In preparation for the reading of the residuary clause to Blair Geister’s will, Juniper Crane set up a makeshift desk in the locutorium for the attorney, but she forewent the audience seating this time, as the assemblage for this reading would be minimal. Besides Juniper and Esq. Jennifer Boone, attendees included Eden Geister, Zyus Drake and the three PIs.
Sitting behind the table, the attorney withdrew papers from her briefcase and checked her watch. She waited in silence for two minutes until 7:20 a.m. on the dot. “Let’s begin. I understand Mr. Zyus Drake did find the Pangram Box. I’d like to invite him up to reveal its contents.”
“Not so fast!” Eden approached the table. “The will stipulated that the house could not be damaged in the process of looking for the Pangram Box. The Box was found in a secret room behind the movie theatre screen.” She held up her phone to show a picture of the gunshot-riddled screen in the theatre. “I believe this qualifies as damage.”
Emory looked at the phone. “But he didn’t do that!”
Jeff joined his partner. “And it was done after the Box was found.”
Virginia added, “By your boyfriend, who happens to be Blair Geister’s suspected killer.”
Eden scrolled to a picture of the holes in the wall and floor of the master bedroom. “George didn’t do this.”
Emory said, “I did that, and it wasn’t while looking for the Pangram Box. It was to determine how your cousin was murdered.”
The attorney took the phone from Eden and inspected the pictures. She locked her eyes on Juniper. “The decision of whether to grant Mr. Drake the contents of the Pangram Box rests with the executor. What say you?”
Juniper grimaced, eyes going from the attorney to the floor, with a brief glance at Zyus. “The Box is his.”
“Yes!” Emory clenched his right fist and smiled at his partners.
Esq. Boone summoned him. “Mr. Drake, please come forward and present the Box.” Zyus approached the desk and handed it to her. The attorney held it up and pointed to the signed paper seal covering each cap. “I’ll note that the seals do appear to be intact. I’ll now open it to reveal the contents.” Esq. Boone opened the metal Box and emptied three documents onto the table. She inspected all three before handing one back to Zyus. “The Pangram Box contained a deed, a notarized agreement and a letter, which I’ll ask Mr. Drake to now read.”
Zyus cleared his throat and read from the letter. “If I’m reading this letter, it’s because I found the Pangram Box within the allotted time and parameters, which means that Blair Geister does accept at least partial blame for the incident that led to my… disfigurement. As recompense, Blair is bestowing on me two gifts. The first is the deed to the penthouse condominium at the Somerset in Knoxville – with all lifetime HOAs waived. The second is a promise. As it doesn’t relate to the core mission of the EARTH Foundation, Blair Geister’s estate will endow a private grant of twenty million dollars to Dr. Arthur Igataki to fund his research into skin regeneration, with the stipulation that I… will be his first patient once the research is ready for human trials.”
Zyus buried his face in his hand and wept. Juniper went to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Jeff was about to turn his teary eyes away from his partners when he saw wet cheeks on both.
Once Zyus had regained his composure, he took the documents and left the locutorium.
Esq. Boone took a moment to sip from her water glass. “I will now read the residuary clause of Blair Geister’s last will and testament.” The attorney held a document before her. “I hereby bequeath all my assets not mentioned herein or part of the Pangram Box, should it be properly claimed, to a single beneficiary – the nonprofit organization I established, the EARTH Foundation.”
Eden stormed out of the room. “Ridiculous!”
The attorney continued. “The assets now owned by the EARTH Foundation include all commercial property and businesses. I established this structure so the EARTH Foundation can ensure any and all business conducted by Geister Innovations & Engineering is done in an environmentally conscious way and, in turn, so Geister Innovations & Engineering can fund the work of the EARTH Foundation well into the future. My genuine hope is that my life’s work will provide an everlasting legacy of environmental stewardship and help build a better world for many generations to come.” Esq. Boone put the document down. “That concludes the reading of the will. Thank you.”
Jeff raised his hand. “I have a question. Blair’s company now belongs to her foundation? How does that work?”
Esq. Boone replied, “Assuming the foundation chooses to keep the status quo, the company would continue to run as it has been, with a board and CEO, et cetera, and the profits would go to the foundation in continuance of its mission.”
Virginia gasped. “Oh my god! Juniper, do you realize what this means?”
Emory said, “As president and CEO of the EARTH Foundation, you now run everything.”
Juniper looked like the reality of the situation was just coming into view. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, I do.” Virginia hugged her. “Congratulations.”
Jeff said, “We should have a drink. Celebrate.”
Esq. Boone interrupted them. “Actually, I need Ms. Crane to stick around. We have a pile of papers to go over.”
Juniper nodded to the attorney before returning her attention to the PIs. “We’ll have a drink in Knoxville the next time I’m up there. My treat.”
Jeff grinned at the last statement. “I should hope so.”
As the PIs left the locutorium, they found Eden sitting on the front stairs with her head in her hands.
Virginia placed a hand on her shoulder. “Eden, are you going to be okay?”
Eden lifted her head. “The thing is, my actual research might’ve been good enough. I just didn’t have confidence in it, so I padded the numbers. It’s funny that one little mistake, something that entered your head for just a few seconds and you acted on it, could devastate your whole life. She would’ve given me everything, but she didn’t trust me after that.”
Juniper walked out with the PIs as they carried their luggage to Emory’s car. “I really can’t thank you all enough. On top of all your work, I feel like you’ve given me my sanity back.”
Jeff told her, “You could make us the official investigation firm for the EARTH Foundation and all its subsidiaries – i.e., Geister Innovations & Engineering. You’ve already asked Emory to look into the accusation against Dr. Sharp, which we’ll get on right away. We could run background checks for all grant candidates and potential employees, investigate suspected corporate espionage, uncover—”
Juniper smiled and patted him on the back. “Let me get a handle on everything before I make any promises.”
“Guys.” Virginia turned their attention toward Zyus Drake, who was pacing in the driveway.
Emory asked, “Mr. Drake, is everything all right?”
“Just waiting on my Uber. Myles left me here.”
“Here.” Jeff pulled his car fob from his pocket and tossed it to Zyus. “Cancel the car and just take mine.”
Zyus caught the fob in his massive hand. “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely.” Jeff pointed with his thumb to Emory and Virginia. “I don’t get to spend enough time with these guys.”
“Thanks. I’ll get it back to you this afternoon.”
“I’m not worried. I know where you live now.”
As Zyus drove off, Virginia gave Juniper a hug. “I’m going to miss you.”
“You too. Take care of yourself.”
Jeff embraced her. “Thanks Juniper.”
“I want to come by and meet that bobcat of yours.”
“You’re always welcome.”
Emory extended his hand to her, and Juniper brushed it aside. “You’re giving me a hug, too.”
Emory complied. “Thank you for everything.”
“Okay, now.” Juniper backed away, waved and returned to the house.
Jeff opened the trunk to start loading the luggage but stopped before doing any actual work. “Hey guys, could you give me a few minutes? I just want to have one last look around.” He stared into Emory’s eyes to convey his meaning.
“Go ahead,” said Emory. “We’ve got this.”
Jeff left them and walked to the giant cedar tree in the woods. He grasped the little chain fence surrounding it and gazed down at the spot where he had buried Trevor Park. “I apologize for all the moving around. This time should do it.” Jeff looked up at the sky through the canopy. “You know I love you. I don’t have to tell you that. You were… a sweet, sweet man. You deserved more than this world gave you. I know I didn’t deserve you. I don’t know that I deserve Emory either. Maybe I do. He’s damn exasperating. In some ways, he’s a lot like you.” Jeff laughed as tears cascaded down his face. “Actually, he’s nothing like you. He’s a pain in the ass. Both cheeks. Secretive. Serious. Rigid. Passionate, but afraid of it. Super smart, but stupid in areas most people take for granted.” He wiped his eyes. “Okay, he’s like you in that way.
“Please know that I haven’t given up. I will find who did this to you.”
Jeff inhaled a deep breath and pushed it from his lungs. “Anyway, I hope you like it here okay.” He looked around at the birds flying from tree to tree, blue morning glories clinging to the border fence and the sparkling river in the distance. “It’s a peaceful place, and you have a great view of the river.” He looked down. “I don’t know how this works. I don’t know if your… spirit can see above ground. Or if it’s even here. Or exists.”
He glanced at the engraved marker embedded in the stone block a few feet away, and he remembered the words Emory read from it about how cedar trees were sacred to the Cherokee and how they believed the trees housed the souls of the dead. He returned his focus to the ground where Trevor was buried, and his eyes followed the nearby exposed root up to the massive trunk. He looked at the river and then back at the tree trunk. He heard sorrowful cooing overhead and tilted his head to see a mourning dove perched on the lowest branch. “I hope they’re right.”