He was at the bedside of his soon to be late business partner.
The dying man barely recognised his visitor and was continually drifting in and out of consciousness. They had been in business for a number of years and had built it up from nothing. They had known one another a long time. Outside of the company their two families had often socialised. The visitor sat listening to the monotonous beeping of the heart rate monitor. He laid his hand on his partner’s arm. There was a slight movement.
“By the way,” he began, “I found out what you were up to last year.”
He wanted him to take the message with him.
“I know about your gambling habit and I know about the embezzlement. I covered for you to keep the business going. It nearly ruined me and I stopped respecting you or considering you as a friend eight months ago.”
He got up quietly and left.
It was by the grace of God that he was already in the elevator and spared the sound of the monitor’s beeping change to a flatline monotone.