“The boss has carefully considered your offer. He checked on your background and it appears you are who you say you are.” Chuck huffed at that as if it was an insult. But the truth was that he had known Gamboli would want to be careful. “Boss says to tell you that we are willing to work with you to take down Dalton. But he wants me to warn you that if this is a double cross, boss has authorized me to kill your girl myself.” Wilder waited for confirmation from Chuck.
As unappealing as the terms were, Chuck needed their help. He nodded his acceptance. Wilder took out his phone and made a call. When he ended the call, Wilder grabbed the keys out of his pocket. “Boss wants us to meet him at the Thai place he likes. Come with me. I’ll drive.”
Chuck grabbed his phone and wallet and followed Wilder out to the car. He was pretty sure he had passed the test but had a gun strapped to his ankle just in case. He got into the car with Wilder and was surprised Wilder hadn’t brought any of his men with him. He raised his eyebrows at the empty backseat and Wilder chuckled.
“They have their own assignments today. Since we’re on the same side now, boss wasn’t worried about me coming alone.” He pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street. Clearly he had met Gamboli at the Thai place before. Wherever they were going, Wilder drove with purpose and obviously knew the direction. Chuck had thought they were headed to a restaurant and was slightly surprised when they pulled up to a massage parlor.
They got out of the car and Chuck followed Wilder in. Once the girls inside saw Wilder, they moved to the side and Chuck followed him through a corner to the back room. In the room, Gamboli was getting a massage while the other men stood along the wall. Chuck moved closer to Gamboli’s head and waited to be acknowledged.
“Chuck, I am happy to see you agreed to our terms. With a man with a background such as yours, we had to be sure that you wouldn’t suddenly go straight on us and run to the police with anything you might learn. Now that the unpleasant has been dealt with, let’s talk frankly. There’s a chair over by Richards. Why don’t you grab it and we’ll have a chat?” Chuck looked around until he saw a chair by the man he assumed was Richards. He grabbed the chair and brought it back to where he had been standing and had a seat.
“Alright, Gamboli. Why don’t we start with how Dalton got involved with your son?” Gamboli waved for the other men to leave the room but the massage therapist stayed. Clearly she had been privy to several conversations as this. Chuck wondered if she spoke English and understood the gravity of what she heard. Odds were against that seeing as how she was still alive.
“That’s simple. My boy was involved because I told him to be involved. About a year and a half ago, Dalton came to me. He had been embezzling from his company and was afraid his wife would find out. The wife was the money in the marriage and very straight laced. He was terrified she would find out and leave him. Being the upstanding citizen that I am, I loaned him a quarter of a million dollars. He was having trouble paying and I informed him that we would have to extract the funds from his wife if he could not pay. When I saw the news story about the wife, I sent my son to him. My son brought Dalton to me for a little chat.” The massage girl had Gamboli sit up and handed him a glass of water. She smiled at us both and then left the room.
“And what was said during this chat?” Chuck had already known some about the embezzlement and wanted to get to the information that he didn’t have.
“Dalton told me that his wife had left the estate to charity if he couldn’t get this girl surrogate back to prove paternity. He told me that if my son could help bring the girl back, he would be able to get my money back with interest plus an extra $25,000 for payment of the retrieval of the girl. Instead, when things went sour in New Mexico, my son turns up dead and this son of a bitch claims that my son is the one that murdered his wife. Now we can’t get close to him. He’s got police protection, including having them watch us, and he’s hired private security to guard the house. He stiffed me on my money and because of him I’ve lost my only son. I want to get this guy. It’s personal now.” Gamboli downed the water and belched.
“Did Dalton ever give you an indication of what he was doing with the money he embezzled? If his wife was wealthy, it must have been for something that she wouldn’t have approved of or been willing to pay for.” Chuck sat back in the chair and contemplated that what a wife wouldn’t approve of paying for.
Gamboli shook his head. “He didn’t say and I didn’t ask. There’s a certain anonymity in my business that people appreciate.” Chuck nodded his understanding. It made sense that Dalton wouldn’t be chatty with Gamboli.
“If Dalton wouldn’t be sharing that information with you, we need to find someone that he would be talking to.” Chuck got up from the chair. “I need to figure out who it is that he trusts. Is it okay if I take Wilder to help?”
Gamboli smiled at him. “I would prefer it.”
Forty Four
Hailey heard the doorbell ring and went to answer the door. It had been a few days since the agency had sent over the first set of housekeeper candidates. Hailey had liked the kind ones but Chris felt they were too easy to turn. He had a point. The gossip sites had gotten photos of them at the baby store and she hadn’t even realized photographers were out there. She understood Chris’ desire to vet the staff but it was ridiculous to not have anyone yet. She had no problem cleaning up but the loneliness was getting to her. She and Chris had argued about it and he agreed to vet several candidates and have three more of them over to the house this afternoon. Chris had even come home early to make the decision with her. Hailey opened the door and welcomed the three into the house.
“Hello, ladies. Please follow me. We will be in the living room. I really appreciate you coming out today.” Hailey led everyone into the room where snacks and iced tea were waiting. She had been so eager to have people in the house that she had gone a little overboard. When everyone was seated, Chris make his entrance. He walked over to sit by Hailey and Hailey tried to move away from him without being obvious. It was then that she looked up to see the candidates and was shocked when she saw a face that she recognized.
Maggie’s hair and even skin tone was different. She had a tan and her hair was short and curly, as if she was matronly. She and Hailey made eye contact as if to signify that neither one should give Maggie away. Hailey was happy she was there but terrified for her at the same time. What if Chris caught on? She looked at the candidates and half listened as they answered Chris’ questions. After a short time, Chris excused himself and Hailey to the kitchen.
“I think we’ve finally got a good group, Hailey. I like Cassandra. What do you think?” Chris waited for her to respond.
“Cassandra? Which one was she again? I’m so bad with names. Must be the baby brain all the books talk about.” She didn’t want Chris to catch on to how shaken she was to see Maggie. Half of her hoped that Maggie would be sent away and the other half hoped she would stay.
Chris laughed. “That’s okay, darling. Cassandra is the one on the end with the curly hair and darker skin.” Hailey realized that Chris was talking about Maggie. She hoped she wouldn’t regret this later.
“Oh, yes, her. I do like her. Do you think she can start right away?” Hailey rubbed her stomach and hoped that Chris wouldn’t catch on to her nervousness.
“I think we can make that happen.” Chris smiled at her and pulled out his cell phone.
Forty Five
Hailey waited until Chris left the house to go to another of his “appointments” and then checked the house windows and doors to make sure that she found a place where no one could listen in. When she was sure that she knew everyone’s location, she went back to the living room and grabbed Maggie’s hand to pull her off the couch to follow her. Hailey took her into the bathroom down the hall and shut the door and turned on the faucet.
“What the hell are you doing here? Are you crazy? I’m here to keep the people I love safe, not drag them into danger.” Hailey sat down o
n the toilet seat. Maggie saw that she was pale.
“I told you I wasn’t letting you go again. What? Did you think we were just going to let you get dragged off by some rich psycho and not do anything?” Maggie pulled her into a hug. “It’s so good to see you with my own eyes. All I’ve seen are gossip rags and blog stories. I was so worried about you. So when Chuck called…”
“Wait - Chuck?! Chuck asked you to do this?” Hailey stood up in outrage. How dare he pull her friend into this? She could be killed!
“Not necessarily. This Dalton guy is known for going through housekeepers like bacon since his wife died. It was Chuck’s idea to get someone on the inside to protect you and keep you safe. Plus then we can pass information back and forth so we can get you out of here. It was my idea to be the person on the inside. Otherwise I didn’t think you would trust someone random off the streets. I know you are trying to protect us by being here. But we’re on your side.” Maggie twirled around. “Besides, don’t you like my new do?” Hailey couldn’t help but laugh.
“Actually, Mags, it’s pretty horrible. You look like something may have died in that nest on your head.” They both laughed and then sobered up together.
“Seriously, though, Mags, I can’t put you at risk. Chris is more powerful than you realize.” Hailey felt like crying.
“Hailey, I hear you. But we are maybe a little more powerful than you realize too. Besides, you know Chuck loves you. There’s no way that he would just sacrifice you to the wolves.” Hailey smiled at the thought. “I see. You love him too. That’s why you are so adamant about sending him away. Don’t worry. John’s told me some stories about our Chuck. He’s more qualified than you realize. You just focus on keeping yourself and that baby safe.”
Hailey nodded.
“Chuck is trying to find out why Dalton was embezzling when he had a rich wife at home. He thinks that could be the key to what Dalton is up to. Do you have anything that I can give him? Maybe a clue or a lead?” Maggie waited for a response while Hailey racked her brain.
“He doesn’t talk to me other than to try to butter me up or if it’s about the baby. He’s trying to convince me he can be a good guy and we have a future so I think he’s staying away because he’s afraid he’ll slip up.” Hailey shrugged. “Wait! He may have said or done something around Erin. I found her journal the other day. She was tracking his every move because she was worried he was cheating. If he did something strange, she would have written it down in the journal.” Hailey turned off the faucet and went down the hall. She was relieved to find that it was in the same spot where Erin had originally hid it. That meant that Chris probably didn’t know about it. She went back down the hall to the bathroom but Maggie wasn’t in there.
She heard movement in the kitchen and ran to her room to place a different book jacket on the journal so that it would look like a trashy novel in case someone was there. When she went into the kitchen, she saw Maggie preparing what looked like dinner and Chris sitting at the desk typing on his laptop.
“Oh, darling, there you are. I just got home and was about to come find you.” Chris got up and kissed Hailey’s cheek.
“Sorry, I just finished giving Cassandra a tour of the house and going over our expectations - including the boundaries. I figured I would catch up on some mindless reading while she made dinner.” Hailey went to head to the living room.
“That sounds like a marvelous evening. I’ll join you while I do some work.” To Hailey’s dismay, Chris picked up his laptop and followed her. Hopefully when they sat down to dinner or sometime after she could sneak the journal into Maggie’s bag so she could get it to Chuck.
Forty Six
Chuck sat in the car a few houses down from Dalton’s mansion. So far things were going as planned. John had called two hours ago to let him know that Maggie had been selected from the candidates. Chuck was still worried that putting Maggie in the mix would just put her in danger. But both she and John had been sure that she could do it. Apparently John had used Maggie in some sting operations in the past and as such had provided her with some training on how to diffuse situations. Hopefully she would last longer than Dalton’s other housekeepers.
Chuck wasn’t just watching the house to be close by if Dalton recognized Maggie somehow despite her disguise. He was also watching to see who came and went. Maybe if he could find out who Dalton was associating with, he could find out what he needed that embezzled cash for. So far he had watched Chris come to the house but no one else had approached. Chuck watched the guards mull outside of the front door. It was security overkill for someone who lost his wife but just right for someone who needed protection from the mob. He wondered if the local police found it strange or if they just supported whatever the rich man did.
John had been able to find some interesting information using his contacts. He and Maggie had come to town last night. They were staying in a month-to-month apartment to give the appearance that they really lived here and were just a normal couple trying to get by. They even exchanged their quality clothes for thrift store attire. It was clear that they truly loved Hailey. Otherwise they wouldn’t be willing to completely change their lives, even risk their lives. He couldn’t blame them. He fell in love with Hailey the first time that he saw her. How could he be so naive not to think that other people would be affected the same way? Instead of making him jealous, it just made him love her more. She was the most amazing person he had ever met and he would die before he left her alone with the likes of Dalton.
He sat up and saw Maggie leave out the front door and walk to the bus stop. If she saw him, she didn’t show it. That was good because Chuck had no doubt that Dalton would be keeping a close eye on Maggie. Dalton trusted no one these days and a housekeeper wouldn’t be exempt. Once Chuck was sure that Maggie caught the bus, he headed over to the apartment that she shared with John. John would meet her at the bus station by the apartment so that he could escort her home safely while just appearing like a loving husband. John was also in disguise and had shaved his head and grown a scruffy beard. Even Chuck had trouble recognizing him, which would help to keep them safe. They were also going by the names Cassandra and Michael Coates.
Chuck let himself into the apartment and waited. He couldn’t just sit there at the table so he got up and helped himself to a beer from the fridge. The second that Maggie and John walked into the apartment, Chuck jumped at them.
“Maggie, how is she? How did she look? What did she say?” He was almost shaking despite being the man that was usually never moved. Maggie put down her bag and sat down on the couch. She grabbed the beer from Chuck and took a drink.
“That Dalton guy is a bigger jerk than I thought. He’s got this sleazy fake ‘you can trust me because I’m such a good guy’ act going on and it makes my skin crawl. But Hailey looks great. She’s holding up as best she can. You were right - she’s clearly there because she’s trying to protect everyone. She loves you. That much is clear. She was worried about my safety but I think she’s on board, if only because she’s afraid that outing me would put me in danger.” Maggie stretched her back. She was used to having a housekeeper and not being the housekeeper. “I asked her if she knew anything about what Dalton’s up to but he’s definitely keeping her in the dark. However, she found an old journal of Erin’s and thinks she may have seen or heard something. When Dalton went outside to scream at one of the guards for something, she was able to slip it to me.”
Maggie reached into her bag and pulled out the journal. She passed it to John and he handed it to Chuck. Chuck got up and kissed Maggie on the cheek and clapped John on the shoulder.
“This is great! Thank you! One day on the job and already a top spy.” Chuck had a feeling that Hailey was right. If anyone could have been on to the odd behavior of Dalton, it would have been his wife. “But, seriously, if things get bad in there, let’s pull you out. Hailey is safe as long as she is carrying Dalton’s child and I don’t want to risk your safety.” He gave a meaning look
at both Maggie and John.
“Mags is stronger than she looks, Chuck. And she loves Hailey like a sister. I don’t think we could drag her away if we tried.” Maggie and John looked at each other with so much admiration and love that it made Chuck’s heart hurt. One day, he promised himself, one day he would have Hailey close by and they would have the world.
Chuck didn’t know how to thank Maggie and John so he took the journal and said goodbye. He half ran to the car, eager to get back to the motel and read what Erin had to say about her husband.
Forty Seven
You would think that after months of this back and forth behavior I would get used to it. But I’m not. Every time Chris would be like he was in the beginning with kind words and thoughtful actions, I forgive everything. I just want to believe that our lives are really meant to be like they were when we were first together - happy and in love. But was that just an act? I can’t tell what is reality and what isn’t with Chris. Can you be married to someone and not know them? How is that possible? Once Chris goes back to his sullen, almost hateful ways, it cuts me like a knife all over again. I wish I didn’t love him. I wish I could just walk away.
I thought all we needed was a baby. After all, once you have that biological tie, it’s more than just a marriage. It’s a family, right? And families stick together. It’s that unconditional love. I know it’s not rational to have a baby to try to save our marriage but I’m desperate. And this desperation isn’t me. I’ve always been that confident woman who didn’t need a man and could overcome anything. What has he turned me into?
Today I thought I couldn’t take it anymore. After I left Hailey’s apartment, I felt bolstered by our bond. I felt like I could confront Chris. He had said that today was his meeting at Dalton Enterprises so I figured he would be there. He has his office at home but he’s always gone. At least today I had an idea of where he would be. I drove straight to Dalton Enterprises and marched in, ready to do battle. Even the receptionist, Connie, mentioned that I looked ready to take on the world. I just smiled and thanked her. Connie told me that Chris was in a meeting still in the conference room.
Last Chance Baby Page 11
