Page 85 of Roughing the Player
I arrive at the office to find a message from a stranger on my office phone.
“Mrs. Parker. This is Horace Watkins. I’m calling about a very important matter regarding your daughter. Could you please return my call at 312-555-2400?”
Kaylee! Did something happen to her? In a panic, I hang up and dial Kaylee’s cell. She picks up on the first ring. “Mom?”
“Are you okay?” I sound alarmed, but it can’t be helped.
“Yeah. I’m fine. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, sweetheart. I just got a weird call.”
“About me?” Should have known she’d figure it out.
“Maybe.” I can’t say anymore since I don’t know why Mr. Watkins contacted me. “Let me call him and find out. Love you.”
“Oh, okay. Love you too.”
Darn it. Too late I realize I should have phoned the school, not her. But in my panic, I didn’t think things through. Taking a deep breath, I dial Horace Watkins’ number. A receptionist picks up. “Turner and Watkins Law Group. How may I direct your call?”
A law firm? “Yes, I’m returning Horace Watkins’ call. My name is Eleanor Adams, err. Parker.”
“Yes. He’s expecting your call. I’ll put you through.”
A couple of rings later, a man’s voice answers. “Mrs. Parker?”
“Yes.”
“Horace Watkins. Thank you for returning my call.”
Eager to hurry things along, I ask, “Your message said it concerned my daughter?”
“Yes. It’s good news, Mrs. Parker.” He must have picked up on my anxiety.
“Oh?”
“How much do you know about William Parker?”
The name strikes a chord, of course. “He’s my husband’s father.” That’s the extent of my knowledge.
“That’s right. He passed away several years ago.”
“Brock told me.”
“Before his death, he created a trust fund and made his son the sole beneficiary. The trust assets are mainly comprised of stock in Creighton Pharmaceutical as well as William Parker’s private fortune. The latter alone is quite valuable.” Doesn’t matter. Brock wants no part of it. “Do you follow the pharmaceutical industry, Mrs. Parker?”
“No. Not really.”
“Well, Creighton Pharmaceutical has done quite well. Its shares have quadrupled in value since its original offering.”
“That’s . . . great?” Where is he going with this? He must know Brock won’t touch the money in that trust, no matter how much it’s worth.
“Mr. Parker also made a provision for your husband’s children, should there be any.”
Now he hasallmy attention. “He did?”
“Yes. A certain amount was bequeathed to each child of your husband’s upon his or her birth, as well as certain milestones, such as high school and college graduations, and legal marriages.”
“Oh.”
