Page 64 of Spades

We’re about to leave when we’re waylaid by a man with huge black circles under his eyes wearing a black suit with a pink carnation on his lapel.

“Maddox Hathaway?” He stretches his arm out in front of him.

“That’s me.” I weakly shake his hand.

“My condolences, Maddox. My name is Jerry Dorman. I’m your father’s attorney.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Then you must have had your work cut out for you the last couple years.”

He doesn’t react. “I’ve been trying to call you, but I haven’t received a response.”

“Were you calling my old cell? I had to change numbers once my dad kicked me off the family plan. He wouldn’t have had my new number.”

He nods. “Must be it. Anyway, you’re invited to the reading of your father’s will.”

I furrow my brow. “He didn’t leave me anything. He wrote me out of the will when I refused to go into politics.”

“He left you something, or else you wouldn’t be invited.”

I rub at my forehead, sighing. “Fine. When’s the reading?”

“It commences in ten minutes. Since there isn’t a reception scheduled, we’re using the fellowship hall to do the reading.”

“Okay.” I look over at Laurie. “You okay to come to the reading?”

She nods. “Of course, babe.”

Ten minutes later, I’m seated in the cathedral’s fellowship hall, Laurie at my side. The only other people in here are a middle-aged woman in a black mourning gown and an old guy I recognize as Chuck Dodge, who served as Dad’s vice mayor during his three terms.

Mr. Dorman enters, clearing his throat as he walks to the front of the room. “Thank you all for being here. On behalf of the late Mr. Hathaway’s estate, I can tell you how pleased he would be to have you all in this room.”

Youall?There are four people in here besides him.

Mr. Dorman reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a document. “The will is brief, so the reading will not take long.” He puts on a pair of reading glasses and recites, “I, Henry Hathaway, being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament, revoking all former wills and codicils heretofore made by me.”

God, his voice is boring. I have to slap myself to keep myself alert as he drones on.

“Section one. Charitable bequest. I direct that seventy-five percent of my liquidated assets be distributed to the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, to be used at their discretion in furtherance of their mission to combat homelessness in the city of Chicago.” He nods toward the woman in the black gown. “Mrs. Griffin, once the will is probated, your foundation will receive a little over thirty million dollars.”

The woman stands. “Thank you. The Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness will put the money to excellent use.” She nods to me. “Thank you to all the Hathaways for this generous gesture.”

Generous gesture, my ass. Half of the people who are on the streets of Chicago today are there because my father screwed the city’s economy so bad. This is just a last-ditch attempt to remove some of the tarnish from his legacy. But regardless of his motives, it’s still a good cause.

Only seventy-five percent of his assets are going to the charity, though. I can’t help but wonder where the other twenty-five is going. Not to my mom, or she’d be in the room. To Chuck, maybe? What the hell did he do to deserve it?

I can’t imagine any of it is going to me.

Then again, I’m in the room forsomething.

Mrs. Griffin takes her seat, and Mr. Dorman continues reading the will.

“Section two. Bequeaths to my son, Maddox Hathaway. I bequeath to my son, Maddox Hathaway, my 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, to be his property outright and without restriction.”

I raise my eyebrows. “He left me his car?”

Mr. Dorman nods. “And it’s in excellent shape, Mr. Hathaway. It’s parked in a garage not far from here. I’ll hand you the keys once we’re finished. No need to wait for probate as you’ll get it anyway, and someone needs to take care of it.”

Damn. I wasn’t expecting that.

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