“And the gold.”
“Yes.”
“What is going on?”
Walter closed the door.
Malcolm took a breath. “A week before I met Ethan, I found out my brother had died.”
Ethan sat across from him. “I’m sorry.”
Malcolm nodded. “Thank you.”
“My brother’s name was Leonard. We hadn’t spoken in 11 years.”
“Why?”
“Mostly because I’m stubborn.”
He smiled sadly.
“He was too.”
Malcolm explained that Leonard had spent most of his career working in international trade.
He imported industrial equipment, traveled constantly, and apparently did very well for himself.
Malcolm had known some of that.
He had not known how successful his brother had become.
“I was already on the street when I got contacted about the estate,” Malcolm said.
Walter nodded. “Malcolm was difficult to locate.”
Malcolm laughed. “That’s lawyer language for ‘I didn’t have a phone.'”
Ethan smiled. “A shelter helped them find me.”
He continued. “Leonard left me a significant inheritance.”
I frowned. “How significant?”
Malcolm looked at Walter.
Walter said, “Enough that Malcolm will not have to worry about housing or basic expenses again if managed responsibly.”
Malcolm nodded. “But the estate wasn’t settled when we met.”
He leaned forward. “I really was broke.”
I looked at him. “You weren’t pretending.”
“No.”
“Then the money Ethan gave you…”
“It helped me.”
Malcolm looked directly at Ethan.
“I used some to buy food. Got Buddy fed properly. Paid for a motel so I could shower and sleep in an actual bed.”
He smiled. “And I bought a bus ticket to get here immediately.”
Malcolm continued. “Once everything was finalized, Walter told me Leonard had also left a safe-deposit box.”
Walter nodded. “It contained several personal items and investment assets.”
Malcolm smiled. “Including five gold bars.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. “Five?”
“Five.”
“Why did your brother have gold bars?”
“I have no idea.”
Walter cleared his throat.
“Leonard’s work involved international trade. The bars were legally acquired and documented as part of the estate.”
Malcolm shrugged. “Maybe he bought them as investments. Maybe he got them during one of his business adventures. Leonard liked collecting things.”
“And you gave one to Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he gave me everything he had.”
Ethan shook his head. “But I gave you $300.”
“Three hundred and seventy-six.”
“You counted?”
“Of course I counted.”
Ethan laughed.
