DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!!
Hey guys, thanks for all the reviews. I really do appreciate them and I'm so glad that you guys enjoyed the last chapter. I really had fun writing it.
Well, here's the next chapter and you finally get to know who the mystery person is. This is really AU-ish and I hope this doesn't turn y'all against my story. Please review, I really want to know what you guys think. Thanks!!
May 2005
The law office of Joseph L. Britt was hardly ever filled with anything but scrum. He was the kind of lawyer that anyone who was connected illegal activities could afford so when Joseph had received a phone call from a very wealthy and powerful man that usually used his son-in-law as his lawyer, Joseph had been quite shocked. The man on the phone had identified himself as Caleb Nichol, as in the head of the Newport Group, and said that he needed to meet with Joseph right away. Joseph was not sure what a man like Caleb Nichol would want with a lawyer such as himself when he had a son-in-law who had gotten him out of more jams than any other lawyer probably could have but agreed to meet with him right away.
Caleb had arrived only a few minutes later, a dire look on his face as he walked through the door carrying an overstuff briefcase. Joseph was shocked at how gaunt and drawn Caleb's face looked. The last time he had seen Caleb, at one of the many Newpsie affairs that his wife often dragged him to, he had looked healthier but as he sat in front of his he was pale and tired looking. A look Joseph was often used to seeing from his clients that were guilty and something told Joseph, before Caleb even spoke to him, that Caleb was guilty of whatever he was being charged with.
"Mr. Nichol, I must say that I am shocked to see you here in my office. I would not think a man of your wealth would need a lawyer such as myself!" Joseph had learned many years ago, right after his wife and he had moved to Newport, that everyone there worshipped and responded to a sycophant.
"You should be shocked. I usually would not use a lawyer that so many known felons use but this time I can't turn to my son-in-law." With that said Caleb took his check book out and began scribbling a figure that Joseph had never seen before. "I hope this will cover any legal fees!" Caleb said as he tore the check out and handed it to Joseph.
"It's plenty!" Joseph gawked, his chin practically hitting the floor as he looked at the check. "Mr. Nichol, what exactly do you need my help with?" Joseph asked, knowing for certain that Caleb was guiltier than sin.
"Well Mr. Britt I'm sure that you have heard of all the problems I have had in the past with the D.A. and his foolish accusations about my corrupt business dealings, and I am as equally positive that you have heard the many rumors that your client, Maxwell Hurst, is spreading that my business is failing."
Caleb's words took Joseph aback, causing him to be speechless for a few moments. Hardly anyone knew that Maxwell Hurst, a well respected banker that was nearly as rich as Caleb, was his client. Mr. Hurst had came to Joseph to figure out a way to avoid bankruptcy because one of his 'associates', a word that Hurst used to describe the people that had him in their pockets, was not paying him the money he 'owed' him or the money he had borrowed from the bank. Hurst had never came out and said the name of the man but never in a million years would Joseph have guessed that the man who owed all the money was Caleb Nichol.
"Mr. Nichol, I assure you I haven't heard any rumors like that. Is it true though?" The look in Caleb's face answered the question.
"Let's just say that my business is not in the best of shape!" Caleb gave his usual smug smirk, always avoiding to answer a question head on.
"Mr. Nichol, to help you I need to know everything. What is going on?" Joseph needed to know, not only so he could help Caleb but to satisfy his own need to know if one of the richest men in Newport was going bankrupt.
"You'll see everything you need in here Mr. Britt, but the main thing you need to know is that I need you to help me stage my death!"
A heavy winter coat and a pair of dark sunglasses, how conspicuous could he get? All he needed was a shiny black top hat and everyone would know he was trying to keep his identity a secret. He glanced at his watch once again, growing more impatient by the moment.
"Damn it Sanford!" He cursed under his breath, his watch showing that it was already 6:35. Sandy was already five minutes late, five minutes that could be spent helping him rebuild his family.
Reaching to turn the heat up he knocked a file off the console, pictures and documents falling to the floor. He cursed once more and quickly picked the lose papers up. He began shoving the pictures back into the folder but immediately stopped as he came to a picture that he had looked at many times. The picture was of a tiny little girl, sitting on a Dora the Explorer beach towel, in a pink polka dot bathing suit. Her long blonde curls were pulled into two little pony tails on each side of her head, her piercing blue eyes looking straight into the camera, as though she knew the Private Investigator was trying to get a picture of her. From the information he had on the child he knew that the picture had been taken on her second birthday. The picture was the last one he had of her, the most up to date picture he had of any of the people he had had the P.I. to follow. After the man had nearly been caught taking pictures at Berkley as a lecture began he had been ordered to stop, and with that the pictorial updates had ended. Leaving him with only a few photos, and that photo, the one he cherished most because it reminded him so much of when his own daughter had been that age.
Sandy had been nervous about this meeting since he had received the phone call the night before and as he laid awake the night before he had contemplated not even coming. What would it matter if he didn't? This 'client' as he had referred to him in front of Kirsten and the rest of their family, needed to realize the impact that his actions had had on his family, especially his daughter.
Pulling into the parking garage it did not take him long to spot the only car there. A black car, the windows tinted and probably an untraceable license plate. Sandy quickly pulled into the space beside the car and took a deep breathe, unsure of how this would go and what this would do to his family. Trying to keep his anger under control he opened the door and quickly went around to the passenger side of the black car. He quickly opened the door and slid into the front seat.
"Take off those ridiculous glasses. If you want to talk to me then I want the cowardly bastard that took the easy way out to look me in the eye and tell me why he did what he did!" Sandy's voice was filled with anger, never before had he ever wanted to hurt someone so badly. The man did not speak, instead took the glasses off and placed them on top of the folder that lay on the console. "Thank you," Sandy said insincerely. "Now what the hell is going on?" Sandy asked, looking into the icy blue eyes that led to an even icier soul and a gaping, abyss where his heart was supposed to be.
"Calm down Sanford!" The man smirked, the same smug smirk that Sandy had hated for more than twenty years.
"Don't tell me to calm down. Tell me what is going on or I'll get back in my car and forget that you ever called me. Now tell me, why did you do this Caleb?" Sandy looked Caleb straight in the eye, waiting for an explanation.
Everyone in the Cohen's house, except for Sophie and Blake, were wide awake. Kaitlin, Ryan, Taylor, Seth, and Summer sat in the living room, watching a movie that Seth had received for Chrismukkah while Sophie, Kirsten, and Julie sat in the kitchen sipping coffee and eating bagels. Kirsten had been shocked when Sophie had not said anything when she had entered the kitchen, she had also been shocked when Julie had not began teasing her when she had taken her seat at the table, but what shocked Kirsten even more was that for the first time in six years she was having a civil meal with her mother-in-law.
"Kiki, what do you think we should do with the kids today?" Julie asked, gently nibbling on a bagel, her swollen lip making it incredibly painful to chew.
"Uhh, I'm not sure. We could always take them to the park, and then to the mall. We haven't bought Sophie her Christmas outfit yet, and I still need to pick up a couple of gifts for the neighbors." Kirsten answered, sipping her coffee.
"Or you could scar your other child for life!" Sophie mumbled as she flipped through the morning paper. Julie's eyes widened with shock but Kirsten just shook her head, used to the Nana and her many snide comments.
"So, what do you say Julie? Do you want to do that?" Kirsten asked, acting as if she had not heard what Sophie had said. Julie was about to respond when Kaitlin entered the kitchen, the early hour obvious on her face.
"Mom, I'm hungry!" Kaitlin whined as she grabbed the orange juice from the refrigerator.
"Well, what do you want to eat? I could always go out and grab something from McDonalds," Julie said, looking at her daughter.
"Kaitlin, what do you want? I'll make you breakfast!" Kirsten said as she stood up from the table.
"Kiki, you don't have to do that! I don't want to put you out, more than you've already had to be thanks to me." Julie said, motioning toward her lip.
"And thanks to Sandy!" Sophie mumbled once again, this time as she sipped her coffee. Julie looked at Kirsten, waiting for Kirsten to say something back, instead Kirsten continued to ignore Sophie.
"Julie, don't be silly. Now Kaitlin, what do you want?" Kirsten asked as she walked over to the refrigerator.
"Well, some eggs I guess. Thanks Kirsten!" Kaitlin smiled.
"You're welcome sweetie. Now how do you want your eggs?" Kirsten asked as she grabbed a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator.
"Over easy!" Kaitlin answered as she sat down at the table beside of her mother. Kaitlin did not think anything of what she had but Julie and Kirsten both tensed, waiting for the snide comment from Sophie. When nothing was mumbled both women turned and looked at Sophie.
"What?" Sophie asked, noticing the stares.
"You are gonna say something?" Julie asked, surprised.
"Like what?" Sophie asked innocently.
"Like, oh I don't know, like 'Over easy like Kirsten!'?" Kirsten asked.
"Oh Kirsten, you've known me long enough to know that I never take the easy road. If I'm gonna insult you I will use a better line than that you're over easy." Sophie rolled her eyes and took a quick sip of her coffee.
"Well I'm glad that you don't think I'm…." Kirsten began as she walked to the stove.
"You misunderstood me dear. I won't turn what Kaitlin just said into a joke but I do think you're easy. From my understanding you always have been and from the earlier performance my Grandson walked in on you always will be!" Sophie quickly placed the paper in front of her face as if the paper would keep Kirsten, or for that matter Julie, from saying something back.
"Sophi…." Julie began but was quickly stopped by Kirsten.
"Julie, don't!" Kirsten said, not wanting her friend to get 'The Nana treatment'. Julie was shocked at Kirsten's behavior, never before having seen her best friend back down from a confrontation. Then again she had never seen Kirsten around the Nana.
"I'm gonna go check on Blake!" Julie said as she stood up from the table, unable to handle watching her best friend take such abuse from the Nana. Kirsten nodded and smiled appreciatively, thankful that Julie had taken the hint and backed down. The last thing Kirsten wanted was a confrontation. Julie returned the smile and headed to the bedroom where Blake slept peacefully.