Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-Three
About the Author
Ethics
of a
Thief
Mary Gale Hinrichsen, PhD.
Ethics of a Thief
Copyright © 2015 Mary Gale Hinrichsen
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in whole or in part in any form, whatsoever without the written permission of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Published in the United States of America.
iCrew Digital Publishing is an independent publisher of digital works. We support the efforts of authors who wish to publish in the digital realm
E-book ISBN: 978-0-9864449-3-7
Chapter One
On her drive to the yacht club, Abigail Wilson had a sense of impending doom. But once she turned her attention to the road, she noticed the tall eucalyptus trees and radiant flowers along the winding road, and thought, "What a beautiful day."
At that moment, she determined to put the glooming feelings to rest. Think positive and enjoy the ambiance of a new day. Quickly she loosened her death grip on the steering wheel and rolled down the window. Oh, how I love the ocean air.
While taking in deep breaths, she glanced in the rearview mirror at her niece, Lisa, and nephew, Danny. Both seemed happy and content. I’m glad they adjusted so quickly to their parents vacationing without them.
Wide-eyed Lisa turned to Danny, who was still moving to the sounds emanating from his iPod.
In an attempt to relax, Abigail filled her lungs, held her breath, and slowly exhaled. After reaching the parking lot, she pulled into a space. “We’re here kids.”
After opening the back door, Lisa jumped out and stood. She took her jacket off and tied it around her waist. She noticed that her brother was still sitting, so she yelled, “Danny! We're here!”
The boy removed his earphones, slowly placed his iPod in its carry case, and hopped out of the car to join his sister.
“I’m hungry,” he whined while glancing at his aunt.
With a snip in her tone, Lisa said, “You’re always hungry”.
Abigail rubbed the boy’s buzz haircut. “Let’s walk around before we eat, okay?”
After adjusting his jeans for comfort, he bent to tie his tennis shoes. When he looked up, he called out to his sister, “Hey, let’s look for sea lions.”
Lisa grinned and nodded. “Let’s race to the pier!” While running, her hair swished as she gripped her jacket. When she glanced back, she noticed her brother was catching up. When he was about to reach for her, she started giggling.
"Hey you two, pay attention!” Abigail yelled. “Thank God no cars are around.”
After stretching her long legs, and twisting at her waist, she headed toward the pier. When the ocean breeze kicked up, her strawberry-blond hair blew into her eyes, so she quickly put on her visor, and dug into her handbag to retrieve suntan lotion. She rubbed it onto her Scandinavian face and arms.
The sun felt good. Once she reached the dock, she stood on her left foot with her right hand on her hip. As the sun reflected on the water, it looked like sparkling diamonds. When she turned her attention to Lisa, the girl was hopping around like a playful kitten. When she saw Danny, his hand was over his eyes to block the sun while looking for sea lions.
Just as she started to relax, she noticed a well-built man walking up to Danny and starting a conversation. When she moved toward them, the man glanced her way, and cocked his head, with his mouth slightly open. His eyes were inspecting her tight black jeans and snug tank top.
Soon, the man turned his attention to the water, and asked Danny, “What do you see out there?”
“Nothing yet, but I want to find a sea lion.”
The stranger leaned against the metal rail. “Have you actually seen them here before?”
Danny shrugged his shoulder, and said, "A few times.”
Lisa skipped over to her brother and stopped. “Find anything?”
“No.”
Abigail noticed the man’s eyes sparking as he smiled at Lisa. He said, “Have you seen sea lions here?”
“I saw one, I really did,” the girl squealed.
As Abigail came near, the stranger glanced at her. She stopped and stood between the children, and quickly placed her hand on Lisa’s shoulder. She stared at the man without a word.
“Does it bother you, me talking to your children? I know some parents are pretty sensitive.”
“The boy’s my nephew, and she’s my niece. And yes, I am protective. Sorry for making it so obvious.”
It surprised her when the man's face went from a smile to sadness so quickly. His voice lowered. “I know from personal experience, you can’t be too careful.” His forehead revealed lines, and his hazel eyes looked away. But soon he faced Abigail and said, “Never apologize for being protective. If you ask me, adults need to be more aware of what’s going on with children.” They were both silent for a moment.
Abigail wondered what caused his sudden emotional change and the depth of his empathy. Something must have happened to him or someone close. Not wanting to pry, she said, “Thanks for understanding.”
The man turned his attention to Danny as the boy was still searching the water.
While he was talking to the boy, Abigail noticed the man’s Tommy Bahamas shirt, and slacks. Most men prefer shorts on a warm day near water. She liked the man’s distinctive square jaw line and Roman-shaped nose. His appearance was appealing. She hadn't dated for a year, but he would be a consideration if she were in the dating mood.
When she glanced at his face, his incredible hazel eyes were focused on her in a way that revealed his interest. It caused her stomach to flutter. Although she felt good inside, she was grateful when he didn't make further advancement. I’m just not ready to date.
He bent down and sat on his heels. “I don’t think you’ll find too many sea lions out there today. Sorry.”
The boy looked up and stared, “Why not?”
“They normally stay out farther.”
Soon Abigail called out, “Well, you two, let’s get a wiggle on it. Let’s go eat.”
Just the mention of food, Danny’s smile became broad.
While walking to the restaurant, Abigail turned to give the man a goodbye smile.
When their eyes met, his smile revealed his beautiful white teeth. Their attraction to each other was so obvious, causing her to feel vulnerable. When they turned to leave, she re
ached for Lisa’s hand, but quickly the girl let go when they were on the brick pathway. She yelled to Danny, “Watch me! I’m jumping over all the dark colored bricks!”
“But, you just missed one,” her brother teased.
“I did not!” she yelled.
Once Abigail's nose caught the smell of food, she realized how hungry she felt. She reached for the door and held it open for the children. The large bay window drew her attention. It would be soothing just to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Soon Betty, their petite gray-haired hostess, walked toward them. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Abigail. Where have you been, girl? We haven’t seen you in these parts for a long while. And, you, Mr. Danny, you look more like your daddy every day. You have his charming green eyes and thick brown hair. So, tell me, how old are you? You’re twelve, right?”
The boy’s chin and eyes lowered. He preferred people to guess he was older.
Betty lightly touched Lisa’s shoulder. “Look at those big, brown, cow eyes.” She pinched the girl’s cheek. “Goodness, you must be ten by now, right?”
“Soon, in two weeks,” Lisa said, while she snickered at her brother.
The woman said, “Are you staying with your aunt?”
The children nodded.
“That must be fun.”
Danny stood erect, with his chin high. “We just came from Santa Barbara.”
“Oh.” The woman grinned. “So, you’re a world traveler, huh?”
The boy awkwardly squirmed while he stared at his shoes.
Betty grabbed one adult’s and two children’s menus and led them toward a table. “Abigail, you’re the only blue-eyed beauty in the family, aren’t you?”
Abigail smiled, and snickered, “Must have been the milkman.”
When Betty let out a loud chuckle, her chin rose.
While looking for a table, Abigail noticed the seating was plentiful. Around the walls were many red-leather booths, and in the middle were many tables with black upholstered chairs. The metal portholes and sea paintings gave the feeling of being on a vessel. Her favorite picture hung over the mahogany bar. It was of a man on a boat in the middle of the ocean being overcome by waves. It reminded her of her own vulnerability -- like last year, when her heart was broken at the corner booth. She pushed the thought away. Remember, Abigail, today’s a new day.
They heard a familiar voice call out, “Hey! Is that you, Abigail?”
She spun around and saw a family friend, Larry Kilgore. His hand motioned for them to come. His petite, blond-haired wife, Sandra, and he were at their favorite booth.
Abigail’s family often referred to them as the mystery couple. Both were in their mid-forties, neither worked nor offered much personal information. They spent most of their time traveling the world. Her family found them both pleasant, and everyone enjoyed their interesting travel stories. Her dad suspected that one of them inherited their family’s fortune while her mother, with her vivid imagination, teased about other possibilities. It seemed that not knowing just added to the couple’s intrigue.
Larry said, “Could that be Danny and Lisa with you?”
The man approached the children and gave them a big hug. His beard scratched Lisa’s face. “Don’t,” she said, while giggling.
His slender frame wore casual linen pants and a shirt.
Sandra pushed herself from the booth and stood to greet the children. Her short frame was Danny’s height. As usual, she wore a colorful dress and high-heeled sandals, which had shiny stones and were most likely from Neiman Marcus.
“Come sit with us,” Larry said. “We have plenty of room. Goodness, the last time we saw you, let’s see -- wasn’t it at your parents’ Christmas party?”
Abigail nodded, “I thought you were off traveling someplace exciting on your new yacht?”
Sandra waited until Lisa was seated next to her before sitting. She glanced at Abigail, “We just got back.”
Lisa gawked at Sandra’s necklace. “I like those green stones.” When Lisa saw the woman’s four-carat matching emerald ring, she said, “Wow. When I get big, I want one just like that.”
Sandra said, while smiling, “I’m sure you’ll have nice things, too, when you grow up.”
Lisa sat closer to Sandra and gazed up at her. “Mommy and Daddy just got married.”
“Oh, they’re together again, that’s nice.”
Lisa grinned and nodded.
Danny sat between his aunt and Larry. “Did you really buy a bigger boat?”
“We sure did.”
“How big?”
“Very big, want to see her?”
Danny’s eyes brightened, “You mean, go on it?”
“Sure.” Larry’s grin became a chuckle. “After we eat, you can check her out for yourself.”
At that time, their waitress had arrived and smiled broadly at Larry. “Ready to order?”
“Is it too late for breakfast?” Abigail asked.
“You can order anything on the menu,” she replied.
Larry and Sandra ordered lunch dishes while Abigail ordered eggs and toast, and the children asked for blueberry pancakes.
Sandra asked, “Lisa, where are your parents now?”
“In Hawaii.”
“Hawaii? How come you didn’t go?”
“Silly. They’re on their honeymoon.”
“That’s right. That’s a very good reason for not going.” She smiled, showing her perfect teeth. “I bet you’re happy they’re back together.”
The girl nodded.
Danny looked up at Larry. “Me too! I don't like them split up, but they yelled too much together. Daddy wants Mommy to work, and she doesn’t want to. She wants to stay home. Now, he said she can stay home, but she wants to work.”
The adults laughed.
Danny grinned as the waitress placed pancakes before him. He dug in. The juice from a blueberry ran down the right side of his mouth.
As Sandra watched him, she asked, “So, young man, was your aunt starving you?”
Lisa scowled. “He always eats like that.” The girl took her fork and picked at her food before taking her first bite.
“I can see why you’re so skinny,” Larry teased the girl. He turned to Abigail. “So, what’s going on with your parents?”
After putting down her fork, she said, “They’re both doing pretty well. They’re in good health. They had a wonderful time on their trip to London and their quick visit to France. Speaking of trips, I heard you both went to the Middle East.”
His eyes looked down and away. “Yes. We did.”
“Weren’t you afraid, with all the unrest?”
“Yes. But, we avoided dangerous spots.” His head cocked. He was silent for a moment and then said, “With the suicide bombers, no one felt safe for a minute.”
“What made you decide to go to the Middle East?”
Larry didn’t answer. Instead, he hurriedly changed the subject. “So, tell me Abigail, why was it that you left such a great career? Weren’t you the district manager of some large corporation?”
She stared at her food and nodded.
“Your dad bragged about your success. Wasn’t your district the most successful in the country?”
Abigail studied her food and then connected with his eyes. “It was a great career, but I have no regrets for leaving. I like being a teacher. But, to answer your question, I left because I felt as if I was competing against myself.”
“Why’s that?”
“I spent months training my staff, and then they would leave to compete against me.”
“I see. So, what grade do you teach?”
“Sixth.”
“So, do you pass along your high moral standards?” he mocked.
“I don’t put up with much, if that’s what you mean. Especially if a child is mean to another, he’s in big trouble, then.”
“Well, aren’t you the tough one,” Larry snickered.
After the meal, their full-figured waitress returned. S
he leaned forward to give Larry the check, and revealed her ample cleavage. When he handed her his credit card, he also gave a twenty-dollar tip.
As they prepared to leave, Danny asked, “Can we see your boat?”
“I didn’t forget, young man. Besides, I want your aunt to see our wheelhouse.”
Abigail touched Larry’s arm. “Are you sure you have time for this?”
“We have all the time in the world, missy.”
Sandra glanced at Lisa. “Want to see our new yacht?”
The girl clapped her hands, and her eyes sparkled. She squealed, “Yes!”
While walking, Abigail said, “We sure appreciate your kindness, Larry.”
When they got to the walkway, she noticed the same man from earlier talking with someone. She was glad he didn’t see her. Even if he was charming and attractive, she wasn’t ready for any complications.
Chapter Two
While walking to the yacht, Lisa playfully hopped over the dark-colored bricks. Each time she missed, she giggled because Danny didn’t notice. He was too busy trying to figure out which yacht belonged to Larry.
Danny yelled, “I see one!” Lisa glanced to where he was pointing. From afar, it looked like two young pups bobbing their heads.
Everyone’s attention quickly changed direction when Sandra announced, “There’s our new yacht.”
The girl put her hands to her mouth. “Oh my, it is big!”
Abigail gasped. “Couldn’t you find a larger one?” The couple laughed.
Sandra said, “It is quite big. It is more than ninety feet long and has three levels.”
As Danny examined the vessel, he said, “Check out the small boat at the back.”
“It’s used for shore visits,” Larry said, while looking over the boy’s shoulders.
Abigail looked around and said, “Why so many life preservers? I guess you don’t want to be like the Titanic.”
Larry’s head went back as he laughed in amusement, “We thought the same thing. But, they were included, so we didn’t argue.”
The boy glanced up at Larry, “Can we check out the galley?”
Lisa smirked, “Is that all you think about -- food?” But, the boy was too excited to be annoyed by his sister. Larry’s hand touched Danny’s head, guiding him. “Come, we’ll go there first.”
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