The Payback Assignment (Stark and O'Brien Thriller Series)
Page 24
“I see,” Marlene said, leaning back against the railing. “Well, I certainly wish you both success. I’ve learned a great deal about business in the past month, and I can tell you it’s not easy.”
“Well, don’t get mad, but I did a bit of checking when I got back in the country,” Felicity said. “It seems to me you’ve done all right by the Seagrave Corporation.”
Marlene gave a short, sharp laugh. “I read a bunch of books on business. I was determined not to lose what I suddenly had. I’ve streamlined my husband’s holdings and somehow managed to maintain control of it all. It’s very exhilarating, really. I seem to have found some excellent managers. And, I find myself to be, after all the dust settled, quite wealthy. Oh, and my first official act as president of the company was to fire Stone.” She paused, clearly steeling herself to launch into an unpleasant subject. Her voice lowered and lost much of its energy. “I’ve also learned a great deal about my husband’s business dealings.”
Felicity saw her partner looking more closely into Marlene’s eyes. She could not, and ended up looking down at the deck.
“Yes, I know it all now,” Marlene continued. “Or, at least, I think all. Anyway, I know how he cheated each of you. I know that he paid men to, um, to put you in danger. I guess I suspected for some time that he did this type of thing. But you’ve got to understand that to a twenty-six year old, over the hill beauty queen who hadn’t done too well in school, who hadn’t managed to get a modeling career going, who hated her parents, who was looking for a fast track to the upper class, well, Adrian Seagrave was a hard offer to refuse. And that was a lot of years ago. That’s not by way of an excuse. It’s just the way it was.” Her lower lip was quivering, and she took a deep breath to regain control of herself. Felicity felt the chill that was shaking Marlene. She looked up, started to speak.
“Please don’t say anything,” Marlene continued. “I didn’t ask you to come here to say that. Aside from just wanting to see you again, I really just wanted to thank you for saving my life now that I know all the reasons you had for not doing so. And to let you know there’s no bad feelings here.”
Morgan, leaning against the lifeboat, squirmed under her gaze but maintained eye contact.
“I know my husband’s death was an accident. I blame you for nothing. And I wanted to help you get started in your future business. I wanted to give you this.” Her voice sped up on the last sentence, and she rummaged in her purse, producing a small white envelope.
“And whatever might this be?” Felicity asked, without raising a hand to accept the offered envelope.
“It’s a check,” Marlene said. “Actually two, one for each of you. I feel I should pay you what my late husband owed you. You did work for him and you deserve to be compensated for it.”
Morgan stared hard at Felicity. She eventually got the message that it was up to her to speak for both of them. After a deep breath, she accepted the gift from Marlene’s hand. Standing beside her she turned into the breeze, her belly pressed against the railing. She watched the water eddying around the stern of the boat, looking solidly still, yet a part of the ever-moving sea.
“I think I can speak for the both of us,” she finally said, tearing the envelope neatly in half. “You went way out of your way to help us from getting tangled up with the law that night, when we were total strangers.” Felicity turned the envelope to rip it in quarters. “And that night, when you didn’t know the whole story, you managed to get your own tale to fit in with ours so as to simplify the investigation.” One more tear, and now the envelope and its contents were a stack of tiny paper squares. “I think we can consider all debts paid in full. We simply couldn’t take the money, Marlene.”
Felicity opened her hands, and a small stream of confetti danced on the night air before dropping to dot the sea with white spots. During the next few seconds of discomforting silence, Marlene seemed to weigh this new argument’s validity.
“All right. Can I get you to contact my business manager, then?” Marlene asked. “He can make some introductions for you in the business world, and with such a strong recommendation that I believe it’ll guarantee you a good start in your new business. In fact, I insist on really being your first customer. I’ve got a small shipping line and a new banking concern and real estate holdings. You two have taught me in that my late husband didn’t do a very good job with security. And when all is said and done, I have to say I appreciate the lesson.”
Felicity’s smile broke open, flashing her small, very white teeth. Marlene turned to her, and they fell into an embrace of genuine friendship. Morgan’s deep baritone chuckling rumbled out across the water. Despite the hardships they had shared, or perhaps because of them, they were able to laugh together.
A few hours and a few drinks later, Morgan and Felicity strolled along the waterfront lost in their own thoughts, alone and together. A handful of stars had joined the moon in the blackness above. Felicity spoke to Morgan, but her eyes on those twinkling lights.
“So, what do you think of Southern California?”
“Not as sane as New York,” Morgan said, staring out to the ocean. “But, hey, you’ve got roots everywhere. I got none. You pick the headquarters location.”
She stopped and turned to him for a moment. “Back there on the boat. Did you say, ‘settle down?’”
“Did I say that? I meant, pick my battle instead of somebody else picking them for me. There are still plenty of bad guys out there, and I can still get paid for going after them.”
Felicity turned and continued her stroll. “Yes, and I suppose I’ll be meeting some people who just need to have their security tested by a pro. That could mean busting in and taking things out.”
“You’ll never change, Red.”
“What’s wrong with my natural name,” she asked. “You don’t like Felicity?”
“Too many syllables.”
“How about Scarlet?”
“I like Red. It’s simple. Can you live with it?”
Felicity stopped and stared into his eyes. “I’m thinking I can live with it.” Then she turned away and they walked off, side by side, into the darkness. “Teach me to shoot?”
Morgan chuckled. “Show me how to pick a lock?”
“If you’re good, I might show you all sorts of things.”
Morgan shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “Red, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Felicity laughed her high, melodious laugh. “Mr. Stark, I do believe that to be the worst Bogart imitation I have ever heard.”