You own those boats now. You and Ash Thornton. You made a deal with the devil, gentlemen. Oh, and one other thing. The Thornton family will no longer be banking with this establishment. Good day, gentlemen. Remember, forty-eight hours from this minute, not one second longer.”
Outside the bank, Fanny looked upward at the pale blue sky, a sky that looked more fragile than the finest porcelain. Where are you, Simon? Did you know about this?
Fanny drove to Babylon, her thoughts everywhere but on the matter at hand. What would Sallie have done? Did she handle things right? How was the move coming? I’m going to kill you, Ash Thornton. Oh, Simon, need you. Please, please, come back.
Fanny parked in the underground parking lot in a reserved space next to Sunny’s car. She exited through the emergency stairwell to come out on the second floor where Ash maintained his suite of offices.
Fanny burst into Ash’s offices, slamming the door behind her. “You better hope these walls are soundproof, Ash!”
“Fanny, how the hell did you get in here!”
“I sneaked in. I took a page out of your book. Your surveillance stinks. I’m here, and that’s all that matters. Where’s Birch?”
“I don’t have to account to you, Fanny. If you want to know where Birch is, you should call him. I’m busy.”
“You’re going to be a hell of a lot busier when you have to deal with the banking commission. They’re going to get you on forgery, and I’m not stepping in on your behalf this time. You made Birch, your own son, a party to all of this. You got away with it, too. The big question is, how are you going to repay sixteen million dollars plus interest? Those riverboats belong to the bank now, and since you wiped Granger’s markers, you’re left holding the proverbial bag. How did you think you were going to get away with this? Do you think I’m really that stupid? Yes, I guess you do,” Fanny said sadly.
“You screwed up my deal! Damn you, Fanny. Jesus, I hate your fucking guts. I must have been crazy out of my mind to marry you. This is a dog-eat-dog business and you know it. I’m a cripple, locked in this stinking chair, and all because of you. If you’d just die, we’d all be happy.”
Fanny backed up a step, her face draining of all color. “It wasn’t my fault that you fell off that girder.”
“The hell it wasn’t. If you’d given me the money, my own money, Thornton family money, I wouldn’t have had to be up there to begin with, trying to keep my eye on things so costs would be down. Oh, no, you give it to me after. AFTER I’m sitting in this chair. It was your own guilty conscience that made you go ahead with Babylon. When it was too late, when I had nothing left. I sit in this chair twenty hours a day, full of painkillers while you’re out there fucking my brother. The whole town knows about your affair. The kids know, too.”
“I didn’t try to keep it a secret, Ash. I can do whatever I want. I’m not your wife any longer. As for the town, do you think I care? I made a promise to your mother and I’m doing my best to keep it. I’m sorry you feel the way you do. I refuse to get into the name-calling and the backbiting. Family business behind closed doors is one thing. You’ve taken it public now. I have no control over the bank. In a week’s time their doors will be closed, and you’re responsible. All those people will be out of jobs. You have to take responsibility for that, too. The Gaming Commission won’t let you work here any longer if you’re convicted. This is about as serious as it gets, Ash. Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Shut up, Fanny.”
“Is it that you don’t want to hear my words, or is it my voice?” Fanny asked, looking around at the opulence of Ash’s office. Top-of-the-line stereo system, hidden bar and refrigerator, private wall safe, recessed television, leather chairs and couch. Black-marble bathroom complete with Jacuzzi, priceless paintings on the
Outside the bank, Fanny looked upward at the pale blue sky, a sky that looked more fragile than the finest porcelain. Where are you, Simon? Did you know about this?
Fanny drove to Babylon, her thoughts everywhere but on the matter at hand. What would Sallie have done? Did she handle things right? How was the move coming? I’m going to kill you, Ash Thornton. Oh, Simon, need you. Please, please, come back.
Fanny parked in the underground parking lot in a reserved space next to Sunny’s car. She exited through the emergency stairwell to come out on the second floor where Ash maintained his suite of offices.
Fanny burst into Ash’s offices, slamming the door behind her. “You better hope these walls are soundproof, Ash!”
“Fanny, how the hell did you get in here!”
“I sneaked in. I took a page out of your book. Your surveillance stinks. I’m here, and that’s all that matters. Where’s Birch?”
“I don’t have to account to you, Fanny. If you want to know where Birch is, you should call him. I’m busy.”
“You’re going to be a hell of a lot busier when you have to deal with the banking commission. They’re going to get you on forgery, and I’m not stepping in on your behalf this time. You made Birch, your own son, a party to all of this. You got away with it, too. The big question is, how are you going to repay sixteen million dollars plus interest? Those riverboats belong to the bank now, and since you wiped Granger’s markers, you’re left holding the proverbial bag. How did you think you were going to get away with this? Do you think I’m really that stupid? Yes, I guess you do,” Fanny said sadly.
“You screwed up my deal! Damn you, Fanny. Jesus, I hate your fucking guts. I must have been crazy out of my mind to marry you. This is a dog-eat-dog business and you know it. I’m a cripple, locked in this stinking chair, and all because of you. If you’d just die, we’d all be happy.”
Fanny backed up a step, her face draining of all color. “It wasn’t my fault that you fell off that girder.”
“The hell it wasn’t. If you’d given me the money, my own money, Thornton family money, I wouldn’t have had to be up there to begin with, trying to keep my eye on things so costs would be down. Oh, no, you give it to me after. AFTER I’m sitting in this chair. It was your own guilty conscience that made you go ahead with Babylon. When it was too late, when I had nothing left. I sit in this chair twenty hours a day, full of painkillers while you’re out there fucking my brother. The whole town knows about your affair. The kids know, too.”
“I didn’t try to keep it a secret, Ash. I can do whatever I want. I’m not your wife any longer. As for the town, do you think I care? I made a promise to your mother and I’m doing my best to keep it. I’m sorry you feel the way you do. I refuse to get into the name-calling and the backbiting. Family business behind closed doors is one thing. You’ve taken it public now. I have no control over the bank. In a week’s time their doors will be closed, and you’re responsible. All those people will be out of jobs. You have to take responsibility for that, too. The Gaming Commission won’t let you work here any longer if you’re convicted. This is about as serious as it gets, Ash. Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Shut up, Fanny.”
“Is it that you don’t want to hear my words, or is it my voice?” Fanny asked, looking around at the opulence of Ash’s office. Top-of-the-line stereo system, hidden bar and refrigerator, private wall safe, recessed television, leather chairs and couch. Black-marble bathroom complete with Jacuzzi, priceless paintings on the
Similar Books
