Chapter 34
CHAPTER
LATER THAT WEEK, NASH FINISHED setting up the necessary accounts to administer the trusts for the funds his father had left his daughter, and also an investment account for Rosie Parker.
He met with Parker at his father’s house and gave her a checkbook and the other necessary details about the account.
He also provided her a new smartphone and set up an email account for her.
As they sat at the kitchen table she said, “Thank you so much, Mr.… I mean Walter. All of this is so nice of you. And your father was beyond generous to do this. I mean, I’m not family or anything.”
“Well, he thought you were family to him, and that’s what counts. If you have questions, you have my contact information. How is your mother, by the way?”
“The same. I mean, she’s not any worse. And she won’t be getting any better. But she’s comfortable.”
“Well, let me know if you need anything.”
He rose to leave when she said, “Walter?”
“Yes?”
“Your father said something about you right before he died. I don’t believe he would want me to tell you, but I think you ought to know. It’s only right.”
Nash sat down again. “What was it?”
“He was in hospice by then. He was in and out of consciousness. He slept a lot, which was natural. He was on enough pain meds to be… comfortable.”
“Yes?” prompted Nash.
“Well, his eyes suddenly opened. He didn’t look at me.
I’m not even sure he knew I was there. He just looked up at the ceiling and said, ‘Nikki, tell sonny boy I love him. Just tell him, okay? Don’t let him think I didn’t, Nikki.
’” Parker looked at Nash. “I know your mother had long since passed, but what he said was clear enough, Walter. He never spoke another word before he passed that night.”
“Wait, those were his last words?”
“Yes. I was with him right up until the end. No one deserves to die alone.”
“I would have been there, if I had known he was dying,” Nash said stiffly.
Parker reached out and gripped his hand with her strong fingers. “He made me swear not to tell anyone. But you have to keep in your heart that at the end you were on his mind. And he wanted you to know. You. His son that he loved.”
Nash turned away and rubbed at his eyes. Standing, he said, “Thank you for sharing that with me. And thank you for all you did for him.”
“That’s what people do, Walter. They help others in need, or at least that’s what we’re all supposed to do.”
“Some certainly do it better than others,” he replied.
On his drive home he received a text from Agent Morris instructing him on how to download a particular secure messaging app on his phone. It was probably some invention of the CIA or NSA, he assumed. Morris had left an email address where Nash could send a message once he had gotten on the app.
Parked in his garage, he downloaded the app, created an account, and messaged Morris. A few seconds later he received a reply that read:
FOLLOWING TERMS AGREED TO BY UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
Nash read down the list and was astonished to learn that the amount of money they were offering him was double what he had reasonably been expecting. And his demands for security, for his wife and daughter to be taken care of if he were killed, had also been agreed to.
Morris had ended the message by saying that they would set up a private secure account with 10 percent of the funds deposited right away and that he could withdraw or do with them what he pleased.
But first he had to agree to help. A formal executed document memorializing the terms in the message would follow immediately.
Nash slowly typed out his response and then his finger hovered over the send key.
He drew a breath and lightly touched the key and the message was gone.
And maybe my life along with it.
The agreement reached his inbox seconds later.
He read every word, and then electronically signed the attachment and sent it off.
A minute later the details for the account and how to access it had been delivered.
He went on the account and set it up with a new password.
He checked the sums deposited and confirmed that they matched the 10 percent of the total amount the government had agreed to pay.
“Walter?”
He looked up to see Judith staring at him from the door leading into the kitchen.
He opened the Range Rover’s door. “Yes?”
“Are you going to come into the house or sit out there all night?”
“Be there in a minute.”
He finished up and walked into the house. Judith was at the stove stirring something in a pan.
“How was your day?” she asked.
“Fine. Rhett met with me.”
“Really, what about?”
“He found out I had inquired about a position at another firm.”
“What?”
“It was just an inquiry. I told him it was because I think Maggie might want to live in LA or New York, and the firm I contacted has offices in both.”
Judith said angrily, “You never talked to me about any of this. And I can’t believe you would reach out to someone about a new job without discussing it with me first.”
“I never would have made any decision without talking it over with you.”
“Well, I would hope not. And why do you think Maggie wants to live in those places? Did she say anything to you about it?”
“No, it was my assumption, I guess. Two very exciting places, where lots of cool things are happening.”
“Well, I’m not sure she wants to live there, though she does like to visit them.”
“But you’ll be happy to know that I got a raise and a big bump in my bonus. I told Rhett it would help fund your Asian shopping trip.”
She smiled. “Well, it’s not just shopping. I am going to cheer Jean on, too.”
“You know I might just take some time off and go with you.”
She forcefully stirred the contents of the pan. “But you said it was your busy time.”
“I can afford to take some time off. What are the exact dates?”
“I’ll… have to check with Jean and get back to you.”
“I don’t have to be there for the triathlon, of course. Just the fun part.”
“It’s a long way to go,” she pointed out. “And knowing how demanding your job is, you’ll probably be on the phone or computer nonstop.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d start to think you didn’t want me to go.”
She turned and hugged him. “Don’t be stupid. If you can make it work, awesome. I’ll find out the dates from Jean.”
“Sounds good.”
She turned back to the stove and added some salt and pepper to a pan, then got a bottle of extra-virgin olive oil from an upper cabinet.
“Now, any other secrets you’re hiding from me?” she asked in a jovial tone.
When he didn’t reply, she turned around.
Nash was gone.
Judith leaned against the counter and closed her eyes. She loved her husband, but she also loved being with Rhett. And she knew at some point she would have to make a choice. And she was not looking forward to that at all.