Free Frederick Ramsay_Botswana Mystery 01 by Predators Page B

Travis didn’t wait for an answer. “He married Harry Reilly’s daughter to get a job, made a career, then forced Reilly out and dumped his daughter. He has spent the last decade trying to buy up the Reilly family holdings. That old man’s dead, and the rest of the family would shoot Leo on sight if they had the chance. About 10 percent of the outstanding shares are in their hands, by the way. Leo has used shadow companies and straw men to get those shares but so far has failed. Did you know that one of the Reilly grandsons works for Leo? His name is Bart Polanski and he’s in Engineering. He’s staying in this hotel. He will vote the Reilly stock for me if I need it. I have other options out there as well. They all have a cost, but I can exercise them. I will level with you, Brenda. It’s easier with Bobby’s stock, but even without it, it’s doable.”
    Brenda sat and waited for Travis to get to the part where she could cash out. He stared blinking and then went on, “I’m guessing you want the stock to sell to either someone wanting in before the IPO, or after that, which could produce a big payday for you. Half a payday, if you decided to dump Robert or he decides to dump you.”
    “Not going to happen, Travis. That kid is, like, a Brenda addict. I can do things for him that makes his brain turn to yogurt, so forget that.”
    “Still, it’s a one-gun bullet. You sell and boom it’s over. No more cash cow. I happen to know Bobby’s debt profile. It’ll all be gone in a week. Dump or not to dump, you end up with zip. Are you with me so far?”
    “Like, what do you want from me?”
    “First, you need to leave the boy. He’s never going to make it for you. He has a trust fund that you go through in a month. He is basically unemployable at any level beyond flipping burgers at some fast food joint. Leo has kept him on as a charity. When I take over, he’s toast. And I will take over.”
    “Not so fast. You know what’s in Leo’s will?”
    “I do. Do you?”
    “Yep. When Leo dies, we get a bundle.”
    “After the public offering, it will be preferred stock and an income for you. Do you really want to live on dividends? What happens in a down economy when there are no dividends? I’m telling you this now, and nobody else knows this yet, I’ve seen the books. There are no dividends this year. If the IPO goes through there will be none for the foreseeable future.”
    “But Farrah said—”
    “Henry Farrah is a lawyer. He doesn’t know squat about business. That’s why Leo is about to bust his balls when we get home.”
    “But the public offering, the IPO, what about that?”
    “It’s a maybe. I can’t always read Leo, but I think he has something up his sleeve. That’s why we need to move fast when we get back to Chicago.”
    “And the will?”
    “There are wills, and there are wills. Do you really think Leo will let the old one he drew up two years ago stand? There is another will, you can count on it.”
    “What’s it say?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t know for sure if there is one, but Leo is sneaky. Don’t count on that buzzard sending anything good your way.
    Brenda turned the information over in her mind, seemed to make a decision.
    “Let’s talk about you and me.” She leaned back on one elbow on the bed and smiled.

Chapter 15
    He was upwind so that the hyenas’ scent did not carry to him, but Sekoa sensed them. Every nerve in his diseased body jangled and urged him to move onward. They were tracking him, an easy task for them given his deteriorating physical state. He kept padding along the river until he encountered a fence. He could be cornered there. The hyenas would not attack him as long as he could turn and move. But if he were to stop or be backed up…He shifted his weight from right to left. On his left, the river shimmered and rippled in the moonlight. His instincts told him to stay clear of the water. The crocodiles might be dormant in the dark, and they might