Everyone having sex is at least 18. This story is a work of fiction. I made it all up. Check reality at the door and enjoy it for what it is. Special thanks to goducks111 for his help and making this a better story.
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Chapter 10 -- Final Answer
Two days later, I am in my office on a phone call. My cell phone goes off, it is Bruce from the FBI.
I apologize, "You are all doing well. I just got a critical call about my dad; I need to run. Keep up the great work and see you next week."
I hang up and answer my cell phone, "Hello Bruce, what can I do for you."
Bruce only says, "We got him. You were right, it was Ralph Cartwright. Your mom called this morning and gave us five names that pushed her towards torturing you. All five work for Warren Buffet. However, Ralph was a significant customer of those companies, and they all did a seemingly innocent thing for him. As we speak an army of agents are raiding his office.
"We found the toxin, it's rare, and Ralph sells it. He shielded his wife; not sure we can make a case against her. We believe she knew everything, but there is no evidence to prosecute. Their daughter is like you, does her own thing, we don't think she has a clue. There will be a press conference first thing tomorrow morning. He won't touch you now. He knows we are watching and listening to everything he does."
I have a huge smile, "I love this news. Thank you very much."
Bruce continues, "I have paperwork to do, and then I am going home to my wife. Have a good evening, sir."
I comment, "Thank you, Bruce. If you ever tire of your job, you have one with me. Thank you very much." Click.
I get up and walk through the kitchen, "Maureen, I want everyone up in Kathy's room within five minutes. Breaking news."
Maureen ran out of the room, yelling. I smirk to myself and head upstairs. I open the door to Kathy's room, and mom, Patty, and Valorie are sitting on the bed talking. On seeing me, everyone stops. I walk over and sit on the edge of the bed. They are looking at me, waiting for me to say something. I don't. One by one, the staff starts filing into the room. There is a total of twelve.
I speak directly to Kathy, "The FBI called me just now. A warrant for Ralph Cartwright's arrest has just been issued for the murder of David Wellington." A cheer drowns me out. Kathy smiles. "They don't have enough for the wife. A rare toxin was used, one his company sells. More arrests will follow, but this is the main one. Everyone is free to leave the house now.
"That's all I have to say, I just wanted to make sure everyone heard the news from me, it's real." People start to fill out. Patty looks sad while Valorie and mom are elated. Kathy looks like this was expected. "Tomorrow I am going on a one-day trip, I expect to be back for dinner with everyone."
Kathy asks with malice in her voice, "Abigail?"
I correct her, "She prefers Abby and yes. I want to look in the eyes of my enemy. I also want to verify a second set of talons is not coming my way." That appeased the security conscience, Kathy.
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The next day, I have just pulled up to the Cartwright mansion. Ralph and Marilyn are out, leaving Abby by herself. The desire to get information on her parents was all the lure I needed to gain entrance to the property. She is on the stairs waiting for me as I pull up. I am in a 200-year-old horse-drawn buggy with four horses in front. It is a huge buggy like they would use for a queen.
Abby is flabbergasted by my entrance. I am in shorts and a blue Hawaiian shirt with sandals on. She has her hand over her mouth, I believe she is laughing at me. I am helped down and walk up to Abby. She is in white shorts, a white t-shirt, and white shoes. She looks ready for playing tennis. I ask for her hand, kiss it, and then hold it in mine.
I ask, "Would the lady Abby like to attend lunch with Robin Wellington? I promise no tricks or pain. I just want to talk and show you I am a normal guy."
She has to work hard at it, but she makes up a shrill rich woman accent, and says to me, "Although you are far down from my class, it would amuse me go through a drive-through in a horse and buggy. Yes, I will go with you."
I help Abby into the buggy, and then the driver helps me up. The driver has a small dog on the bench with him that has his head on the back of his seat, watching us. It's a sad looking dog, and that amuses Abby to no end. She grabs my arm and hangs on as the driver starts our trek."
There is fast traffic passing us, noise from the buggy, and then being in the open air with the wind blowing that makes it hard to hear unless you are yelling. Abby tries, and I hold up my hand with five fingers. She understands.
After five minutes of driving in the horse-drawn buggy, they pull over to the side of the road, and he helps us out of the carriage. I tip the man nicely. I then take Abby in my arm, and we walk ten feet to a fancy, bright yellow convertible sports car.
I have the keys already. I assist Abby getting in, and then off we go to the airport. Abby has long chestnut hair with curls in it. Her hair whips around behind her, which is quite cool looking. My hair is not short, but it's not long either, I can imagine mine doing something similar. Abby has her hands outside of the car, being hit by the wind. It's cool doing that, and she is like a small child having fun.
Once at the airport, we exit the car and board my Gulfstream. She knows to take a right and get in the back. I stop her and guide her to the left and into the co-pilots seat. Abby is overwhelmed by the controls; she places her hands in her lap. Probably for the best, we don't want her hitting something critical.
Ben is good with Abby. He gives both of us a headset with a mic. We hear the tower and the chatter. We take off and are soon on our way to Chicago. He explains the chatter and what to look at along the way. Mostly, we see a blue sky and a few clouds. We have several turns coming into Chicago, Midway. Once there, a limo takes us a short distance to the old and famous pizza place on the south side.
Once inside and seated, Abby's first question is, "Why the horse and buggy if you had a car?"
I laugh good at that, then I answer, "My hope was the horses would be there long enough and shit on your dad's driveway."
Abby laughs out loud enough that people look at her.
I reason, "Well, your dad did have my dad killed."
That took all the fun out of this date. She looks to be near tears.
I continue, "Does your dad make any decision without your mom approving?"
She stops crying, "They are truly in love, they are joined at the hip and still have sex together often."
I explain, "They only have evidence on your dad, your mom will get off scot-free. Your dad passed on information to my mother that forced her to have me kidnapped and tortured for three weeks. I still have nightmares about that. I honestly have no idea why I didn't kill them for doing that to me. Them is my mother and my two sisters.
"I didn't grow up part of that family, I was raised by the maids and have a public education vs. my parents and private grade school, high school, and college. Your dad had someone in my own home, murder my dad." I start to cry.
While crying, I tell Abby, "I will never see my dad again. I will never talk to my dad again. You get to do those with your dad, and your mom will still run your companies company. I can't do anything about it other than have her killed. Clearly, I have proven unwilling to pull that trigger."
Abby seems sympathetic when she asks, "Why am I here with you?"
After wiping my eyes clear, I explain, "There was almost a week that I didn't know if it was murder and/or if my family was involved. I was asked if I wanted to terminate anyone. I declined. I will be asked about your mother and you soon." Abby is startled. "I have more than enough resources to get anything done and make it look like an accident.
"I wanted you to look in my eyes, see the type of man I am, and hear me when I say, I will do nothing to harm you or your mom."
Abby loses it there in the restaurant. She is overcome with joy like she won the lottery. Tears are falling down her face, I wipe them away. People are staring at us. Luckily, the pizza arrives. Together, between Abby and myself, we could buy many square miles of this part of the city. Yet, we are sitting amongst normal people, living paycheck to paycheck. All of us eating the best pizza in Chicago. I grin as I think, "Those North Siders don't know squat about pizza."
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Going home on the jet, we turn right and sit in the back. This time we talk business.
I ask Abby, "I am going to make you a suggestion, an offer, or whatever you want to call it. Then you can decide if it is right for you and your company or not. Our fathers have hated each other for longer than either of us have been alive. Our father's fathers have hated each other for even longer than them. We are the Hatfield's and McCoy's of a modern business world. Between you and me, there are very few businesses that don't buy from us or sell to us.
"Between us, we do zero business. I propose we end that stalemate. I don't know what you have that I need or vice versa. We have people that can work that out. I suspect that all I need to do is remove then ban, and poof, we are partners. Why are you looking at me like that? This is a good start to being friends again."
Abby has a huge smile on her face, "I thought when you meant partners, you were looking for a wife."
We both laugh hard at that thought.