Logan was Marlin’s brother.
For the record, I intended for the verb to have multiple meanings.
Lena’s story was complicated. Her parents died tragically in an accident that netted her and her sister a handsome payout. She ended up in a relationship with a divorced attorney who offered to help turn their settlement into more. He did make it more, just not for her or her sister.
At that point, the two of us had yet to meet.
Finding herself in need of financial help, Lena agreed to a one-year assignment. It covered her housing and food and paid exceptionally well, allowing her to help her sister. The company was by referral only and was headquartered in New York. When she signed the contract, Lena agreed to be available to the person who held her contract for the year. It was explicitly explained that while sex was implied, this wasn’t a sexual agreement and being that she came from a good family, everything was confidential.
Nearly twenty years ago, Lena was paired with a man who was planted as a decoy by Logan Butler, the same attorney who took her money. The arrangement settled a debt for that man. It also landed Logan, the man who stole her and her sister’s future, back in Lena’s life.
Not long after she signed the contract, the two of us met, introduced by Lena’s sister.
My friendship with Lena was conceived by a mutual desire to bring down Logan and the company that imprisoned her for a year, Infidelity. Once we were done, so was Infidelity. No one else would be subjected to what Lena had been. Our actions weren’t pure or selfless in intent. We both walked away with a sizeable payday. A company like Infidelity will pay an exorbitant amount to keep its clients’ names safe.
Lena’s voice brought me back to present. “Logan Butler fucked up when he thought he could take what wasn’t his and then turn around and continue to control me.”
In my mind’s eye, I could see Lena’s smile and the shimmer of her brown eyes. “And Marlin came to his rescue, one of his many mistakes.”
Her laugh rang through the receiver. “I don’t mind helping you take down Marlin. Tell me why there’s such a rush.”
Inhaling, I debated telling my old friend about Julia McGrath. Call me selfish, but for a short time, I wanted to keep Julia to myself.
“Van?”
“As you mentioned, Wade Pharmaceutical has been vulnerable. I can list three different larger pharmaceutical companies, including two of the ones currently reaping the benefit of large government contracts, that are willing to swallow up Wade. Jeremy confirmed my suspicion that Marlin Butler was ready to buy additional stock. He’d already laid the groundwork with the shareholders, finding the ones willing to sell. If Butler would have carried out his plan, Marlin would be a few shares away from owning the majority of Wade, even without his son’s marriage.”
“I read that the two are working on reconciliation. Maybe Marlin wants his cake and to eat it too.”
I was certain that Julia wasn’t currently working on reconciliation with Skylar Butler, but I couldn’t share that without giving up my secret.
Lena continued “It doesn’t sound like Butler’s goal is to make Wade stronger.”
A grin came to my face. “Hell no. He’s been waiting to sell. Selling after the wedding would put Wade at a high. Marlin Butler would’ve cashed out and tripled the worth of each share.”
“So your rush to purchase wasn’t about owning Wade’s private stock but about stopping Butler from cashing in.”
“Now, I need to get Butler’s stock,” I said.
“Why do you want a tiny pharmaceutical company located in the Midwest?”
“Maybe I want to be philanthropic and provide low-cost medication to the masses.”
“Right,” Lena said, “your philanthropic desires have always dictated your financial moves. Besides, you know, Butler’s portfolio includes more than his shares of Wade. He’s diversified. If Wade drops in value as I anticipate, he’ll dump it.”
That gave me another thought. “There’s the issue with him being one of the original stockholders when Herman Wade offered stock to new investors.”
“If you’re insinuating that Marlin Butler will go down with the ship out of some sense of loyalty, your recent desire to help the masses has clouded your judgment.”
“I don’t just want his Wade stock, Lena, I want everything. I want to watch him standing on the bow of that sinking ship as it slips into the depths of Lake Superior.”
“I hear it’s cold.”
“Not where he’s going.”
Marlin Butler’s most recent sin was his plan to screw Julia. The nail in his coffin was Julia’s and my meeting. Yes, he’d been on my radar, but now that radar was laser focused.
My mind went to Julia and to her parents. I didn’t know them. My knowledge was coming in slowly. What little I’d learned in the last forty-eight hours gave me the feeling that Gregg McGrath had worked hard over the last decade, perhaps out of a sense of duty to his wife’s family, working to keep Wade liquid and profitable. I had a private detective digging for more information.