Free The Rock 'N Roll Detective's Greatest Hits - a Spike Berenger Anthology by Raymond Benson

distributed. Al Patton was cool and calm. Gina acted as if this was an entire waste of time. Brenda Twist was trying her best to appear relaxed but her eyes darted apprehensively around the room and she clutched her Bible as if her life depended on it.
    Finally, Miles got to the nitty-gritty. “Ownership and rights in Flame Productions Inc. shall be granted to Joshua Duncan. This includes all copyrights and licenses as well as physical property. A transition period of one year shall transpire with Carol Merryman presiding over the company until which time Joshua will take the reins.”
    There were no gasps but Joshua Duncan’s eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped. Carol made a slight face of disapproval. She had been expecting something like that but didn’t realize she would have no control of the company after a year’s time. That meant she would be in charge of all the hard stuff—the probate, settling accounts, taking care of legal commitments that Flame had made, and putting the business in order. Just when it was about to become fun, she’d have to hand it over to her son.
    Berenger wondered if Joshua Duncan had the chutzpah to run Flame’s business. The young man had always struck him as an introverted shrimp that followed his famous parents around the world like a puppy. Sometimes life didn’t make much sense.
    Miles continued. “Eight million dollars in cash will be granted to Carol Merryman.”
    This time there were a couple of quiet intakes of breath. Berenger was pretty sure they came from Carol and Gina. Carol scribbled the news on her notepad with vigor.
    “Three million dollars in cash shall go to Brenda Twist.”
    Carol made no attempt to disguise her dismay and nearly choked. “What?”
    Gina made a sour face and slumped a little in her chair.
    Brenda looked to the ceiling and whispered, “Oh, sweet Jesus.” She pressed the Bible to her chest and went into a silent prayer.
    “And finally,” Miles said, pausing for dramatic effect. Gina slightly turned her head to look at the attorney, just in case Flame had seen fit to leave something for his first family. “Twenty-five million dollars in cash shall go to the organization known as the Messengers.”
    “Praise God!” Brenda said quietly.
    Gina muttered, “Well, hell.”
    Carol gasped and proclaimed, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding!” She looked around the room searching for sympathetic faces. Joshua sat staring at his hands, which lay palms down on top of the table. Al Patton merely nodded as if none of this was any surprise. Gina folded her arms in front of her and refused to look at anyone else. Brenda continued to pray even more intensely. The attorneys in the room shook their heads, betraying their true feelings with bemused looks on their faces.
    “There’s one more thing,” Miles said, gaining everyone’s attention once again. “There is a clause indicating that if anyone contests the contents of the will, then no one will receive a thing and all aforementioned cash, rights, and property shall be bequeathed solely to the Messengers.”
    “That son of a bitch,” Carol said.
    Gina looked at Berenger and sighed. She and Adrian had been completely shut out.
     
    “W ell that went over like a lead zeppelin,” Gina said to Berenger out in the waiting room.
    “I don’t know what to say, Gina,” Berenger said. “I know you’re disappointed.”
    “Ah, well, what did I expect? I really didn’t think Adrian and I would get anything. I’m mostly surprised by the gift to those religious fanatics.” She looked over at Brenda and Reverend Theo, who were embracing and crying tears of joy.
    She turned back to him and asked about Adrian.
    “He’s fine,” Berenger replied. “He’s upset, of course, and it’s a real drag for him to be in jail, but he’s being treated all right. It’s a good thing he’s in protective custody.”
    “I wish they’d let me see him more often. They really restrict visiting hours.”
    “Yeah,