Sons of Fortune

“If I did, he’d only follow me.”

“There’s no need for us to lose any sleep over it,” said Jimmy. “He’ll assume we know about the missing five hundred thousand and realize he’ll have to lie low until the rumors have died down.”

“Ralph Elliot doesn’t know the meaning of lying low. He’ll ride into town with both guns blazing, with us lined up in his sights.”

“What else have you found out?” asked Nat, looking up from behind his desk.

“He and Rebecca already have a son and I’m told they’ve put him down for Taft.”

“I hope to God he’s younger than Luke, otherwise I’d send the boy to Hotchkiss.”

Tom laughed. “I mean it,” said Nat. Luke’s a sensitive enough child without having to cope with that.”

“Well, there are also consequences for the bank of his joining Belman and Wayland.”

“And Elliot,” added Nat.

“Don’t forget that they were the lawyers overseeing the Cedar Wood project on behalf of the council, and if he ever found out…”

“There’s no reason he should,” said Nat. “However, you’d better warn Julia, even though it’s been a couple of years, and don’t forget Ray has also moved on. Only four people know the full story, and I’m married to one of them.”

“And I’m going to marry the other,” said Tom.

“You’re what?” said Nat in disbelief.

“I’ve been proposing to Julia for the past eighteen months, and last night she finally gave in. So I’ll be bringing my fiancée for dinner tonight.”

“That’s wonderful news,” said Nat, sounding delighted.

“And Nat, don’t leave it until the last moment to tell Su Ling.”

“It’s just a shot across our bow,” said Harry in reply to Fletcher’s question.

“It’s a bloody cannon,” responded Fletcher. “Ralph Elliot doesn’t deal in shots, so we’ll need to find out what the hell he’s up to.”

“I’ve no idea,” said Harry. “All I can tell you is that I had a call from George Turner to alert me that Elliot had asked for all the papers that the bank has ever been involved with, and yesterday morning he called again asking for more details on the Cedar Wood project, and in particular the original terms of agreement that I recommended to the Senate.”

“Why the Cedar Wood project? That’s proving to be a huge success story, with a rush of applications to lease space. Just what is he up to?”

“He’s also asked to see copies of all my speeches, and any notes I’d made at the time of the Gates Amendment. No one has ever asked me for copies of my old speeches before, let alone my notes,” said Harry

. “It’s very flattering.”

“‘He only flatters to deceive,’” said Fletcher. “Remind me of the finer points of the Gates Amendment?”

“I insisted that any purchaser of council land valued at over one million dollars be named and not be able to hide his or her identity behind the offices of a bank or a law firm so we’d know exactly who we were dealing with. They were also required to pay the full amount on the signing of any contract to prove they were a viable company. That way there would be no holdups.”

“But everyone now accepts that as good practice. In fact, several other states have followed your lead.”

“It could just be an innocent inquiry.”

“You’ve obviously never dealt with Ralph Elliot before,” said Fletcher. “Innocent is not part of his vocabulary. However, in the past he has always selected his enemies carefully. Once he’s driven past the Gates Library a few times, he may decide you’re not someone to cross. But be warned, he’s up to something.”

“By the way,” said Harry, “has anyone told you about Jimmy and Joanna?”

“No,” said Fletcher.

“Then I’ll keep my mouth shut. I’m sure Jimmy will want to tell you in his own time.”