to her mother in-law. ”My doctor wants for us both to be tested. Keith's refusing. He's not really open to the idea of strangers you know, examining us this way. Fertility that is.”
”How can I help?” Alice's eyes sparkled with interest.
Simone smiled. ”He mentioned before that he had a doctor, a really good private physician back in college. One he trusted. I was wondering who the doctor was? I thought maybe he could shed some light on things.”
”Is that all?” her mother in-law laughed. ”It's Dr. Clint Goldstein. He's still George and Keith's physician. Why wouldn't Keith tell you this? Clint has been taking care of Keith since college.”
Simone shrugged. ”I don't want to disappoint him. I'd rather get the medical records from his doctor to help mine without alarming him. He's under enough pressure as it is.”
”True.” Her mother in-law nodded in agreement.
”And I want to surprise him. That's why I need to keep it a secret.”
Her mother in-law's smile brightened. ”Well, Simone, no worries. I will help you. I'll give the doctor a call.”
”No!” Simone reached for her hand. ”Let me handle it. It's what I owe Keith, and you, Mother Livingston, for being so good to me over the years.”
Alice smiled. ”I'm so tickled. A baby! I can't wait!”
Simone winked sipping her lemonade. ”Me either.”
Cain tapped his knuckles on the door. He gave it a slight push until he could see inside. He was there, just as Cain thought he would be. Keith Livingston threw up a single finger for a pause and continued to speak in a low voice. He wore a dark suit, polished as always. Was it really that easy to hide the monster? Keith glanced up over his frames in silent response to Cain's presence and then nodded the 'ok' for him to enter.
It had been a week since he left her. For two long torturous weeks, he resisted texting, calling, or even instant messaging her. Not for him. He did so for her. She was healing, changing, and though he wanted to be a part of that change he knew this journey had nothing to do with him. His part, the only part he could commit to, was seeing it through, staying focused. Today marked the turn, game, set, and match. It was on.
”There he is, at last!” Keith exclaimed, slamming the phone down on the cradle.
Cain looked on, masking his disdain, barely.
”The mask, boy. If they're wearing masks, make sure to wear yours!” Rachel chuckled.
Keith approached with his hand extended. ”You, my man, are the real deal. Sit. Let me bring you up to speed. You must think me a madman the way I'm rambling on.” Keith gestured to the chair, smoothed down his three hundred dollar tie, and then walked to the door. He called out to his secretary to be sure they were not disturbed.
”Flew back this morning. Wife is going to have my a.s.s in a sling for staying away so long.” Keith chuckled, briskly walking back around his desk. ”I've been on the phone with New York, buying us more time. This is it. Thanks to you, we can nail Andrew Hollingsworth's b.a.l.l.s to the wall. I've already scheduled to be heard before the board at the end of the month. Got the partners drooling after the taste of blood I tossed their way. Just let them know that I'm in. I'm one of Andrew's boys.”
”Slow down,” Cain chuckled. ”I'm not sure what it is I did?”
”Sure you are. Don't go modest on me. This morning I met with Andrew Hollingsworth first thing, I'm in. I don't know if you're a miracle worker or just a better liar than me, but it's done. Keemler is mine. Got the green light. Correction, I got better than the green light. I've been promoted.”
Cain raised his brows. Keith let go a deep chuckle. ”You heard right. I'm the new Chief Financial Officer. I'm talking about 35 million to be washed clean. I've already signed off on the project charter.” Keith winked. ”After Andrew did, of course.”
”Then this is it,” Cain smiled. ”You're going in all the way?”
”No risk, no gain, Cain.” Keith rocked back in his chair. ”Besides, the board knows who I am. Why I'm here. I'm covered. My exposure is limited at best.”
”And New York?” Cain cast a worried look.
”They just want it done. Andrew is watching. I won't tip him off. Not until I get the expense reports and bank drafts will I even raise any of it with New York.” Keith leaned forward. ”Make no mistake. When this goes down, it goes down big. The press will be all over it. Not since Enron and Kenneth Lay has it been this explosive. We'll be heroes.”
”One thing you might not have considered.”
”Go on?”
”Discretion, complete non-disclosure is critical here. At least until the board meeting, tell no one, not even the shareholders. Andrew's on edge, suspicious by nature. He plans to present his growth strategy. You, representing, Keemler is a part of that five year plan. That means he's questioning and...” Cain leaned forward, ”...watching, always watching.” His voice dropped to a whisper. ”Something this big requires discipline, secrecy and discretion. Imagine it. Andrew before them spinning his tale with you at his side. He will be fileted in front of the world.”
Keith nodded his head, greedily. Yes, greed was an awesome motivator. They both knew Keith had enough evidence and reasonable suspicion now to shut down Andrew Hollingsworth. But a board dismissal wouldn't feed Livingston's ego. He needed this to be much bigger than that.
”You're right. And he'll be arrested. Don't forget. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d is going all the way down.”
”Trust me, Keith, I'm counting on it,” Cain smirked.
”But the Feds, I need to bring them in. That's the only part I haven't worked out. Setting up a meeting,” Keith said.
”Let me.”
Keith narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
”I'm more of an a.s.set to the Feds than you. Think about it. They want the entire lot of them. Who else knows where all the skeletons are buried?”
”We can do it jointly.”
”It's too risky.” Cain shook his head. ”Andrew doesn't trust you 100%. Not yet. He's all over you. He'll be tapping your phones soon, watching you in your sleep. He's just that paranoid. Use me. Think about it. I'm his son-in-law. He's already given me the key to his secrets.”
Cain watched Keith digest the plan and the risk. He made the deal a bit sweeter as his mother had coached him. ”After I go in to the Feds, I'll tell them who you are. Why you came to town. What you uncovered on your own. Total credit goes to you. I'll tell them that you just want to expose the corruption to the shareholders, avoid a scandal and get rid of Andrew. I'll tell them that you can be convinced to work with them instead. You're unsure what to do. That protects you and makes you their 'inside guy'. The world will know that it was you that brought down one of the richest men in the country.”
”Why would you do this? Help me like this?” Keith questioned.
”You've seen my life, Keith. Marrying a Hollingsworth has all but castrated me.”
Keith slowly smiled. He extended his hand across the desk. ”Then you have a deal.”
Cain locked in on the offer of partners.h.i.+p. He shook Keith's hand and then forced a smile. ”Deal.”
Two Weeks Later - Danny screamed.
Simone sighed.
She picked the crying toddler up from the middle of the floor and questioned again why she opted out of Anne's help. ”It's okay, sweetie. Don't cry, hey, hey, Danny, look at me. Want a cookie?”
Danny glared at his brother. He plugged his two middle fingers in his mouth and dropped his head on her shoulder. Truth was, the boys were growing crankier by the day. Both missed their mother. Neither were able to verbalize their confusion over her absence, and it had only been a few weeks. The last few nights, Danny had started having nightmares, waking, crying and screaming in bed, calling for Kim. She wondered if Kim suffered the same way.
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