Nature of Ash, The by Mandy Hager Page B

policy that covers funeral costs up to fourteen thousand dollars, plus a lump-sum payout of two hundred and fifty thousand.’
    Two hundred and fifty grand? Holy hell. ‘Only last month?’
    She nods.
    ‘So he did take them seriously …’
    Her head jerks up. ‘Can I take it you somehow know about the threats?’
    ‘You knew as well? Then why didn’t he — or you — tell the police? He just bloody ignored them—’
    ‘Whoa! Slow down. He came and discussed the whole situation with me.’
    ‘ You told him to do nothing?’ I’m going off her fast, porn star or not.
    Her eyes flash irritation. ‘I certainly did not.’ She takes her glasses off and rubs them on her knee. ‘I begged him to show them to the police, but he was adamant I keep that information to myself.’
    ‘Why?’
    She shifts uncomfortably in her chair. ‘First, you must assure me that you’ll keep what I’m about to say in strictest confidence. I mean it. I need you to swear.’
    Surely this is seriously dodgy for a lawyer? Still, what else can I do? ‘Okay, I swear.’
    ‘He wouldn’t tell the police because if the insurance company knew his life was threatened they’d not have insured him — and, if they find out after the fact, they won’t pay out.’
    ‘But if he — or you — had gone to the police, they could’ve stopped—’
    ‘You think I didn’t agonise over this? He insisted our discussion was confidential. My hands were tied. When I heard about the explosion I should have told them then. But I know the state of Shaun’s finances … all I could think about was how you boys and your grandmother are going to need the cash.’
    Shit, what have I done? I might have screwed up any chance of supporting Mikey and Grandma. I choke on rising bile. ‘I found the letters in his study. I gave them to the police.’
    Lucinda groans. ‘Damn. That will certainly complicate things. Okay, I’ll need to think this—’
    ‘Sergeant Smith … Jeannie … the cop I showed them to, she says she handed them over to forensics but now they’ve disappeared.’
    ‘Have they just?’
    ‘You think the police are up to something?’
    ‘It does no good jumping to conclusions. But I’ll follow it up and let you know — and if you discover anything else, I’d be obliged if you’d give me a call.’ She puts her glasses back on and picks up the file. ‘Meantime, let’s just proceed as if the insurance company will pay out. Shaun left instructions on how the money is to be disbursed. One hundred thousand must be put aside to pay for the care of your grandmother, and the other hundred thousand put in trust for Mikey’s care. The other fifty is for you to finish your studies — though you need to understand that until the inquest has been held the insurance company won’t release the funds.’
    ‘How long will that take?’
    She shrugs. ‘With everything that’s going on, it’s anyone’s guess. Either the powers-that-be will want it sorted quickly, to apportion blame, or else they’ll put it on the back burner to cool things down until this current situation has passed.’
    ‘But how am I going to pay for Grandma until then? Dad’s bank account is almost empty and I’m broke.’
    ‘I’ll write to the rest home and explain. I’ve no doubt they’ll wait, so long as they’re kept in the loop. I’ll instruct your father’s bank to release whatever funds they hold immediately — and, if you want my advice, I’d withdraw it all as soon as you can. I wouldn’t besurprised if there’s a run on the banks.’
    She thinks the banking system could collapse? Holy shit.
    ‘There’s one more thing,’ Lucinda says. ‘Your father left a letter in my care, to give to you in case circumstances such as this should arise …’ She draws an envelope from the file and hands it to me. ‘Read it first, and then we’ll talk some more.’ She stands and walks to the door. ‘I’ll just be in the next room. I think it’s best to leave you