After the Fall
Chapter 25
Journal of James Beckett
Dearest Johanna,
Rick and Katie had dinner with Reba and me at her condo. Reba enjoyed doing the cooking, but Don provided a dessert, as that is not his mother's forte. As you might imagine, a lot of the conversation centered around baseball. Because of the absence of Rick's father, he didn't grow up with the game, or any other sport, for that matter, except what was forced on him at boarding school. He does have a connection, however. Martha worked with Joe Torre, who is now baseball's chief officer, on a charity project some years back. They got to know each other pretty well. Rick got to know him too and met a lot of players. Rick introduced Katie to Torre when they were on one of their earlier cases together. When she texted me at the time, I could feel her excitement pour through the phone.
When the discussion of my marriage to Reba finally came up, things did not go as smoothly. Rick congratulated me and slapped me on the back. Katie smiled, but not the kind of smile that lights up her eyes. You remember the difference. Her words were very tight when she wished the both of us good luck. I'm sure she meant it, she just wasn't comfortable with the idea.
Things got more strained when Reba brought up the possibility that I might move in with her. Katie has great affection for the home where we all lived together. She had a hard time giving up her own apartment when she and Rick were married, even though she'd only lived there a few years. Our home was very dear to her, as it is the last place she ever saw you. I think that letting go of that connection is very disturbing to her, but she didn't say so. Katie felt secure enough to put away your ring. Perhaps the new family she is building with Rick will give her the strength to let go of that apartment too. She'll just need some time to process it all.
I still have a lot of your things in storage. When I wrote to you about all the drama Rick and Katie went through to get married, I told you that she was almost wed in your dress. She was beautiful, almost as beautiful as you, in the simple thing she wore when the ceremony finally took place. Katie has your papers because she and Rick used them to gather evidence on Bracken. I told you about that. I have boxes of your clothes, your memorabilia, your photo albums, and even that crazy mug you had where the scales of justice tilted when you poured hot coffee into it. I think I am finally at the point where I'm prepared to figure out what to do with all of it. Katie will probably want some things. Some of the clothes that you saved from when we were young are back in style. Can you believe the kids are wearing paisley again? I think about some of the things I wore and wince. Thank God, I don't have to make any instant decisions. Katie and I may do it together.
I was right about Rick having ideas for Lucas. I believe he understood why I wasn't too forthcoming with information about why I have a friend who needs a job. He just asked me for a description of Lucas and about what his skills are. I've never mentioned it to you, but Lucas has a very resonant voice, like a radio announcer. Rick was excited to hear that. His new publisher, One World, is starting a line of audiobooks. Lucas will have to audition, but Rick thinks he might have a good chance at recording the text. It sounds like a less stressful job than the one he had, fewer levels of management if nothing else. Rick gave me a contact for Lucas.
After Rick tasted the dessert Don made, which had four different flavors of chocolate in it and looked like it had come off the cover of a magazine, Reba mentioned that Don was trying to open a restaurant. Before she could say anything else, Rick asked if Don was looking for investors. He said that he has to talk to his business manager, but he's interested in putting some money into the venture. He thinks that one of his poker buddy authors, who writes stories prominently featuring food, might be as well.
I have never enjoyed mysteries the way you did, although I've read all the Nikki Heats. The first one was a bit disturbing, even though Katie assured me that the love scene had come strictly out of Rick's imagination, but the books make for nice light reading. I did enjoy Margaret Truman's stories. The lead character in those had a thing for sandwiches. She described them in great detail. From what Rick said, this author's protagonist does something similar with fine dining. Perhaps that might be considered an homage to Nero Wolfe. I don't know, I've never read one of Rick's friend's books. If he invests in Don's restaurant, I might. I know Reba will.
On the work front, I made my counter offer to the attorneys for Creation First. They weren't happy with it, but I didn't expect them to be. If they had been, I would have been aiming much too low. They'll be getting back to the company and coming back with a response. I expect the negotiations will go a few more rounds.
Now that this case seems to be winding down, I may be picking up another one. It's similar to what I did for the students who were swindled by Victor Baron. There is a trend that was already going on while you were still with us of for-profit colleges and universities that promise students great careers and get them to take out loans to fund their educations. Many of them are a scam. They have less than a 5 percent graduation rate. The institutions, a lot of which are online, just exist to get their hands on federal loan funds. There is one in New York that promised its marks careers in computer programming, but the level of instruction was so poor that the students were utterly unqualified when matched with their counterparts from traditional colleges.
That left both many young people and a number of older ones saddled with considerable debt, and either no jobs or menial ones. To make it worse, since the debts were incurred as student loans, the law doesn't allow them to be discharged by bankruptcy. There is a consumer protection organization involved that will be picking up my initial fee and expenses. The students who were taken, can't afford it. The case will be massive, affecting hundreds and possibly thousands of victims.
I'll have to hire some help. I would hire Lucas if he had the qualifications, but most of what we will have to do is computer and paperwork, and that kind of thing has never been his area. I may be availing myself of the services of RCI, as well, to track down both victims and possible perpetrators. I can see this thing possibly stretching out for years, but it will be worthwhile. It will also give me a chance to work with Alexis and perhaps even with Katie if I need some investigatory advice. I think both of us might enjoy that.
Forever love,
J.B.