by Ciana Stone
“No husbands, no trouble with the law, good grades, quiet, no serious relationships, hangs out with kids from the college, and works. Her latest job was with Bob McDonald at Pearling. Apparently, she walked out when Mr. McDonald decided her job description included servicing his needs. She’s been trying to collect back wages, unsuccessfully, since that time. She’s applied for a number of jobs, but nothing has worked out thus far.”
Richard looked up from the pages he was reading while Mark summarized. “What about bank accounts, credit cards, loans?”
“No credit cards, has twenty-three dollars in the bank, and a student loan. But she did recently have a meeting with someone from financial aid. She requested applications for additional aid and student loans, but so far hasn’t turned in the applications.”
“So, she’s broke and in danger of being evicted.” Richard put the papers aside. “Interesting.”
“And strong motivation for applying for a job for which you have no qualifications. Which brings me to a question I dislike asking. Do you think she can handle it?”
“Yes, I do.” Richard got up to freshen his drink. “She’s got spirit, Mark, and something I haven’t seen in a while—honesty. She told us she wanted the job for the money. She wants to finish school and she doesn’t want to end up on the street.”
“Well honesty is certainly an admirable quality, but that still doesn’t answer the question. Can she handle Maxwell? God knows no one else seems to be able to.”
Richard shook his head and blew out an exasperated breath. “I don’t know, Mark. I hope so. God knows, I hope so. Helen will never let me hear the end of it if something happens to ruin her plans for the summer. And I can’t risk having Maxwell institutionalized.”
A dark frown formed on Mark’s face. “Simon’s trap. Damn the old bastard.”
Richard drained his glass then refilled it. “I’ve had a team of people trying to find a loophole for years but according to his latest report, the only way to rescind it is for both my father and Maxwell to die, at which time I take control.”
“An interesting thought.”
“Interesting and most likely deadly. If either of their deaths are in the least suspicious, it’d be disastrous for all of us. In that, my father was most specific.”
“Then it seems our hands are tied—at least as long as Simon lives. But when he’s gone…”
“Then we have years of untangling the legal knots he leaves us.”
“Well, we’re not exactly hindered by the current situation, so there’s little point in belaboring the point. And before I forget…” Mark put down his barely touched drink. “An interesting side-note to Ms. Nikki Morgan. A year or so ago she had an affair with none other than Christian Bernard.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. And interestingly, she paid Bernard a visit recently.”
“The purpose of the visit?”
“That we have not been able to determine. However, after she left, he received a call from Castor LeGrand.”
“Le Grand? And the nature of the call?”
“It would be my guess he’s trying to piece together information on Hamid’s death.”
“I thought you said there was no trail to follow in that particular matter?”
“To my knowledge, that’s correct.”
“Do you think Bernard’s involved with LeGrand and The Society?”
“Possibly.”
“Well, make damn sure he doesn’t remain involved. Find out his price then send someone to recruit him. Make it impossible for him to say no. If he refuses, eliminate him.”
Mark nodded. “I’ll see to it immediately. The last thing I wanted to mention is that I received a call from Gerard, in France. The meeting has been arranged and unless something completely unexpected happens, the French government will formally award the contract to your French division.”
Richard smiled. It was the first good news he’d had all day. “Here’s to military spending.” He raised his glass.
“Indeed. And to sweeten the pot, clearance has been given for the excavation at Rennes-le-Château to begin immediately. Our people are in place and waiting orders.”
“Get them started as soon as possible. In fact, you may be able to use the project as incentive for Bernard.”
“Good idea,” Mark agreed. “Bernard has been trying to get permission and funding for years.”
“Any word from Ireland?”
“So far the engineers haven’t solved the problem but they assure me that within the month they’ll have the problems solved and resume exploration of Tara. Hamid did report that there was someone snooping around, asking questions.”
“The Society?”
“Most likely.”
“Any word on De Troyes?”
“None.” A frown appeared on Mark’s face. “My operatives are on it, but there’s been no sign of him for the last month.”
“Which means he’s up to something.”
“Isn’t he always? I wouldn’t be too concerned. Everything’s under control. Thanks to our arrangements with the French and Irish, there’s no way the Society can stop the excavations. But considering your impending trip, I feel compelled to ask. Shall I have Weston Security make any special provisions while you and Mrs. Weston are away?”
“No, no, that won’t be necessary. I’m sure everything will be fine. I’ll leave instructions with Osgood to contact you if the need arises. You, of course, know our schedule. I’m sure we can handle anything that may come up. But it might be a good idea if you had someone stop by from time to time.”
“No problem. Oh, by the way, I’m meeting with the DOD boys later this evening to finalize the agreement on the new project.” Mark smiled as he stood and straighten his jacket. “With luck, by next year this time, Weston will be the largest defense contractor in the world.”
Richard laughed and extended his hand. “Congratulations.”
“To us all. Have a pleasant evening.”
Richard watched Mark leave then sat down and stared at the papers Mark had given him. One was a photo of Nikki Morgan. Richard stared at it for a long time, thinking how the still photograph didn’t do justice to the vibrancy and fire he sensed in her. To be that young again, he thought, and then dismissed the idea. Thanks to wealth and power, it wasn’t necessary to be young to win the attention or affection of a young woman. One had only to know the right cards to play.
The volume of the music coming from inside the small house was enough to prevent anyone inside from hearing her knock, so Nikki let herself in. The front room had been taken over by various electronic equipment and musical instruments. Ben was hunched over a laptop on a scarred table in the corner, furiously tapping out code, while three other men of approximately the same age fiddled with musical instruments.
One of the men, Tony, noticed Nikki and threw up his hand in greeting. She waved as she crossed the room to Ben. He had no idea she was there until she tapped him on the shoulder.
“Hey, you made it!”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Oh, they’re gonna try out a couple of new tunes. I was just working on a project while they’re warming up.”
“What kind of project?”
Ben grinned, saved the file he was working on and got up. “Come on, let’s get a beer.”
Once inside the kitchen, Ben pulled two beers from the refrigerator then walked outside onto the back steps. The noise level inside the house made talking difficult. “You’re looking better,” he commented.
“Feeling better.”
“Do I detect a hint of Nikki had something exciting happen?”
Nikki laughed and took a drink. “Actually, yes. I got a job.”
“Congrats! Tell me about all it.”
Nikki would have liked to tell Ben about Gaspar de Troyes, but she had promised Gaspar that she wouldn’t mention him. She really didn’t know why she should feel any allegiance to a man she had just met, or who had prompted her to get
into the absolute strangest job situation in her life, but a promise was a promise.
“Well, actually, it’s sort of strange. After you left the diner the other morning I met this guy, and he told me about this job for a live-in child care employee and…”
“Child care? As in babies and diapers?”
“No.” She gave him a nudge with the palm of her hand. “Like I was saying, I called and talked with the man and he asked me to come right over. Ben, you wouldn’t believe this place! It’s like a palace!”
“Rich, huh?”
“To say the least.”
“Who are these tycoons?”
“Richard and Helen Weston.”
“Weston? Shit on a stick! Do you know who Richard Weston is?”
“No, should I?”
“Only one of the ten richest men in the world. And along with having his fingers in the government’s pies, probably the biggest defense contractor on the planet. His companies are responsible for over half the weapons and biological research going on today, not to mention medical, aerospace, and a slew of others. Damn, girl, you hit the mother lode! But hold on, from what I remember the big Dick doesn’t have little kids.”
“Kids, no—son, yes.” Nikki took a seat on the back step. “It was the strangest thing. I was convinced the whole time I was talking to these people that their son was just a kid—you know, six or seven, maybe. They talk about him like that. Anyway, I asked if I could meet him and they got sort of agitated. Mrs. Weston started making excuses against it and my radar sort of went into overdrive, so I pushed the issue.”
“That’s my girl!” Ben sat down beside her and draped his arm across her shoulders. “So?”
“So, they leave to go get the boy and I was just looking around the room and suddenly there’s a man standing at the door watching me.” She blew out her breath, experiencing a reflection of the feelings she had when she first saw Maxwell.
“Ummm, do I detect a tiny particle of ‘oh baby, please rock my world’ going on?”
Nikki elbowed him and he moved his arm from her shoulders to loop around her neck and tighten, pulling her closer to him in mock fierceness. “Come on, fess up.”
She pushed away from him and told him what had happened during the first meeting. Even with Ben, she couldn’t help being a little ashamed to admit her reaction and her feelings. She had reached the point of feeling very foolish and disappointed in herself.
Ben did not make fun of her, but seemed to sense her embarrassment. She admitted to telling Cat about it and how she wished she hadn’t. By now, all their friends probably knew how stupid she was.
“Hey, it happens to the best of us. Don’t get all bogged down.”
“Yeah, well you don’t know the rest. “ She told him about her surprise second meeting with the man, who turned out to be Maxwell Weston.
At least with Ben she didn’t feel the need to defend her feelings. “God, Ben, I feel like an idiot. I mean he really is fine, but—damn, I don’t know. It’s weird. It’s like all these emotions were appearing and disappearing on his face or something. When the butler shoved him in the room, his expression was changing from one thing to another. Nothing dramatic, just enough to make it look kind of strange.”
Turning to face Ben, she continued. “I nearly went through the floor when the Westons introduced the guy as their son, Maxwell.”
“Wooo, the plot thickens.”
“You’re telling me. You should’ve seen it. The minute they looked at him, something came over his face—like a stone mask being dropped in place. I mean his face went completely void like some zombie. And they talk to him like he’s a complete idiot.”
“He’s mental?” Ben tapped his own temple for emphasis.
“I guess,” Nikki frowned. She couldn’t reveal the truth about Maxwell without telling about Gaspar and she wasn’t ready to open that particular can of worms. “At least that’s how his parents act, but…”
“But something inside you says different, or the earth mother senses another soul in search of understanding?”
“Neither thank you. Well, not exactly. It’s just that…oh, I don’t know. I’m not a psyche major, what do I know about that stuff? He just doesn’t look mental.”
“Is that intellect, compassion, or hormones talking?”
“Hormones?” She reached up and tugged on his hair. “When did you get to be such a pervert?”
“Okay, so maybe you’ll find out once you start the job.”
“Maybe.”
“Does it pay enough to get you off Sprull’s shit list?”
Nikki grinned widely. “You’re not going to believe this. Weston offered me a thousand a week and a lump sum of fifteen grand at the end of the summer.”
Ben whistled appreciatively, but almost immediately frowned. “That’s a healthy chunk of change for a baby-sitter, don’t you think? Maybe this guy really is mental. Why would someone offer that kind of money?”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“But you took the job anyway.”
“You better believe it! For that kind of money I’d baby-sit a gorilla.”
Ben laughed and stood, grabbing her hand to pull her up with him. “Just do me a favor, okay?”
“What?”
“Be careful. Maybe this guy’s completely harmless, but sometimes looks are deceiving. If it turns out he’s really whacked, don’t be the hero. Get out. Despite your inherent nature to play the role of proponent for all the oppressed, misunderstood, and trod upon of the world, you can’t save everyone.”
“Do I detect a note of concern?”
Ben smiled and pulled her to him for a hug. “What are friends for?”
Nikki returned the hug. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful and if things get rough I can always call in the troops.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “Right?”
Ben gave her a goofy salute and grinned. “Always.”
Helen rose from her chair to pour another martini. After swallowing half of the contents of the glass, she topped it off again then returned to her seat.
“I’m just not convinced that leaving him here is the best solution, Charles.”
The man seated across from her, Dr. Charles Abernathy, placed his glass on the table before speaking. “Because of the young woman’s inexperience? Or is it something else, something you haven’t admitted?”
“Of course it’s her inexperience!”
“Really?”
Helen sighed dramatically. “God, it’s sometimes such a nuisance to have someone know you so well.”
“I’d prefer to think of it as an advantage.”
Helen gave him a frosty smile. “I’m sure you would, Charles dear. Tell me, do you treat all your patients in such a caviler manner?”
“Excellent fox trot, Helen, but I’m too fatigued to dance. What’s the real problem? Could it have something to do with Richard?”
“Richard, Richard!” She got up to pace. “There are times when—Charles, it was deplorable, like some predatory creature stalking its prey.”
“In other words, you think he was attracted to the young woman.”
“Isn’t he always?”
Charles chuckled. “For a woman who claims to have no feelings for her husband, you demonstrate a remarkable amount of jealousy.”
“It has nothing to do with jealousy. That’s preposterous. I simply find it infuriating to have to endure his philandering right in front of me.”
“From what you’ve told me, it doesn’t sound like there was much philandering taking place.”
“Not because he didn’t want it to. Oh, don’t look at me like that. I know what I’m talking about. I could see it on his face.”
“Be that as it may, Helen, I still fail to see your problem. You and Richard are leaving, she’ll be here with Maxwell, and when you return she’ll go back to her own life.”
Helen stopped her pacing to regard him. “Yes, that’s true. Still…”
“Still what? Once the s
ummer is over, you’ll never have to see her again.”
“It’s not my seeing her that’s objectionable.”
Charles stood to face her. “What makes this girl any different than any of the others who’ve come before her, or will undoubtedly come after? She’s just another in a long list of conquests for Richard. You know that, Helen. He may enjoy his extramarital affairs, but that’s all they are to him. Richard would never leave you. There’s too much at stake. No pretty face is enough to make him risk everything.”
Helen studied Charles’ face for a moment then smiled. “Yes, of course. You’re absolutely right. How silly of me. It must be all the stress with this situation concerning Maxwell. It has me on edge.”
“Perfectly understandable. Now, if you’re feeling better and there’s nothing else, I have a dinner appointment.”
“New paramour, Charles?”
“Do I detect a note of cattiness, Helen?”
“Not at all dear, just curious. You know how I pray for your happiness.”
“Yes, of course.” Charles buttoned his jacket. “Have a lovely trip, Helen. You have my number if you need me.”
“Thank you, Charles. You’re such a dear. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Charles smiled as he left the room. Once the door was closed the pleasant expression on his face disappeared, leaving a look of cold calculation. So, Richard has a new conquest. Interesting. I should check this out. A genuine smile appeared on his face. Being a psychiatrist had such wonderful perks. One never knew when a golden nugget would fall right into one’s lap.
Maxwell walked onto the balcony and stood looking out over the grounds. The lake shimmered in the twilight,with the sounds of the evening creatures rising over the water like a distant symphony. Yet he found no pleasure in the moment.
There were all too few pleasures in his life. He was a prisoner in his own home, in his own body. Sometimes he found himself contemplating just how long he could continue as he was without going mad.
