Circle of Shadows

by Curry, Edna

  Lili told them about the sale as simply as possible. She could see from their facial expressions that her news was just what they had been expecting. Pain stabbed through her. Why, oh, why, had her father done this to them?

  She pushed her feelings aside and introduced Ken as they’d agreed. Then she sat back and listened as he explained that nothing would change as far as the employees were concerned. They would report to Lili as before.

  Somehow she had expected Ken to announce that from now on, he would have the last word on everything; instead he was telling them to carry on as before. That sent a surge of surprised pleasure through her.

  When Arthur asked if that included hiring and firing, Ken simply replied, “Of course. But I promised Robert we would not fire anyone without very good reason for at least a year.”

  That brought some relieved smiles.

  After fielding their questions, Ken said, “I’ve found that security is a problem in some of the stores. I’d like to show you an excellent video our wholesaler has developed on it to give you tips on spotting shoplifters and watching for vendor theft.” They agreed to watch the video on the following Wednesday evening at seven o’clock.

  Then Ken asked, “Are there any other concerns?”

  “What about medical insurance and workmen’s compensation insurance?” Anna asked cautiously. There was a murmur of assent from the others.

  “What do you have now?” Ken questioned, looking at Lili.

  She briefly described the business package her father had carried. “I don’t know much about it, except that I’m sure it meets the state minimum requirements.”

  “Lili and I will go over it together and see whether it needs updating,” Ken promised, with a glance at Lili for her agreement.

  She nodded, since she couldn’t do otherwise. Her blood was already tingling at the realization of how many things they would be consulting on, and of how many hours that would require they spend together.

  “We’ll try to report back on that the same evening we watch the video, if possible,” Ken said, dismissing them.

  Ken thought Lili had really handled it all very well. He watched her say goodnight to each and every one of her employees. He could tell a lot about a boss from how the employees felt about him, and this group obviously cared about the Adams family.

  However, it was clear already that they resented his buyout. During the meeting, one of the men sitting somewhere behind him had commented in an undertone, “You work for years, thinking you’re getting somewhere, and what happens? Some millionaire corporation buys you out and walks off with it all. There’s no justice in this world, I say.”

  When Ken had turned to see who was talking, all the employees seemed to be paying attention to Lili, and he didn’t know their voices well enough to tell who had spoken. He wondered if the comment had been meant to be overheard. If so, there was at least one person who resented him besides Lili who had made hers clear from the start.

  Up-front resentment he could deal with. It was the covert kind that could prove dangerous.

  If only Robert had told her of the sale ahead of time as Ken had urged him to do. If Robert had introduced Ken to his wife and daughter and convinced them it was the way he wanted it. Then maybe, just maybe, Lili would not have this resentment toward him.

  But business was business and Ken wasn’t going to allow her to lay a load of guilt on him for buying what had been offered on the open market. He’d paid what Robert had asked without any haggling. If he hadn’t bought the store, someone else would have. Someone who might not have paid as much, or who wouldn’t have let Lili stay on, or who might have taken over personally.

  Not that running Adams’ Foods personally was a bad idea. He thought of working with Lili every day, side by side, seeing those long blond lashes sweep up to reveal her clear blue eyes looking at him throughout the day. Just thinking about her was enough to make him need a cold shower.

  Of course, anything more than thinking was impossible. He had a rule against getting involved with employees, and a corporation to run. If Lili couldn’t handle the job of manager, he’d have to bring in a capable second-in-command from one of his other stores.

  He walked Lili to her car. Wanting to prolong the evening, he thought about that slim yet luscious body in the pool last night and had an unnerving desire to see it that way again. He could imagine his hands sliding down her arms, curving along soft shoulders, and perhaps sliding lower— “I’m not in the least sleepy,” he said. “How about a swim?”

  She tossed him a surprised glance as she unlocked her car.

  “Oh, are you staying over again?”

  “Yes, I have an appointment in the morning.”

  Looking away, she said in a neutral tone, “I think I’ll pass tonight, Ken. I’m really tired. Thanks again for the nice dinner.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll see you next Wednesday then.”

  “Good night.” Smiling at him, she put her car in gear.

  Disappointment curled in his stomach. Lifting a hand in farewell, he watched her drive off. He’d pushed too fast. He had to give her time to get used to the changes in her life, the emotional upheavals, before he could expect her to enjoy spending time with him. She was making his blood sing, but he had no reason to think she felt the same way. He went back to the motel and swam laps in the empty pool until he was exhausted enough to sleep.

  The next morning he was almost late for his appointment with Mrs. Langley, the local real estate agent. She was waiting for him in the parking lot of the restaurant on Long Lake where he’d taken Lili the night before.

  “Good morning!” Mrs. Langley smiled at him. “Do you want to come with me, or take both cars?”

  “I’ll follow you. I need to be in Mankato by two o’clock.”

  Waving at Ken to follow her little Volkswagen, Mrs. Langley led the way to the main highway. After a mile or so, she turned down a service road along the lake shore. Beautiful homes and some smaller cottages lined the road, some almost hidden by evergreens, oaks and maple trees. Sumac bushes lined the ditch. He tried to imagine what autumn would look like here, with the brilliant reds of the sumac, the crimson and golds of the sugar maples, and then later the darker rust of the oaks as they prepared for winter. With such a variety of trees, he was certain the fall colors would last for weeks.

  She stopped on a rise in front of a brown house. Through the trees Ken could see the sunlight sparkling on the lake. Disappointed, he pulled up beside her. Half-hidden by trees, the house looked ordinary. He followed her along the sidewalk to a door. There she dug in her purse for a key.

  “You’ll love this house, Mr. Mills,” she gushed, flashing him a wide smile. “It has a spiral staircase, two bathrooms, and a second bedroom for the home office you said you needed. A dock and boat storage give you access directly from the lake. It’s available now, too. Mrs. Hanson has already removed everything except the appliances which go with the house.”

  Ken was surprised to see that, once inside the door, steps led up instead of down. Mrs. Langley led him directly into a large, dimly lit living area. She walked across the thick beige carpet, stepped down into a circular area, and pulled a cord.

  He caught his breath as the draperies slid away, revealing a whole wall of windows overlooking the lake.

  The view drew him to stand beside her. Sunlight spilled into the room, but the view of the lake fascinated him most. He looked down to see flower beds surrounded by gray rock near the house. Sidewalks led to the dock and lake shore a few yards beyond. A table and chairs on a redwood deck to his right suggested outdoor parties.

  “Spectacular, eh?” Mrs. Langley said. She watched his face, a satisfied smile on hers.

  Ken nodded, turning back to follow her as she showed off the built-in bookcases and plentiful oak cupboards, all beautifully finished in a natural shade. She pointed out that the kitchen area opened into the living area to allow hostess and guests to converse. The large bedroom and tiled bath are
a in the rear had made the house seem ordinary from the road.

  Returning through the kitchen, she led him down a spiral staircase to the lower floor. A laundry, second bath and shop area were to the back, beneath the upstairs bedrooms. The main room was carpeted in burgundy, with a pool table and bar at one end. Sliding glass doors opened onto the patio and deck.

  Ken went to stand there, staring out at the well-kept flowerbeds outside. “Why is all this for sale?”

  “Mrs. Hanson is a widow who has a home in Arizona, too, and can no longer afford both,” Mrs. Langley said. “In fact, she and her sister just left for there yesterday.”“

  This story sounded familiar. Hadn’t Lili told him almost the same thing yesterday? He frowned at Mrs. Langley. “Mrs. Hanson’s name wouldn’t be Agnes, and her sister’s Sarah Adams?”

  Mrs. Langley turned her dark brown eyes to Ken in surprise. “You know them? I thought you said you were a stranger in town.”

  “I’ve had business dealings with Robert Adams, and I met Lili yesterday.”

  “Well, what a coincidence! Yes, her name is Agnes. Sarah is her sister, and Lili her niece. In fact, Lili is looking after this house until it’s sold. She’s a lovely child.”

  “Hardly a child,” Ken said, thinking of that luscious body in the pool. None of those curves could be called child-like.

  “Oh, she’s grown up, now. It’s just that I used to baby-sit her. I guess at my age, I think everyone twenty years younger than myself is a child,” Mrs. Langley said with a flustered grin. “Lili was about ten when I first baby-sat her and her cousins and my own daughter right here. They loved to swim in the lake and fish off that dock. That was just after my divorce, before I got my real estate license.”

  Dismay settled on Ken again. Lili had played here as a child with her cousins. She might have an emotional attachment to this house as well as the store. What a predicament to be in again. Why did their paths keep crossing? Should he look for another house even though this one was perfect for his purposes? He turned back to stare out across the water, trying to decide.

  After a couple of minutes, Mrs. Langley broke in on his thoughts. “Anything else you’d like to see?”

  “No.” He’d made up his mind. “I think I’ve seen enough.”

  He could already see these rooms full of people enjoying his famous Christmas parties. The pool table and patio were perfect, and that big fireplace along the far wall would be a delightful spot to relax on a cold, snowy night.

  Why did he see a certain strawberry blonde seated there with him, smiling at him? What a laugh. She’d probably scratch his eyes out instead. Turning, he mounted the spiral staircase.

  Mrs. Langley followed, frowning. “You don’t like this house?”

  “On the contrary, Mrs. Langley. I’ll take it. Let’s go back to your office and draw up the papers.”

  Her dark eyes lit up her chubby face. “Very good, sir. Mrs. Hanson will be pleased.” She carefully locked the door behind them and headed back to her car.

  Mrs. Hanson might be pleased. But how was he going to explain buying this house to Lili? Would she see this as a further invasion of her family’s property?

  Chapter 4

  Ken stretched his weary muscles as he rode the elevator up to his downtown Minneapolis office. For once no one joined him and he rose smoothly to the tenth floor without interruption. It had been a long day. He’d had a long drive to Mankato, then two hours of meetings there, a greasy hamburger for lunch, another hour on the road and a third hour-long meeting at the next store.

  He should be used to the routine, he did it every week. But somehow, today had been different. His mind had kept flipping back to the sorrow and pain in Lili’s soft blue eyes. Instead of listening to the sales reports and store equipment repair needs of his managers, he had heard again the accusation of betrayal in her clear voice. The soft, sexy undertones had stirred him in a way he hadn’t felt since he was a raw high schooler in love with the homecoming queen. That girl had never given him the time of day. And neither would Lili.

  Maybe that was it. He was a glutton for punishment, always wanting whatever he knew was out of reach.

  The elevator door opened and he strode down the green carpeted hall. His secretary’s French perfume met his nose as he entered his office.

  Renee looked up from her word-processor with a wide smile on her fashionably thin face. “Ah, you’re back, Mr. Mills.”

  “Hello, Renee. What’s new?” He tried to ignore his fatigue, and summon an answering smile. Renee was his right arm, he didn’t know how he would manage without her. She stayed on top of the thousands of details of his life. His chain of managers called her with information he needed, and he was sure they told her things they wouldn’t tell him.

  “A dozen messages,” she said, handing him a steno pad. “All from different parts of the state. I really think it’s time for you to get a cell phone. Think of the miles it would save you, and the time.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” He slipped into his own office and closed the door before she could say more. If Renee had her way, she’d be running more than his office life. And if he agreed to a cell phone, he would never be free of her. As it was, the long drive between stores was his only time to think.

  But not for long. Now he would be able to go home to his own house, grab some fishing tackle and watch the beautiful sunsets on Long Lake in peace and quiet. What a luxury that was going to be!

  Renee had, as always, left the mail in a neat pile on the left side of his desk. Upper right, she had placed a smaller stack of error-free computer printed letters and checks, waiting for his approval and signature.

  He dealt with the emergencies in the messages with a half dozen long distance phone calls, then read and signed the letters. Finally he buzzed for Renee. The scent of her perfume preceded her. She stepped into his office and sat opposite him, her black lashes rising expectantly, her pen poised above her yellow steno pad.

  “I’ve bought a house on Long Lake, near Landers. I’ll be closing out my apartment here this weekend, and moving there.”

  Dismay spread across Renee’s perfect features, arching her black brows, and taking away her smile. “You’re moving way out there? Near the new store? But...but won’t that be a long drive every day?”

  “It’s only an hour. It’s pretty centrally located between the other stores and my office here, so it won’t add any miles to my schedule in the long run. In fact, it may cut off quite a few miles, since it’s on the lake, so I won’t have to drive somewhere else to get away for a weekend.”

  Renee’s bright red lips pursed in a disapproving way. “I see,” she said, frowning. “Did you say this weekend? So soon? When did you close the deal?”

  “I haven’t yet. But the house is empty, so I’m renting it until we close.” Ken noticed her disapproval, and frowned. Was she worried about her job? “Nothing will change here, Renee. I’m keeping this office, and I’ll be in as often as I am now.”

  Her smile returned, and the relief on her face told him that he’d guessed right. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the new phone and fax numbers when they get them hooked up. You know that I’ve been looking at various homes in the country for months. Today I found a perfect one, so I’ve taken possession.”

  “I see.”

  “Cancel my appointments for tomorrow and reschedule them for Monday. Since tomorrow’s Friday, I’ll take it, and the weekend, to move in and get settled.”

  “Of course.”

  “Call the moving company that we use when we move our managers, and ring me when you get them. And see if Mr. Arnold’s son, Terry, has some time to help me later this afternoon.”

  Renee rose to go, her smile stiff. “Yes, sir.”

  A few minutes later he had arranged for the moving company to pack and move all the things from his apartment to the house on Long Lake the following morning. Mary Jo, his once a week cleaning lady, would finish up after them. He was sorry to have to lose
her, and fervently hoped he would be able to find someone as reliable near Long Lake.

  The teen helped Ken pack and load all his home office equipment and files into his car. He took enough clothing and food for the night, leaving the rest for the moving company to handle. By then it was after seven, so they stopped for a hamburger before he dropped Terry back at his home.

  Then Ken headed for Long Lake.

  ***

  Anna swore softly to herself as she moved three more heavy cases of canned tomato juice in order to see the boxes stacked behind them.

  “It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, it’s sure to be underneath everything else,”“ she muttered.

  But this time, look as long as she would, she couldn’t find the extra case of pork and beans that the Landers’ Firemen had ordered for their annual picnic at the lake tonight. Anna knew that her name was going to be ‘Mud’ if she couldn’t deliver everything they had special-ordered.

  She strode down the hallway along the back of the store to the break room to ask the stock boys if they’d put it up, but got nowhere with them.

  Either she was getting forgetful or someone was stealing things from them by the case. Who could she tell without being blamed herself? Even if she could prove it, it was her department of the store, and therefore her ultimate responsibility to prevent it. Besides, Lili had enough trouble right now. She wasn’t going to add to Lili’s load.

  Anna knocked on the office door and walked in at Lili’s invitation. “Lili, I need this week’s invoices—” She stopped short, staring at the stacks of invoices on the table along the wall. “Are you house-cleaning, or something?”

  “In a way,” Lili said ruefully. “I’m trying to make sense out of Dad’s way of filing.”

  Anna nodded as she surveyed the mess. “I see,” she said, although she didn’t.

  Lili dug to the bottom of the thickest pile of invoices and handed a stapled batch to Anna. “The fifteenth, wasn’t it?”