Poetic Justice

Chapter 4

4

Dear Brad,

If you’re reading this letter, it means that I have moved on from this existence on Earth. You are probably quite overwhelmed right now. I have a feeling that your Father, my Brother, never mentioned me to you.

I just want you to know that, although you never knew about me, I followed both yours and your brother Mark’s paths through life. I can only say that you both made me so proud to be your Uncle.

My one true regret in life, is that I never got to meet the two of you in person, and that you never knew your amazing Aunt Elizabeth.

After much deliberation, I decided to leave my entire fortune to you. I know that you will make sure that the entire family is well taken care of.

The money is yours to do whatever you want with. Knowing the type of person you are, I’m more than confident that you’ll do the right thing.

I can’t wait to meet both you and Mark in the next life, but hopefully that will be quite far in the future.

For now, live your lives to the fullest.

Your loving Uncle,

Robert Channing.

My hand was trembling as I laid the letter down on the bed. I wiped the tears from my eyes and took a big gulp of whiskey.

My Uncle Robert seemed like a kind and noble person. I was truly sad that I had never got to meet him.

The next order of business was to phone my brother and tell him the whole incredible story.

At thirty-four, he was two years younger than me and a Captain and Company Commander in the 101st Airborne.

It took a while to convince him that the news I’d told him was true. It was only after I’d read him the letter that he started to believe me.

When I offered him half of the money he immediately refused. He eventually agreed to me depositing one hundred million dollars into his account.

“If you ever need any more, just let me know.” I said.

”Yeah right, I’m sure I’ll blow through that in a month or two.”

“Hey, you’re getting married in a few months, at least now you can give your lovely bride the wedding of her dreams.”

“I guess so, and maybe even a first class Hawaiian honeymoon as well. Just don’t go crazy with your wedding present, remember I’m in the army, I don’t need a private jet or anything.”

“How about a nice new sports-fishing boat? Say a nice forty-five footer.” I asked. I knew that one of his passions was deep-sea fishing.

“You know me so well brother,” he replied. “Ok, I accept.”

It seemed unreal to be talking like this. A few hours ago it would have been a crazy dream to think I could afford to buy my brother a million dollar boat. Now I could have anything my heart desired, travel anywhere I wanted, do whatever I please. I must say, it wasn’t the worst feeling in the world.

I eventually made it over to the hospital to have the stitches removed. The doctor inspected the leg and pronounced me fit and clear of infection.

“Just take it easy for the next month or two.” She said. “Don’t go crazy with the workouts.”

I was a fifth degree black belt in Taekwondo, as well as a fourth dan black belt in Judo, and liked to work out at least three or four times a week.

“How do you know me Doc?” I asked.

Doctor Rivera actually knew me very well. We had dated on and off for the past few years. She knew I was a fitness fanatic and liked to push myself to the limits when I trained.

She just rolled her eyes and ushered me out of the examination room.

“Tell Peter I said hi.” She was currently dating a friend of mine from the base.

I wondered what she’d say if I told her I was now a billionaire. I decided discretion was the better part of valour, and bade her farewell. I drove into town where I had set up a meeting with an investment advisor.

He almost choked on his coffee when I showed him the check. He advised me to invest most of the money in various offshore accounts where interest rates were higher and no taxes were due by me. I would only have to pay taxes on money that was brought into The United States, he informed me.

An accountant was called into the room, and after filling in forms and signing documents for over two hours, I was finally done. My main account was in the Bahamas with sub-accounts scattered all over the globe. I had phoned my father from the advisors office to get his banking details. When he asked why, I told him I was transferring a hundred million dollars to his account. A mighty battle then ensued, which I eventually won when my mother stepped in. She told him to shut up and take the money. It’s what his brother would have wanted, she said.

I had then transferred another hundred million dollars to my brother’s account.

I was now driving over to Tanya’s place with a freshly printed check made out to Tanya Buckman in the amount of fifty million dollars.

She listened in silence as I once again related the story of my uncle’s life and eventual death. When I handed her the check she was shocked.

“You really don’t have to do this Brad.”

“Please Tanya, I always promised Fred that I would take care of you guys if anything happened to him. I’m now in a position to do just that. Just think, you’ll be able to send the kids to the best schools without ever having to work again.”

“It would be nice to be able to spend more time with them.”

“Exactly, and if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”

“Thanks Brad, I’ll do that.”

As I left, I still felt the overwhelming guilt that Fred’s death had caused.