"So, Detective Samuels, how’s your
investigation going on that
strangled guy with the handcuffs?”
Michelle smiled her curiosity as
Shay’s left eyebrow rose. Something
was up. “Well? Must be interesting!”
Shay swallowed, and decided he
already trusted this woman.
“Well, turned out the guy had
assaulted the suspect, intent on killing
him. The decedent believed the suspect had been with his wife. But he
picked the wrong person: the fellow he picked was an expert in martial
arts. When the guy pulled out cuffs and cuffed himself to his prey, the
suspect used his skill to move them both to the edge of the pier and
into the water. The guy continued to fight, and his victim held him
under water.”
“Good grief. So, what, it was
self-defense? Really?”
“Yes. And I’m satisfied it was.
We’d found the guy’s wife, his legal
wife; they’d been separated for over a year. She described him as
violent. His marriage to the woman in Arizona was bigamy; but that
woman is pregnant with twins. No-win situation there.
“The suspect is important to the
U.S., a diplomat of some sort.
Washington recorded the death as an earthquake casualty.”
He looked apologetic, Michelle
thought.
“What do you think, Shay?”
“I think that was a good decision.”
“Sounds like something Spenser
would do.”
“What?”
She grinned, and Shay was further
enamored.
“I enjoy mystery books,” Michelle
said. “Spenser was a sexy P.I. who
sometimes took judgement into his own hands.” Her eyes twinkled. “Quite
fun. I always thought he made the right call.”
“I can’t wait for dinner,” Shay
said.
…….
Arya Sharifi and Ali Ghani sat in
their rooms, Arya brooding, Ali deep
in thought. Eventually, Ali stood.
“I’m glad,” he said. “I like it
here. I like being free. I like
college, I like learning, I like my work.
“And you do too, Arya.”
“But…”
“It’s no crime to like a better way
of living. Isn’t that the goal
anyway?”
“But for Iran….” Arya said.
“Making nuclear weapons isn’t a
better world, unless the country behind
them is a better world. That’s hard to think. I’m thinking it, this
USA, is a better world than Iran.”
“It’s not perfect.” Arya said.
“What is? But it’s trying to be.
It’s been a better world for me. And
for you. Face it, Arya, we will be really free--to study, to learn, to
build an even better world.
“I think we’re lucky. I think we’re
going to come to believe we owe
Zacharia—”
“Christian!” Arya interrupted. “He
said to call him Christian.”
“—Christian, by whatever name, for
what he’s done.”
“But what about loyalty? To our
country?”
“This is our country, Arya. This
America. I will contact the
Undersecretary tomorrow. And we will begin packing for the trip
overseas. I will contact Za--Christian to arrange for those belongings
we want in our new life.”
“New life,” Arya said. “A brand new
life.” He drew a long breath. “All
right. I see.”
…….
Bethany was at the squash club when
Jen Chu, the counselor Shay had
recommended for details about dealing with Kyle’s death, called.
“Bethany, we’ve received the life
insurance benefit from Kyle’s death—”
“I had no idea,” Bethany said. “I
don’t want anything of his, not even
money.”
“Well, you’re the beneficiary. If
you really don’t want to take it, you
need to decide what’s to be done with it.”
Bethany was annoyed. Then she
thought of silly Krystal, soon to have
twin babies. It wasn’t their fault their father was a creep.
“Can I transfer the benefit to
someone else?”
“Yes, you can.”
“Kyle was living with a woman in
Arizona; she thought they were
married. Heck, maybe he thought so too, just like him to not realize
that bigamy crosses state lines.
“You have the name of that woman,
don’t you? Or the M.E. does. Her
first name’s Krystal. I want to make her the beneficiary. And can I be
left out of it--so she thinks it’s from the state, or that Kyle
arranged it for her…. And make it a limited trust fund so that the
babies are assured of being all right.”
“I expect there’s a way for all
that. Let me look into it. You do know
that’s extremely generous of you, don’t you?”
“Maybe. But it feels like freedom
to me.”
…….
While Shay was enjoying lunch with
a woman he wanted to know better,
Kim had piled her bed with clothes to pack for the trip to Israel in
the morning. Ben watched with amusement.
“There are fine stores in Tel
Aviv,” he commented. “They carry lots of
stuff, dresses, jeans, toothpaste….”
Kim laughed.
“I suppose you’re right,” she said.
“But I want some things; I might
not get to shop before, well, before seeing the doctor.”
“So you’re right too. Kim, we’re
both on the verge of huge changes in
our lives. I’m so glad we’re doing all this together.”
“Me too. Not that I like all we’re
having to do, but together is
definitely good. It hasn’t been very long. And yet I’m so certain.”
“As am I.” He interrupted her
packing again. The hugs felt so good.
…….
A few weeks later, Krystal was
moping, depressed and scared, when the
phone rang. She had no idea how to provide for two babies or even
herself.
She answered the phone without
hope; probably dunners, more problems.
“Ms. Vega?”
“Who’s calling?” she said, ready to
hang up.
“I’m Cora Martin, with the Tucson
South Citizens Bank. I’m sorry about
your loss. We’ve received the insurance benefits from your common-law
husband’s death. Can you visit the bank today or tomorrow? I’d like to
go over the terms with you personally.”
Krystal, still suspicious, was
intrigued.
“Is this a scam? I didn’t think he
had insurance.”
“No scam, ma’am. Kyle Vega, who
died in the earthquake last month, had
purchased a life insurance policy for $500,000—”
“Oh my god!” Krystal gasped. “My
twins!”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, I’m pregnant, Kyle and I were
to have twins in a couple of months.
I had no idea how I was going to provide for them. Is this real? Is
this really happening?”
“Yes. But you need to know two
things right away. The insurance benefit
is in the form of a trust fund controlled by the bank. You’ll receive
$3,000 monthly; the remainder will grow through investment. Still, it’s
your money. You can petition the trustee for additional funds for
specific needs--special needs for your children and the like. This
ensures that you and your children will be covered for many years.”
“I can’t believe he did this!” she
muttered. “Oh, poor Kyle!”
“There are papers to sign. May we
make an appointment now?”
Krystal agreed to meet in the bank
the next day. Then Krystal took to
her bed and cried for the good man she hadn’t quite believed Kyle was.
Back at the bank, Cora Martin
called Bethany: the deed was done.
Bethany was free.
