Chapter 5
“How was the service?” Joan asked Stone when he returned to the office.
“Solemn and respectful.”
“Were you able to speak to the sons?”
“I was. Apparently, Trenton hadn’t made time to tell them he’d written a new will.”
“I take it they were surprised.”
“You could say that. In the previous will, Aaron was the executor and there was one less beneficiary. To say he was not happy to find out neither held true now would be an understatement.”
“Drama! I’ll make sure to have popcorn ready when you do the reading.”
“Please don’t.”
“It’s not for you. It’s for me.”
“Before you get too giddy, I told Aaron and his brother you’d be calling to set up a time for our meeting.”
“Gee, thanks. Now they’ll think I’m the bad guy.”
“I’m not the bad guy, either! And to be fair, Ryan did not have the same reaction as his brother did.”
“Fine. I’ll be the bearer of bad news. Have you talked to the others named yet?”
“Next on my to-do list,” Stone said.
He went into his office and placed a call to Oliver Humphrey V.
“Oliver Humphrey College, office of the president,” a woman’s voice answered.
“Good afternoon. My name is Stone Barrington. I’m a lawyer at Woodman & Weld. May I speak to Mr. Humphrey, please?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Barrington, but Mr. Humphrey isn’t in the office this afternoon. May I take a message?”
“Please have him call me at his earliest convenience. It’s in regard to Trenton Sidney, one of your alumni.” He gave her his contact information.
“I’ll let him know.”
Stone hung up.
The fourth and final beneficiary of Trenton’s estate was a special case, and not someone Stone should notify over the phone. The problem was that she lived in Portland, Maine, so it wasn’t like he could just drop in on her on his way to dinner.
He was contemplating how best to handle the situation when Joan buzzed him.
“Oliver Humphrey on one,” she said.
“Thanks.” Stone pushed line one. “Mr. Humphrey? This is Stone Barrington. Thank you for returning my call.”
“Of course,” Humphrey said.
From the noise in the background, Stone could tell the man was traveling in a vehicle.
“Are you familiar with Trenton Sidney?” Stone asked.
“I’m heading home from his funeral right now.”
“Really? If I’d realized you were there, we could have had this conversation in person.”
“You also attended?”
“I did.”
“It was a beautiful service, wasn’t it?”
“It was.”
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around his death,” Humphrey said. “He had so many good years ahead of him. What a tragedy.”
“I take it you and Trenton were friends.”
“I’d like to think so. We’ve had him as a guest lecturer at the college at least once every semester for the last several years. He was very popular with the students. And he and I would always have dinner together anytime he was on campus.”
“Then perhaps you’re already aware that Trenton named the college in his will.”
“Really?” Humphrey said, sounding surprised. “He dropped hints here and there, but never said it outright.” He sighed. “While I’m most thankful for every donation that we receive, coming at the cost of a friend’s life is not the way I would have wanted to receive it.”
“Completely understandable,” Stone said.
“I assume you will need some information from us?”
“Trenton requested that everyone named in his will be present when it’s read. That will likely happen sometime in the next two weeks. My assistant, Joan, will be figuring out a date and time that works for all.”
“Don’t worry about us. Whenever it is, I’ll make sure that a representative of the college is there. We are honored that Trenton even thought to mention us in his will. He exemplified the type of businessman that the college’s founder, my great-great-grandfather, envisioned we would produce.”
“I’m sure he would have appreciated hearing that.”
“Oh, he did, Mr. Barrington. I told him that many times.”
“I won’t keep you any longer. Joan will be in touch.”
Moments after Stone hung up, Joan entered his office, followed by Stone’s Labrador retriever, Bob. The dog loped over to Stone.
Stone rubbed Bob’s head, as he said to Joan, “Mr. Humphrey said he’d make sure someone from the college would be available for the reading. Just coordinate with his office.”
“Will do. Tamlyn called while you were on the phone.”
“Oh?”
“She said she won’t be able to make dinner tonight. Something about a last-minute business trip to Atlanta.”
Stone tried to hide his disappointment. Their schedules really weren’t meshing lately.
The weight of that combined with this being his first day back at the office, and having to attend Trenton’s funeral, seemed to drain away the last of his energy.
Joan studied him through narrowed eyes. “You look tired.”
“What gave it away?”
“You should take the rest of the day off. Ash and I can handle anything that comes up.”
“Excuse me, but I was under the impression that I was the boss here.”
“Of course, you were. Now, go. We don’t need you falling asleep at your desk.”
He had to admit that calling it a day wasn’t a bad idea. “All right, all right,” he said, standing. “I’m going. I’m just upstairs if you need anything.”
“We won’t.”
“Can you at least pretend like I’m needed here?”
Joan put the back of her hand to her forehead. “Oh, Mr. Barrington. Whatever will we do in your absence?”
“Forget I asked that.”
She flashed him a smile and flounced out of the office.
“And stop flouncing!”
Stone and Bob went up to his study, where Stone poured himself a Knob Creek, retrieved a copy of Great Expectations off one of the shelves, and took a seat in his favorite chair to do a little reading.
Seconds later, he was fast asleep. Book unopened, drink untouched, and Bob curled at his feet, snoring.
Stone’s eyes shot open as someone shook his shoulder.
“Dino? What are you doing?”
“I thought if I was going to have any chance at eating tonight, I needed to roust you from your stupor.”
Stone sat up. “What time is it?”
“Almost eight.”
“Sorry. I must have fallen asleep.”
“You think?”
“You could have eaten without me.”
“And listen to you complain that I didn’t care enough to check on you? Not a chance.”
Stone looked around. “Where’s Bob?”
“He was with Fred when Fred let me in.”
“Some watchdog he is. Give me a few minutes and we can go.”
Stone started to stand, but Dino motioned for him to stay put.
“We’re not going anywhere.” Dino pointed at a takeaway bag on the side table next to Stone’s chair. “Dinner has come to you. You’re welcome.”
“How did you know?”
“I called you this afternoon, and Joan said that Tamlyn had to go out of town, and you’d gone upstairs and hadn’t been heard from since.”
“Have I told you lately what a good friend you are?”
“You have not.”
“You’re a good friend, Dino.”
“Damn right, I am. And just so we’re on the same page, you owe me two dinners now.”
“Two?”
“My home delivery services do not come cheap.”
“Next time just let me sleep.”