Chapter Sixty-Five
David and Branch got JD to the settee. David loosened his tie as he made choking and gurgling sounds. His eyes were rolled back in his head and his tongue fell loose in his open mouth. His whole left side seemed to convulse and go slack before their very eyes.
His breathing was shallow. David put a pillow under his head to help. He moaned a few times and some drool escaped his mouth. He dabbed it with his handkerchief.
Branch eyed this stranger with suspicion. Lila was simply frozen in place.
The servants came into the room with more blankets and a pillow.
David immediately took charge ignoring Branch who ordered the servants to check on the doctor and leave him on the sofa.
"No! Take him upstairs. Be careful. He needs to be in a bed where he can be tended to properly."
Ximena watched from the doorway in complete shock at David's authoritative voice and his obvious concern for his father. James contentedly sat on her hip as Lila picked up the strewn papers on the floor as the servants carried JD under David's supervision.
"Leave those be," Branch barked at Lila, "Go take care of your husband."
Ximena interrupted him with anger, "You leave the señora de la finca alone! This is her house."
He turned his rage on Ximena. James started to cry. She bounced him as she cursed Branch in Spanish.
David heard the words and made his way back to the study.
"Do not talk to my wife or my—Mrs. Autonberry that way."
Branch blanched at the hulking presence of David, "Sorry, I am just worried about JD and I think Lila should be with him.
"That is her decision, not yours as an attorney."
"Who are you anyway?"
"I SAID, family. Leave it be and do NOT disrespect the women again."
Branch huffed past him and went into the parlor. He poured a bourbon and downed it.
Lila thanked him and seemed intent on picking up the papers from the desk.
"These were the same ones there early this morning. I need to see what those two are cooking up to take my son as they are trying to take Maris's—" as she scanned them.
She saw her name, her son's, Maris's again on papers. And a torn Canadian marriage license. It hadn't been there before.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the safe was open behind the palm tree. The gold gilt framed painting was propped against the wall. Ximena's eyes followed Lila's to the safe. The ladies' eyes met and immediately Lila felt her secret was safe with her guest. Ximena backed out of the room and left Lila alone. She closed the double doors behind her.
—&—
The conversation exploded in Branch's mind that preceded JD's collapse. He rubbed his temples as he reenacted the last moments in his mind.
"What do you mean? Maris isn't at the Springers?" How long?"
"I bribed the chimney sweep and he found out from a chambermaid. She's been gone for days,"
"How did you let this happen?"
"Me? I hired Pinkertons like you said. I am not a private investigator. I am an attorney and a damn good one—I got rid of the judge and ran Jarrod Barkley out of town. Peterson couldn't do that. I am sorry to sound impertinent sir, but I have done a pretty good job so far," with more bravado than he felt.
JD seethed at his impertinence, "I pay you quite well. You seem to be biting the hand that feeds you. Young pup."
"I am sorry sir but I want to do a good job and I am confident I have your best interests in hand. "
"You better."
"Let's look at the trust possibilities and inheritance lines you wanted to draw up." Trying to get JD back to business.
"Let me read over them tonight, you will stay? We will snowed in a day or two. Like to have you here so we can work."
"Yes sir"
They sat beside each other at the double-sided desk. They discussed each strength and weakness of Branch's plans. Trusts and lines of succession of guardianships—
"Can I see the will of Maris? The one that was used at the trial?"
"Didn't Peterson have it?"
"No sir. Maybe the court clerk?"
"Sounds possible. Let me check the safe too?"
He opened the combination safe and pulled out a leather folio of papers.
He went through them, "Nope must be in the court papers, get them from the clerk. We don't want that lost, the only copy." he smirked.
"How about David's death certificate? I found a trust still in his name."
JD snarled, "Wwwwwwhat? Peterson moved all the assets. You are mistaken."
"No," and he showed him the million dollar trust and the banks it was in.
"I am not familiar with those banks. We don't do business with them?"
He went over the lists of banks primarily in Southern California,
"Close it out."
"I don't have the death certificate to do so. It's one of the three primary documents I don't have. "
"Peterson should have had it. Ask Timothy,"
"He didn't. Timothy is an idiot, pompous little —-"
"Shut up Branch. I told you he is a favored member of our organization. I told you to deed his house to him and pension him well along with trusts for his children,"
Branch frowned openly at the old man. He ignored him.
"If you are going to work for me, stay on the horse that brought you. Leave the stable alone."
"Yes sir."
"Anf the third item?"
"Your marriage certificate to Lila. I don't have a copy."
Branch noticed the brief discomfort on JD's face, "I have it. What do you need it for?"
"Dates, certificates number. I will write those down for you. In fact, I already did on these new papers I had the Denver bank draw up for you."
JD ruffled through the stack and realized Lila had not signed them as he asked. And they were out of order—"Damn that woman."
Branch watched him carefully looking for a chink in the armor. He had Maris in his pocket. What was there about his marriage to Lila?"
JD picked up the papers in a rage and slammed them down, "Why can't the woman do just as i say?"
He pulled the marriage license out of the leather folio from the safe, "Take down these numbers."
It was obvious to Branch he wasn't handing over the certificate.
"Canada 579—- uh I don't feel well. My head." and he began to wobble. He slumped down quickly to the floor.
Branch couldn't decide to grab the document first but what if he awoke while he was taking it out of his hands—-but what was in the marriage certificate?
The decision was made as the butler came to announce he had brought guests and gave them coffee.
Branch immediately yelled for a doctor and to alert Lila.
"And who the hell is this family I haven't heard about before? Probably here for money but Lila knows him? Last name, Autonberry. He better stay out of my way. I am the executor of this estate if he dies or is incapacitated. I hold all the cards—-all except that damnable marriage license."