Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
I watched as she tightened her grip on the leash with one hand while she reached into her pocket with the other.
I spoke quickly. “It’s me, Max. I just want to talk to you.”
I saw her defensive stance relax and I got out of the car. Bruno was now overcome with excitement and straining at the leash to get to me. I crossed the street and subjected myself to his excitement as he jumped all over me, just like old times. I laughed as he licked my face.
“Hey, Bruno old boy. It’s good to see you fella.” I patted his head and rubbed his neck a few times.
I turned to Lillian. “Let’s take this chap for a walk and have a little chat.”
There was silence for a few minutes as we simply walked. Bruno stopped a few times to mark his territory.
“How did you find me?”
“I hired a private investigator. We need to talk about what happened, Lillian.”
She nodded. “I know. It should never have happened. But I thought I didn’t have a choice but to do what he wanted. He said it was his company and you were stealing, but I think I always knew he set you up. I wanted to help, but then you confessed and I was confused.”
“I confessed because it was the only way I knew to free myself from him. I trusted him and signed all my intellectual output away to him. Now that I’m free, I’m hunting concrete evidence to take him to court.”
“Max, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am for what I did. I really did feel like I didn’t have a choice. Terry in accounts was in on it as well, but I hear that he’s passed away. I hope he made his peace before he did.”
“Terry?” I repeated amazed. I remembered him as a sweet old man.
“Robert’s pockets are very deep. And he just had the knack of finding the right accomplices at the right time. You know my aunt Ruth?”
“Of course, how is she?”
“She’s alive, but I paid a high price for her life. I’m sorry it had taken so many years out of yours to have her with me still.”
I sighed. The lack of money was the root of all evil. “I understand, Lillian. It’s a pity you didn’t come to me first. I could have helped and kept you out of feeling obligated to Robert.”
She pressed her left hand into her cheek and when she spoke her voice was full of regret.
“Your heart was always in the right place, Max. I don’t even know why I let him manipulate me like that. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t feel guilty about what I did. Robert fired me shortly after, you know. The bastard did not even want to give me a recommendation. It was hard, but I managed somehow. I wish I had never met him and I don’t want to have anything to do with him ever again.”
By now we were back at her house.
“I’d like you to come inside. I have some things that might interest you. You need to know about the photos.”
“I know about them. I need something that will convince Savannah I’m innocent.”
Lillian smiled suddenly. “You’ve come to the right place. I have exactly what you need. Come inside.”
We entered the house resplendent with the smell of a great meal. Lillian grinned at me as she took Bruno off the leash.
“You came on a good night. Aunt Ruth made lasagna.”
“Ah, the way to a man’s heart, but perhaps not today. I am too stressed to do justice to your Aunt’s fine culinary skills”
She nodded. “I understand. Come with me.”
I followed her deeper into the house. Lillian preceded me to the back porch where she invited me to sit and did not beat around the bush.
“Once when Robert had a few glasses of wine he admitted to me he hated the fact that Savannah chose you over him. I also kind of guessed that he had always been a little envious of your software skills. He knew it was your skills that made the company what it was. At some point the feelings he had must have turned into hatred so he set up the accounts to look like you were authorizing checks. What he didn’t know was that Terry kept a secret record. When I left the company he sent me a copy of everything with a note that simply read:
Just in case…
It looks as if ‘just in case’ is finally here. So you can have that. Also, I’m sorry to say, it was me who arranged everything with the prostitute, the photographer, the bartender to spike your drinks. Luckily, I too, kept records. Just in case.”
I could feel my chest fill with a sense of victory. “So, Lillian, you owe it to me to help prove to Savannah I was set up with that woman.”