In the Name of Glori (The Redemption Series: Book 3)

by Maeve Christopher

  When I approached their door I could hear a baby fussing, so I gave a gentle knock. David opened it. His arm was in a sling. But he gave me an actual smile. “Glori, I’m so glad you’re here. I want to thank you for what you did last evening. You saved the President’s life.”

  I gave him the best movie star smile I could muster. “Cool. I was trying to save your life, too.”

  He had to admit that I did. “I appreciate that.”

  I entered the room to find Debbie nursing the baby, while two others slept in their cribs.

  “Glori, thank you so much…” Debbie began to cry again.

  I took a seat beside her on the couch and patted her arm.

  “General Pearson was right—you are a hero.”

  I pulled a tissue from a box on the coffee table. “Hon, everything’s okay. Please don’t cry.” I dabbed at the tears running down her cheeks. Debbie was talented when it comes to these flash floods. She could produce more tears per second than anyone I ever knew.

  When she finally controlled herself, I told her, “We had a phenomenal day at the booth. You’re art is gonna be on everything from cosmetics and beauty products, to shoes and swimwear, to sheets and linens, to dinnerware and glassware. It’s gonna be everywhere, and you’re gonna be rich. How cool is that?”

  Debbie giggled. “That’s very cool.”

  Her husband was all smiles. It was so obvious those two lived for each other. He could have cared less if her art was on a paper bag. As long as she was happy.

  I couldn’t help but think of Alain and wish I hadn’t screwed up the best thing that ever happened to me.

  ***

  I decided to act like a diva, so I called Diana to tell her I would arrive at the convention center an hour late the next morning. I was exhausted, but I couldn’t sleep. A whole cast of characters spent the night rolling around in my brain.

  I could have been in plenty of time for the sales breakfast, but I had that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach that couldn’t be satisfied with food. So I sought out the family breakfast. The aroma of the coffee drew me to find everyone milling around the buffet table. They do have some great coffee in Austria. I’ll give them that.

  I was still a very popular girl with my extended family. Raphael poured me a cup of coffee, while Eduardo made a plate for me. Then Camellia re-made the plate. Apparently Eduardo didn’t do a good enough job. He’s a guy—what do you expect? But it was so nice to be fussed over.

  In the corner of the room, Nita and Cindy fixated on the newspaper. I sat down beside them to sip my coffee. The plate of food sat untouched on the table.

  They both gave me a weird look. Nita asked, “Glori did you happen to see the paper today?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Hon, I can’t even speak German. What makes you think I can read it?”

  That coffee was to die for. I took a gulp.

  Cindy turned to face me. “This is a New York paper. And it says Clint Carlisle was arrested for putting drugs into the drink of one of his models. His assistant turned him in. The woman almost died.”

  My mind was mush. “Huh? Oh, yeah. Raphael subscribes to every paper on earth. I don’t know how he can read so much, and in so many different languages.”

  Cindy and Nita looked at each other. Yeah, I guess I didn’t want to let the bad news through. I heard Cin raise her voice. “Glori?”

  I couldn’t get out much more than a whisper. “Yeah, that… that’s some bad news, huh?”

  “Glori? Could he have put anything in your drink?”

  The coffee started to come back up. I ran to my room. Cin and Nita were right on my heels.

  I made it to the bathroom in time and pitched the coffee into the toilet. As I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand I realized two things. First, that was real glamorous. Nita handed me a towel. Second, yeah, I’d probably taken drugs from Clint Carlisle.

  I sat on the edge of the tub, rubbing drops of coffee from my chin. “Yeah. When I got to the studio that day, I had a headache, and he handed me two aspirin. I downed one of them with the first pina colada—and I put the second one in my bag.”

  I jumped up and ran to my dresser. Cin and Nita were right behind me.

  “I have the same bag here with me.”

  I dumped the contents onto the dresser. No pill. Cin turned on the lamp, and I looked inside the bag. Then I felt deep in the corner. Sure enough, I pried a little yellow capsule out of there. “This is the one.” I held it up and Nita took it.

  She examined it in the light. “This is Pentobarbital. It’s a barbiturate.”

  “English, please,” I said. Nita was an actual medical doctor before she turned into a rock star.

  She smiled at me. “That is English, Glori. But it means it’s a sedative hypnotic drug. It’s certainly not aspirin. It’s not even a pain-killer, and it absolutely is not to be taken with alcohol. How many drinks did you have?”

  “Just two pina coladas. I usually am pretty okay with three. I figured I was probably tired, and the drinks were extra strong. Anyway, I was drunk.” I hung my head. “And I made the biggest mistake of my life. It’s probably a good thing the stuff didn’t kill me.”

  Cin sat me down on the bed, and put her arm around me. She looked up at Nita, still holding the capsule in the light. “Nita, what would be the effects of this pill with alcohol?”

  She looked at me with concern. “It certainly would impair your mental functioning, Glori. Whether you believe it or not, you were a victim of this man. I would like to take this to Eduardo. He can have it verified that this is the drug that I think it is. And then he can see that Mr. Carlisle is punished for what he did.”

  “Oh, Nita,” I could feel the emotion flooding up through me. “I don’t think I can handle this.”

  Cindy squeezed me. “Honey, Alain needs to know about this. It explains your behavior that day. You told me you didn’t know why you acted like that. Now we know why. It’s not your fault.”

  I sobbed on her shoulder. It was sort of a relief. But I didn’t want to have to confront Alain with that explanation.

  Nita bent down in front of me. “Can I take this to Eduardo? At least let’s confirm what it is. Then you can decide what to do from there. Okay?” She rubbed my arm sympathetically.

  “Just…just let me think this through.”

  Chapter Ten

  Back at the convention, I tried to put the thought of the morning’s revelation out of my mind. I didn’t want Clint to get in more trouble. The guy had problems, but I couldn’t believe he intended to hurt me. Seduce me, yes. But not ruin my life. He was a self-centered guy, and I was always a self-centered girl. I don’t think he had a clue how in love I was with Alain. If he did, I couldn’t imagine that he’d want to mess that up.

  The guy was a player, and an aging one at that. He was at least twenty years older than me. Even though he was a world-renowned photographer, he probably had a tougher time bedding supermodels these days.

  And now, if I said the word, I could bring the wrath of hell down on the guy. That concussion Alain gave him would be nothing compared to what could happen.

  I didn’t know the half of the stuff our favorite secret agents were capable of. But if they wanted you, there was nowhere in the world that was safe. That much I knew.

  I must have been in a daze, contemplating all this.

  Aubrey snapped her fingers in my face. “Come on, Glori. They’re ready for us.” She pulled me out to the stage to sing my new song, Time for Me, the new theme song for Glori Cosmetics. Can I pick those titles or what?

  ***

  Thank God the convention ended promptly at 6:00 P.M. It reminded me of those pictures of the New York Stock Exchange, with people waving order forms in our faces right up to the last minute. There was not a product or even a poster or a sign left by that point. Diana’s lips couldn’t have been stretched any tighter over her teeth. She looked like she had a permanent smile. This had to have been the best day of her life.

&nb
sp; I was beyond exhausted. I didn’t care what offer anyone had for me, I was going to take the next few days off. We headed directly to Raphael’s jet and made a quick trip back to Salzburg. My own bed felt wonderful that night. Even if Alain wasn’t in it.

  ***

  The four men took lunch in a private conference room. Alain was relieved the Commerce Convention was now history, and they were getting back to their usual duties. At least there was some semblance of normalcy.

  Hollinger took a mouthful of food, and began the topic that was on all of their minds. “So how did Glori know to go after Shaw?”

  Clemente threw him a napkin. “Mind your manners, Hollinger.” Hollinger laughed, then decided to use the napkin.

  Lambrecht shook his head. “None of it adds up.”

  “Yeah, it’s a good thing for you she got the idea to attack a guy in designer shoes. Maybe it was a designer she didn’t care for.” Clemente was winding up.

  “It had to be Cat.” Lambrecht sat back in his chair and pulled at the sling on his arm. It was obviously bugging him. “I need to have a talk with Cat.”

  “Who else?” Clemente winked. “And while you’re at it, Lambrecht, find out who Christina is.”

  Alain let out a groan. It would never end. He decided to change the topic before it got out of hand. “I’m thinking Phelps and Shaw may have teamed up. I know Shaw normally worked alone. But where there was so much security, perhaps Phelps thought he needed the help.”

  David shook his head. “It’s possible, I guess. Phelps wanted the President dead for political reasons. Shaw only cared about the money. I wonder if Phelps could even afford Shaw’s services.”

  “Yeah, Phelps has been threatening the President for a while now. Shaw just came out of nowhere. And how would Glori know about Shaw and not Phelps?” Eduardo said.

  The General’s secretary, Betty, interrupted the conversation. “David, your wife is on the phone.” He ran from the room.

  ***

  Debbie was calmer than I’d ever seen her, at least on the outside. Cin looked to be propping her up on the couch, but I think it was the other way around. For once, you could hear a pin drop in the Lambrechts’ parlor.

  “David, we have to feel the feelings and let them go.”

  She stared into space, the phone loosely to her ear. I could almost hear David’s panic on the other end.

  “David, I think you need to take some deep breaths… some very deep breaths.”

  Cindy tapped her to get her attention. “Honey, tell him what happened. Just tell him.”

  “No, David, I’m fine. Raphael is here. He told us the news. Papa Roberto signed the papers, and he’s very sorry. He didn’t mean to, really. I think Daddy tricked him.”

  Cin gave her husband a pleading look. He went over to take the phone.

  She was speaking in a monotone, like she was in a trance. “It’s okay, David. I’ve already felt the feelings, and I’m letting them go, I promise. Promise me you’ll take some deep breaths. David, I’m going to put Raphael on the phone.”

  Thank God for Raphael. “David, Debbie is okay. She just got some news that stunned her a bit. But she’s okay.”

  He sat in the seat next to Cindy.

  “It’s George. He and Marion bought Papa’s old place while we were all in Vienna. Papa okayed the deal, thinking Cindy’s parents would be moving in. You know he’s not as sharp as he used to be. With everything going on in Vienna, and he’s insisted on overseeing Paulo’s new home, well, it’s just too much. So he let George take advantage of the situation, I think.”

  Raphael listened for a minute—probably David ranting about Debbie being better off without her parents in her life. Everyone knows that. That’s why he had to sneak his way into that property. Typical George.

  “Feel the feelings, David. You need to take some very deep breaths.” Raphael let out a sarcastic laugh.

  ***

  So that’s what it was. George and Marion Aldridge were moving in right next door to David and Debbie. Yeah, that’s a little bit different than hiring a hit man to murder your son-in-law. Still a huge tragedy, if you knew George and Marion.

  I needed to get a grip. How was I so sure George literally wanted his son-in-law dead? How did I end up attacking an actual assassin with a shoe? Did Cat have a hand in all this?

  I dunked myself into the lavender bubbles, hoping I might drown myself in them. I’d just told Nita to let Eduardo have the capsule to analyze. That story would be fodder for secret agents the world over. “Glori Coulson, pop icon, plied with pills and pina coladas, cheats on the love of her life, Agent Alain Dusseault.” That’d make a great headline in the Secret Agent News.

  Well, at least I didn’t do the actual deed. I don’t think I ever could’ve gotten that drunk or drugged. Not that it mattered at this point. I wasn’t confident that analysis of the capsule would make Alain want me back. It would probably only serve to make him take revenge on the guy. Just to impress his secret agent friends.

  When I emerged from the bubbles, I realized I was being ridiculous. I needed to have a talk with Cat. Let’s face it—left to my own devices, I wasn’t doing so good.

  I remembered back to that night at the hospital. Cat gave me a huge hug, thanking me profusely for saving David’s life. She seemed like she was in another world. But when I asked her if she had any more “wisps,” she just seemed confused. Maybe the visions did dry up.

  I dialed the phone only to learn that Cat and Cisco were in London. Cisco’s business, Clemente Asset Management, had started there and was still based there. Since he had an office and an apartment in London, there was no telling when they’d be back. I was told they were expected to be there on business for a week or so, and then head to the family’s beach house on the Costa Brava.

  Because I wasn’t about to confront Cat on the phone about all this, I was shit out of luck.

  ***

  Two days later Betty escorted me in to General Pearson’s office. As he clasped my hands in his usual gallant gesture, I noticed Eduardo standing by one of two chairs in front of the General’s desk. Pearson motioned me in, and Eduardo assisted me to the seat, and took his after the General sat down. Yup, this was going to be good.

  Pearson smiled his fatherly smile across miles of imposing desk. “Glori, that capsule was, as Nita expected, Pentobarbital sodium, a sedative hypnotic drug used to treat anxiety and help people sleep.”

  Great, if I didn’t have anxiety before, I’d sure have it now.

  Since I didn’t respond, I guess Pearson figured he’d keep going. “It certainly is a drug that is not meant to be taken with alcohol, and the combination could have killed you. As it was, it seems it affected your mental functioning.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m sorry Alain couldn’t be here today. He’s out of town—”

  “On assignment. Yeah.” This wasn’t about getting Alain and me back together. This was about the General’s agenda.

  Pearson nodded. “Glori, what would you like me to do about this? Do you want to take any action against Mr. Carlisle?”

  “He’s in enough trouble, right now, General. And maybe it was just a mistake he gave me that pill. For all I know, he thought it was aspirin. And I took it myself. Nobody forced me. And I drank two drinks. He didn’t pour them down my throat. So, in a court of law, any decent lawyer could get him off pretty quick, as far as I can see. But in your secret agent court, I have no idea.”

  Pearson smiled his placating smile. (Yeah, I used that word a lot now.) “Glori, of course we would bring it to a civilian court of law.”

  “Please don’t bother, General. I take responsibility for what I did. There’s no need to push this any further. We’re done.” I started to get up.

  “Glori.” Pearson motioned me to stay put. “I do want to discuss another issue.”

  Great. I somehow knew it’d be about shoes, but not that endorsement I was seeking.

  “You do know how grateful we are to you f
or saving the President and Agent Lambrecht.”

  Here we go. “Yes, General.”

  “I would very much appreciate your help in wrapping up this case. We still are unclear as to why Mr. Shaw was in that room.”

  “Because your guys didn’t recognize him.” I figured I’d state the obvious. I might as well give the General as hard a time as I could.

  Pearson smirked. “That’s true, Glori. But why was he there? Who paid him to kill the President?”

  “Maybe he wasn’t there to kill the President.” Uh oh. I put my foot in it now. I heard a little sigh coming from Eduardo. He was no fool. He probably figured Cat was at the bottom of this thing.

  Pearson looked truly shocked. “Who would he want to kill?”

  “I—I don’t know.”

  “Glori.”

  “General. Maybe he just wanted to wear his new shoes to a gala event no one would invite him to. How would I know who paid him to be there?” I started to get up.

  “Sit down young lady.” Oh, he was pissed now.

  I could see Eduardo crack a smirk. Yeah, he knew Cat was at the bottom of this. And the more I writhed in the chair, the more certain he was. Everyone in the family protected Cat, above all else.

  It’s not like Pearson was totally unaware of Cat’s powers, if he ever stopped to think about it. He’d sure heard enough baby predictions, and undoubtedly his four protégés had made some amazingly good decisions based on her advice. But they wouldn’t have told Pearson why these hunches worked out, and the party line with the family—don’t tell anyone about Cat’s abilities.

  I knew I’d have to climb out of this somehow. I was a damn good actress. I could pull this off. I heaved an exaggerated sigh. “General, I’m really embarrassed to admit this. I guess it’s all a really weird coincidence.”

  I leaned forward in my seat, as if to share a secret. Secret agents love secrets, right? “I made a really big mistake. One day before Paulo’s wedding, I happened to be alone at the stables. A group of guests had just left for a ride, and I was in a stall petting Debbie’s horse.”