Sons of Fortune

“To the Cedar Wood project,” said Nat, raising his glass.

Tom just managed to get out the words, “The Cedar Wood project.”

Su Ling reappeared, smiled at her husband, and said, “Perhaps you’d like to bring our guests in for dinner?”

“Now, I think it’s only fair, Julia, that I should explain to my wife and Tom that you and I have no secrets.”

Julia smiled. “None that I can think of, Nat, especially after signing a confidentiality agreement concerning the details of the Cedar Wood transaction.”

“Yes, and I think it should stay that way,” said Nat, smiling across at her, as Su Ling placed the first course on the table.

“Mrs. Kirkbridge,” said Tom, not touching his lobster bisque.

“Please call me Julia; after all we have known each other for some time.”

“Have we?” said Tom, “I don’t…”

“That’s not very flattering, Tom,” said Mrs. Kirkbridge, “after all, it was only a few weeks ago, when I was out jogging that you invited me for a drink and then to dinner at the Cascade the following evening. That’s when I first told you about my interest in the Cedar Wood project.”

Tom turned to Nat. “This is all very clever, but you seem to have forgotten that Mr. Cooke, the auctioneer, and our chief teller, have all come into contact with the original Mrs. Kirkbridge.”

“The first Mrs. Kirkbridge, yes, but not the original,” said Nat. “And I have already given that problem some considerable thought. There is no reason why Mr. Cooke should ever meet Julia, as he retires in a few months’ time. As for the auctioneer, it was you who did the bidding, not Julia, and you needn’t worry about Ray because I’m going to move him to the Newington branch.

“But what about the New York end?” said Tom.

“They know nothing,” said Julia, “other than that I have closed a very advantageous deal.” She paused. “This is lovely lobster bisque, Su Ling. It’s always been my favorite.”

“Thank you,” said Su Ling as she cleared away the soup bowls and returned to the kitchen.

“And, Tom, can I just say while Su Ling is out of the room, that I would prefer to forget any other little indiscretions that are rumored to have taken place during the past month.”

“You bastard,” said Tom, turning to face Nat.

“No, to be fair,” said Julia, “I did insist on being told everything before I signed the confidentiality agreement.”

Su Ling returned carrying a serving dish. The smell of roast lamb was tantalizing. “I’ve now worked out why Nat asked me to serve exactly the same meal a second time, but I’m bound to ask, how much more do I need to know if I’m to keep up this charade?”

“What would you like to know?” asked Julia.

“Well, I’ve worked out that you’re the real McCoy, and therefore must be the majority shareholder of the Kirkbridge company, but what I’m not sure about is, did you at your husband’s request jog over building sites on a Sunday morning and then report back to him?”

Julia laughed. “No, my husband didn’t expect me to do that, as I already have an architecture degree.”

“And may I ask,” continued Su Ling, “did Mr. Kirkbridge die of cancer and then leave the company to you, having taught you everything he knew?”

“No, he’s very much alive, but I divorced him two years ago, when I discovered he was siphoning off the company’s profits for his personal use.”

“But wasn’t it his company?” asked Tom.

“Yes, and I wouldn’t have minded so much if he hadn’t been lavishing those profits on another woman.”

“Would that woman by any chance be around five foot eight, blond, like expensive clothes, and claim to hail from Minnesota?”

“You’ve obviously met her,” said Julia, “and I expect it was also my ex-husband who called you from a bank in San Francisco claiming to be Mrs. Kirkbridge’s lawyer.”

“You’ve no idea where the two of them are at the moment, by any chance?” asked Tom. “Because I’d like to kill them.”

“Absolutely no idea,” said Julia, “but should you find out, please let me know. Then you can kill her and I can kill him.”