31 Duane Ferguson, Tommy's Grandpa

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"So you mean to tell me that he's got a better claim than I do - the boy's own grandfather?"

"Well, Mr. Ferguson, for now, that's true. In the turmoil surrounding the death of your son last year, Mr. Hesburgh moved aggressively to secure guardianship of your grandson."

He couldn't help that. It was a dark time back when bad news piled on top of the horrific news of the murder of his only son. And the cancer finally took his Beth.

"There's no helping that now. My wife... Let's move forward. How do we fix this?"

"Oddly the boy is not actually living with Mr. Hesburgh. He's placed him with an unmarried couple, who also appear to be unemployed and residing in a modest house near downtown Seattle. They don't appear to have title to the house, which..."

"Why would he do that?" He had known the elder Thomas Hesburgh well and was delighted when his son informed him he was marrying the man's daughter. The family had substance, were of good stock, and the Hesburgh's daughter, Ashley he believed, certainly had intelligence and backbone and he was more than satisfied with her as a daughter-in-law. Good genes. The boy was a wonderful gift for an old man. Then everything turned ugly so quickly. First his wife and her cancer. Then… He hadn't a clue what or why someone paid professionals to assassinate the Hesburghs which unfortunately included his son and almost included his grandson. From what he heard, it didn't make sense, but he had heard that they tortured the younger Hesburgh, Trip he went by, and his wife, he forgot her name, and killed Trip's other sister, the younger one. Somehow he and his wife escaped. And now they had bodyguards wherever they went. Duane doubted he was a target. But it was very possible that Trip still was on that somebody's short list to be eliminated. He would be remiss in allowing his grandson to remain anywhere near a Hesburgh. But for his dear Beth dying…anyway the important thing was to get this fixed, get his grandson back with him. He was a Ferguson and it just wouldn't be appropriate for the boy to grow up among the Hesburghs. "My grandson will not grow up as a Hesburgh."

"I think we have a very good case, Mr. Ferguson, but..."

"But what?"

"But it would help if we make a...display of outreach, of cooperation...build a relationship with the boy."

He studied his attorney's face. The man sometimes failed to say what he really meant, and that could be annoying. "For example...you have something in mind?"

"Have you visited your grandson?"

"I've been preoccupied...with...after my wife's death. We last saw the boy, maybe a little over a year ago, but since her illness..."

"The sooner you establish connections to the boy the stronger the case will be."

That made sense. The man was annoying but he was right. "Call their side and get something together. Sooner the better. Have my secretary come in as you leave."

Kathy entered. He said, "Could you pick up a gift for a small boy." He wasn't sure how old he was. "Do you remember how old my grandson is?"

"Why yes sir, he would be almost six years old now. I'll get something this afternoon. You have someone to see you."

"I don't recall any appointments."

"It's your brother."

He couldn't hide his scowl. His brothers and sisters, the lot of them, had squandered the money left them by their father and as far as he knew all their offspring were equally unable to create wealth as opposed to consume it, something which they all were well practiced at. He seemed to be the only one who could grow wealth and his dear relatives all behaved as if he owed them. "Which one? Oh just send him in."

His youngest brother Anthony stepped into the office and he was as well dressed as ever. "Duane, good to see you again."

"Hi, Anthony. Please sit down." If he let him the man would waste time. "Purpose?"

"As direct as ever. OK. My daughter, Mabel, has finished college."

"Excellent. And what is she pursuing as a career?"

"Teaching. She finished..."

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That was a waste of time. He had no need of primary school teachers on his staff. He got rid of dear Anthony in time to receive a call from his attorney. He would meet his grandson tomorrow morning. In all likelihood Trip had no real interest in the boy, which is probably why he put him off to this riffraff. He would have his house manager set up a room for the boy. It was entirely possible he would be returning with him tomorrow. Perhaps a show of force would get the boy released to his care.