Chapter Sixty-One

Branch had a powerful headache from his week-long binge on Peterson's fine bourbon. "It's almost gone. I won't imbibe as much when it's not taunting me across the room."

He began to think about the office again. All the Autonberry assets were in order. The same three documents were missing: David's death certificate, Lila and JD's wedding license, and David and Maris's will.

He also had a question about David's trust. Peterson had noted some downturns in the markets and consolidated accounts with JD's signed permission. There was over a million dollars in David's trust still not counting the family trusts that added up to 18 million dollars in cash. His assets and partial business interests totaled another million. The freight lines were another entity which JD had not divulged their value. That was done out of the Denver offices.

"Twenty million dollars. Branch just has to make the old man happy and he is sitting pretty." He toasted himself with coffee.

"And why is one million still under David's name? Peterson was too meticulous for that. Maybe JD was hiding money for some mistress somewhere! HA!"

"And to think stupid lizard Timothy thought I should see a new client yesterday. Ha! I am set."

He did sign the deeds to the Peterson home and to Timothy's home over to them. JD had told him to do so. "They all know too much. Loyalty is earned and most of the time paid for."

Branch had wanted to leave Timothy high and dry with a severance package. JD vetoed it immediately

"Give him and his mother a healthy pension and their home. A small trust, maybe for his two children. College for the boy, dowry for the girl."

Branch frowned but did what his boss said. He would not let Timothy know until the last minute, just to make sure he finished up all the work he needed. He wanted him to fear him and worry about his future.

"They must really have something on him."

—-&—-

"Thank you for allowing us to tour on such short notice. We heard of your school on our travels."

"David and Ximena Santiago."

The Headmaster looked at their apparel and her jewelry. He was quite sure they could afford their facility.

"Welcome. You have a fifteen-year-old son?"

"Yes, David Junior," Ximena answered.

"Let's go see the campus."

The Headmaster passed the construction of the new natatorium. Ximena noticed the plaque and saw her opportunity.

"Autonberry? Is that JD?"

David cut his eyes at her in surprise then he followed her eyes to the sign."

"Yes. A major supporter of our school. His grandson attends."

"We have dealings with his freight company and our companies."

"Good man, good man. His grandson is a leader on campus. Top of his class. Excellent archer and artist too."

David thought of his new passion for sketching and painting he had discovered in himself in Mexico.

Ximena noted the shared trait too.

They toured the whole campus and he explained the test admission and interview process.

"It will be for next fall. We are just not sure we want him so far from home yet."

"I understand completely. Most of our students are from the West."

"What languages do you offer?"

"Latin, French, and Spanish."

"Good. Those are useful for international business which we specialize in."

"Santiago—-that means Saint James." the Headmaster noted proud of his language skill.

"Yes," David smirked, "I find great meaning in my name."

"Could we see the dormitory that fifteen-year-olds live in?"

"Of course. I will send, my secretary if you don't mind. I have a faculty meeting."

"Of course, thank you for your time."

"I hope to see your son's name soon on an application."

"We will see"

A matronly secretary came around the corner and offered to take them to the dorms.

Ximena kept her eyes peeled for James David. She had made up a visual in her head of a young David.

The matron first took them into Longleaf. They walked the long halls and went to the second floor

David spied the same Barkley on a chalk plate on the door.

"Yes they are cousins from Stockton" and she gave a list of the long accomplishments and wealth of the family.

"Oh yes, we know them. Nick?"

"Yes, the rancher. His son is here as well as the lawyer brother. Very smart boys,"

"What about my associate, Autonberry?"

"He is next door in Coulter. Just moved in for a day or so then headed out for a family event."

The matron walked them over to Coulter dormitory and James David's room was on the first floor. A private suite.

"May we see the size of a private room?"

"Of course. There is a waiting list for these. Most of our rooms are double or triple occupancy with shared water closets." She was relieved not to have to answer a question about the unexplained kidnapping attempt across campus that led to a dead man and many rumors on campus.

Ximena looked around and noticed James David's almost completely packed trunk.

"I guess he left in a hurry," she laughed.

David picked up a picture on his bureau, a very lovely and mature Maris along with a six-foot boy, a striking image of himself at that age. The eyes were hers as well as some wavy curls. He looked closer to see if he could tell any more.

The matron smiled, "He is such a kind boy always taking care of his Mother. They vacationed somewhere this summer and that is the first fish she ever caught. They went into town with it and had the photographer capture the day according to the boy. He told us all the story."

He showed the picture to Ximena and she carefully observed the details.

She asked the matron, "What color are their eyes?"

"Green. Why?"

"I was trying to place his mother in my memories,"

The matron simply accepted the strange explanation. They locked up the room and she walked them to their rig.

"Please let us know if you have any further questions."

"We will," Ximena answered.

"And I believe we will be back," David added.

—-&-

"We will come back when he returns. Now for Denver and you, Madam, to wear your new coat. We will grab bags at the hotel but keep our rooms. We have time to buy tickets if we hurry."

He pulled out a ring from his pocket, "It's a promise ring that we will consider my proposal after this is over. Plus it helps us travel without as many stares. Mexicans could care less. More society up here."

She opened the velvet bag to find a Victorian butterfly wing ring. Pearls and gold surrounded the Morpho butterfly wing under glass.

"Abraham Isaacson is a great jewelry curator. This is Georgian and very rare, like you,

"Oh Davos, it is perfect, I have never seen such—I love you,"

"And I love you, Xiema"

—&—-