Chapter 40: You Confuse Me

April 26, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

"How does your retirement or pension account work, Nelson?" I asked as we had drinks at Jeri's house on Thursday evening.

"I don't know the complete details because I'm not a partner. It's managed by Thomas Hart."

"Would you introduce me to him? I'd like to send him a prospectus and see if he's interested in allowing me to manage the fund."

"Sure. How do you want to do it?"

"I'll write a letter on Spurgeon stationary and send it to him, care of you, along with a prospectus document. I can meet any afternoon."

"OK. As soon as I receive it, I'll ask for a meeting."

"Awesome."

"What are the minimums for anyone who isn't in your 'friends and family' program?"

"A quarter mil."

"I'm sure some of our partners have assets in that range."

"Give them my card and have them call me."

"What do you need in terms of assets you manage to move up?"

"That isn't really the defining factor. It comes down to accurate analysis and success in trading the funds I'm managing. A two-year track record would be enough to become an assistant trader or perhaps a portfolio manager, which actually fits what I'm currently doing on the trading side. How long does it take to become a partner?"

"About ten years. Junior Associate, Associate, and Senior Associate are all basically 'time in grade'. You have to be invited to the partnership and then buy in."

"Buy in?" Allyson asked. "You have to pay?"

"Yes," Nelson replied. "It's a law corporation structured as a partnership, and each partner attorney is a general partner. You buy in when you become a partner, and the partnership buys your shares back when you retire. During your partnership, you receive a share of the profits in addition to your salary and bonuses. As the value of the firm increases, the value of your shares increases. Some private medical practices operate the same way."

"I'm going to be working in a hospital," Allyson said. "I don't think private practice is for me. I'm strongly considering emergency medicine, but I have six years to think about it. Lucy is considering cardiology, and Sylvia will be a nurse in just over a year."

"Sorry, I don't know them," Nelson said.

"My bad," Allyson said. "They're my friends at Loyola; Jonathan has met them."

"Miss Jeri, dinner is served," Karl announced.

As usual, we had a wonderful meal, and each of us gave updates. After dinner, we had dessert and coffee, and when the gathering ended, Jeri asked to speak to me briefly before I left. Allyson didn't object, so Jeri and I went into the library.

"Can we get together, just you and me?" she asked. "Just dinner out."

"I trust you," I said. "And yes."

Jeri smiled, "Thanks. I won't take any more time away from your all-night sex marathon with Allyson."

"I have to work tomorrow, so that won't happen under any circumstances! When did you want to go out?"

"Tuesdays are best for you, so how about May 10th? That's midway between tonight and our next meeting on the 24th."

"Where?"

"You pick and let me know, OK?"

"Sounds good!"

Jeri hugged me, gave me a quick peck on the lips, and then we left the library. Allyson and I said, 'Good night', and we left the Lundgrens' house. After a stop at Loyola to get an overnight bag, we headed to my house. Once there, I checked with Bianca to make sure there were no messages, then Allyson and I headed up to my room.

April 27, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

Allyson and I did have a sex marathon, but it didn't last all night. At one point, she'd jokingly suggested inviting Kristy, but I made it clear I felt that was a bad idea, given Kristy and Jack were a couple. When we woke up on Wednesday morning, I was tired, but it had been worth it. We got out of bed and went to the shower.

"There's no extra time this morning, right?" Allyson asked.

"No. We have just enough time to drop you at Loyola and get to work, and Loyola is only about five minutes out of our way."

"Bummer! Next month?"

"Yes, of course," I replied. "Dinner is on the 24th."

"OK to call you sometime before then?"

"Absolutely. Please do."

We finished our showers, dried off, dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast with Jack. After we ate, the three of us left the house. We dropped Allyson at Loyola, and then Jack and I headed for the Hancock Center.

"I didn't realize you were still seeing Allyson," he said.

"I would have thought either she or Kristy would have mentioned it."

"Nope. Not a problem or a concern, just something I didn't realize."

"She's a lot of fun, but we didn't click as a couple the way you and Kristy did."

"I was surprised about that myself because, after that first night, I thought it was just a fun fling, given Allyson's 'accidental' appearance."

"I don't know if they told you, but that wasn't all that dissimilar to how I met Allyson. I was on a date with Kristy, we ran into Allyson, and you can imagine what happened next."

"I don't need to imagine, Bro!" Jack said with a grin. "Been there, done them!"

I laughed, "Yeah. Let's just say my life is nothing like I would have imagined two years ago."

"I dated in High School but couldn't get past first base until Prom night. My one and only time before Kristy and Allyson."

"I was only with Bev before I moved to Chicago."

"And we're both lower-class kids given a chance to show what we can do. Kristy and Allyson would have been way out of my league in High School."

"Bev was the only girl I spoke more than about ten words to from Freshman year on."

"Well, High School is in the past, and our future is big bucks and hot chicks!"

"Just stick with the program, and the bucks will be there. The hot chicks you'll have to handle yourself!"

Jack laughed and turned up the radio to hear the latest skit by Murphy in the morning and his sidekick Beth. They had some girl on the phone who had a Swedish boyfriend, and she said he'd taught her to tell him something in Swedish. About two minutes later, they had some guy from the burbs who spoke Swedish translate the phrase, and Jack and I both broke up laughing.

"That's awesome!" he declared. "By using Swedish, that first caller got to say 'you have a big cock' on the radio!"

"And Murphy's sidekick Beth said 'suitcase' loudly when the kid translated!" I chuckled. "But I heard the kid say 'male appendage' behind that."

"Did Anna ever speak to you in Swedish?"

"She used a few words here and there, but I never actually heard her speak Swedish."

We arrived at the Hancock Center, parted, and when I arrived in the office, I performed my usual morning routine, and delivered my analyst report on time. The morning was routine, and while I was eating my lunch, the phone rang.

"FX Desk, Kane."

"Jonathan, this is Cindy at reception. There's a Ted Farley here asking for you. He doesn't have an appointment."

"Tell him politely to get lost."

"OK."

She ended the call but called back about thirty seconds later.

"Sorry to bother you again, but when I said that you weren't available and that he could call for an appointment, he said he has a letter for you that he needs to hand deliver."

I considered my options and decided there was no harm in going to see him and personally telling him to get lost.

"I'll be right up," I said.

I disconnected the call and used the internal stairs to get to the 30th floor, which allowed me to enter the lobby from the offices rather than the elevator. Rather than have a public confrontation, I asked Mr. Farley to step into the private waiting room.

"I have a letter for you for Beverly Newton from her parents," he said.

I wondered if I should accept it, and as I thought about it, I recalled something from The Godfather.

"Well," I said, "if I accepted that — in a court of law, they could prove that I have knowledge of her whereabouts."

"Don't get cute with me," he said. "Life isn't like the movies."

"Even so, if I were to accept it, I'd be admitting I'm in contact with her."

"I know you were in Overland Park at the Motel 6 where she'd been registered and collected her car. It's now registered at your house, and her driver's license lists your house as well."

"I have no information for you," I said, repeating what I'd said before.

"Just take the letter," he said, putting the envelope on the table.

I shook my head, "No. She made it clear to the FBI in February that she wanted no contact with her parents. They closed the missing person report and didn't reveal where she was."

"St. Louis, with Jim McGill and his family. Then Overland Park, Kansas. Now Chicago. And you know where she is."

"I have no information for you. I cannot help you."

"You thought you were smart giving me the slip, but you can't keep it up forever."

"I have no information for you. I cannot help you."

I left the waiting room without picking up the envelope and walked over to Cindy.

"That gentleman is not welcome here," I said loud enough for Mr. Farley to hear. "If he remains or returns, please call the CPD, and I'll swear out a complaint."

"I'll make sure all the girls know," Cindy said.

"Thanks."

I didn't look back as I walked to the door to the offices, went through it, and then used the stairs to return to 29. I considered my options and decided I'd use a bit of subterfuge on Saturday in case Mr. Farley was stealthier. I could use the UP/North train, the L, and the subway in a slightly roundabout way, changing trains underground, as well as using the Pedway.

I wondered if taking the letter, then tossing it, might have been a better choice, as it might have placated Mr. Farley, but the more I thought about it, I wasn't convinced that would be the case. It would as, as I'd snarkily said, be an acknowledgment that I knew where she was and was in contact with her. In the end, though, it wasn't a police matter, and nothing I could do would ever convince Jim Newton I wasn't in touch with Bev.

I ate my lunch at my desk, as usual, then went to the gym, though Anna had shifted her schedule so we didn't work out at the same time. I was surprised by that, as I hadn't actually done anything to her and felt she was acting out of character, at least as she'd appeared when we'd been on our dates.

After my workout, I showered, dressed, and headed back to my desk. I contemplated calling Julie Newton but felt that would only incite them rather than get them to back off. I hoped, at some point, they'd give up and allow Bev to have her space because, in the long run, I felt I could convince her to at least speak to them. The longer they persisted, the harder that would be.

Thinking about Bev's relationship with her parents made me think about Keiko's request to at least get in contact with my grandparents. If things were going the way they appeared to be going, discounting Deanna's and Bianca's proposed future, it would be important to Keiko and her grandfather, and that meant I had to do it. I decided the first step was to discuss it with Aunt Wendy when Keiko and I had dinner with her and Uncle Alec on May 8th.

I pushed those thoughts out of my mind, completed my work for the afternoon, then headed to Violet's house for dinner. I didn't see Ted Farley, but I was positive he was following me. After dinner, we headed to class and, following class, we had our usual pie and coffee at the diner. After I walked Violet to her house, I headed home and spent about an hour with my housemates watching TV, including the news.

Not much had happened during the day, and the only interesting thing was the sports report, which revealed the Hawks were tied with the Canucks in the first overtime. If they lost, it wouldn't bode well, as it would give Vancouver home-ice advantage, in that so long as they won all their home games, they'd advance and knock the Hawks out of the playoffs.

"Ready for bed?" I asked Deanna when the news ended.

"As if you have to ask!" she declared.

April 28, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

"Do you want to have dinner this weekend?" Teri asked after class on Thursday evening.

"The only day I'm free is Sunday," I replied. "If that works for you."

"It does. If you don't object, I'll cook dinner for us. My parents will be out, and Troy will graciously disappear to his girlfriend's house."

"What time?"

"Come by around 5:00pm; dinner will be around 6:00pm."

"Sounds good. I'll see you then."

I left the classroom and headed to the diner to meet Violet. After our usual pie and coffee, I walked her to her house, then headed home.

"Marcia called for you," Bianca said when I arrived at the house. "She said it was OK to call up to 11:00pm. Also, the electric bill and gas bill are in the basket in the kitchen."

"Thanks. I'm going to change and call Marcia, then come back downstairs to watch the news."

I went up to my room, changed into sweats, then used the extension in my room to call Marcia.

"I probably should have asked sooner, but would you be my date to the Inaugural Ball tomorrow night?"

"I have a date tomorrow," I said.

"I know this is asking a lot, but is there any way you could escort me? I'd consider it a huge favor."

"Not saying I can change my plans, but would I need a tux?"

"No. A suit is sufficient for my guest."

"You really should have asked a week or more ago," I said.

"I know. I was just up to my eyeballs in transition work to be able to hit the ground running tomorrow, and time got away from me."

I had to consider how Lily would react, and I wasn't completely sure. All I could do was call and see if she'd be willing to switch dates. It was just early enough that I could call Lily, so I decided to offer to check.

"Let me see if I can change my plans," I said. "I'll call you back in less than ten minutes."

"Thanks, Jonathan. I really, really appreciate it."

We ended our call, and I immediately dialed Lily's house, and she answered.

"Hi, it's Jonathan. I need a huge favor."

"Anything! What?"

"Could we switch our date to Tuesday? I had a last-minute invitation to the Inaugural Ball for Mayor Washington tomorrow evening. I'm trying to build political contacts, and it would really help."

"Tuesday is actually better because Mom will be out until at least midnight! We can have each other as appetizers, and dessert can be chocolate-covered Lily!"

"I appreciate you being flexible and apologize for the short notice."

"It's OK," she said with a soft laugh. "I like being flexible with you. I can find a date for tomorrow night pretty easily, and Tuesday will be lots of fun!"

We said 'goodbye', and I called Marcia back to let her know I could make it.

"Thank you SO much! I owe you big time! The party starts at 6:00pm at the Hyatt Regency. Cocktails for the first hour, then a meal, then dancing. You'll have to listen to political speeches, of course."

"The price of making some good contacts," I replied. "Hopefully, anyway."

"I'll make sure you're introduced to the right people!"

"Thanks. Next time, a bit more notice, please."

"I promise. Meet you in the lobby of the hotel at 6:00pm?"

"Sounds good."

We said 'goodbye', and I headed downstairs to watch the news with my housemates. When the news ended, Bianca accompanied me to bed.

"I did some research," she said after we got into bed. "You said the house is on the French side of the island, right?"

"Yes."

"All the clothing-optional beaches are on the French side, as you suggested, so that's cool. The best clubs are on the Dutch side, though, so we'll need a way to get there. Do you know where the house is?"

"I have an address for it in my bag; it's on Rue de Grande Caye. According to Julie, Noel Spurgeon's secretary, there will be a minibus at the airport to take us to the house. Why?"

"Just curious. Make sure you get the phone number of that company in case we want to hit those clubs."

"What's the drinking age?" I asked.

"Eighteen, so that's not a problem at all."

"Good. I did find out that the Gulfstream III is configured with eight large leather seats and a sleeping cabin. Deanna wants to join the Mile-High Club."

"COUNT ME IN!" Bianca exclaimed. "I'm positive Juliette will be game."

"Deanna did suggest splitting the seven nights as two for you and Juliette, two for Keiko, and two for Deanna and CeCi. She suggested I keep the seventh night open."

"For a target of opportunity?" Bianca teased. "A cute Dutch or French girl?"

"That was Deanna's suggestion. Did you plan to talk all night?"

Bianca laughed, "No! But I haven't had a chance to talk to you this week. We can talk on Saturday if you want to fool around."

"I do!"

April 29, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

On Friday afternoon, I received a fax from Detective Thomas in Overland Park. I quickly scanned the documents to make sure they were complete, then called to let him know I had them and I'd get back to him within a week. Later in the afternoon, Nelson called to let me know he'd received the letter and prospectus and had taken them to Thomas Hart, who'd promised to look them over and call me sometime the following week.

The Hyatt Regency was a twenty-minute walk from the Hancock Center, so I decided to work until 5:30pm, even though it was a Friday evening, then walked at a leisurely place along Michigan to the river, turned left, and walked a block to the hotel. I arrived about five minutes before I was supposed to meet Marcia, and about a minute later, she walked in wearing a beautiful royal blue dress.