Uncontrolled Spin: The Power and Danger of Spin ("Un"missable Series Book 1) (23 page)

Sean nods and is quiet for a while. “It seemed strange to me that Mark never mentioned you.”

Wendy replies matter-of-factly, “It doesn’t surprise me. I wanted you to know what I’ll tell the FBI if they question me about Mark. Whoever killed my brother is an angel of mercy as far as I’m concerned.”

The conversation ends there, and Sean and Wendy head out to rejoin Bonnie and Jessica, who have migrated out to the pool. Bonnie tells them both she has been contacted by Jay Mather, from the FBI, who wants to speak with them as soon as possible.

“I agreed to meet with him early next week, in Boise. He gave me the Valley County coroner’s number, and I arranged to have Mark’s body shipped to San Francisco for cremation. The memorial service will be scheduled for a week after his body has been returned to me. Nate and Evelyn are coordinating all the details. They both promised to keep everyone informed as plans are finalized. Also, Mark’s attorney, Todd, wants to meet with all of us tomorrow morning for the reading of the will,” Bonnie says tiredly.

Sean looks confused, “I don’t need to be there for that. None of those details are any of my business.”

Bonnie shakes her head and replies, “Todd specifically requested you be there, and I’ve asked Jessica to come for moral support.”

Sean nods, wondering why his presence was requested, and both he and Jess agree to be there at ten o’clock.

The whole entourage arrives at Mr. Stoddard’s office just prior to ten in the morning. Mr. Stoddard has everyone sit in the partners’ boardroom, overlooking San Francisco Bay. Todd enters the room with a stenographer to record the reading of Mark’s last will and testament. After initial introductions, Mr. Stoddard expresses his personal condolences to Bonnie and Wendy. He then thanks Sean for coming and Jessica for supporting Bonnie during this extremely difficult time.

As Todd opens Mark’s will, he explains that those who were requested to be present were asked because Mark had named each of them in his will. Todd summarizes for everyone that Mark’s personal net worth, as of that day, is twenty-two billion dollars, with Global Metal Refining valued at eighty billion dollars, and he makes sure Bonnie understands that the company value could change dramatically after heavy trading at the closing of the stock market that day.

Todd turns to Bonnie. “You are Mark’s primary beneficiary to whom he has left the estate, valued at fifteen billion dollars, and thirty-one percent of his Global Metal Refining stocks.”

He glances down at the will and then turns to Wendy. “Mark wanted me to read this short sentence to you. I don’t really understand it,” he admits, “but it says that you will know what it means. It reads, ‘Wendy, with the estate you’re about to receive from me, I want you to understand, you are now in total control of your own life.’”

Wendy’s cheeks turn bright red, and she shoots a quick glance at Sean. When their eyes meet, she knows that Sean understands Mark is still mocking her, even in death.

Mr. Stoddard continues with, “Mark left you an estate valued at six billion dollars, which includes the beachfront penthouse condominium in San Diego and ten percent of his Global Metal Refining stocks.”

A single tear escapes, trailing down Wendy’s cheek, and she bows her head, shoulders shaking from silent sobs. Bonnie begins comforting her, thinking,
Poor girl. She must be overwhelmed by Mark’s generosity…

Meanwhile, Sean sits, mortified, realizing that everything Wendy told him about Mark is indeed truthful. The statement Mark left for her proves it. Silently, Sean wishes he had never allowed Wendy to confide in him. After a few moments, Wendy regains her composure, and Mr. Stoddard continues.

“Finally, Sean, Mark left you one billion dollars in assets along with ten percent of the Global Metal Refining stocks. He specifically wanted to tell you this: ‘I believe you have reached every goal you set for yourself and us, and my last concern is for you to embrace our success, stop pushing so hard, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.’ He also wanted me to mention that he thought you should invest yourself in a mentoring relationship, like the one he had with you. That’s all. Do any of you have any questions?”

All of them shake their heads, mutely.

Todd nods and says, “I would like to meet with each of the beneficiaries privately to finalize all the transfer paperwork and, hopefully, be able to establish an ongoing working relationship with all of you as well. Thank you for coming.”

As everyone is leaving the partners’ boardroom, Wendy grabs Sean’s arm and asks, “Can I have a few minutes? In private?”

Sean looks to Mr. Stoddard, who nods that they can use the. “Take all the time you need.”

After the door has closed behind him and the others, Wendy looks at Sean and whispers frantically, “That evil motherfucker. What a fucking narcissistic pervert to think I’d accept anything from him!” She turns on her heel and stares out the window. Sean waits for the next wave of anger to come out of her mouth, but she doesn’t say anything else.

Finally, Sean speaks. “Wendy, I can’t even imagine the horror Mark put you through. But I think the best thing you can do is take his money and do something good with it, for others as well as yourself.” Wendy turns and looks at Sean, listening. He sighs. “I knew a different Mark than you did, but after today I have no doubt that everything you told me you went through that horrible night is true.”

Wendy takes a shuddering breath. “Thank you. You have no idea what that means to me.”

Sean touches her shoulder and continues, “Take the money, condo, and stocks, and help other victims, like yourself. Besides, the best revenge you can get is to live a happy, healthy life, having overcome Mark’s sadistic tyranny.”

It is the first time in Wendy’s life since the night of the party she feels well enough to embrace another person, so she hugs Sean and cries for what seems like an eternity to him, but he silently holds her until she lets go of his neck. After extricating himself from her embrace, he hands her a handkerchief and waits for her to clean up a bit. Then, they go to meet the others and return to Bonnie’s house.

CHAPTER 16

A GREAT AND DECENT MAN

S
ean calls Bob to see how close the renovations are to being completed and is informed they will all be done by the end of the week.

Sean says, “As soon as everything is completed, have a realtor call me so I can list the house for sale.”

Bob clears his throat and says, “Sir, it’s not really my place, but that might not be a good idea so close to the homicide, because everyone in town is still talking about it. I already took the liberty of speaking to a friend of mine about it. The property value at this point is significantly reduced, and you’ll lose market value to sell it now.”

Sean swears. “How much would I be losing?”

“Prior to the murder, the property was worth around one point three million. Today it would sell for, maybe, three hundred and ninety thousand. A year from now, it should be back up to around seven hundred and fifty thousand, with the value returning to normal in probably two years, after everything calms down and people forget about the murder.”

“Would you be interested in buying the house today for three hundred and ninety thousand?” Sean asks suddenly.

Stunned Bob says, “Well yes, but I would need some time to find a partner to invest with me.”

“How much time?” Sean presses.

“A month or so. Are you serious, Mr. Green?”

“I’m as serious as a heart attack. If you’re interested in buying the place, I’ll sell it to you and carry the paper. I just can’t go back after Mark was killed there. If you hold the property for two years then sell it, you’ll have funded your own retirement.”

“Consider it sold then.”

, “Great, but let me throw in another twist for you.”

Bob, somewhat dejected, asks, “And what is that?”

“I’ll sell it to you on these terms only: I don’t want you to bring on a partner. Tell me what you can afford on a monthly basis. Then we’ll structure something fair for both of us. I want you to get the benefit from this relationship, nobody else. Oh, and the ten-thousand-dollar bonus you’re going to receive from me should be set aside to help make the first year’s payments.”

“This is incredible,” Bob replies, still stunned. “I can’t thank you enough.”

Sean asks, “It won’t bother you to live there after the murder?”

“No, sir, it won’t.”

“Very well then. Get back to me on the monthly payment you’re comfortable with. Try to make it a bit of a stretch for yourself, and we will structure a fair deal for us both,” Sean says and terminates the call.

As soon as he hangs up the phone, Evelyn calls and tells him she just received another call from Agent Mather at the Boise FBI field office.

“He wants to know when you, Bonnie, and Jessica are planning to be in Boise, so he can schedule a meeting.”

“Okay, would you set up the interviews in Boise for Friday morning starting at ten, if he’s available then?”

“Of course. I’ll call you back later with confirmation,” Evelyn replies.

“Thank you.”

Sean then calls Jessica and Bonnie to inform them about the interviews in Boise. Meanwhile, SAC David Hill contacts Wendy to inform her that since she won’t be joining Bonnie, Sean, and Jessica on their trip to Idaho, he would like to schedule a meeting with her in San Francisco.

“Of course, Agent Hill. How about Friday afternoon at three?”

“That would be fine, Ms. Stevens. Thank you. I’ll see you at my office.”

Friday morning, FBI Agent Jay Mather introduces himself and two other agents to Sean, Bonnie, and Jessica.

“Thank you all for making the trip to Boise to speak with me. I would like to interview Bonnie, and my colleagues will speak with you two,” he nods toward Sean and Jessica. “Does that work for everyone?” Everyone agrees. “Wonderful. I believe if we get started right away, we can finish the interviews up today, so let’s get this over with, shall we?” Everyone disperses to separate interview rooms.

Mather begins his interview with Bonnie by expressing his condolences for her loss, and then he informs her, “If at any time during this interview it becomes too much for you, we will stop and finish it after the funeral. Okay?”

“I understand, Agent Mather. I would prefer to get this all behind me as soon as possible, as I would like to allow myself some personal time for the grieving process.”

Mather nods. “I expect that would be best. Let’s begin. Please describe your marriage with Mark.”

Bonnie takes a deep breath. “I began working for Mark as a temporary executive assistant while he was still married to his second wife. After we realized our attraction for each other, he confided in me about the fact that his marriage was dissolving and he was getting divorced. We became intimately involved. After a couple of weeks, Mark had finalized his divorce paperwork, and he proposed to me. It was a great marriage, mutually supportive, sexually dynamic, and very satisfying for both of us I think—”

Jay interjects. “So, no problems in the marriage then?”

Bonnie shakes her head. “Not as far as I am concerned. We were both very happy.”

“Thank you. Do you have any idea why someone would want to kill your husband?”

Bonnie replies, “I have no idea. He was such a good man, fair to others, and environmentally sensitive in a business where most companies don’t care about the planet. They just want its riches, no matter how badly they destroy the earth in the process—”

Once again, Jay interrupts to clarify, “So Global Metal Refining was an eco-friendly organization?”

Bonnie nods, “Absolutely. That’s one of the traits I admired most in Mark.”

“Do you know anything about Global Metal Refining’s problems in Brazil, with Diablo Mining, Inc.?”

Bonnie explains, “I know Diablo Mining was coming under pressure for their mining practices, and when Mark found out what they had been doing, he told them he wouldn’t do business with them until they followed proper environmental practices.”

Jay raises his eyebrows and asks, “Did Mark tell you that himself?”

Bonnie says, “Yes. Why?”

Jay shakes his head. “No reason. I was just clarifying. Can you explain how Hugo Montes and Ricardo Montes are related?”