The Last Option
Chapter Nine: Louis Randall’s Decision

That morning, in the middle of work, Nathan asked Bernard to take him to the exclusive area of Fifth Avenue between 42nd and 59th streets, more specifically to his tailor's shop near Trump Tower, since he wanted to order some suits. Bernard led him to the indicated address, and to his surprise, Nathan asked him to come in with him.

"It's time you changed those old-fashioned suits," he told him as they entered.

Bernard had inherited two suits from his father, which although not very old, could be seen to belong to another era, and he wore them every day to work. Nathan realized this and wanted to renew his appearance, bringing it to the present. It was the first time that Bernard had entered the shop of an exclusive tailor. Seeing them, the owner, a solemn-looking man in his sixties named Theodore, met them with a broad smile.

"Mr. Hicks! It's a real pleasure to have you here again. Do you require a new suit, or maybe a tuxedo?"

"Hello, Theodore. Yes, I want some new outfits, but not for me. They are for my friend here."

Theodore looked Bernard up and down, detailing it a bit. Bernard thought that at some point he would put on an expression of disgust or contempt, but it was not like that.

"And I firmly believe you need them," Theodore finally said, still smiling. "You have a good bearing; I think the Italian style will suit you".

"I leave everything in your wise hands Theodore," Nathan told him.

"Very well. Come in here please."

Bernard was ashamed and did not know how to behave before the tailor, who was used to dealing with important and wealthy people. Nathan noticed his discomfort and told him to relax. Theodore began to measure him, and as promised, Bernard let Nathan buy him whatever suits he wanted without protest or refusal.

He bought him six with his shirts and ties, which they would remove three days later, in addition to five shirts and pants, four pairs of shoes, five pairs of socks, four belts, and three overcoats. "That's for a start," Nathan told him as they left the store. "Then we will come for a few more. I think with a little effort you will end up looking like me."

Bernard felt a great desire to protest, but could not. He was already committed to the bone to Nathan, and had no choice but to let him fulfill his end of the bargain in his own way.

Two days Louis waited for news from Duncan. He did not know how he did it, but he always managed to obtain the information he requested, no matter how little it was on rare occasions. The gloomy, bald man with the enigmatic blue eyes was sitting on one of the benches on the north side of Central Park. Louis arrived and sat next to him, watching but not paying attention to everything that was happening around him. He didn't bother to remove his sunglasses. "What do you got for me?"

"Indeed, Nathan and his wife have been visiting the fertility clinic regularly," Duncan said in his deep, slow voice, "and they have already made three attempts to get her pregnant, without success. Apparently they have made or will make a fourth attempt, which will be the last. I couldn't replace out more. There is a sudden silence and a halo of mystery around the subject that took me by surprise. They seem to be hiding something, and I couldn't tell what."

"I suppose that given the sensitivity of the subject, my cousin does not want that nobody replaces out if they are going to have a baby finally. We will have to wait a while to see if this latest attempt has been successful." "And are you willing to wait?"

Louis knew what Duncan was referring to.

"I've waited long enough, a couple more months won't make a difference. I will let you know if I need your services again."

Louis got up from the bench and turned his back on Duncan, beginning to walk away. Duncan continued to sit for a few more minutes, and then he also left Central Park.

At four months Louis commissioned Duncan to follow in Nathan and Norma's footsteps, and bring him pregnancy tests for her, if she was. By the age of four months most women can tell if they are pregnant, and Louis expected his cousin's wife to be one of those women.

He had long ago decided to do to Nathan and Norma the same thing he did to his uncle, but his curiosity to know if they were going to have a baby had him holding on to order Duncan to proceed. At first glance, he couldn't tell if she was pregnant, and he thought that perhaps that fourth and final attempt to be pregnant had also failed. Rarely did he feel a little relieved that maybe he wasn't, as he didn't want to be responsible for the death of an unborn baby, the first time he'd felt any scruples in his life.

But it was already decided. He needed to get Nathan out of his way, and if his cousin Rebecca dared to claim her place in the company, which he highly doubted, he would get rid of her too. He wanted to have a clear path to consolidate his position at the head of the company and be the absolute owner of Southern Hilltop Gold.

He called Duncan again, who was already in his office early the next morning, waiting for him. When he arrived, he invited him to come in and once they were seated face to face at his desk, he confronted him, as he always did when he gave him the order to kill. He liked to look at Duncan when he gave the order, so he could make sure he was serious.

"I want Nathan Hicks dead."

Duncan held his gaze, he was not the type to be intimidated by another, no matter how powerful or strong he was. "Accident?"

"This time I give you the freedom to be creative," Louis said, looking away from him and crossing his legs as he saw the city through the large window at the back of his office and to the side of his desk. "Accidents have been very effective all this time, but with Nathan you have to be more proactive; if he had continued with old Thomas, the accident would have been ideal, but now he has a young man as his driver, who is aware of the maintenance of his cars and when driving he can be very effective in avoiding "accidents". Definitely with him you have to try other things. Those necessary."

"Very well. I'll get to work on it right away."

"Don't worry about the pay; I understand this assignment is much more important and delicate than the previous ones, so I will pay you double what I have paid you so far."

"I really appreciate it. And what about his wife?"

"She must also disappear; with Nathan dead she would claim the inheritance and would have the power to appoint, with the advice of the board of directors, a successor at the head of the company, which would not be me, of course, given the references that she must have of me from Nathan."

"But we still don't know if she's pregnant. You know my position with regard to children, even those who are still in their mother's womb. Not with children."

Duncan had a very strict work code which contemplated, among other aspects, the rule of not murdering or harming children or very old people in any way, since they could not defend themselves or had evil in their heart.

"I don't think she is pregnant, since her belly isn't showing yet. However, before proceeding make sure she's not. That would already be a matter for you and your work rule."

"Okay. What if she is? Would you be willing to let an heir of your cousin live?"

"I have to think about it. However, there are many mothers who die after childbirth, and children who disappear and grow up with other families."

Duncan nodded slightly. He already had the answer to his questions.