A Toy for Christmas

by Mary Jane Forbes

  Geoff shrugged, grunted. “I’ll believe it when you move out of that firetrap.”

  Dottie didn’t hear the altercation. She was watching her son, a smile crossing his face—a smile trying to impress Janet no doubt.

  Manny and Liz hustled up to Frank, both pumping his hand wishing him well in Las Vegas.

  Frank tapped his glass to get the groups attention.

  “Okay, everyone, I have an announcement about our future plans. Have a seat. Dad, it’s time to share with you the implementation of our business plan,” Frank said grinning.

  And setting down his half glass of champagne he said “Just how do you see a rollout of a business plan. Isn’t that a bit premature?” His forehead furrowing above his bushy eyebrows. He didn’t sit, preferring to stand, arms crossed over his chest.

  “Premature? No way. I see Mercury making a splash, especially with the three of us as featured speakers. We’ll need office space, a place to showcase our drones as the perfect tool for real estate marketing, for construction site monitoring, problem solving in agriculture. Monitoring monthly crop growth…needing fertilizer, water. And then there is the ability to aid police investigations…seeing things the detective doesn’t pick up.” He nodded to Manny and Liz. “Mercury is well positioned to take over the market at the low end. And Pigeon primed for holiday sales. But that’s just a start, a stepping stone for us to enter the next phase of the business, and the next. The first step of the implementation of the plan starts tomorrow morning. My partners and are catching the first flight out to Vegas.”

  “That’s a very grand vision, Frank,” Geoff said.

  Frank didn’t respond to the negative vibes shooting at him.

  Geoff wasn’t finished. “A vision that will take more money, lots more money. Employees, a building, office and manufacturing space. You can’t expect me to fund—”

  “Buyers, Dad. I expect lots of buyers to step forward before the end of the conference. I’ve arranged interviews with candidates to fill marketing and purchasing positions. You haven’t asked me why I invited Janet today.”

  “I thought she’s a new friend of yours,” Dottie said. “A very nice—”

  “I invited her to fly down from New York City to meet us, to see the potential of Mercury, to consider joining us as head of Administration. She’s more than qualified to handle all the details of a startup ready to burst on the scene. Of course, she hasn’t accepted yet,” he said smiling at Janet. She remained mum on his offer but did return his smile.

  Geoff’s eyes closed to slits. He set the empty champagne flute down on the table, turned on his heel, and marched into his home office leaving Frank’s words drifting away in his wake.

  “Well, that does sound ambitious, son,” Dottie said.

  “Hold on, Dad,” Charley called out stopping him in his tracks. I too have plans. In fact, I chopped off the last half of Kingman. I’m now Charley King. New career, new name.”

  “Oh, Charley, no!” her mother gasped.

  “Oh, Mother, yes! And I support my brother, Frank Kingman, all the way. I gotta run. See you all later.” Charley lifted her head turning away from her father and strode off the terrace, into the house, and out of the house. The door slamming reverberated to the terrace.

  “Oh dear. Hold on everyone. Hildy just brought out some pastries. Fresh coffee in the carafe. Come on, Janet, you and I can start. Then we’ll sit and chat.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Kingman.”

  “Please, dear, call me Dottie.”

  Jane tapped Bernard on the arm. “Can I fix you a plate…some coffee?”

  “Yes, my dear, and I’d like to chat with your niece and her husband. Get their thoughts about a drone as a crime fighter.”

  Frank retrieved his cell. He had an incoming call and stepped to the edge of the terrace. He had no intention of being overheard.

  “Frank, when are you arriving in Vegas?”

  “The guys and I leave in the morning. I’ll catch up with you as soon as I can. In the meantime, keep in touch by phone.”

  “You got it brother.”

  Chapter 19

  ────

  IT WAS BURNING HOT if you stood in the sun’s rays. The beginning of June felt like the middle of an August heat wave. Dottie, Liz, and Janet chose to sit at a table shaded from the late-morning sun under the green umbrella.

  Jane and Bernard sat comfortably side by side in a love seat looking out a wall of picture windows in the air-conditioned house. “Bernard, how are you feeling after that nasty spell?”

  “Like my old self, my dear.”

  “Any news from the doctor about the tests?”

  “Not a peep,” Bernard said.

  “That was certainly an ugly exchange between Charley and Geoff. I was surprised she felt so strongly about him that she changed her name. Quite a blow to Geoff, changing her last name, I would imagine.”

  “Those feelings have been building inside of her. The sad part is I don’t believe Geoff has a clue as to what he’s done, always belittling her efforts to please him.” Without turning his head, he clasped Jane’s hand. “It’s nice sitting here with you, Janie,” Bernard said squeezing her hand.

  “I always was a sucker for a pilot,” she said squeezing his hand in turn.

  ────

  Dottie smiled sweetly at her guests. “I’m so glad Frank invited you out to the beach house, Janet. It can be lonely now that both Frank and Charley have moved out…temporarily, I hope.”

  “You have a lovely home. The view of the ocean is spectacular, only a couple of houses down the way,” Janet said glancing over her shoulder.

  “What does your father do—military?” Liz asked.

  “No, no. He’s a gardener—he calls it a landscaper, and my mom is, was a seamstress. Arthritis brought that to a halt. That’s why the ROTC scholar—”

  “Utah. My, my. I visited the Grand Canyon once. My parents took me out West on a vacation with them. Those deep red canyons made quite an impression on all three of us. More coffee?”

  Hildy topped off Dottie’s cup, then Janet’s. Liz shook her head.

  Dottie leaned back. “Sorry dear. I do ramble on. Have you visited Florida before?” Dottie asked, slathering raspberry jam on her croissant.

  “A few times—only passing through. I look forward to spending more time here. Are you and your husband native Floridians?”

  “Yes, I just wish Geoffrey could relax, enjoy what we have. He’s not been himself over the past few months. He’s usually outgoing, very social, but lately he’s been more restrained, moody. On the other hand, Charley has switched from having no confidence to an almost cocky, giddy teenager.”

  Liz sat back listening to their conversation, eyes darting from one to the other.

  “Change can do that to a person. When I retired from the service, joined the ranks of corporate America, my parents told me I changed,” Janet said with a sigh.

  “Wow, so young to be retired…you can’t be—”

  Janet chuckled. “I waved goodbye to my twenties not long ago. I’m flying back to New York City this afternoon. The plans Frank talked about sound very interesting. Startups are always challenging. I look forward—”

  “You must come back for a visit, dear, in the fall after the heat breaks here and the cold sets in up North. Don’t forget us. What do they call it in the military…come for a little R and R,” Dottie mumbled, lost in thought.

  Janet excused herself. She wanted time to talk to Mr. Kingman.

  Jane slipped onto the empty chair. “Dottie, it’s turned out to be a lovely day…the weather, the drone doing its thing. I don’t understand all this new fangled technology, but it’s fun to watch, don’t you think?”

  “Umm, yes, Bernard flying that toy was fun,” Dottie said.

  “Dottie, I wouldn’t worry too much about Geoff. It’s been stressful with Frank and Charley trying to make it on their own,” Liz said.

  “I don’t think it’s too much for h
im to handle. He’s been through worse,” Jane said patting Dottie’s hand.

  Suddenly everyone left. Dottie waved goodbye as Liz, Manny, and Jane drove off. Bernard went to his room for a nap just as the Uber driver picked up Frank and his team and Janet. Dottie wandered back to the terrace but decided to go upstairs and make a list of things she wanted to do with Frank’s bedroom now that he was a businessman a businessman leaving for Las Vegas in the morning.

  Chapter 20

  ────

  DINNER TIME AT THE private investigators house was chaotic now that Lizzie was in her terrible twos. Manny never knew what he was going to see when he walked in the back door. This time was no different. Liz smiled, waited for Manny to greet their pets, Peaches and Maggie, a black Lab and a Border Collie, both rescue dogs. The happy barking stopped a sign that Manny had given them a treat. He opened the door to a drum majorette and a little clone marching behind. Pots and pans littered the floor where the pair had emptied the bottom row of cabinets. Mother and daughter were decked out in pink net tutus with sparkles, banging the bottoms of aluminum pans with wooden spoons. They marched around the kitchen island somehow managing to skirt the cookware on the floor.

  “Hi, honey,” Manny said, giving the love of his life a smooch on her ruby lips. Lifting his daughter in his arms she dropped her pan giving her daddy a gleeful hug.

  “Put that little drummer down, mister. She and I will return, abracadabra, as your loving wife and daughter. While we’re making our transformation, you can open the wine.”

  “Umm, smells wonderful in here. I’m starving. Anything new? I’m sorry I had to drop you and Jane off, but the detectives sent out that SOS at the morgue,” he called out.

  “In a minute, sweetheart. In a minute.”

  Manny chuckled as he strolled into their shared office overlooking Spruce Creek River.

  ────

  Liz lifted the lid off the Crock Pot breathing in the aroma of potatoes, carrots, and onion lying under the pork roast. Smiling, she wiped her hands on her apron as Manny came up beside her giving her cheek a sweet kiss and another on Lizzie’s cheek who was ensconced in her highchair. Cooking debris had been stuffed back in the cabinets.

  “In answer to your question several minutes ago, I would say today was terrific, interesting, with a bit of intrigue wouldn’t you? If you’ll pour the wine, I’ll serve up dinner to squelch those hunger pangs.”

  Manny poured the dark red liquid into the wine glasses on the table. “The guys at the morgue were buzzing about the Daytona Beach PD investing in a drone. Their case has stalled. Needs fresh eyes and—”

  “Well, like what Frank said, flying a drone around the scene outside, hand-held inside records it all on tape, or I guess you’d say digitized on video.”

  “Sweetheart this pork loin is so tender I hope you’re not planning on leftovers.”

  Liz skipped his question. “The whole Kingman family is always interesting don’t you think? Crazy interesting.”

  “You got that right. More veggies in that pot?”

  Liz picked up the empty bowl and ladled out the remainder of the carrots and potatoes. “I’m sure you and your police buddies would love a drone.”

  Manny reached for the wine bottle, topping off their glasses.

  “What did you think of Janet Scott? I’m not exactly sure what her role is in all of it,” Liz said.

  “Why is that?”

  “Well, Frank indicated that she was joining the team, but Dottie seemed to treat her as a friend, as did Charley.”

  “Ah, a little intrigue.”

  “Honestly, Manny, my head was spinning listening to Dottie and Janet, not at was being said, but what wasn’t said. A lot of innuendos I picked up. Janet said she was heading back to New York. Dottie said come again to visit. I think Janet’s planning on working for Frank. Oh, I talked to Aunt Jane off to the side. She told me she visited Bernard several days back. She said he had a spell of some kind and that Dottie labeled it a heart attack. Nonetheless, the doctor was called to the house and made an appointment for some tests. The results aren’t back yet, or nobody offered any details.”

  Liz took a sip of wine.

  “Charley…I usually can read her like a book, but not today. She seemed high as a kite one minute, down in the dumps the next, although very animated about the drone. I was shocked when she said she’d changed her name.”

  “Yes. Me too,” Manny said.

  “But Geoffrey was the weirdest. Dottie whispered to me that he’s not himself. She’s worried about him. And now Frank and his partners leave for Las Vegas in the morning,” Liz said.

  “My, my, your PI nose is certainly twitching.”

  Chapter 21

  Las Vegas

  ────

  FRANK DIDN’T EXACTLY MISLEAD his dad, he just didn’t give him the full story on the conference, that it was a video gaming conference featuring a week of the newest and best in video games. His dad didn’t ask about a booth, so Frank didn’t have to tell a lie that there was a booth when there wasn’t. They didn’t have the money. His dad giving him a credit card for expenses at the conference was too little too late. Frank and Michael’s sessions were listed under, “Heard in the cloud: Drones & Commercial Videos.” Frank was also going to introduce Pigeon the toy drone, guaranteed to be on kids and adults wish lists everywhere.

  No booth at the start of the conference, but Frank and Michael managed to piggyback on GK’s last minute gaming booth, really a closet but large enough to hold a high-top table with their DroneKing, Inc. business cards. However, once the officials scheduled Frank to speak on the burgeoning drone market it only seemed right to give him some kind of presence on the conference floor with the other companies. Frank declined the offer. He and Michael were putting all their efforts into meeting attendees at their sessions instead of splitting their manpower elsewhere.

  Business cards were printed with caricatures of the three partners complete with email address, cell number, and title under each name: Frank Kingman, Drone Engineer; Michael Rich, Videographer; and Gideon Knight, Game Programmer. All very neat. At each of their sessions a business card would be placed on the chairs before the session opened the doors.

  Michael was scheduled to assist Frank at his session with Mercury and Pigeon, and vice versa at Michael’s session. GK would hold the fort alone at his session. Frank and Michael were listed on the program as: THE DRONE FUTURE IS NOW.

  The first day, the three partners mingled with the attendees, attended a few sessions, and generally soaked up the electricity of the conference. Day two they went over their game plan and made sure they had everything they needed.

  As Frank hoped, Pigeon and Mercury drew a large crowd circling the two partners after Michael’s presentation. They were ready with a sign next to three large fishbowls, “Toss your business cards. Win a free Drone Warrior game. Receive email updates from DroneKing, Inc. providing detailed descriptions of Pigeon and Mercury, product launch dates, pricing, and estimated delivery date.

  GK poked his head in the presentation room as Michael wrapped up, waved at Frank and Michael engaging with a gaggle of attendees, and then strode on to his room to check on the setup for his presentation.

  Chapter 22

  ────

  GK WAS READY TO introduce his exciting new video game to gaming enthusiasts and the public at large. Calling himself a marketing genius, he had wangled a digital copy of the conference attendee’s email addresses. But even better, he found the entire list of all online gaming enthusiasts registered in Vegas on the flash drive he was given. He wasn’t sure if it was legit and he didn’t ask.

  Taking great pains to ensure the room was set up to his specifications, GK had made many phone calls over the two months prior to the conference—size of TV screen, seating arrangement, sound system—all designed to make the audience feel they were part of the action taking place on the screen.

  The session was packed.

 
; The lights dimmed.

  Credits flashed on the screen.

  A hush fell over the room as the screen lit up in brilliant color. Mercury was looking out over the audience with wide eyes under his propellers, the title swooping down from the top of the screen.

  COMMANDER MERCURY AND HIS WARRIOR DRONES

  An explosion sent fireballs into space. The battle was enjoined. Laser beams shot out under Mercury’s set of four propeller pods.

  An eerie drone sneaked up behind Mercury, but Mercury pivoted shooting missiles, vanquishing the dreaded enemy. The warriors joined their leader, hovering around him. On and on the drone warriors fought, GK playing the parts of a good guy and a bad guy, playing with the two remotes as if leading a symphony.

  The lights came up.

  Silence filled the room.

  A young man snaked out past attendees sitting in the same row of chairs. Three from a few rows up sauntered to the back and out into the hall. Two more left from the other side.

  GK called out for volunteers to play the enemy in a second game.

  Laughing, a twenty-something guy was pushed up to the front of the room by his friends daring him to play.

  GK handed him a remote, whispering in his ear.

  The guy grinned. “I got it Spike.” He sat down facing the screen the remote clutched in his hands, fingers itching to manipulate the enemy warriors.

  The lights dimmed.

  A girl drone peaked out from the screen, her body circled in a white ruffled skirt.

  Big blue eyes popped open under her two front quads of whirling propellers. She blinked at the audience then darted away.

  “Hey beautiful, come back,” someone shouted from the back of the room. GK heard a few laughs at the remark.

  An evil looking drone crept out, manned by the volunteer. Then an army of drones appeared. The action froze, Bella up in the left corner blinking in fear, the evil one below sneering as the army approached from the left.