Like Father, Like Son
Originally posted on January 6, 2008
At his grandmother’s home, Asher discovers papers similar to the scrap of receipt in his father’s records. He realizes that the unnamed person who paid his father a large sum of money for “attorney’s fees and court costs” was in fact his grandmother, and he theorizes that it may have been to secure Alexander’s agreement to allow her to legally adopt his sons and change their names. Between them, he and Kohana locate old bank records that confirm the transfer of funds, but at the same time note a pattern of sizable cash withdrawals occurring every six months or so, the last one just a day before his father’s death…..
Kohana: I’m going to take these out to the car, Asher.
Asher: Thanks, Sweetie. I need to close the flue and check the windows.
Asher: Damn. There’s my phone again.
Asher: Yes?
Gideon: Hey, how’s the Jerm getting along?
Asher: Jeremiah’s fine. Keeps to himself a lot, but I know he’s around because all my food keeps disappearing.
Gideon: Yeah, keep him stocked with enough Twinkies and kilowatt hours and he’s happy as a clam.
Asher: If you say so.
(long silence)
Gideon: (sarcastically) Me? I’m just fine. Show’s going really well, too. Thanks for asking. But why I called…..
Asher: I figured you’d get to that sooner or later.
Gideon: Guess you have to be right sometimes. Anyway, I wanted you to know I discovered a little more information that might interest you. I’d send it along to you, but mailing costs are really high these days….
Asher: You want me to send you a stamp?
Gideon: I can see you don’t enjoy the little nuances of the game…It’s pretty big, Asher. I think you’re going to want to know what it is…. before someone else finds out.
Asher: (long pause) Yeah, right. Like this is anything more informative than what you left in those boxes you dropped off. I’m not stupid, Gideon. I know you went through them and removed everything that would help me out. Everything except what you wanted me to see.
Gideon: (laughs) Okay, you’re not stupid. Gullible maybe, but I wouldn’t say stupid. After all, we do semi-share a gene pool. Let me just add, though, if you aren’t inclined to play the game? I know someone else who just loves getting her hands on things like this. Did I mention my girlfriend works for one of those gossip sheets? Fastest growing publication in New York, as a matter of fact.
Asher: I’m not sure I want to play your game.
Gideon: It’d be in your best interests to think about it a little more. I’ll give you until the end of the month. I don’t hear back from you, someone else will be happy to play your turn.
Kohana: Something wrong with your phone, Honey?
Asher: Yeah, something’s wrong with it all right. It works.