Heads You Win

“What are you not telling me, Mr. Harbottle?” said Alex, staring across the table.

The lawyer hesitated for a moment, before removing his glasses and placing them on the desk. “The reasons for his suicide are more complex than the public realize, Mr. Karpenko. Lawrence did not commit suicide because of the press revelations.”

“Then why?”

“Lawrence had many worthy qualities, including generosity of heart and pocket, as well as a genuine desire to serve, which made him an ideal candidate for public office. I have no doubt he would have been a very fine congressman.”

“But?”

“But,” repeated Harbottle, “a different set of skills and expertise are required to run a modern financial institution, and although

Lawrence was chairman of the Lowell Bank and Trust Company, he held that position in name only, and allowed others to handle the day-to-day business of the bank. Others who were not of the same moral fiber.”

“How bad is it?” asked Alex, leaning forward.

“I’m not acquainted with the finer details of the bank’s present financial position, but I can tell you that Douglas Ackroyd, the chief executive, will be announcing his resignation later this afternoon. I’m only relieved that this firm will not be representing that particular gentleman in any forthcoming legal actions that might arise.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” asked Alex.

“I am not in a position to advise you on that matter, Mr. Karpenko. But Lawrence did ask me to give you this letter.” He opened the drawer of his desk, took out a slim white envelope, and handed it to Alex.

Alex tore it open and extracted a single sheet of paper, written in Lawrence’s clear, unmistakable hand.

My dear Alex,

By now you will know that I have made a complete fool of myself, and more importantly, ruined the good name of my family, earned over a hundred years, and squandered in a generation.

I apologize for burdening you with my problems, but within days of my death, the Lowell Bank and Trust Company will be subject to an investigation by the IRS. Someone will be left with the unenviable task of having to wind up the bank’s assets, while at the same time doing everything in their power to ensure that its loyal shareholders and customers suffer the minimum loss.

To that end, I have left all the family assets, including my homes in Boston, Southampton, and the south of France, along with the Lowell art collection, to be disposed of as the new chairman of the company considers fit.

However, that begs the question of who that chairman should be. I can think of no one I would trust more to carry out that onerous responsibility than you, and if you felt able to do so, I would also leave you my fifty percent shareholding in the bank. However, I would understand if you felt unable to take on such a task, especially as it wouldn’t be the first time you’d come to my rescue.

For all you have done in the past, my grateful thanks.

As ever,

Lawrence

Alex looked across the table at the lawyer and said, “Has anyone else seen this letter, Mr. Harbottle?”

“I haven’t even read it myself, sir.”

* * *

Once Alex had left Mr. Harbottle’s office, he went straight back to his hotel, and told the receptionist that he would be checking out in the morning. But first he needed to make some phone calls before he even thought about visiting the bank. The first was to Anna, to tell her he wouldn’t be returning to New York for some time. He then briefed her on the details of Lawrence’s will, before asking, “Do you think you and Mr. Rosenthal could come up to Boston as soon as possible and value the Lowell Collection?”

“I’ll see if he’s free, and then call you back. Are you camping in the Mayflower for the next few days?”

“No, Mr. Harbottle has advised me to move into Beacon Hill as quickly as possible to make sure Evelyn doesn’t take up residence and claim the property as next of kin.”

“How generous of Lawrence to leave you his fifty percent of Elena’s, especially as he didn’t know if you’d agree to become chairman.”

“And he’s made my task of attempting to keep the bank afloat a little easier by also leaving me his fifty percent shareholding if I agreed to be chairman. That means no one can overrule me other than Evelyn, who owns the other fifty percent.”

“Evelyn? Won’t that make your job even more difficult?”

“Certainly if I’d been advising Lawrence’s father, I would have told him that the law courts are full of warring siblings who each own fifty percent of their father’s estate. But Harbottle’s convinced that as long as the shares are worthless, she’s unlikely to cause any trouble. I’m missing you,” he said, suddenly changing the subject. “When do you think you’ll be able to join me?”