by Maggie Thom
The elegant, huge office with two desks was spotless and sparkling clean. It reminded him of the fact he hadn't changed. He stood inside the doorway, avoiding touching anything.
They had done everything to welcome him to the job of being head mechanic at Caspian Winery, but he was rather curious when Guy and Graham had requested to meet with him.
“Okay, we have a problem,” Guy said as he strolled in through a side door.
August realized it was an adjoining office. The two men had their business in downtown Toronto and also offices at Caspian Winery. They looked after the computers and security system.
“And what would that be, young man?” Graham said in a very stodgy but inadequate English accent.
“I thought Tarin broke you of your poor impressions.”
Graham slapped his hand to his chest while tossing back his head. “You wound me, my good man.”
Guy rolled his eyes but there was a smile on his face. “Anyway, it appears that Mr. Madsen isn’t done with trying to make trouble.”
“Do you guys want me here for this? I can come back.” August stepped away as though to leave. When he’d first arrived, Graham and Tarin had been busy talking in low, hushed tones but they hadn’t wanted him to leave. Then Tarin had left, and he hadn’t seen her since. But this was feeling awkward.
“No. You’re good.”
That’s all Graham had said to him when he’d first arrived and asked the same question.
“What an ass. What’s he doing now? I know Tarin said to butt out but her father is something else. For a while there it seemed that she’d gotten through to him. We didn’t hear from him for almost six months. Of course, I didn’t think much of it but then he was on her case again. He wanted her home and she refused. He wanted to hire a nanny to look after his grandson that he never asked to see. When she refused, it appeared he hired a bodyguard to follow her. Somehow, she got him to get rid of that guy but it took three months. Her father is relentless. I haven’t told her but there might be another tail keeping an eye on her. I swear I’m getting paranoid.” Graham turned his head and looked over his shoulder with such flair that August couldn’t help but laugh.
Guy chuckled too. “Oh, so that’s why you moved to that old neighborhood. Figure there won’t be anyone new moving in?”
“Yeah. I was starting to feel like our neighbors were watching us. I even got suspicious of the mail carrier. I was getting paranoid so I can’t imagine what that was doing to Tarin. She and Chance finally have some freedom but her father is slowly taking that away. So, what’s he doing now?” Graham swore.
“He’s trying to buy up Caspian Wineries. And it appears he’s doing some heavy snooping into us.”
August looked from one to the other. “Who is this guy?”
Graham sat up straight. “Tarin’s father. What makes you say that?”
“LJ got a hold of me. Their lawyer contacted them to say an offer had been received. She didn’t want to tell Dorothea. She might be in her eighties and the owner but she does not want to give up control. I’m not sure how LJ does it. Man, we finally got that woman to slow down to a three-day workweek. If she hears about this, she’ll be back to full time. At eighty-four, it’s time she got a break and enjoyed life. And no, I’m not brave enough to tell her that.”
Graham laughed. “Love that woman but you do not mess with her. So, keep it from her at all costs. And keep it from Tarin. Crap. That’s just great. My going-to-be-father-in-law is already making me lie to my future wife. Gotta love that guy. And the other part he’s doing?”
“Guys, why am I here? I don’t think this is stuff I should be hearing.”
“He got a hold of Downey,” he said, ignoring August, “our contact in the government that we do a lot of security detail for, and he asked for a reference. I asked Downey how he had figured out that we use him. He didn’t know but he played it cool saying he’d never heard of us. Madsen has too much money and is good at paying people off and snooping. It appears things go his way... or they go his way.”
“Yes, he’s a bastard but unfortunately there isn’t anything I can do about that,” Tarin said as she stepped through the doorway. Obviously catching the tail end of Graham’s comment.
August had felt uncomfortable listening to the conversation, but to walk in on it like Tarin had done made him feel even more like he needed to get out of there. The guys had included him in a lot of things. They'd welcomed him and been a friend to him but this was not something he should hear. Especially since his first thought was to wrap his arms around Tarin and give her a hug.
Graham closed his eyes as his head dropped back for a second before snapping to attention. He walked over to Tarin, standing by the door. Her arms were wrapped around her waist. Graham took her in his arms and pulled her close. It made August envious; not just because she was a gorgeous woman but they had what he’d always wanted—love, friendship, understanding and the ability to work together.
“I’m sorry.”
She sighed and laid her head against his chest. “I don’t know how to get him out of my life. Now that Chance is three, my father is seeing in him the son that I never was. The jackass hasn’t even asked to meet him, although he’s known about him for over a year. Who does that? And now he wants me to come home and bring my son. He says it’s time to raise him in true Madsen fashion.”
Graham took her by the shoulders and stepped back, looking down into her blue eyes. “When did he do this?”
Tarin sighed before pulling away. “A few weeks ago.”
“Tarin?”
“Alright, for a few months now; just before we moved. Sylvia, that new neighbor that had moved in just before we left the area, was the new bodyguard he’d hired. She has quite an impressive background. She's military trained, an ultimate fighter, weapons training, blackbelt in karate and jujitsu. And God only knows what else. What am I going to do? I thought that once Geo... Geof... Geoff... God I can’t even say his name.” She shuddered violently.
August was already turning to leave when he noticed that Guy nodded at him. He followed him into the side office.
“Mind telling me why I’m here?” August stared at Guy, who had moved over to the desk and now sat on the edge of it.
Guy faced him, a hint of uncertainty in his face, which only lasted a moment before he was all business. “How have you liked working for Caspian Winery?”
“It’s a good job. I love working with the machinery. Perry’s a pretty good apprentice. I get paid very well. I couldn’t ask for much more.”
Guy pushed away from the desk and moved past August. Unsure what to do, he followed.
“Tarin, I know he’s your father—”
She leaned against Graham as she turned to face Guy. “Please. That bastard may have sired me and raised me but he’s no father. If I was more like him, I’d have him taken out.”
Graham’s chuckled. “My wife, the tough lady. She catches flies in the house and sets them free outside. Her father is just the opposite. It’s time to do some real digging into that man. And that’s where you come in.”
“Why am I hearing all this?” August knew even if he’d been blind he would have felt the intensity of the three pairs of eyes that turned on him. He was still standing in the doorway but felt the need to turn and bolt.
“We know you’ve only been with us a few months but we have a favor to ask, and it’s okay to say no. We wouldn’t include you but...”
“My mom said I was good.”
There was a moment of awkward silence before Graham burst out laughing. He was laughing so hard that the others couldn’t help but join him. He had one of those laughs that grabbed the others and pulled them in. August was glad that he’d lightened the mood, if only for a few moments.
Guy shook his head as soon as he could catch his breath. “Well that. And we do our homework. We know that you know how to run a business. We also know that your mom was right, you are a damn good mechanic. You’ve done some amazin
g things here. We know that you helped the police with breaking up a car theft ring. And we know that you’re searching for your father.”
“Mom.” August had a feeling these guys were good but the shock of what they were saying about him had him taking a step back. The moment he cleared the doorway, his first thought was to keep walking. He didn’t owe them anything. And as far as he’d been told, there was no record of him helping the police in their sting. The police had thought he’d been in on the carjackings which was why he’d agreed to help them. High-end vehicles that came into his shop had been stolen afterward. It had taken six months but he’d discovered the leak in his business. Even with all the evidence, he still believed the guy was innocent, but he’d liked to brag a little too much to his new girlfriend and she had been one of the masterminds. His employee had been an easy target for her to use without him suspecting anything. She’d been a pro, as had her team. Thankfully, they had been taken down. It had all happened when his mom was ill. It had been a good time to get out of the business.
“How much do you know about me?”
Guy cleared his throat. “We do a background check on everyone.”
August nodded. “I’m sure you do. Obviously, you know a lot, including stuff that isn’t supposed to be accessible. My mom didn’t know about my role in solving the carjackings. So although she bragged about me, she couldn’t have told you everything. You guys are good. I’m guessing you do a lot of stuff off the books. Your computer store and cybersecurity business is a small part of it?”
“You’re right. We’re private investigators. We have some big contracts with the government and their distant arms. We don’t share that with anyone. We do a lot of cybersecurity but not for the basic computer owner as our business suggests. We do it for those who are at risk of national and international security.”
August whistled. He’d had a feeling they were a whole lot more than he’d seen.
Graham nodded. “Look we need your help. We’re a bit unconventional but we know an honest guy when we meet one. You’re a worthy guy. We’ve probably scared the crap out of you, although I am told I could have been Victorian—”
August couldn’t help but chuckle. Unconventional didn’t even begin to describe Graham. His attempt at British accents though was terrible. “So, this is the test you’ve been putting me through? To see if I’d make a good spy?”
Guy and Graham looked at each other. Tarin appeared a bit sick.
“Tarin’s father needs a mechanic and we need a spy inside his business. We’ve been asked to do some digging into the man. We’ve tried to hack his computers but he has guys who are almost as good as us. At this point in time, they are one step ahead.”
“Graham, maybe this is a bad idea. We already know he’s doing a lot of illegal stuff. We know he’s a bad guy. We— Maybe I should just go to work for him. Find that information myself. Be the dutiful daughter—”
“No!”
August was glad that Graham had yelled that because he’d felt the same urge to tell Tarin no. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Getting involved more in her life though probably wasn’t a good idea.
Guy’s cell phone rang and he answered it. “What...? When...? What’s the name again...?”
Tarin had pulled away and was looking out the window by the time Guy hung up. Graham leaned against his desk. August watched it all, feeling a bit like Alice in Wonderland, although that didn’t make him feel any better.
“We have another problem.” Guy mouthed to Graham.
Graham nodded, glancing over his shoulder at Tarin. “Sweetheart, why don’t you go home and spend time with Chance? We’ve got this. If anything exciting happens, I’ll call you. Okay?”
Tarin turned, giving him a loving but sad smile before facing Guy. “What’s my father doing now?”
“Well—”
Graham shrugged.
“I don’t think it’s your father. But it appears someone else is trying to buy up Caspian Winery. But this time it’s to tear it down and build some type of country living resort. It’s a company called Wejo or something like that.”
“It’s We-Two. Damn him.” Tarin had turned a pasty color.
“I’ve never heard of this company. Since you know it, I’m assuming you’re damning your father?”
She nodded. “He took something that was precious to me and turned it into something ugly. We-two was something I used to say as a child. I don’t know why but I’d go around singing it all the time. It annoyed the hell out of him. My guess is that this is something new he’s into. I haven’t heard of this company before but it’s him, and he wants me to know it. But why?”
In that moment, August knew he was going undercover... again.
Chapter 8
Tijan sat up in bed and pressed her hands to her head. The dream she’d had, had been so real.
~~~~
Tijan was searching for a house but she had a vague idea of where it was located—somewhere near the creek, five miles cross-country or about twenty miles by road.
Not wanting to make anyone suspicious, she’d ridden to her normal spot. Taking her time, she led Tango alongside the winding stream. At one point, she finally realized that the house must be on the other side because she’d been all along her side of the creek. She found a safe area with a low bank where the water was shallow and crossed over.
After an hour of walking, the brush was getting too thick beside the stream but she couldn’t find a good place to cut back across the water. She decided to go further away from the creek to see if she could find a road.
When she broke free of the trees and brush, she found an open area that seemed to stretch for a ways. Following it, she realized that it might have been a road at one time. It was overgrown with tall grass and she had to be careful where they stepped but the going was much easier. Tango was loving it, stopping to eat every few minutes. Finally deciding they weren’t in any real hurry, she let her horse stop and munch on the grass that was almost waist high.
Thoughts of her sister bombarded her. If she was alive, why didn’t Tijan know it? Why was she so compelled to go on such a crazy chase? She’d never done anything impulsive like this, and most especially going to the city.
Looking around at the wild space she called home, she realized that maybe because thirty was coming up, she felt the need to explore. That might explain why she’d gone out with Trent. It had been a really bad decision, which she hoped this new idea wasn’t.
As she turned, she froze. Blinking a few times, she realized that what she was seeing was real. About two hundred feet from where she stood was a house. It was the type of big, old beaten down house that she would have loved to explore as a kid. As she started walking towards it, snapshots started coming to her like flashes where she couldn’t quite grab the images but heard the laughter of little kids giggling. She looked around.
There was a lone tree in front of the house. She found herself walking toward it and staring up into the high branches. She wasn’t sure what she expected but all she saw were the fresh green leaves that were just popping out.
She had a sense she’d stood under that tree many times but she wasn’t sure why. Turning, she made her way toward the house but rather than going in, she felt compelled to walk around it. A few hundred feet behind the house she could hear the soft gurgling of the creek, but that soon turned to a rushing sound, her mom crying and whispering and Tijan sitting under a tree crying and shivering. Her mom screaming.
Tijan pressed her hands to her head. This is where she’d lost her sister.
As she stared at the gentle, calm stream, she knew that it was deceiving. She’d seen it at its worst. There had been many spring floods that had ripped out trees and decimated the landscape. The last one she remembered had to be eight or ten years earlier. But she knew the day she had lost her sister it had to have been the same.
Sitting down on the bank, she hoped that she’d get some insight as to whether her sister was still really
alive or if the creek had taken her. Anguish filled her, her body vibrated with anxiety but there was no sense of life or death. She just got a sense of panic... of fear...
Something nudged her shoulder. She screamed and rolled to the side. Jumping to her feet, a little wild-eyed but ready to fight or flee, she blinked a few times as she looked into the soulful brown eyes of her horse. Her shoulders soon sagged with relief. Tango butted her again with her nose.
Tijan snorted as tears slipped down her cheeks. She grabbed Tango’s bridle and rested her forehead against Tango’s. “There is nothing here telling me she is alive. I don’t feel her here now, but I know she was here. Am I crazy, Tango? I saw a hand in a picture and want to believe it’s hers. How crazy is that? I think I’m losing my mind but I can’t shake that I have to go. I have to see for myself. My gut, my instinct, my insanity is telling me I don’t have a choice.”
Tango whinnied softly.
“You’re the closest thing I have to a sibling. But I really might have a sister. I can’t explain it, Tango, but I have to go. Maybe... maybe... I don’t know; maybe I just need to spread my wings and this is my excuse. I wish I could bring you with me. I’m scared of what I might find—or not find.”
~~~~
Only it hadn’t been a dream. It had been what had convinced her she’d had to find her sister. Could she really have found her? Bounding out of bed, she showered and donned the disguise she’d bought the day before. She was pretty sure her own mother wouldn’t know her.
Chapter 9
August pulled into the winery parking lot. He had a meeting in a few hours but thought he’d use some of his day off to look around. He’d snooped into Caspian Winery again. Anything that had been printed, he’d read it. Newspapers and the wine world spoke highly of it. It seemed to be well known and had existed for a long time—seventy plus years.
He loved working there. It had only been a few months but he was well-treated and he liked the young guy Perry he was working with. He had a bit of an attitude but nothing that August hadn’t seen before.
