Hokus Pokus

by Fern Michaels

  Nikki looked startled. For the first time she noticed the sun was gone and the day had turned gray with a stiff wind blowing from all directions. Sea spray could be seen coming off the ocean in streams. Was this an omen of some kind? Better to keep her thoughts to herself and not worry the others. She let her mind wander to what it would be like to see Jack again. A warm feeling settled over her as her fingers played with her engagement ring that she wore on a chain around her neck. She closed her eyes and eventually dozed off as the old bus lumbered along the rutted road.

  Three hours later, Kathryn shook Nikki’s shoulder. “C’mon, sleepyhead, we have arrived. God, my kidneys are never going to be the same after that ride. Careful, everyone, I don’t like the looks of that lightning.”

  “Where’s the plane?” Alexis demanded.

  “Somewhere,” Isabelle grumbled, “but I can’t see it in this heavy rain. I hope there is someone here to pick us up.” She looked over at the driver of the old bus and asked in Spanish where their Limo was. The bus driver shrugged as he slumped behind the wheel.

  “I guess that means we’re supposed to wait for someone to show up. I don’t see us getting off the ground on time,” Isabelle said.

  “If our flight is delayed it means we’ll be arriving during daylight hours as opposed to midnight,” Yoko said. “This is not good.”

  “No, dear, it is not good,” Myra said. “I’m sure Charles is working on that little matter as we speak.”

  “Myra, it might not be raining and storming back on the mountain the way it is here. Perhaps you should call Charles and apprise him of our current situation.”

  Myra shook her head. “Charles knows everything. He’ll be calling us any minute now.” As if Charles could read her mind, Myra’s special phone chirped to life.

  “Hello, my darling. What news do you have for us?” She listened. “Yes, the rain is quite heavy. You can’t see your hand in front of you. No, at the moment there is no fog.” She listened again, aware that the others were tuned to her end of the conversation. “How much of a delay, Charles? What are the weather gurus saying?” She dropped into listening mode again. “Yes, yes, dear, we understand there is no controlling Mother Nature and the human element. I’ll tell Alexis. Of course we can carry it off. We are not novices, dear heart.”

  Myra ended her conversation and then dropped her phone into the pocket of her jacket. “It’s just this country’s crazy spring weather. A band of storms is merging and that’s the reason for the lightning and heavy rain. What that means to us is we’re looking at a four-to five-hour delay getting airborne.”

  The women groaned.

  “What did Charles want you to tell me?” Alexis asked.

  Myra smiled. “Charles said you are to work your magic and make us up so when we deplane we look like the G-String Girls. He also said we are not to worry because there will be tons of security so no one will be able to get close to us.”

  Annie clapped her hands. “Ooh, ooh, I can hardly wait. Did Charles say anything about Pearl? Is there any news?”

  “He didn’t say, Annie, so I guess that means there is no news. I’m sure he would have mentioned it otherwise. We might as well settle down since we have to wait till the storm passes before we can be taken to the plane.”

  Nikki and Yoko sat down next to each other. They smiled, each knowing what the other’s thoughts were. Nikki spoke first. “I had a dream before we arrived. Jack was handing me a small bouquet of violets. He was smiling and saying it wasn’t much but he knew how much I loved violets so he ran all over town and had to go to twenty-two florists before he found them. It was so sweet. Don’t you think it was sweet, Yoko?” But Yoko was sound asleep. A few seconds later, Nikki, too, was asleep.

  It was late, almost midnight, when Jack Emery and Harry Wong parked their car at the side entrance to Judge Easter’s farmhouse. Other cars were parked side by side, which meant Lizzie and Maggie were already inside.

  His senses on high alert, Jack looked around trying to see in the dark. “I have this feeling I’m being watched. You picking up anything, Harry?”

  “No one tailed us, Jack. I watched all the way. Or are you saying someone anticipated this little meeting and is already out there?” he asked, waving his arms about to indicate the dense stand of trees that surrounded the farmhouse.

  “Yeah, I guess that’s what I’m saying. Anyone could be out there. Remember, I lived in a tree for weeks at a time when I was trying to get the goods on the girls. Ted Robinson will remember those days and try to pull off the same thing.”

  “So, do we go in or not?” Harry asked warily.

  Jack shrugged. “Maggie and Lizzie are already in there. It could be classified as a hen party, you know, a girlie thing. Hey, we’re here so what the hell, we might as well go for it. It will be up to Robinson to prove we’re up to no good. You might have to go after him, Harry.”

  Harry mumbled something that sounded less than flattering to Jack’s ears. “While I’m doing that, what are you going to be doing?”

  “Guarding the G-String Girls.”

  “I hate you, Jack. When are they getting here?”

  “The weekend, I think. Charles said he had details to work out. It’s just a few days. The good side to all that is North Carolina isn’t all that far from here. That’s good for us, Harry. I love you, Harry, and don’t you ever forget it. You saved my skin more times than I care to admit. I know you hate it when someone says nice things to you but I mean it. You’re the brother I never had. Okay, enough bonding, let’s get on with it.”

  Harry cuffed Jack on the side of the head. “I still hate you. Most of the time. Well, sometimes. Stop saying stuff like that to me or I’ll deck you right here and now.” He kicked at the kitchen door to alert the occupants.

  Nellie opened the door and motioned both men inside. “You’re late,” she said.

  “Jack thinks there’s someone out in the woods watching the house,” Harry said.

  Nellie’s round face lit up in alarm. “Should I call the police?”

  “And have them see all our cars here? I don’t think so, Judge. If there is someone out there, that someone is Ted Robinson. Harry and I will take care of him. Let’s get to it. Any word from Charles or Justice Barnes?”

  “Yes and yes. Come along, gentlemen. We’re playing poker in the dining room. Refreshments are being served. That’s in case anyone comes knocking on my door wanting to know what we’re doing.”

  The greetings over, the cards dealt that no one looked at, the bourbon poured, Nellie took the floor. “Pearl is staying at Myra’s house. Her housekeeper got her out of the house and took her there. She’s probably climbing the walls as we speak. Lizzie is the one who arranged the escape. Successfully, I might add. Maggie had a meeting with Tyler Hughes that didn’t go too well. None of us expected Pearl’s partner to go right to the FBI but he did. So, we have to deal with that. Maggie went to the Hoover Building and Elias Cummings advised her not to print anything concerning Pearl or Grant. That’s where we are at the moment. The floor is open for discussion.”

  “What does Justice Barnes want us to do?” Harry asked.

  “Wait a minute. Just a damn minute!” Jack exploded. He fixed his gaze on Nellie and demanded to know if she’d told Justice Barnes about the vigilantes and his and Harry’s part in it all.

  “She already knew, Jack. To keep lying would just compound the problem. Charles said we’re past the stage where we have to play games because time is of the essence. We need to get the people to safety that are stranded in Oregon. I’m waiting for Charles to get back to me on how we’re to deal with Mr. Hughes and his blackmail scheme. I’m sure he can be convinced to talk to…one of us. Above all, we have to ensure that Pearl’s secret remains secret. She’s helped thousands of women and children over the years. We simply cannot throw that away and let her cover get blown.”

  “How long do you plan on stashing Justice Barnes at Myra’s house?” Harry asked.

  Ne
llie’s arms flapped. “I don’t know. She’s on her way over here right now. She’s coming through the tunnels.”

  Jack’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. “If, and there is a strong possibility that it is possible, Ted Robinson is out there spying on us with some high-powered binoculars, and he sees Justice Barnes, what are we going to say? She’s joining us for a little poker game? You better head her off at the pass and send her back.”

  “You don’t know Robinson is out there,” Lizzie said.

  “He’s out there,” Maggie said. “If Jack says he is, then he is. Ted was trailing me all day. However, I’m positive he did not follow me out here tonight. Ted is very good at putting two and two together. He is, after all, a reporter and that’s what reporters do.”

  “Well, that sure as hell doesn’t make me feel better,” Harry said. “I think you need to explain to all of us what Justice Barnes hopes to accomplish by coming out here and hiding. Won’t that make her more suspect, bring the authorities to the surface?”

  Nellie kept flapping her arms. She looked like a fat bird too heavy to lift off the ground. “She’s panicking. Someone in her position simply cannot do the things she’s been doing. Surely you all can understand that. Just think back to when the vigilantes were caught and the panic that ensued. I rest my case, no pun intended.”

  Jack’s voice was ice-cold. “I’ll meet her in the tunnels and send her back. She can’t come into this house, that’s the bottom line, Judge.” A moment later he was gone.

  The others looked at one another without saying anything. Lizzie chomped down on a pretzel. Maggie stuffed her mouth with a small cheese ball. Harry started to pace around the dining room table. The judge just rubbed her arthritic hands, wincing from time to time as she, along with the others, waited for Jack’s return.

  Twenty minutes later Jack took his place at the table. “She used some colorful language a few minutes ago. I think it’s safe to say Justice Barnes is pissed to the teeth.”

  Nellie stopped rubbing her hands and said, “Pearl can be…spirited at times.”

  Then two things happened. Nellie’s special phone rang and there was a knock on the kitchen door.

  “It’s Charles,” Nellie whispered looking down at the code on her phone.

  “It’s Ted at the door,” Maggie said. “I know it’s him. Who else would come all the way out here at this time of night? Your instincts were spot-on. You have to answer it, Jack.”

  Jack looked at Judge Easter. “Be quick, Judge. Answer it and tell Charles you’ll call him back. I’ll get the door.”

  Jack stomped his way to the kitchen. Fully expecting to see Ted Robinson on the other side of the door, he was stunned to see a tall older man he didn’t recognize.

  “Grant Conlon. I apologize for the late hour but I’d like to speak to Judge Easter. It’s important that I speak with her.”

  Not knowing if he should invite the man inside or not, he bellowed for the judge. If it was Ted out there, would he recognize the late-night caller?

  Of course he would. Ted was a crackerjack reporter. Two plus two equaled four.

  Chapter 12

  Judge Easter did her best to hide the surprise she was feeling at the sight of Grant Conlon standing in her kitchen doorway. Never a serendipitous kind of person who adapted to the unexpected she barked, “What are you doing out here at this time of night, Grant?”

  “I need to talk to you right now, in private, Nellie. I am well aware of the time and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”

  “Well my poker game is important, too, and I was winning.” She eyed the tall, good-looking man with the gray hair and matching eyes. His body language said he was nervous; the gunmetal gray eyes said something else. She couldn’t fail to notice the creased khakis, the navy blue blazer and the white ribbed T-shirt underneath. He wore worn but polished Brooks Brothers loafers. With tassels. She looked down at his hands. She always thought it foolish of him to still be wearing his college ring. She didn’t even know where hers was. She realized then that she had never really liked Grant Conlon.

  “All right, all right, but I hope this isn’t going to be a lengthy meeting, Grant.” She turned to Jack and said, “There are sandwiches in the fridge. Do you mind serving them? I’m sure this will be a short break.”

  Jack moved off toward the refrigerator when he realized the judge wasn’t going to introduce him to her late-night guest. He opened the door and removed a large serving platter wrapped in plastic, and then moved off.

  Nellie waited until the swinging door closed behind Jack before she led Grant to the laundry room, well out of earshot of the others. “Why are you here? What’s wrong, Grant?” Like she didn’t know.

  “I can’t find Pearl.”

  The judge allowed a stupid look to cross her face. At least she hoped it was a stupid look. “You can’t find Pearl! Well, she isn’t here if that’s what you’re asking. Pearl is into bridge, not poker. Did you two have a disagreement?”

  Conlon looked properly horrified. “Pearl and I do not have disagreements. She simply disappeared.” He waved his arms about. “One minute she was there in the family room, listening to a book on tape and I was playing chess online with a friend, and when I got up to get a snack she was gone.”

  “Maybe she went to Beka’s house.”

  “That’s the first place I called. She isn’t there. In fact Beka said she hadn’t talked to her mother in three days. That’s not unusual, they both lead busy lives. I called everyone I could think of. Her security detail said she did not leave the compound. I’m worried, Nellie.”

  It was Nellie’s turn to flap her arms about. “I don’t know what to tell you, Grant. Pearl is a big girl. Maybe she just wanted to get away and be by herself…to think about things.”

  Conlon pounced. “What kind of things? Do you know something?”

  “No! Women need to think sometimes. Women like to go off by themselves from time to time. You play golf, don’t you? You go to chess tournaments.”

  The gunmetal gray eyes narrowed slightly. “I have never ever gone anywhere without leaving a note or calling Pearl to tell her my whereabouts.”

  “Well, maybe that’s your problem, Grant. Too much togetherness. How long has Pearl been gone?”

  “Since last night.” He frowned when he saw the judge take towels out of the dryer and start to fold them.

  “I’ve learned how to multitask,” Nellie said inanely as she folded a towel. When her housekeeper arrived in the morning she’d undoubtedly think some magic elves had invaded the laundry room. “Have you reported Pearl missing?” she asked.

  “Do you think I’m crazy? Do you have any idea what kind of media storm that would cause?”

  “Well, your brother-in-law is the director of the FBI. Perhaps he could make some discrete inquiries if you’re that worried. Elias Cummings is a go-to kind of guy.”

  Conlon’s head jerked upright, his eyes narrowing to slits. “Well, that isn’t going to happen. Pearl would throttle me if I did that.”

  Liar, liar, pants on fire. Nellie folded the last towel and looked her late-night guest directly in the eye. “I can’t help you, Grant. I don’t know what else to say. I really have to get back to my guests.”

  “Who was that guy that opened the door? He looks familiar,” Conlon asked.

  “Not that my guests’ names are any of your business, Grant, but his name is Jack Emery. He’s a district attorney. Now, if there’s nothing else, I really have to get back to my card game. As I said, I was winning when you arrived. By the way, did you query Tyler Hughes? I think I heard someone say not too long ago that you were seen having lunch with him,” Nellie said craftily. She mentally gave herself a pat on the back. Maybe she was getting good at this spook stuff.

  Conlon reared backward. “Whoever told you that erroneous information is dead wrong. This town never ceases to surprise me with the gossip content. That did not happen,” he said vehemently.

  “I’m only try
ing to help you, Grant. You said there was no reason for Pearl to take off and…uh…hide from you. Well, if Pearl heard that same story and, no, I did not repeat it, it would certainly be a good reason for her to be upset with you. Knowing Pearl as I do, I think she would view that as a betrayal on your part. Now, I really must get back to my card game. It was nice seeing you even under these conditions. Please let me know when Pearl returns.”

  Nellie brushed past him and in the process the pile of folded towels fell to the floor. “Screw it,” she muttered under her breath. All she wanted was to get this man out of her house so she could lock the door.

  At the door, Conlon turned. “I apologize again, Nellie. It’s just that I am so worried about Pearl. It simply is not like her to disappear like this. Extend my apologies to your guests. Call me if you hear from Pearl.”

  “Yes, I will.” Nellie thought she would explode as she made her way back to the dining room where her spook buddies waited for her. Well, damn!

  Grant Conlon made his way to his car, a snappy bright-red 560 SEL. He stood for a good five minutes looking back at Nellie’s house. Pearl never said where Nellie got the money to live in such a lavish farmhouse. He wondered how many acres came with the house. His eyes turned to slits. There was something off-kilter about Nellie this evening. He looked around as though he was looking for something before he lowered himself into the low-slung sports car.

  “Atta boy! Whoever you are, smile pretty,” Ted Robinson muttered to himself as he clicked and clicked the little night vision camera. He chortled in glee when he got a perfect shot of the driver’s license plate. He was going to have a regular photo gallery before the night was done.

  Judge Easter certainly had a wide range of friends. Who was that nifty-looking guy in the blue blazer and the pricey car? Why was he visiting at this time of night? What the hell were they all doing in there? Plotting and scheming, that’s for sure. But why and for what?

  Ted settled himself more comfortably in the V of the tree. He took a moment to wonder if Jack Emery and his goons had sat in this same tree spying on the vigilantes during his hate-on for the women. Probably. He settled his backpack in the small of his back and proceeded to watch the farmhouse with his night vision goggles, thanks to a going-out-of-business sale at an army surplus store. He hoped he didn’t fall asleep.