by Caleb Borne
“Completely?”
“Yes. And establish some sort of trust fund to keep it running, along with the house, in case something happens to me. You know where to draw the funds.”
“Yes, I do. Do you want a clause that revokes the ownership should the two of you divorce?”
I looked at him blackly. “Why would we divorce. A Quinn never divorces.”
“No, no of course not,” Saul tried to recover quickly. “Do we make a clause regarding your heirs?”
“She is my heir. If that changes, I will let you know. Now, I want NDAs drawn up for the names on this list—but not until you’ve done a background check, talked to references, and so forth. You know what to do.”
“Of course. Anything else?”
I paused. “Yes. Set up a trust fund that disperses a weekly allowance, say a hundred dollars, to this man.” I scribbled it on a small note sheet from his desk.
“Related to you?”
“Yes. My brother.”
“Very well. Can you give me an address?”
“Put a man on to find him. He’s here in the States and he may be connected to some trouble. He’s not to touch the trust except for the automatic allowance each week. Is that clear?”
“Very. Consider it done.”
“One more thing. I want to know what your man finds. I’m going to re-open my office in town. The same place where I was before. All contact is to go through that office. You’re not to call my phone. Understood?”
“Completely.”
I stood up and without another handshake or parting remark—I left.
* * *
I pulled into the drive and noticed we had guests. One car I recognized belonged to the interior designer. I would have to ask her to keep to the back. I preferred that only Katie or I park in front. There was another car—one that looked like a rental.
Opening the front door, Katie met me in the foyer. She was looking over her shoulder, obviously upset. I took her forearm and pulled her into what would be a parlor. “What’s wrong, darlin’? You look upset.”
She nodded, looking over her shoulder again. “Elizabeth, the designer arrived after you left and there have been trucks coming and going all day with furniture.”
“But, surely you expected that.”
“I did, but in the middle of all that, the doorbell rang, and I went to open the door, thinking it was another delivery. It wasn’t.”
“Katie, calm down. What or who was it?”
“It was Della, but she wasn’t alone. Colin was with her.”
“Damn! Is there anything to sit on in my office?”
“Yes, it’s the first room I had them do. You have a desk, chairs and the phone company just left.”
“Give me a minute and then take your friend outside to the patio.”
She nodded.
I gave her a quick kiss and headed through the house where I finally found Colin sitting with an attractive, dark-haired woman. There were a few pieces of furniture there, but he’d found the liquor. I nodded to the woman. Turning, I acknowledged, “Colin. Will you join me?”
“And a good day to you, brother. I’d be honored,” Colin answered, emptying his drink and pushing the glass clumsily onto a coffee table where it slid off the edge and broke onto the carpet. He looked up to me. “Oops,” was his cocky apology.
Turning on my heel, I went in search of my office down the hall. Luckily, it was the first door on the right. I showed Colin to the opposing chair and sat down at my new desk. “What do you want?”
“Ahhhh,” he grinned, “a man o’ business. ‘Tis good, it is. You see, I’ve found ye again. Of course, the beauteous Miss Tannon aided me there. A good friend to the newest Mrs. Quinn, I understand. Congrats, me boy. Ye’ve landed a pretty one.”
“Get to the point!”
“I’ve nowhere to stay. And you, here with all these bedrooms. Surely, ye can find a wee corner for yer lil’ brother.”
“I don’t want you here, Colin. Not you and not the company you keep. This is for my family. I’ll get you an apartment in town if you stay away.”
“Hmmm… I don’t know. Always wanted to live with the animals, as ye have here. I think I’d be happier here, with me family, so to speak.”
“I think not.”
“Oh, I think ye will, less the new Mrs. Quinn learn how her husband came to have all this money.”
“Damn you, Colin!”
“Oh, now, me boy. Surely, you don’t begrudge yer kin a bit of a taste of what ye’ve built here.”
“Colin, I’m warning you.”
Colin’s face blackened, his eyebrows pressing downward as he growled. “I’ll not argue wit’ ye, Michael. “Tis my new home, as well.”
“Get out.”
Colin relaxed, the sarcastic grin returning to his face. “Of course. Ye’ll need time to prepare me rooms. I’ll wait with the ladies. Good to see you, me dear brother.”
Kathleen
“Della.”
“Katie, is this really yours?”
“I see word travels fast. I thought you were staying in California.”
“You might say I found a diversion that was more inviting.”
“You’re referring to Colin?”
“Who else?”
“Della, he’s not who you think he is. Beneath that brogue is an unscrupulous man.”
“You’re just jealous.”
“Hardly. Michael is all the man I’ve ever wanted.”
“I can see that,” she replied, spreading her arms to sweep the rooms.
“What’s happened to you, Della? You’re not the girl I’ve known all these years. You used to be sweet and innocent. You don’t even look the same. What would the nuns say if they could see you now? A neckline that’ll have you falling onto the dinner plate if you’re not careful, all that jewelry, perfume so strong I smelled you from across the house.”
“Colin likes it.”
“Which proves my point. If he cared about you, he wouldn’t let you display yourself like that to other men. Have you considered that?”
“What do you care, anyway? You left Hollywood no better off than you went, except maybe a little richer, judging by this house.”
I took a seat opposite her, checking to make sure Michael’s office door was still closed. “Della, don’t you remember the good times? The debutante ball and the late night talks at St. Elizabeth’s? Butch and all the other beaus you had.”
“They were never mine, you fool. They hung around to be closer to you, like losers who hoped to pick you up on the rebound from someone else.” She cocked her head. “You never even saw it, did you?”
Things were quickly headed south. “Della, let’s not quarrel. What you do with your life really is none of my business.”
“I’m glad you realize that.”
I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a comeback. Della dealt with conversation like a tennis player—leading you closer and closer to the net until she could whack the ball over your head to win the game. I’d seen her do it many times. I knew her. I changed the subject. “How long have you been back?”
“Just flew in this morning.”
“I’ll bet your mama was happy to see you.”
“Haven’t been there yet. Colin wanted to come here straight-away.”
“How did you know we were living here?”
“Colin knows things. Don’t ever sell him short, Katie.”
A shudder ran through me. There was something intrinsically dangerous about Colin, but who knew him better than his brother, my husband. Michael would protect me. I tried another path. “Did you like Hollywood?”
“Oh, it was quickly becoming boring, until I met Colin, that is.”
“Yes, how did that happen?”
“He came looking for you, actually. My guess was he was trying to find his brother. I offered him to hang around by the pool to wait, we had a few drinks and one thing led to another.”
“Della! You didn’t!”
>
“And why shouldn’t I? He wanted me.”
“Della, there are a million men more deserving of you. You’re a prize, don’t you see that?”
I heard the office door click open then and Colin’s voice, although I couldn’t pick out the words. I turned to see him emerge from the darkened hallway into the room where we were sitting. “Della, me darlin’, get your purse and I’ll be takin’ ye home to yer mother.”
She made a curious sound of disbelief. “I thought we’d get a room for the night and then an apartment?” She remembered herself then, and my words. “Oh, just for tonight then. Yes, of course. I should go and visit my mama.”
“Ah, no, me darlin’. I be movin’ in here at my brother’s kind invitation.” He looked over his shoulder and I saw Michael advancing in the shadows behind him, a thunderous look on his face. “I’ll be takin’ ye home fer now. Get yer bag.”
Della was beside herself and when I looked at her face, I could see that same calculating look I’d seen so often before. She was comparing options in her mind, trying to stack the facts in the way that would give her a positive outcome. I smiled at her sweetly. “Give your mama my regards, Della. It was lovely to see you again.” In my mind I was damning Colin for his conniving. I couldn’t wait until they left, so I could question Michael.
Michael walked them to the door, opening it and shutting it loudly behind Colin once they’d cleared it.
“Michael?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He pushed open the slider and sat down on an aluminum lounge chair beneath the turquoise umbrella.
I did want to talk about it, however. I was out the door right behind him.
“Michael—”
“Before you say a thing, I’m not going to discuss it. I know Colin is not your favorite person, nor mine. This was… unavoidable. He’ll be back. Give him the suite at the end of the opposite wing. Alert the staff and I’ll be calling a locksmith to put locking knobs on all our personal doors. Make a habit of keeping your door locked.”
“Now, wait just a minute. This is my home. You said it belonged to me. Why should I live behind closed doors?”
“Because I said so!” he shouted and shot out of the lounge like a rocket, striding toward the stables. I stood behind him, shocked, as the tears welled up in my eyes. I stood that way for a very long time, hoping he’d turn around. Hoping he’d come running back and swing me into his arms and take me up to the skimpy bedroom and make love to me. I hoped… but it didn’t happen. All I saw, was his back.
Michael
Inside, I felt like I was going to explode. At Colin for manipulating me into that position and at myself, for blowing up on Katie. She had every right to know what was going on and I hated that Colin was making that impossible. I couldn’t tell her. I had to impress on her how important it was to stay away from Colin, for her sake, as well as my own. Damn him!
Walking around the house to avoid Katie, I got into my car and headed in to see Saul Bloomstein.
“You can drop the manhunt. He was at my home when I got there.”
Bloomstein took off his glasses and pulled a folder from his drawer. “I’ve already made a few calls and made some notes. I was planning to have them typed once they were complete and then give you a call.”
“Give me the gist.”
“Michael, I’m sorry to tell you this but your brother keeps some rather unfortunate company.” He looked me in the eyes. “Seriously unfortunate. Do you get my drift?”
“Yes. I suspected as much. Now, like a plague, he’s brought them to my step.”
“Let’s just say, I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. Have they approached you? Colin owes substantial sums of money to several… uh… parties.”
“Not face to face, but they’ve made their presence known, so to speak. I had no doubt they were after him and I’m guessing they’ve let him off he leash long enough to tag me. There’s more to be gained.”
Bloomstein slid his glasses back on. “Well, I’m glad to hear you’re taking this seriously. So, where will he be staying?”
“At the estate.”
He cleared his throat before asking, “Do you think that’s wise?”
“Not only do I not think it wise, it wasn’t my idea and I’m having locks installed throughout the house. Had a big row over it with Katie before I came.”
“I see,” he answered, settling back in his chair, matching his palms as he thought. “Obviously, you’d rather he not be around. There are ways of handling these things, depending on your conscience.”
“No. If harm comes to Colin, it will be his doing, not mine.”
Bloomstein nodded. “Very well. Let me know how I may be of service and we’ll take it from there.”
“I need security. A bodyguard for me and one for my wife, but she’s not to know she’s being followed.”
He nodded. “That won’t be as easy as you might think. Not many people outside that special group are willing to go up against them.”
I rolled my head in aggravation. “They can’t be running everything.”
“No, there are some ex-military boy scouts out there. Let me do some asking around.”
“Today, not tomorrow,” I emphasized on my way out the door.
* * *
Sunlight blinded me as I let the door slam behind me to Al’s Pawn Shop. In my pocket was a .32 Special. Next to it rode a box of bullets. The sidewalk was littered with paper coffee cups, cigarette butts and the bodily excretions that had spewed from desperate men during desperate times. It felt like my home in Ireland; I knew my way around. No one would know I’d bought it, and I knew how to carry it, so they didn’t find out.
It was open season, but it wouldn’t be me they’d hunt.
Kathleen
Every time I walked into the house, it looked different. Elizabeth had decorated and re-decorated so many times, we were stacking discarded furnishings in the basement.
Izzy held out the phone as she peeked around the kitchen doorway. “It’s your mother.”
I took it, smiling my thanks at Izzy. “Mother. How are you? I haven’t seen you or Daddy in forever.”
“I was calling to say the same thing. Katie, your friend, Della, has been by for coffee and tells me the most horrid stories about you. I must say, you’ve fallen from where you were in social standing.”
“Mother, why not come over to The Hill? I’d love for you to see the work of Elizabeth, our designer. How about tea this afternoon?”
“I suppose I could. You do need someone to straighten you out, after all.”
“Yes, Mother, come and straighten me out,” I answered, a smile on my face.
She hung up and I handed the phone back to Izzy. “Could you make some of those little petit fours and tea for four o’clock and set it up on the patio?”
“Certainly. Are we out to impress?”
“We are, indeed,” I agreed as I headed upstairs to find Michael. He’d been out in the pastures earlier that morning and was showering. I tapped on the door and then used my key to go in. “It’s me.”
“Hello, me.”
I crossed the room and used my tongue to lick the water from his damp chest.
“You’re killing me, you know. I have an appointment.”
“Darn! I was hoping I was it. I miss you.”
“Things will get better. I promise.”
“Will he be here forever?”
“Leave it to me, Katie. Put it out of your mind and stay away from him.”
“I’m doing the best I can but he tends to follow me when I’m downstairs in the common rooms.”
“There will be a young woman coming this afternoon. Her name is Penny Miller. I want you to treat her like an old friend, particularly in front of Colin. She is someone I’ve hired to keep an eye on you.”
I sat down abruptly on the end of the bed. “What do you mean? How is she going to protect me?”
“She wears a weapon and is a former government agent. She
can handle herself and will make sure you’re safe.”
“Michael, I don’t like that idea. Having locked doors is bad enough, but now a security guard following me around? My mother is coming for tea this afternoon so I can show off our home. How am I supposed to explain this woman to my mother? She knows everyone I know.”
“What time is your mother coming?”
“For tea at four o’clock.”
“Penny will be here by two. She’ll walk you through preparing a reliable story. Most likely she’ll suggest she’s someone you met in California and invited to come visit.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think this is going to work. What I don’t understand is why you don’t just have one of those restraining orders put on Colin and have the authorities keep him away.”
Michael sat down next to me, taking my hand in his. “You don’t understand the ramifications of this. I don’t blame you; you don’t have all the information. You’ll have to trust me when I say that Colin kept happy is far easier than making him angry and risking the wrath of his friends.”
“What friends?”
He stared at me and finally, the identity of who he was talking about struck me. “You don’t mean…”
“Just do as I told you.” He stood up and began dressing, a fierce look of determination on his face. I sat there, feeling vulnerable and excluded. Michael gave me a perfunctory kiss on the cheek before leaving. The lock clicked and I felt as though I was in a cell.
* * *
“Where did you find this Elizabeth?” Mother queried, a look of disapproval already fixed on her face.
“She came highly recommended. Her studio has won major awards. She’s been on the cover of local design magazines.”
Mother’s lower lip extended, indicating she was impressed. “I see. Fond of that awful shade of turquoise, wasn’t she?”
“Mother, it’s very trendy. Michael and I don’t run in your crowd. I didn’t want heavily carved woods, cumbersome furniture and dark drapes. We’re young and I love the light. You should see the sky through those sliders when a storm comes in. It takes my breath away.”