by Jamie Begley
“Yes, well ….” Allerton turned a cold shoulder to Gavin. “Mrs. James, Soleil just stepped out to take a call from Jasper. She should return at any moment.”
“That reminds me,” Gavin interrupted, making it possible for everyone listening to overhear. “We’ve not had cell service since we’ve arrived. Our families will be concerned we haven’t called.”
“I will have to check into the matter in the morning.” Allerton took two glasses of wine from a passing waiter, giving one to Gavin then one to her, before reaching for another one for himself before dismissing the waiter.
“Come along, my dear,” Allerton said brusquely. “I want to introduce you to a few of your parents’ friends.”
Leaving them to follow him, they made their way to a small group. The two men and one woman smiled politely at their approach. Gavin’s firm grip on her hand kept her from approaching too closely.
“Mrs. James, I’ve been a fan of yours since I heard you sing in Nashville with Kaden Cross.”
“Amelia, give me time to introduce you,” Allerton scolded the woman. “I should have asked before. Which name do you prefer to be addressed with—Evangeline or Ginny?”
“Ginny,” she answered immediately.
“Ginny, this is Amelia Clark and her father, George. Amelia and George, this is Ginny and Gavin James.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Ginny said as Gavin nodded toward the father and daughter.
Allerton turned to the man standing next to George. “Desmond Beck is also a friend of your parents,” he introduced the charismatic man, who she had noticed when they entered the suite.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to hear you sing. I hope you won’t hold that against me.” The mesmerizing man gave Amelia an indulgent look, which had the attractive woman blushing, before turning his charming gaze on Ginny. “I promise, I will rectify the mistake when your next performance is scheduled.”
Ginny didn’t expect to take a liking to any in the group. However, Desmond was a surprise. He stood out like Gavin, exhibiting the same air of confidence that only certain types of men were able to achieve, regardless of wealth.
Her continued scrutiny of Desmond Beck had Gavin giving her a sharp look; Ginny smiled. Gavin might not be able to express his feelings for her with words, but he was like a dog, possessively watching over his favorite bone when other men paid attention to her.
“My singing days are over. I plan to concentrate on songwriting in the future.”
“Oh no, that can’t be true,” Amelia protested. “Your gift should be shared.”
“It will. Just in another way.”
Ginny wasn’t taken in by the woman’s flattery or by Desmond’s charm. She had prepared for years for this moment by studying the people whom Allerton called friends or business acquaintances. She wasn’t a gentle lamb being led to the slaughter without knowing the butchers who would receive a cut of her demise. What she couldn’t find out from media sources or computer searches, Hammer had filled in the gaps. He had prepared her from a young age what she would be up against when she came into contact with the monster.
And George Clark was just that monster. He might seem like the grandfatherly type, having his daughter Amelia later in life, but the tech tycoon was as cutthroat as any of the Predators. Yet, while the Predators were proficient at using guns and blades, Clark’s weapon of choice was a computer. He designed computer programs that correlated data from social platforms against internet searches that matched the user to products or social networks. Clark would then sell the data to the highest bidder. His software had been used to win elections, influence stock market prices, and destroy reputations.
His daughter had the same cutthroat attitude, except she’d disguised herself as genial, friendly, and the best BFF you could ever be fortunate to have. On the flip side of the coin, she would sell every secret entrusted to her, steal every dime you had, and take your boyfriend just because she could. She was beautiful, intelligent, and as cold-blooded as they came.
Looking over Amelia’s shoulder, Ginny saw an older woman standing outside on the balcony, talking on a cell phone. Tuning out the conversation going on between George and Desmond about golfing the next day, Ginny moved away from Gavin’s side to get a look at her mother.
“You don’t take after Soleil.”
She moved farther to the side of the window away from the small group, knowing Gavin followed at short distance behind her, but she didn’t take her gaze off her mother. “No, I don’t. T.A. looks more like her.”
Leisurely, Desmond broke of conversation with the Clarks to stroll closer to Gavin, eavesdropping into the conversation going on between her and Allerton. Remaining silent, the pair of men made her feel safeguarded. Ginny couldn’t explain why she felt the same vibe coming from Desmond as she did from Gavin. She had never met him before today, yet she felt comfortable in his presence.
A movement outside the window had her focusing back on Soleil. Her mother had the same curvy figure, hair color, and facial features as Trudy. The resemblance was startling.
She had deliberately avoided any public pictures of her parents, afraid it would bring back feelings of loss that she wouldn’t be able to deal with. Children were born with an innate bond to their mothers, and even though she’d been happy with the Colemans, she’d felt that lack of maternal influence. It was bad enough missing that emotional bond; she never wanted to make it worse by searching for pictures of a mother whom she wouldn’t be able to contact.
“Trudy may have Soleil’s looks, but not her brains. I think you inherited more than your share in that department.”
Every ounce in her being wanted to cut him down to size, which was exactly his goal. Allerton was trying to get under her guard to expose that she was closer to Trudy than she admitted.
“I didn’t take you for a man who judges a book by its cover.”
Allerton gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I couldn’t spot a winner or a loser.”
“I guess that makes Dalton Andrews better at spotting qualities than other men.”
Allerton gave a short, humorless laugh. “Touché, Evangeline.”
Ginny didn’t miss the name hit.
“Which effectively puts me in my place. You dislike me intensely, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t call it intensely. Intense involves hatred. I go back and forth between indifference and loathing.”
“That’s quite a range of emotions from a woman who has only been in my company briefly. It takes time or a specific reason to build those different levels.”
“I apologize. I should be thanking you for arranging this party for me to meet my mother.”
“I don’t need or want an apology, but I would appreciate a reason.”
“You don’t think me being called a thief is reason enough? You asked me to take a polygraph for something you said I did when I was three. Doesn’t it sound as asinine to you as it does to me?” Ginny carefully gauged how much irritation to exhibit in front of the monster. Not enough to seem over-the-top, but she wanted just enough to show indignation, hoping to confuse Allerton, since she had nearly slipped up defending Trudy. “Then you threaten to keep me captive on an island that I never knew existed before I took a DNA test.”
“Then I should be the one who should be making the apology. I’m not prone to using my authority on this island unless I’m left with no choice. I found it very distasteful to have to keep you here; still I must do what needs to be done to retrieve the artifact. Surely you can see my point, unless there is another reason you’re harboring a grievance toward me?”
Ginny gave an internal sigh. Allerton wasn’t buying her story that she didn’t remember going on the boat, and he was digging to find out if she’d seen what had happened to Manny and Gyi. The game of deception she was playing held her life and Gavin’s in the balance. Since it appeared her convincing wasn’t allaying his distrust, it was time to turn it up a
notch, or two.
“I’m actually more knowledgeable about you than you believe. A friend of mine has made it her life’s mission to uncover those who abuse the Earth’s natural resources to make a profit. You, and many of your friends, are on her list.”
Ginny was thankful that she was able to hide her smirk after seeing Allerton’s bewilderment; accusing him of misappropriating charity funds was a direct hit.
“The list,” Ginny said gravely, throwing more sand in his face to confuse his thinking. Ginny gave the performance of her life, and she didn’t have to sing a single word.
“What list?” he demanded, his voice rising.
“The list that Zoey Mathers gives out as the worst offenders to the environment. Have you ever heard of her?” Ginny was unaware of everyone stealthily moving closer to overhear their conversation.
“No, I can’t say I have.”
“I’m surprised. She has over a million followers. You should subscribe. She’s amazing. She does podcasts, too, which are very informative. That’s how I heard about you.”
“Please, go on …” Allerton’s complexion turned an ugly, ruddy color as she provoked his temper. “I’d like to hear more about this woman.”
“She’s a life coach. I’ll give you her name and number if you want to talk to her. She’s not accepting new clients but, for you, I’m sure she’d make an exception. Zoey is very accomplished at what she does.”
Ginny felt guilty for throwing Zoey under the bus, but reasoned that Stump and the Predators would keep her friend safe. Besides, the podcast was open to the public and could be easily searched. Hell, Zoey would be so ecstatic that she mentioned her to Allerton—she might even give her a free session.
“She couldn’t have been very effective if she’s the one who convinced you to stop performing, especially when your popularity is on the rise.”
Ginny nipped Allerton’s snide comment in the bud. “Because I want to write, she suggested I should focus more on what I want to accomplish, which isn’t singing but songwriting. My voice is nothing compared to other voices that can bring my songs to life. Would you like her number?”
“No … I’ll pass.”
“I don’t blame you. She wasn’t very complimentary to you. Besides, you probably already have her public contact information in the petitions that she has filed against your charity. I signed three of them. I would have signed the last one, but Zoey’s website was so overloaded with traffic that I couldn’t get on.”
“Ready for another drink, Gabriel?” Desmond Beck inserted himself in the conversation by taking Allerton’s empty glass and replacing it with a full one.
Regarding her as if she was an alien from another planet, Allerton downed the full glass.
Desmond suavely gave her a half bow. “I didn’t think I would live to see the day someone could make Gabriel lose his temper. I hope I’m not on Ms. Mathers’ list.” Desmond used his charm to defuse the tense situation, giving Allerton time to regroup, which was exactly what Ginny didn’t want. She wanted his emotions in an upheaval. Allerton acted like a goldfish, all tiny and innocent on the outside, but Ginny’s goal was to poke the hidden monster beneath.
“I can’t say for sure. You’ll have to check.” Ginny shrugged. “But I can save George and Amelia from having to search, as well as”—she gave an imperceptible gesture toward two men who stood to her left—“Mr. Emerson and his partner, Mr. Varela.”
“What did we do to make the list?” Aaron Emerson walked closer to the expanding group of irate listeners.
Satisfaction poured through her veins as Desmond’s attempt of defusing Allerton’s temper was rekindled by her drawing his cronies into the conversation.
“Well, it was something about a mother and child being killed when they were forced to cross a road that you built for your water trucks. There was a well you dug for them in exchange for your company purchasing their water rights—which you use to make bottled water to sell in different countries.”
“That was a miscalculation, which was rectified,” Aaron defensively explained as he loosened his expensive silk tie.
Ginny’s blood boiled at the young mother and child being classified as a “miscalculation.”
“How? Did you bring the mother and child back to life? Did you compensate her other two children and her husband?”
“We built a well closer to their village.”
“I’m sure that eased her family’s grief.” Ginny stared at him disdainfully.
The group of Allerton’s cronies sidled closer to Aaron in a show of support, like flies gathering over a pile of shit. The very people who had gathered here to amuse themselves as she was being brought to slaughter were now on the defense.
“It always comes down to money, doesn’t it?” Aaron’s glass of wine shook with anger. “Will millions of dollars bring them back?
“No price can be placed on a person’s life,” she answered her own question for him, “but at the very least, it might make you think twice about drilling a well near to where people can use it and don’t have to walk for two hours to get clean water, which, by the way, your company promised to do before the rights were sold. Instead, you used a loophole, built the wells where you didn’t have to use expensive machinery and then you had the gall to convince them you did it all out generosity and concern. But in reality, you didn’t make their lives easier, you made their lives hell holes. And those are the lucky ones. Other islands and towns, you convinced them you’d build schools for their children and provide teachers for them. I’m sure those countries and towns thought they hit the jackpot … until the wells you built were again too far away, and the schools were closed because they were too far for the children to walk to. Saves you money when the schools closed and you didn’t have to pay for the teachers and supplies. And what did you do with all of those water rights that the locals couldn’t use? We all know the answer to that.” Ginny waved her hand toward the cart that a waiter was pushing around with cans of soda and different brands of water. Then she dropped her hand and shrugged. “Or that’s what Zoey said in her podcast about you.”
“I have built over two hundred schools!”
“Would you like to know how many are still in operation?”
Aaron Emerson was so angry he seemed ready to chew his tongue off. It wasn’t a good look.
His partner, Abbott Varela, was in better control. “This Zoey person should be prepared for a letter from our lawyer. As her friend, you may inform her that we don’t take negative publicity lightly.”
“I would … if I had cell service.”
Ginny glanced toward Gavin at his snort of laughter. She was surprised he hadn’t stepped in to shut her up. Instead, she saw him tilt his wine glass at her in a salute, with Desmond chuckling beside him.
“Bravo, Mrs. James.” Desmond raised his wine glass toward her, imitating Gavin’s salute. “Your adoptive family benefited from our loss. It makes me wonder if you would’ve had the same outspokenness had you never been lost at sea.”
“Naturally, I’ve questioned the difference of the life I would have had.” Ginny looked around the room, taking in the occupants and the opulent surroundings.
“Have you come to any conclusions?” The female voice that came from the glass doorway of the balcony, silenced the room.
Ginny moved around Allerton to get a better view of her mother as she sauntered into the room. Desmond’s comments had eased the tense atmosphere she had created, while at the same time allowing Ginny a breather to check the emotions of being so close to her mother once again. The two-fold instinct to grab her mother in a tight hug, while on the other hand keeping a wary distance in place.
“Yes. Basically, the question comes down to nature versus nurture.” Ginny surveyed her mother and the spectators, taking in the glittering dresses, jewelry, and snobby attitudes of the women, as well as the designer suits and arrogant stances of the men How was she supposed to respond? She remembered just the bits and pieces of
the mother and father she’d known living in their little bungalow on Clindale. The woman standing in front of her sparked a spurt of fear inside her, yet Ginny couldn’t understand why. There was no hint of maternal emotion shining from Soleil, instead Ginny felt as if she was being examined like bug under a microscope. “My father told me early on I had been adopted. When I got in trouble, he would blame himself for not raising me right, while the times I did something especially well, he would say that trait must have come from my biological parents. My adoptive father had several children, and he homeschooled all of us. I have to admit, there were times I felt different from them, that I wasn’t as smart or … as special at doing things the way they could.
“There was this one day, I wasn’t able to do something that Leah, my sister, could do easily. I’ll never forget my dad’s response. He had all of us go outside to the yard to our garden, and he said, ‘You see that apple tree? When you pluck an apple, it will always be apple, no matter if you make a pie, candy, peel them, or let them rot. An apple will always be an apple.’ Then Freddy pointed to another tree and said, ‘You see that tree over yonder in that clay pot?’”
Ginny bit her lip, remembering him standing in that yard as if it were yesterday.
“‘That’s a Calamondin orange tree,’ he said. ‘You can use them to make jelly, candy, peel, or let them rot. An orange will always be an orange. I love them both, or I wouldn’t be putting my effort and care into growing them. Don’t matter that one’s harder to grow, gives as much fruit, or persnickety as heck, and some years, don’t give any fruit at all. The only difference between those trees to me is the apple tree is growing in soil, letting the roots spread out, while the orange tree is in a pot, keeping the roots nice and warm. Now, when we pluck those apples and oranges, are we going to be caring about those roots or are we just be going to be thanking God for blessing us with His harvest?’”
Ginny took in her mother’s appearance as she walked closer, from her perfectly styled hair, the pearl necklace she wore around her throat, her black cowl-neck satin slip-on dress, which was lovingly clinging to her body, to the high, black satin heels strapped on her feet; the look created a flawless impression of a woman who was as different as day and night from the mother she remembered. In that moment, Ginny felt a deep sense of loss, as if she just found out someone died, because nowhere within the woman staring at her was a mother excited to see the daughter she hadn’t laid eyes on in decades.
