“We’ve got to get out of here, Mom! Right now!”
“But those men, won’t they stop us?”
Fawn peered out, could see the lights of a vehicle racing into the night.
“They’ve left! Come on!”
They rushed through the living room; Fawn stopped, grabbed the tiny painting of the blue-eyed girl, slipped it into her pocket.
They fled the tragic beach house, now lost to a wall of fire and smoke, the smell and heat so powerful it seemed to singe their lungs.
“There, Mom!” Fawn shouted above the wind. She was pointing to a small shed on the edge of the property. They made their way to it, closed the door tight behind them.
The house put on a show of fire and light; they were the unwilling audience, watching through a round portal in the shed’s door. Fawn cried softly as the building collapsed, thinking of Inger and Jim, and the love they’d shared in that place. She had been imagining earlier in the day that Taury might actually have been conceived there; and fancifully deemed it a shrine to the passion that true love can inspire. The rain offered a sad accompaniment to her tears, and in doing so, drowned out the fire, too late to save the house - it was gone, forever.
EIGHTEEN
The rain swept through quickly, leaving in its wake an eerie quiet that was unsettling.
The dawn came in a harsh mix of pale yellows and grays. Fawn, dressed only in thin silk pajamas and her lavender robe, shivered so violently that her teeth chattered.
Then the ear-shattering sound of sirens lured them out of their lair. A fire engine and two police cars pulled up. Brisby stepped out of one; came trudging over to them with a look of abject guilt on her white face.
“I feared something would happen but never this!” she sobbed. “The Mrs. told me to keep her informed, that’s all. I never wanted any harm to come to you!”
“So you told Elizabeth Trahern we were here? Then you conveniently disappeared, with my cell phone, before she sent those damned thugs out here to do us in?” Fawn questioned her in unsympathetic tones. She was exhausted, in pain, her knees shaking so badly she didn’t trust them to hold her up. She leaned on her mother, who slid an arm about her waist.
“Brisby, why did you leave us?”
“I did as I was ordered. The Mrs. has paid me quite handsomely for many years. I feel obligated to obey her. But after I left I kept thinking it was wrong to abandon you two out here with no communication or a car. I was on my way back this morning when I saw the smoke from the house. I called the police and waited for them over the hill.”
“We’ve got a lot of questions for this woman, Ms. Hamilton, is it? And for you ladies as well. Why didn’t you report the fire?”
“We had no phones. Brisby made sure of that!”
“Please, Miss, I feel bad about this. Certainly, I do. I’m very glad you’re both uninjured. But as I stated, I never meant any harm.”
“Look at James and Inger’s house! It’s destroyed! And you’re a party to that! Those creeps almost killed us!”
Fawn couldn’t hold the tears in any longer. She wailed like a baby. June held her, wiped at her cheeks with a tissue. A vehicle appeared on the road, a yellow Porsche, followed by a rental truck and a caterer’s van. Fawn gasped.
“Taury!”
The car slid into the drive; he jumped out, his gaze taking in the situation as he flew to her. June released her. Fawn began to walk towards Taury, her unsteadiness subsiding at the sight of him. He seemed paler than usual but still beautiful, dressed in faded jeans, deck shoes and a red Henley shirt.
He reached her, their eyes met. No words needed. He dropped to his knees, laid his head on her chest, wrapped warm, strong arms about her hips.
Kent Brennan emerged from the car, met his wife halfway. They passed worried glances, hugged.
They all turned their eyes to the black, smoldering frame that had been the French cottage.
“Oh, Kent, it was a nightmare! I’m glad you both got here, but I wish you had come sooner.”
“We had no idea! Well, I say that but Taury was concerned, wanted to drive up here last night when he couldn’t reach you by phone. I foolishly talked him out of it, thought you might have turned off the phone to get a good night’s sleep. I guess I’ve lost the old instincts I used to have about you and Fawn. Once I could tell if you needed me just by thinking of you.”
“It’s hard to separate the tangle of worries in your mind when you have so many.”
“Mrs. Brennan?” the cop interrupted. “We’ve had a report that the two men in question have been located in Oakland. One is in critical condition in a local hospital.”
Taury stood up. “What two men?”
“It was Greg and Henry. They tried to kill us, Taury.”
A dark look crossed his face that frightened her with its intensity. He kissed her forehead, started for the Porsche.
“Where are you going?”
“She’s going to pay for this!”
“No, Taury, don’t go there! Let the police handle it.”
“I have to see her, to make her admit what she’s done!”
“Then … take me with you!”
He stopped, stared at her. “Can you handle the drive?”
“I can handle anything, as long as you’re with me!”
“Officer, is she cleared to leave?”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Trahern. The woman Brisby here will give us most of what we need to know, though I would like to get some statements later.”
“Brisby? What the hell…”
“It’s true, love, I didn’t mean for this to happen but I must take responsibility for it.”
“I can’t trust anyone! How much did she pay you? Was it worth jail time? Don’t answer that! Come on, Fawn!”
“We’ll go with you, son!” Kent decided then he ushered June towards the Porsche. “Not much leg room back here, I’m afraid.”
“You drive. Fawn and I will curl up in the back seats, if you can call them that! I should’ve brought the Bentley!”
After Taury dismissed the rental truck driver and the caterers they configured themselves accordingly in the Porsche and sped off. Brisby stared after them, still crying. Fawn wanted to feel sorry for her but then she looked again at the sad wreck of a house and shook her head.
“I can’t believe it’s gone,” she sighed.
“My dad loved that house. Losing it is almost like losing him twice!”
Fawn clasped his hand; Taury kissed hers. The loving gaze in the deep set blue eyes bolstered her strength, made it easier to stand the pain that tore at her back muscles. Then a sharp bump in the road made her grimace.
“You okay? We can stop, if it’s too much.”
“No, just get me home somehow, Taury. That’s all I want.”
“Me, too. And that’s where we’re going, as soon as this mess is cleared up! I can’t believe Elizabeth did this! I knew she was determined to get her own way, but to actually hire two goons to burn down a house with you and your mom in it? Damn, that’s insane!”
“You know, son, if we can prove Elizabeth hired those two to commit murder, she hasn’t a chance of getting control of the company.”
“I wasn’t thinking about that but I suppose it’s true.” He grew quiet for a long while. Fawn squeezed his hand, he smiled at her though his eyes were filled with sorrow.
“Your dad’s house is still on your mind, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine it being gone. The flowers and the furniture and the paintings…”
“Oh, the paintings!” Fawn reached into her pocket, pulled out the tiny portrait. “This one is okay! See?”
He glanced at it; tears formed in his eyes. “How’d you manage to save it?”
“It’s all I could carry. Oh, I have this, too!”
She retrieved the will from her pocket, passed it to Taury. He began to read it; the tears multiplied, he wiped them away.
“This is my dad’s will! Do you know how long we’ve b
een searching for this?”
“Is it legal? I thought there would already be a probated will after all this time.”
“No, not in California! It takes near forever to get one probated here!”
“Well, maybe not that long,” her dad said. “The average is five and a half years!”
“Connie’s didn’t take that long,” June spoke up. She’d been half-asleep in the passenger seat.
“No, but she had everything settled and ready. There was no room for error. Plus she only had limited possessions and assets, and not one creditor. I wish everyone could live that simply.”
“Kent, Fawn says we can live in Connie’s beach house, when you take the job in Los Angeles. If Taury approves, that is.”
Fawn glanced at Taury, he nodded. “That’s a great idea! I won’t have to worry about it being kept up. You’re welcome to it!”
They continued onward. Fawn leaned in close. “Are you really okay with it?”
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” He smiled reassuringly, stretched his arm around her. “Sit back and sleep. We’ll be in Frisco before you know it.”
“What’s going to happen when we get there?”
“Well, I can’t promise I won’t slug her, but I’ll try to restrain myself from throwing her out a window.”
“Don’t joke about it.”
“Who said I was?”
Fawn stared at him, afraid. He leaned his head back, closed his eyes. She snuggled into the curve of his arm, and breathed deep. The scent of him was exhilarating. How could she sleep knowing he was so near? All she wanted to do was to watch his chest rise and fall in a heavenly rhythm. But it was hypnotic, sent her off to sleep like a lullaby.
By the time they reached San Francisco the sun was high in the sky, throwing out a warm, pallid glow that gave the city an unearthly aura. The drive through the morning traffic was tedious, increasing the fractious mood of the Porsche’s passengers.
They arrived at Elizabeth’s mansion; Taury banged an angry fist on the big door. Jardin peeped out.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, and you damn well better open that door!”
“Madame has set out strict orders, Mr. Trahern; she wants no visitors!”
“She’ll see me!”
“I think not. She especially mentioned that I was not to let you in.”
“The hell with that!”
Taury pushed the door hard, knocking the stiff butler for a loop after which he landed soundly on his starched behind.
Elizabeth was sitting calmly at the dining room table, dressed exquisitely as usual in a white linen suit, and picking at a plate of quiche and watermelon.
Libby Trahern, an echo of her mother with softer eyes and long, straight black hair, came out of the study, puzzled at all the commotion. She obviously had been crying.
“Taurus, how lovely of you to join us!” Elizabeth said as if nothing was wrong.
“You won’t think so once I’m done with you, Elizabeth!”
“I expect you to call me Mother, Taurus.”
“You are not my mother! I don’t know what you did to my real mother, but I’m sure as hell going to find out! First, I’d like to know how you thought you were going to get away with murdering my fiancée?”
“I can’t imagine what you mean!”
“So you’re going to sit there and tell me you had no idea that Henry and Greg were planning to burn down Dad’s house?”
“What house?”
“You know perfectly well what house, Mother!” Libby uttered. “I heard you talking to Brisby about it on the phone yesterday.”
“Eavesdropping on your own mother? Is that what you learned while you were in Europe? No wonder the Duke discarded you!”
“I discarded him, Mother! Taury, is what you’re saying true?”
“I’d swear to it!”
Libby moved towards them, stood beside her brother and Fawn. Kent and June were behind them.
“Hello, Fawn, I’m sorry our meeting had to take place under these circumstances.”
“So am I.” Fawn hugged her.
“Traitors!” Elizabeth shouted as she rose to her feet. “I’m surrounded by them! Well, at least I pulled one thing over on you! I sold my shares to Allen Ainsworth! Now your stupid candy company will be ruined!”
“I don’t understand why you suddenly hate the company! Weren’t you the one who bullied me into running it after Dad died?”
She walked to the window; in the harsh light she seemed much older, with make-up caked so thickly it was more of a mask than an enhancement.
“I only wanted the money, and the prestige. I assumed I would marry you and Libby off to royalty. I myself would eventually marry into a wealthier family then I could sell the damned thing off!”
“Well, you’ve been living under a hell of a lot of false assumptions! And I don’t think you can sell those shares since they don’t belong to you!”
She turned a wary eye on him. “Don’t be absurd! Of course they’re mine!”
Taury held up the will. “I have proof here that Dad intended to split those shares between me, Libby … and my mother, Inger!”
Elizabeth looked as though she was about to have a stroke. “Don’t you dare mention that name in my house!”
“It won’t be your house for long, Mother,” Libby decided, “if you had a hand in trying to harm Fawn.”
Elizabeth raised her regal head and strode out of the room, passing them without a single glance or acknowledgment. Jardin, ever her loyal pet, bowed to her, offered her his hand. She ignored him, began to climb the stairs.
“You have to face the consequences of what you’ve done,” Taury said. “You can’t simply retire to your room and hope it blows over.”
“I will do as I please!” she huffed. “I always have.”
She reached the top of the stairs, swerved about gracefully to stare down at her accusers.
“You can all leave my house, since it is still mine, for the moment. Jardin, I will be ready when the police arrive. Send them to me.”
“Yes, Mrs. Trahern,” he answered with a quivering voice.
Fawn felt like she was part of some god awful play. Where was the satisfactory ending to all the drama? The karmic resolution, or divine intervention? Not that she wished harm to Elizabeth. She was glad Taury had managed to restrain his impulse to knock the hate out of her. But still, it seemed an anti-climax of sorts.
“Well, she’s the Queen to the end,” June sighed, resting her weary body in a hallway chair.
“Yeah, but we’ll see how long that lasts in prison.”
“Oh, Taury, I know Mother has done horrible things but prison? Wouldn’t they put her in some kinder place?”
“And what would that be, Sis? A mental institution?”
“I guess that’s what I was thinking.”
“It depends on her evaluation, I should imagine,” Kent Brennan announced.
“I want to know what she did to Inger.”
“Taury, you do care about her!” Fawn cried.
“Yeah, I was wondering about her the whole time we were on the road, trying to figure out what Elizabeth might have done. I’m afraid, Fawn. What if she had her killed?”
“Madame would never stoop to such intrigue,” Jardin offered.
“The hell she wouldn’t! What do you know about all this?”
“Nothing, really. But I’ve been a devoted servant to Mrs. Trahern for a very long time, and I refuse to believe she would harm a fly.”
“No, she wouldn’t,” Fawn said, “but she would hire someone to swat it for her!”
The doorbell rang. Jardin stepped towards the door, pulled it open to reveal two uniformed policemen.
“We’re here to arrest Mrs. Elizabeth Trahern on a charge of attempted murder,” one of them declared. “The two suspects are singing like canaries. Is she here?”
There came a loud, startling boom from upstairs – a gunshot!
Jardin and the polic
emen hurried up the stairs and disappeared down the hall. Taury and the others waited; they all seemed to be holding their breath in fearful anticipation.
Jardin returned, wearing a somber frown.
“She’s dead,” he proclaimed.
Libby shrieked, began to sob. Everyone else stood beside her, whispering gentle words of solace.
Taury ground his fist into a nearby wall. Fawn took it, kissed it.
“There’s no use for anger now, Taury. Let it go.”
He peered into her eyes and nodded then clasped her chin with his hand and softly drew her mouth to his.
NINETEEN
“But now I’ll never know what happened to Inger,” Taury worried.
They were ensconced on a fluffy sofa in the basement den of Elizabeth’s mansion with Fawn sitting on Taury’s lap. Her parents were handling the police and press upstairs. Poor Libby was lying down in her bedroom, under the care of a private nurse.
“You might yet. I’ve had Stephanie looking into it for me. Let me give her a call.”
He handed her his cell phone.
“Steph?”
“Hey, girl! Is it really you?”
“Yes, it’s me!”
“How are you two holding up?” she asked. “I heard about Taury’s mom on the BBC. It’s all they’re talking about!”
“Wow, you’re kidding! News travels fast!” Taury frowned at her, she explained, “Stephanie already knew about Elizabeth. It’s all over the BBC News!”
“I have some info about his real mother. Want to hear it?”
“What’s that? Oh, yes, that’s what I was calling about! What did your man find out?”
Fawn hit the speaker button on the phone so they could both hear.
“Well, actually it was a woman. Ryder Dane, best PI in Frisco! She traced Inger Sjostrom to a tiny village in Sweden. Apparently that’s where she’s been all this time!”
“I don’t get that,” Taury said. “If she’s okay, why did she leave? Was she paid off? Is she rich?”
“No, Taury, she leads a simple, quiet life, painting landscapes and living in a log cabin by a lake. She has no access to technology, so I’m thinking she doesn’t know anything about you.”
Losing Control Page 12
