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“Sure. You might find it entertaining,” I said.
“You should ask Dennis,” Syd told him.
Larry decided he liked my invitation better than Syd’s warning and grabbed a seat. “What’s the topic?”
“I’m just here to take notes,” Syd grumbled.
“Why is he in such a good mood?” Larry said, leaning my way.
“My mood will improve when I stop being served court papers,” Syd shot back.
A minute later, Cartwright and his slimeball lawyer arrived.
We went through the pleasantries without Dennis, and we all selected something to drink.
I stuck to Diet Coke—Dennis style, without a glass.
Dennis walked in and closed the door behind him. “Thanks for meeting us on such short notice.”
Cartwright pasted on a smile. “You said you wanted to discuss restructuring the company, and that’s a subject dear to my heart.”
I doubted he had a heart. If he did, it was about to skip a beat.
Dennis took his seat, unscrewed the lid to his Coke, and downed a slug.
I did the same, and the glare we got from Cartwright was priceless. I unlocked my phone, selected the text message page, and put it in my lap in case I lost the bet.
Dennis spun his pen on the tabletop in front of him. “My ex-wife, Melissa, resigned from the board this morning.”
“I take it you’re offering us that seat?” Cartwright asked gleefully.
“Under the right circumstances. So you don’t misunderstand, let me go through this slowly.”
Cartwright sat back.
“Syd?” Dennis asked. “Do you have those papers Melissa signed?”
“Right here.”
“Can I get a copy?” Larry asked.
“Pass them across, would you, please?” Dennis said, opening the folder in front of him and ignoring Larry.
Syd passed them to the two visitors. “I didn’t bring extras,” he told Larry.
Swartzman started the fireworks. “What is this bullshit?”
“Notarized statements that implicate your client in the stock manipulation you accused us of,” Syd answered. “You orchestrated the negative press and bought on the down days.”
“That’s total crap,” Cartwright spat. He pushed his chair back and stood. “We’re not sticking around to be insulted.”
I pressed send on the text I had ready. I’d lost the bet that they would stick around at least a minute to hear what we had.
ME: Now
Swartzman pushed his copy of the papers back at Syd and got up.
The text had gone to Cindy, and she opened the door as instructed. “Dennis, the two FBI agents you had an appointment with are here.”
