by Geoff Wolak
* * *
‘We’re not going back to the old house,’ Beesely softly stated. Johno glanced up from his newspaper, but said nothing. Beesely eased up from his office chair and opened the fridge, retrieving a cold can of apple juice. ‘Everything there would remind us of Jane.’
Johno considered it. ‘Guess you’re right.’
Beesely sat back down. ‘I’ll have everything that was Jane’s removed and destroyed. Our stuff will be moved out as well. I’ve told Otto to find us a penthouse in London to use, plus something down on the coast - Dorset, Poole maybe.’ Johno nodded his approval. ‘I’ll leave the house to our people in the UK, safe house for boys on the run.’
Again Johno nodded.
Beesely glanced at his watch. ‘Be out of here in a few hours.’
Otto walked in as Johno wandered out, Johno tapping his half-brother playfully on the arm with his rolled up newspaper.
‘You wanted to see me?’ Otto asked as he entered.
‘Please, close the door,’ Beesely requested.
Otto closed the door and sat in the seat vacated by Johno. ‘Problem?’
‘Yes. You.’
Otto was puzzled. ‘Me?’
‘Yes. I want you to have a good long life and be happy,’ Beesely enigmatically began.
Otto tipped his head. ‘Sounds … OK. What is the problem?’
‘Johno and I would like to go looking for trouble. Problem with that ... would be that it would put us all in danger, something neither I - nor Johno - have any issues with. Our problem … is you. We don’t want to put you in danger, nor do we have any desire to damage K2.’
Otto eased back, confused. ‘I would not have considered myself an impediment to that approach.’
‘My desire to keep you safe ... is the impediment.’
Otto studied Beesely for a moment. ‘So what did you wish to do?’
‘Discuss it with you, let you think about it. Then, if you are in agreement, we will sharpen the front end of K2, increasing the offensive capability.’ Beesely eased back and waited.
Otto breathed out. ‘When I … sought you out … for the inheritance, I considered this. That you may wish to be … involved in matters that have previously been outside of the normal work for K2.’
Beesely held up an open palm. ‘And?’
‘I wish K2 to be more involved in such matters, but I am not sure just how, or to what level.’
‘Then we shall have to discuss it on a case-by-case basis,’ Beesely suggested.
‘That would seem a reasonable course of action, Father.’
‘Father?’ Beesely repeated with a heavy frown. ‘I can honestly say … that that is the first time in my life I have heard that word used about me.’ He shook his head. ‘Seems a bit alien.’
Otto stood up, smiling. ‘No need to worry, I am - as you say - house trained.’
‘Er … Otto, we say that when our dogs stop shitting on the house floor, not for when children grow up and become independent!’
