Chapter 436: Gracebourne
Monday, February 13th, Afternoon
Fallon stood in the main foyer of her family's ancestral home, called Gracebourne, looking up to the mezzanine. She looked at the short dark brown-haired man leaning on one of the railings. The person nodded and adjusted his backward baseball cap.
"Hello, Elliott," Fallon said.
"Hello Cousin, what do I owe the visit?" Elliott Stafford asked. Elliot is Fallon's distant cousin from some distant cadet branch. With very few Stafford's left, Fallon brought Elliott to Gracebourne to oversee the properties and live in the main house.
"We need to talk," Fallon said, echoing up through the entry hall.
Elliott stood up and pulled his plaid shirt down by the tails, straightening it out. "I was about to order lunch; why don't you join me?" he said.
"Okay, I guess I'll have lunch with you," Fallon said.
Elliott walked over to the wood circular staircase. Fallon watched her cousin descend; once in the entrance hall, they came face-to-face. The cousins were similar in build and height. Where Fallon was just under average height for women, Elliott was short for a man.
"So, what brings you out here to the country?" Elliott asked.
"We'll discuss things," Fallon said.
Elliott nodded, "Same old Fallon, always playing chess, never just waiting and being patient; maybe the answer will just come," he said.
"Whatever, Elliott," Fallon said., with a nod, "Let's just go into the kitchen," Elliott said.
"Fair," Fallon said.
The cousins walked through the house to a kitchen. Fallon took a seat at the table, and Elliott walked over to a drawer and pulled out a notepad. He looked it over, nodded, and then walked over to the table.
Elliott put the notepad down in front of Fallon; Elliott took a seat across from Fallon. They looked each other over.
Fallon sighed, "So, what's this list?" she asked.
"That's all the work that's been done to Gracebourne since you've last been out here," Elliott said.
Fallon looked down at the notepad, picked up the first sheet, and looked at the second page.
"The second page is for Longhaven," Elliott said.
Fallon nodded, "You've always have kept good care of the estates," she said.
"The tenants of Longhaven were interested in purchasing it," Elliott said.
Fallon nodded, "They're at it again," she said.
"Fal, you might as well sell it; it's not like you're going to live there; you're hardly at Gracebourne," Elliott said.
"I'm not the owner of those properties," Fallon said.
"That's news to me," Elliott said.
Fallon sighed, "Do we have to have this discussion again?" she asked.
"Which would be?" Elliott asked.
"I'm not the owner of these properties; I'm a caretaker," Fallon said.
"I see. Is this all for Keni?" Elliott asked.
"Not just Keni, every Stafford after her," Fallon said.
Elliott nodded, "Hmm, you're into the whole thing," she said.
"So, where do you plan on getting lunch?" Fallon asked.
"I was thinking of heading to the deli in Locust Valley," Elliott said.
"Artie Stein's?" Fallon asked.
"Where else?" Elliott asked.
Fallon chuckled, "I've taught you well," she said.
"So, how long are you out here for?" Elliott asked.
"I'm heading back to the city in the morning," Fallon said.
"I'll get your room ready," Elliott said, took out his smartphone, and sent a text message.
"Thank you," Fallon said.
"You're welcome," Elliott said.
Fallon nodded, "So, how have things been out here?" she asked.
"The usual, quiet, I think the grandkids down at Hedgestone threw a heavy, loud party a week or two, again," Elliott said.
"Did the cops get called?" Fallon asked.
Elliott nodded, "Of course, it's Mill Neck, but it wasn't me; I think it's from Lion's Gate," he said.
"Okay," Fallon said.
"So, why did you come out here?" Elliott asked.
Fallon nodded and reached into her bag, pulling out the file. They looked at each other across the table. "Have you seen Tanner Rich in the last few months?" she asked.
"Tanner Rich? Who is that?" Elliott asked.
"He's the head of the Stafford Foundation," Fallon said.
"The Stafford Foundation? Why would the Foundation contact me?" Elliott asked.
"Maybe, because of your last name," Fallon said.
"I'm so far away from being the head of the family," Elliott said.
"Right now, you're only behind Keni," Fallon said.
"I don't want that, Fal, shit, I never expected this, but this is enough for me," Elliott said.
Fallon pushed the notepad to Elliott, "Please sign the bottom of the page," she said.
"That's a strange request; why?" Elliott asked.
"Elliott, please just do it," Fallon said.
"Fine, fine," Elliott said, took the notepad and signed it.
Fallon pulled the notepad back to her. She opened the file and compared the signatures. With a nod, Fallon looked at Elliott, "Do you ever sign anything for the Foundation?" Fallon asked.
"God, I don't know, Fal, maybe, years ago, as you know because I'm a Stafford," Elliott said.
Fallon nodded, "Has anyone from the Foundation come out here?" she asked.
Elliott nodded, "Maybe," he said.
"Who was it?" Fallon asked.
"A young woman, maybe mid to late twenties, I don't know, I'm not good with ages," Elliott said.
"Is that all, no name or description?" Fallon asked.
"She had a waspy, blue blood look," Elliott said.
"Name?" Fallon asked.
"Jenna, Gina, Jenny, something like that," Elliott said.
Gena Pratt? Why would Tanner send her out here, her of all people? Poker face, Fallon. "What did they need you to sign?" Fallon asked.
"They said they were updating some sort of consent forms," Elliott said.
"So, they sent this woman out here instead of asking you to come in?" Fallon asked.
"I said I could be in by early afternoon, but they said no, and would drive the paperwork out here," Elliott said.
"Okay," Fallon said.
"What's this about?" Elliott asked.
"Don't worry about it," Fallon said.
"Are you sure?" Elliott asked.
"Let's get lunch," Fallon said.
"Are you sure?" Elliott asked.
"Yeah, let's go," Fallon said, got up, and headed towards the driveway. Elliott shrugged, grabbed his keys, and followed Fallon.
