Free The Philanthropist's Danse by Paul Wornham Page B

Information was the man’s stock-in-trade and Freeman knew Hagood could make good on his threat. He had given enough away for a man with Hagood’s resources and determination to uncover everything.
    In Macon, at William Bird’s behest, Freeman had manipulated a young prosecutor until he dropped the charges against Philip Thurwell. But there had still been a body in the morgue. The community held a public funeral and later there had been some media fuss about an unexpected but large life insurance payout. While Freeman was sure it would be hard to track the money back to Thurwell, he had no doubt a man like Hagood could do it.
    Freeman’s large frame appeared to deflate in front of Hagood’s eyes. “I suppose a man like you could find something unsavory about anyone he chose.”
    Hagood smiled, an expression that reminded the Judge of a snake eyeing its next meal. The businessman sipped his coffee to give Freeman more time to squirm. “Sometimes you need to dig deeper than others, but there is always something in a man’s past that they’d rather keep secret.” Freeman felt the full weight of Hagood’s accusing stare and could not hold his gaze.
    Freddie shifted in his seat. “Judge, your problem is you’re basically an honest man. You’re not used to having to act innocently, I think most of the time you are innocent. But you did something to earn yourself a place at this table. Johnston Thurwell brought you here to share in his fortune. When I see a random act of generosity like that, I get curious. I’ve seen smaller sums of money turn up a body or two before now. Is there a body in your story Judge?”
    Freeman said nothing as his dreams of a future in politics dissipated like smoke in the wind. “What do you want, Hagood? What do I have that you want?” He sounded bitter, and he felt that way, his dream of becoming Georgia’s first black Governor was over because of a spoiled, rich white boy. He knew if Hagood followed up on his story he would be found to have acted inappropriately, at best. Freeman had few options, but he might still be able to walk away from the mansion with a small fortune as consolation for his lost future.
    “Why, Judge, I want what you want.” Hagood warmed to his subject, he had overpowered the large man with only a mere suspicion of wrongdoing. “A man like me appreciates the long-term benefit of a loyal friendship with a successful politician, especially an untainted man like you.”
    Freeman saw that the way out of his troubles would be at the cost of being indebted to a ruthless businessman. He looked at Freddie, and a spark of hope rose in his chest. He might yet become Governor, and later, if he could find a way to negate Hagood’s power over him, he would reclaim his independence. “I suppose that’s true. I could see where you might derive a benefit from such an arrangement.”
    Freddie smiled broadly clearly enjoying himself. “Oh, there’s more to it than that, Freeman. I need your cooperation here and now, at this meeting.” Freeman was made to wait as Freddie finished his coffee before continuing. “I expect the Thurwells to deal with the problem presented to them by their father’s unorthodox method of determining their inheritance. They will do their best to eliminate troublesome members of the group. People like me. People like you, perhaps. So it will be good for me and good for your future if we support each other.”
    Freeman thought about it and saw that Hagood made sense. The Thurwell family might try to eject him with a tiny slice of the fortune, or worse, nothing. They would eject anyone they considered a threat to their rightful inheritance. Hagood owned a business empire and a vast fortune. He did not need more money. If the Judge was thrown out, he’d have no money, and would still face Hagood’s threat to dig into events in Macon.
    Freeman weighed his limited choices and saw the inevitable path. It was better to leave this place with a share