Deceptions Revealed (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lillith Payne

  “Yes, he’s in trouble, but let’s not worry about him right now. He’s old enough to take care of himself. Tell us what you did at the arcade.” James had leaned closer when speaking, giving Daniel’s hand a light squeeze.

  “We played some of the games, but Grandpa ain’t no good at them.”

  “Isn’t any good,” JoAnna corrected automatically.

  “We had pizza and soda and talked about what it would be like to live in Manhattan and work for his company.”

  “Anything else?” James prompted. Daniel looked away. “Daniel?”

  “I was still hungry so we went back for ice cream. I saw the caramel popcorn and told Grandpa I’d never had it. He said I should taste it and see if I liked it. I tried to tell him you wouldn’t let me have it, but he promised it would be all right.” His little voice trailed off.

  “There were peanuts mixed in the caramel in the popcorn, wasn’t there?”

  “Yeah, I told Grandpa I shouldn’t, but he promised it would be okay.”

  “Sometimes, Daniel, you’ll have to stand up for yourself and your decisions, no matter who tells you it’s all right. They’ll be other things, smoking cigarettes and drinking, drugs you’ll know not to do, but you can’t let anyone pressure you into it.”

  “I let Grandpa pressure me, but he looked so old and so sad. I didn’t think it would hurt this much.”

  “That’s enough for now, just tell me this. What happened when you started to get a reaction to the nuts?” James had taken down the railing on his side of the bed, his left hip resting on the side as he faced Daniel.

  “I started to have trouble breathing. I told him I had to go home, but he looked scared. And the worse I got, the more scared he got. I tried to tell him I needed medicine, but he kept making phone calls. I don’t remember much after that, only waking up here with you guys.”

  JoAnna and James passed a look Daniel couldn’t see.

  “Well, since you’re awake, how about I get the nurse and see if we can spring you from this place?” James stood, but hesitated. “Daniel, I’m sorry your great-grandfather did this to you. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt you, but in the future, you have to ask your mother or me if you want to see him, all right?”

  “I don’t think he wants to see me anymore. He kept mumbling about me being sickly and too much work when we were driving here. I think he’s mad at me.”

  “He’s not mad at you, only at himself and he doesn’t know how to express it. So he grumbles and mumbles and hopes everyone will drop the subject.”

  “Are you mad at him, James?”

  “Yes, I am. There were other ways he could have seen you.”

  “Close you’re eyes for a bit, baby. The nurse will come by and see if you’re ready to come home. Rest until then.” JoAnna’s soothing voice had the boy’s eyes closing.

  “Mom, I want to go home. I’m hungry.”

  “Well, what else is new? You must be feeling better.”

  “Chili dogs and french fries?” Daniel asked, smiling.

  “How about something a bit lighter? We’ll save the chili dogs for tomorrow. How about…pancakes with lots of syrup tonight.”

  “And butter too?”

  “Yes, with butter too. But only if you feel better for real.”

  “I do, I really do and I’m sooooo hungry.” Both James and Joey laughed. James receded into the hallway to let the nurse know his son was awake.

  JoAnna and James brought Daniel home from the hospital and they all huddled around the kitchen table. James had helped Daniel shower and get into Jets pajamas while Joey got the griddle and batter ready. An hour later, Carol came by with the newest Harry Potter book. Daniel was settled in bed with a full stomach. It was only three pages before his eyes closed and he was fast asleep. Then James and Joey quietly left and went to the police station.

  Benjamin Montgomery paced in a small holding cell, his watch and cellular telephone taken from him along with his wallet, keys and belt. He looked older, beaten. Joey realized it didn’t make her feel guilty. They had spoken with Captain Lindor and Alan before going to see Ben. The District Attorney had stopped by, and they all decided it would be best to let Ben cool his heels in the cell overnight.

  “I want a court order of protection for my son,” she said and got no resistance from any of the men. “If you can grant the order, then I’ll consider dropping the kidnapping charge.”

  While this all went around several times, Joey was glad to hear they’d get a few smaller charges pressed.

  “He had no car seat, ticket one,” the captain told them. “He took a minor out of the town limits, the arcade straddles the line. Give us some time and we’ll find a few other things. One of his car headlights was out.” She held back a smirk when nobody offered how that happened. “His vehicle was being towed from the hospital parking lot and there will be fees to retrieve it,” Robert said.

  Mr. Aaron Metz was nowhere to be found and as far as anyone at the station knew, he hadn’t been called. So Ben would stay the night, hopefully two nights, if Metz didn’t show. That bought them until Monday morning. James decided it was nice to have people around you who were ready to help rather than walk away.

  Joey had wandered down the hall, pushing past the cell block door with James behind her. The patrolmen told them they only had a few minutes with Ben. Both nodded their thanks.

  “Well, did you call Metz? Where is my Cadillac?”

  “Being impounded as we speak,” James said calmly, watching the old man cringe.

  “I know you hate me, old man, but to take my son and cause bodily harm is unforgivable.”

  “I don’t defer to a woman.”

  “I don’t defer to demented old men who think they own the world. Stay away from my son, Benjamin Montgomery. I’ve been told I can still press the kidnapping charge at a later date. Don’t push me, and take your tail off us. I’ll no longer live knowing some deviant is watching my every move, watching Daniel. I want proof you’ve called them off.”

  “She sounds just like your mother did when your father died. All full of wants and attitude. You know where she wound up? In a looney bin, lady. And you’ll wind up right next to her if you don’t watch your step.”

  “What?” James voice sounded like a small squeak.

  “She was no good, son, not what you needed guiding your future.”

  “Just what did you do to her?” James was wide-eyed, and JoAnna took a step closer, locking her hand in his.

  “What I had to. In the beginning when James senior died, she had all these crazy ideas of moving you to the west coast. So, instead, I sent her for a vacation. A time to rest and mourn her husband’s loss.”

  “Where did you send her, Benjamin?”

  “To a clinic upstate. They were quite receptive, seeing how unbalanced she was after her husband’s death.”

  “How much did you have to pay them?” James asked. Ben just flicked his hand as if to ignore him.

  Joey felt the tension building in James’ body. His hand tightened around hers. Hearing she’d been indirectly correct about the situation gave her no joy. Instead she knew James would never be whole until he knew the truth about his own mother. Ben confirming it was his idea to send her away would have consequences.

  “Where is she now, Benjamin?” JoAnna’s voice was smooth and calm.

  “She took the money and ran. And that’s what you’ll do too. Mark my words, she already took the money the first time. How else did you think she set herself up in the book shop business?”

  “With the rest of my trust fund from my parents’ accident. I never took money from you, Benjamin, or from James.”

  “You lie, little girl. I’ve got a cashed check to prove it.”

  “You may have cashed checks, but not ones that were signed by me.”

  “Enough. Benjamin, get comfortable. I’m still debating about the kidnapping charge. Monday morning we’ll settle this all before a judge.”

  “Monday! This
is Friday. You’ll get me out of here boy, now.”

  “We’ll see you Monday before the judge.”

  Both left to the tone of his muttering voice. He dammed them both and the town, as well as Metz for not showing up and Daniel for ever being born.

  Daniel was still sound asleep when they returned. Carol slipped out without a fuss. She told JoAnna she’d open the shop tomorrow morning and Pearl was coming in too, so she should sleep in and make sure Danny was all right. The store would be fine.

  James walked her out to her car, thanking her again for being such a good friend. Inside, Joey put on the kettle for tea. She seemed calm, almost too calm. Quietly she set out two mugs and gave him the choice of tea or instant cocoa. He took tea as she did and settled across from her, waiting for her to tell him to get lost for good.

  “James, in the morning, I’d like you to do something for me and for yourself.”

  “I’ll not be sent away.”

  “I want you to go back to New York and find out what happened to your mother. I doubt she was in a sanatorium because she needed it. Somewhere there has to be some record of her. If she took money from Benjamin, there should be a record of that too.”

  He stared, half stunned. He’d been thinking the same thing only didn’t want to leave her or Daniel.

  “The second thing I want you to find is who he’s giving money to in my name. I’ve never taken any from him. Somehow I think he’ll have proof otherwise. Let’s just see what he has.” She left the room and returned quickly with a large folder in her hand.

  He recognized the legal documents stuffed inside. Also inside, was a check for two hundred thousand dollars. It had never been signed by Joey, and in fact had been torn in two pieces.

  “This is the check he put in my papers that day. I didn’t see it until weeks later when I was able to read through them. As you can see, I never cashed it. But he’s told Pilar and you I’ve taken money from him. Find out, James. It’s important to both of us.”

  “Are you sure you want me to leave you so soon after all of this?”

  “Yes, the sooner it’s handled, the sooner you can decide what kind of life you want to live and if Daniel and I are going to be a part of it. Besides, with Ben locked up, it should give you free access to his papers.”

  Chapter Eleven

  JoAnna had been right. The office was completely empty, which left him alone in the silence to concentrate. Logging on to his computer he started by trying to access some closed files, namely JoAnna Sheridan, Daniel Sheridan Montgomery and his mother, Beverly Montgomery. Even with his security codes he couldn’t override the system to get into the files. This was a first. James had never had a problem with access to a file, closed or sealed. His second try was to access the private investigators the firm used. He was shut down by only one, Bolton Investigations. Bingo, at least he had a name to start with.

  At the end of a disappointing three hours, he was tired of being locked out of the files he wanted. He’d tried some old passwords Benjamin used, old birthdates, anniversaries, even the day his father died. Nothing would open the sealed files.

  The office telephone ringing at his desk surprised him at first than he figured it was Joey. Instead it was Fred Kent, head of the accounting department. James was taken aback to say the least. “Fred, working on a Saturday? Shouldn’t you be home with the family?”

  “Work was a good excuse to miss ballet class and a birthday party full of ten year olds.”

  “What can I do for you, Fred, and how did you know I was working today?”

  There was a long pause before Fred spoke. “It might be helpful if you came to my office, James.” His tone left no room to question his request.

  “I’m on my way,” he said, hanging up the phone as he moved quickly from his office. He’d been with Montgomery Industries for almost twenty years, was known to be steady and smart. He’d been in charge of installing and upgrading all the computers and programming in the company. It was a job he did very well. Only now, James wondered where his alliances lay. IT was two floors below James’ office, and he usually only went there when Fred was antsy over details.

  Fred met him at the hall doorway, relocking them into the private space.

  “You the only one here?” James asked.

  “You and me,” he said, nodding for James to head to his office. Instead of taking a seat in front of the desk, Fred ushered him behind the desk, swinging the monitor for better light. “See this crawl at the top of the screen?” James studied the familiar line but it was different than what his computer ran. Instead of a news ticker with market information, Fred’s was running completely different information. After scanning it for several seconds, he realized it was a running account of his trying to get into the closed files earlier.

  “When we upgraded the system last year, we had this installed as an extra security feature in case one of the juniors or secretaries wandered into sealed territory. I’m telling you this because the only other screen with the same access is your grandfather’s.”

  “That son of a bitch! He never even told me.”

  “At the time I advised him you and members of the board should have been told, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Said it would keep everybody honest.”

  “Honest, that’s a crock…”

  “James, watch me carefully,” Fred said, pushing several keys in succession. The red flag disappeared from the top of his screen. “I don’t know what you’re looking for and don’t want to know. If you need to search, do it from Benjamin’s computer, then delete it like I just showed you.” Fred walked casually across the room, taking his jacket from the hook behind the door. “We never had this conversation, James. Do we understand each other? I’ve been here almost twenty years and would like to continue a few more.”

  “No problem, Fred, I never saw you today.”

  Hesitating, he dropped his jacket over a chair and moved beside James. “What exactly are you looking for? Don’t tell me why, just what?”

  James slipped from the chair and Fred sat down. After several tries, even Fred couldn’t override the system to open the files James wanted. When it was cleared, all Fred could suggest was he try using Ben’s console, reminding him to delete it when he was done.

  Walking out toward the elevators, James asked Fred if any paper accounts were kept, ones that didn’t make it into the system. Fred studied the man beside him, knowing the choice he made in the next seconds would change his future one way or another. “What have you got?”

  “Check number 3938 from six years ago. I want to know if it was cashed and by who.” James watched a strange smile cross over Fred’s face.

  “I remember this clearly, James, and if asked, will deny we ever had this conversation.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Check 3938 was never presented for payment. I only got involved after three months when the bank reconciliations kept carrying the balance. Benjamin asked me to cancel that check and write another one, exactly like the first. I did, I gave it to him and I never asked why.”

  “Was the second check cashed?”

  “Yes, two weeks later, a bank in the Cayman Islands, a private account.”

  “Who was the check endorsed by?”

  “It was signed by JoAnna Sheridan, but it was deposited into Benjamin’s account, one of his private accounts. Once the deposit was made, I had no access to the rest of the account information.”

  “Ben signed the check and deposited it in an account for JoAnna?”

  “Actually, two years ago, he closed the account and moved the money. I’m not sure where to.”

  “Any other checks similar to this one?”

  “A few, but I don’t think you’d want to talk about them.”

  “Tell me anyway, Fred.”

  “Several in the name of Daniel Sheridan and several in the name of Beverly Montgomery. All the same, signed, deposited on one of his trips to the Caymans.”

  “Thank you, I appreciate the informati
on.”

  “Follow his travel route. Benjamin uses the Cayman Islands like other people would use a cottage at the beach. Every deposit was made during one of his stays.”

  James only nodded as the pieces all fell into place. Everything he refused to admit over the years came into focus.

  “One more thing, you asked if some files weren’t on computer. Yes, but I don’t have access to them. I believe only Benjamin and his old secretary would know about them.”

  “Jeanne Markhan,” James whispered.

  “Yes, she’s retired in Arizona someplace. You should be able to pull her up from old payroll records. Maybe she could help you.”

  “Go home, Fred, to your wife and family, give them a hug. This morning never happened.”

  “Goodbye, James.” He nodded and moved into the waiting elevator.

  It was an odd space to be in mentally for James. He’d spent so much of his life in this very office, only to never see the man behind the desk, just the persona he put forward for the world. At one time in his life, his goal had been to occupy this chair, this office, and to have this spectacular view of Manhattan. Now he knew it would never happen. Relief washed over him in a calming moment. He pulled up Ben’s console and began looking for answers, only to be shut out continuously.

  He found Jeanne’s address and called her without a second thought. He didn’t calculate the time difference and hoped she would be home. The telephone was picked up on the third ring, her deep voice still recognizable to James.

  “Jeanne Markhan, how are you, and did I get you at an inconvenient time?”

  She answered after a long pause. “James, it’s been a long time. How are you and Benjamin?”

  She sounded guarded, from the surprise of his call or the dread of waiting for it all these years. So many people had been affected by Ben’s actions. James refused to allow himself any thought at what Ben’s true business practices might be. That road he’d drive another day. “At the moment not well, Jeanne. I need help and I think you’re the only one left to turn to.”

  “What has Benjamin done this time?” Her tone became familiar, unguarded. She’d been Benjamin’s personal secretary before James was born. Her retirement two years ago left Ben going through a succession of secretaries and assistants which still continued. James told her openly where he was and what he needed and why. “That old fool, he took your son from school and didn’t tell you or JoAnna?”