by Emery, Lynn
“And spoil your figure? I will not be a party to such indulgence.” Clarice did not flinch at the glare her words brought. “No, we’ll go shopping.”
“Mother,” Lanessa groaned.
“With your father’s platinum credit card,” Clarice said in a tempting way.
“I don’t feel up to it.” Lanessa sighed. For the past two weeks, she had not gone anywhere except business meetings and the library.
Clarice shook her head slowly. “Now you’ve really got me concerned. You don’t want to spend a man’s money?” She had a twinkle in her eye.
“Stop that.” Lanessa tried to smile but the heaviness in her heart prevented it.
“Okay. Let’s have a serious talk.”
Clarice did what was traditional on both sides of their family. She put fresh strong coffee in their cups and sat next to Lanessa. This was a sign in the Pellerin and Hawthorne clans that solemn business was afoot.
“I don’t want to.” Lanessa started to get up but Clarice pulled her back down into the oak chair.
“Oh no, cher. You listen to your Monmon. It’s the only way you’ll feel better.” Clarice patted her hand. “Now let’s start with the facts. You spent more time working than with Alex.”
“Wait a minute!” Lanessa protested.
“Did you break dates? Showed up late and didn’t call? You don’t have to say anything. That guilty look answers for you.”
“You’re telling me my work isn’t important? You were the one who always told me get to know the people who can help. ‘Get out and socialize’ you said.” Lanessa met her gaze boldly.
“Well… yes,” Clarice admitted.
“Accepting social invitations is a form of customer relations you said.”
“That’s true. But—”
“And that’s what I did. You know how I’ve gotten three major contracts in the last eight months? By making contacts at dinner parties and receptions for all kinds of events, art exhibits or charity fund drives,” Lanessa said.
“I see your point. But don’t try to fool me, Lanessa Elise.” Clarice waggled a forefinger under her nose. “You went to more parties than you really had to.” She fixed her with a discerning stare that made Lanessa look away.
“Those parties were attended by people I needed to meet,” Lanessa said weakly.
“Ha! Nice try.” Clarice patted her hand again.
“Since you were a little girl, you’ve loved going to parties. Dressy or casual, it didn’t matter.”
“And Alex has always been into quiet evenings at home or poetry readings.” Lanessa looked at her mother. “We’ve got basic differences. So maybe the other two breakups were a sign that we didn’t belong together.”
Lanessa felt a deep sadness. Alex gave her the kind of joy no other man could. Emotionally and physically, he sent her soaring into the outer limits of happiness. Lanessa waited for her mother to refute her. She really needed Clarice to tell her she was wrong now.
“If you ask me, I think you both need to grow up and give a little.” Clarice let go of her hand. She sipped her coffee and sat quiet for a few moments. “You think me and Alton stayed together thirty-seven years by accident? No indeed! Compromise.”
“You and daddy have more in common.” Lanessa pushed away vain hopes and saw clearly for the first time. “Alex keeps hoping I’ll change and I keep trying to change him.”
Clarice wore a sober expression. “You’ve got a terrible final tone in your voice.”
“I’m not willing to give up my career just when it’s taking off.” Lanessa sat up straight. “And that’s what Alex wants.”
“You and Alex need to have a long talk before you—”
“We did. The day after our big fight,” Lanessa murmured. The memory of it was another cold splash of reality in her face.
Alex had been distant and unyielding. Lanessa resented his self-righteous demeanor. He was standing in judgment of her. It was as though he expected her to atone for the past by giving up her future. Alex had not forgiven or forgotten.
“And I can’t live the rest of my life saying I’m sorry,” Lanessa said.
There it was, the true core of their problem. The past could not be overcome. Alex needed her to prove she was not the same. Yet she was in some important ways. So was he.
“So you’re not going to see him anymore?” Clarice looked at her with her head tilted sideways.
“No. I’m not.” Lanessa’s voice wavered only a little. “And it’s not the end of the world, Mother.”
“Not exactly but…” Clarice looked worried about her.
“I’ve finally gotten a life I’m proud of. That’s a helluva lot more than I had three years ago.” Lanessa lifted her head and looked her mother in the eye. “And I’m going to keep going.”
***
“Robyn, where is that darn—” Lanessa spotted the legal pad on the table next to the computer. “Never mind.”
“Boss lady, you need to take a break.” Robyn darted out of the room and came back with a plate of cinnamon rolls. “Here we go. Enough sugar will smooth out the roughest morning.”
“No thanks.” Lanessa kept reviewing the figures in front of her.
“Come on now. We’ve got a head start on two projects and just finished one. I think we can take a little time to celebrate?” Robyn waved the plate in front of her nose.
Lanessa could smell the cinnamon from the still warm treats. “Cut it out. I’ve been eating too much as it is.” She tried but could not resist looking at them.
“The icing is still soft,” Robyn said with a grin. “Just the way we like it.”
“Gimme!” Lanessa waved the white flag and grabbed one. “You’re truly diabolical. Beneath that angelic face is a rascal.” She spoke between chews.
“Like I had to twist your arm,” Robyn quipped.
“Did you get the last report from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries?” Lanessa still did not stop thinking about work. It kept her mind off other things.
“Right here. You know, I have a weird idea.” Robyn dabbed icing from her chin. “I wonder if Paxton-Waite has some kind of government contract. Federal I mean.”
“We’d have known.” Lanessa sat back in her chair. “But what made you think of it?”
“Well, the way they’re so undercover with this plant. Companies with defense contracts have to be security conscious.”
“That’s true. We could search the list of contractors approved to do business with the Feds.” Lanessa mentally ran through a list of sources for such information. “But I’ve haven’t seen anything pointing to the main company or any of its divisions dealing with a government agency.” Lanessa almost knew every page of research by memory. “All of it is with other companies, American and foreign.”
“Yeah, it’s a long shot. Just seems strange though.” Robyn shrugged. She wiped her hands and picked up a stack of brown folders.
“Strange.” Lanessa sat rocking back and forth in her chair for a few minutes. She did not go back to her current project.
“I’ll be at my desk. I’m going to start going through these to pull out all the references you need.” Robyn tapped the files she held. “I love this job. I get to read up on all kinds of things. One week it’s water routes in St. James Parish, then we’re doing research on the latest medical procedures.” She left humming.
Lanessa smiled. They were two of a kind. Digging through haystacks to sort out just the needles other people wanted gave them a rush. Lanessa often wondered if she should study for a private investigator’s license. It would give her even more of an edge over other consulting services. She liked puzzles, the harder the better. Too bad she could not figure out the most difficult one. The smile evaporated from her face. No matter what time of day or what she was doing, her thoughts always turned back to Alex. As bad as she felt emotionally, her body craved him even more. Making love to him left her fully satisfied in every way a woman could be satisfied. He was tender and thoughtful, som
eone she could count on. Then her thoughts of him turned sour. The angry little voice came on to counter the sentimental side that still wanted him. That same steady, traditional side is what made him rigid and judgmental. There was a down side to Mr. Stability.
“Well you can forget it, pal. I’m not going to be the one who always has to give in,” Lanessa said vehemently.
“Say what?” Robyn stood at the file cabinet. She looked at Lanessa with a curious expression.
“Nothing.” Lanessa cleared her throat. “Nothing. I was just talking to myself.”
“Too many hours working will do that to you,” Robyn said. She went back to pulling files.
“Thinking aloud is a sign of genius,” Lanessa tossed back at her.
“Well if you ask me—“
“I didn’t,” Lanessa broke in.
“You should use those maps from the state to plan a relaxing vacation.” Robyn paid no attention to Lanessa’s testy response. “Look here. The state parks are all laid out.”
“Yeah, yeah. Lovely.” Lanessa had gone back to the piles of paper in front of her.
“Fountainbleau on Lake Ponchatrain is supposed to be gorgeous. Look at all the scenic water ways.” Robyn unfolded a large map and pointed to an area northeast of Lake Des Allemands. “Why you could follow the same route early French and Spanish settlers took. The bayous and streams are stunning.”
“Uh-huh. Did you go to the medical web site we talked about?”
“Yes.” Robyn walked closer to her with the map. “And look, these waterways can take you to the port or straight to the Gulf if you want.”
“How interesting.” Lanessa did not look up.
“No wonder Jean Lafitte was able to smuggle and plunder. It’s like a giant wet maze in there.” Robyn looked at the wall. “I think we should put this on the wall.”
Lanessa dropped the sheet she was holding and looked at her. “Repeat what you just said.”
“I said we should put this map on the wall. It’s invaluable with all the landmarks—”
“No, no. Right before that. About a maze.” Lanessa sat still.
“Oh, just that these streams and bayous crisscross all along here. See? They go to New Orleans. There’s a state park at Grand Isle, too!” Robyn said excited at her discovery.
“Waterways with barges that go to ports around Grand Isle, Pointe A La Hache, Lake Borgne-everywhere. They’re everywhere!” Lanessa stood up and crossed to stare at the blue lines that indicated water on the map.
“Right.”
“That’s it. That’s gotta be it.” Lanessa snatched it from Robyn’s hands.
Robyn gave her a strange look. “Maybe you had too much sugar on an empty stomach.”
“I’m not freaking out. Wait a minute.”
Lanessa strode to the wall opposite her desk. She hastily took down two framed prints. She gestured to Robyn that she needed help. In short order the map was pinned to the wall.
“Boss lady, I was going to have this thing framed and mounted properly.” Robyn shook her head. “These push pins are going to leave holes.”
“Never mind that. Now look.” Lanessa pointed to a place in St. James Parish. “This is where Paxton-Waite is going to build. Right near where Lake Des Allemands flows into this river.”
“The Cataouatche. So?” Robyn lifted a shoulder. “It’s been there for a several hundred years.”
“And Dawson is trying to get around certain regs that have to do with barge traffic. He wants a way to move his goods easier.” Lanessa stared at the map. It was doing a good job of showing her the way right now.
“Him and about two dozen other big businessmen I’ll bet.”
“But I think he wants more than just that. You mentioned Jean Lafitte.” Lanessa turned to Robyn. “I think he wants fewer eyes on his goods because of what he’s shipping.”
“Hold on. You’re saying he’s a smuggler?” Robyn gasped. “Drugs, no maybe guns! Both,” she whispered.
“You’ve been watching too many cop shows.” Lanessa chuckled. “No, the answer is in what their plant will manufacture.”
“We could use a mechanical engineer with lots of computer expertise.”
Lanessa nodded absentmindedly. “Somebody who’s worked in a plant. Maybe a chemical engineer.”
“I’ll be Mr. St. Romaine could help,” Robyn said. She nodded eagerly.
“Sure. If we were still speaking to each other,” Lanessa blurted out without thinking. A stab of grief went through her. She took a deep breath and exhaled. She would not allow it to take hold again. “Forget him. I’ll call Dondré Littleton.”
“Sorry.” Robyn wore a look of sympathy. “I’ll get his number.” She hurried out and came back with a card from the Rolodex ®.
Dondré Littleton was a sharp young chemical engineer who had graduated from Southern University with top honors. He’d helped Lanessa out when she was working for the state legislature.
“Now we’ll take another look at Franklin Enterprises.” Lanessa shifted her focus from her own pain. She thought of Yasmin and how Charles Metoyer had tried to use her.
“I don’t get how this all ties up.” Robyn sat down at the worktable next to the computer.
“Neither do I. But I will.” Lanessa picked up the telephone receiver. “I plan to know a lot more very soon.”
Robyn looked at her. “Are we sure we want to make Charles Metoyer mad at us?”
“Why is everybody so jumpy?” Lanessa punched in Dondré’s phone number. “All I’m doing is asking a few questions. And depending on what I find out, he’s the one who should be worried.”
Lanessa was tired of feeling downtrodden and picked on. She wanted to make someone pay. Charles Metoyer was an attractive target after what he’d done to Yasmin. Getting to the truth on Paxton-Waite was the real prize. Giving a Metoyer a swift kick would be lagniappe.
Chapter 14
Alex sat facing the window in front of his drawing table. Golden sunlight painted the side of the building outside. A slight breeze stirred the ash and oak trees. The sunset promised to be spectacular. It reminded him of another day. A long, lazy afternoon in the country with Lanessa. Alex shook his head to clear it. Somehow he had to stop going back there.
His wall clock said it was five. Quitting time on a Friday. Everyone was moving out, eager to begin another weekend. He was in no hurry to leave. Once more he tried to concentrate on the task at hand.
“Say man, thanks again for the job,” Evan said. “You know I’m grateful.”
“Sure. Let’s go over these relay points again.” Alex got out a manual of specifications.
“Uh, Alex, it’s the weekend.” Evan wore a look of happy anticipation. “And I’ve got plans.”
“Oh. Well…” Alex drummed his fingers for a few seconds. “Another hour won’t hurt. Look at this.”
“You’ll do anything to avoid facing that empty house. Or maybe the phone that won’t ring.” Evan shook his head.
“Don’t start—“
“Oh no. I won’t say what you already know. But at least don’t sit around alone with your chin on the floor.” Evan slapped him on the back. “So you and Lanessa are finished. Okay, I’m going to be a real pal and help you move on.”
“No.” Alex was not ready for the dating game.
“Toni wouldn’t mind doubling up,” Evan went on.
“What is this, high school? No double dates, no blind dates. Forget it.” Alex dropped the manual he held with a loud.
“It’s forgotten.” Evan held up both hands in surrender. “Don’t explode on me.”
Alex let out a harsh breath. “Sorry. Man! Why did I let her back in?”
“Because every few dozen women you meet, there is one that pushes you over the edge with just a look. Guess Lanessa is that one for you.” Evan perched on the edge of his desk.
“But I should have known.” Alex had said this to himself at least a hundred times in the last few weeks.
“Yeah, well…” Ev
an rubbed his jaw.
Alex looked at him through narrowed eyes. “I know that tone. Say it.”
“Straight to the truth?”
“As always.” Alex could always count on Evan to be frank, even if it stung.
“It’s a physical thing that sets you off. Combine that with that sassy personality she’s got and ka-pow!” Evan shrugged his muscular shoulders. “She shakes you right out of that stable, buttoned-down life of yours.”
“You make it sound as though I’m some sex machine on auto pilot.” Alex frowned to cover his chagrin. Evan’s assessment hit the target like a steel tipped arrow.
Lanessa could smile and send his mind off in all kinds of erotic directions. Every word, every gesture was foreplay. He’d never experience sex with anyone else that left him exhausted and dreaming of the next time at once.
Yet it was more than physical. He wanted to hear her voice, to talk to her about what was important in his life. Alex wanted to share the little things and big things with her. Their angry exchange came back to him in an instant. Lanessa did not want to meet him half way. She wouldn’t even take a few steps toward him. He’d offered her his life, and look what it got him.
“Okay so you’re right. But we need more to build a life together.” Alex put away heated thoughts of her lips and the smell of her skin. He went back into practical family man mode.
“Sure you weren’t too hard on her?” Evan gazed at him.
“What are you talking about?” Alex said.
“I got the impression she had to pass some kinda test,” Evan wore an earnest expression.
“I… You know what she put me through, man.” Alex rubbed a hand over his face. “Drinking, mood swings, you name it.”
“And you wanted her to prove herself. Maybe the kids picked up on your attitude?” Evan said in a careful, diplomatic voice. “Look man, I’m not jumping on you about it. In fact, it’s understandable. Maybe this should be the final break.”
“I keep thinking that myself.” Alex could have added he felt it was final between bouts of wanting her like crazy.
“You don’t sound too sure.”
Alex gazed out the window again. “Everyday I’m more sure.” That was the problem.