"Because that's how they operate. Slow. When you do finally hear from them, it'll be with penalties and interest."
"Fine, and I'll buy that. But only after you confirm it."
"All right, I'll get back with you."
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Lydia said, glancing at the door when Reed and Tony entered. "Oh, and one more thing. How would I go about putting some money into the company?"
"Personal?"
"Yes, enough to get us through the next couple months."
The quickest way, the accountant explained, as Lydia watched Tony walk over to the window and stare out, would be to set it up as a loan. "Of course, the risk there...."
Lydia didn't want to hear the risks. "Can you draw up the papers for me?"
"For how much?"
Tony walked back across the room and sat down at the end of the table. "Two hundred thousand," Lydia said.
The accountant said he'd have it done in a day or so and not to deposit any money until the papers were signed. Lydia switched over to intercom then and dialed Sylvia again, motioning she'd only be a minute. "Pull five random supplier invoices from payables," she told her. "And call and confirm them as being outstanding."
"But we received statements."
"I know, I saw them. I saw all of them. Just humor me and call them anyway. And let me know what they say."
When she hung up, Reed asked what was going on. "It's just a hunch," she said, turning to Tony and hesitating. "I hear you're leaving."
Tony just stared at her, not that she expected him to reply.
"Then I trust," she said, "for as long as you're here, your work will be the same as before."
Tony smiled sarcastically, shaking his head as he stood up and started toward the door. In a split second, Lydia went from panic to anger and was on her feet as well. "I should’ve let you go the first time you did that!"
Tony swung around. "Oh yeah?! Well don't think for one goddamned minute I don't wish I had! Now, if you have something to say, say it! Otherwise, until I'm out of here, I'll be down in the shop! You got that?!"
Yeah, she got it. He wasn't leaving right then and there, as she'd feared. He wasn't deserting her. It came as a relief. But with that not showing anywhere on her face, Reed started talking fast in an attempt to head off the ensuing battle. "Um…uh, Jan said you needed to see us both and that it was important."
"It is," Lydia said, glancing at him and looking back at Tony. "I'm going to be putting some money into the company, which is why I asked and why I need to know if you'll be trying as hard as before, because...."
Tony shifted his weight, crossing his arms, and Lydia found herself hesitating again, reading him perfectly. "What more do I want from you? I want your assurance that you'll help for as long as you're here. Nothing more, nothing less. But I have to have it to keep going."
Tony looked away, shaking his head, and when he looked back, swallowing hard, she stepped toward him. "I don't think we're as bad off as we thought we were. Granted, we don't have any money, there's no disputing that. But I'm beginning to think that Bob, in his plan to bankrupt us, did a lot of it on paper."
Tony didn't comment on that one way or the other, but was listening at least, so she continued. "I think with all the problems we had, the scrap, the overruns, the scheduling, the routing, all off it, I think it just brought us to the line. And more importantly, I don't think any funds have been embezzled. I think they've been used for payables."
"How?" Reed asked.
Lydia glanced at him, but looked at Tony again to explain. "I don't know. Maybe there's another account set up. All I know is that in the past, we've paid off of invoices and never worked with statements, let alone copies going back months. And yes, that could just be because they're past due, which is what would seem normal. But what isn't normal is no late charge. None. Not a cent. And the only past due reference is with a stamp. All red, and all the same, right across the middle, regardless of who."
"Damn," Reed said, considering the possibility, and just then the phone rang.
Lydia searched Tony's eyes. They'd softened some, but not nearly enough. "Will you wait?" she asked, indicating while she took the call.
When he nodded, she picked it up. "Yes?"
"Lydia, this is Bill. I need your help."
The tone of his voice made her heart stop. "Why? What's happened?"
"I've been hurt. I need you to take me to the hospital. I don't want anyone else to…."
Lydia turned her back to Reed and Tony. "Where are you?"
"In my office."
"Okay, I'll be right there." She hung up, reaching for her purse, and started across the room. "I have to go somewhere. We'll have to do this later." She ran down the stairs, picturing Bill bleeding to death, took the back way through the shop, and was out of breath by the time she reached the boiler room.
Bill looked fairly normal at first glance, just sitting there at his desk, no blood or anything as she'd feared. But first glances can be deceiving.
"It's my ankle," he said. He had it wrapped in an elastic bandage and propped on the bottom drawer. "If s broken and it's bleeding internally. I can feel it."
"Oh Jesus! What do we do?"
"I have to keep it elevated. I can't put any weight on it."
From the look in his eyes and the way he was watching the door, it was obvious an ambulance was out of the question. But the Porsche would never do; it was too small. "We'll take your car. Where's your keys?"
"It's not here. My wife has it. I've tried calling her. But she's not home."
Lydia darted her eyes around the room, thinking out loud. "Okay…I’ll get Tony's. Yeah, it's big enough. I’ll get Tony's. I'll be right back. I'll come around the side. Hang on. I'll shut the door so no one'll come in before I get back."
"No, don't! Leave it open. It'll draw less attention that way."
Lydia nodded and took off, trying to look casual as she combed the aisles, and when she finally found Tony, took him by the arm and led him aside. "I need the keys to your car. Please…."
Tony reached into his pocket. "Why? You want to plant a bomb in it?"
Lydia shook her head. "No, better yet, bring it around to the boiler entrance. I'll meet your there. I think I'm going to need some help."
Tony stopped her when she turned to leave. "Help with what, Lydia? What the hell's going on?"
"It's Bill," she whispered. "He's hurt, so hurry. Just don't say anything to anyone."
Tony did as she asked, and she was waiting for him at the side door. "Bill thinks his leg's broken, and I have to take him to the hospital. I need your car because...."
Tony nodded, she didn't have to say any more. Planting herself in the other doorway then, figuring no one would even come close if they saw her there, she glanced over her shoulder.
This wasn't going to be easy, even for Tony. The way Bill was sitting meant he'd have to take all his weight on his right knee when he lifted him. And first he had to get it to bend.
He managed, good thing Bill was light, and getting him out to the car then, he came back to tell Lydia he'd take him himself, that she didn't have to. But that wouldn't do.
"No, you stay here," she said. "You'll be missed. I won't."
Tony didn't see what difference that made, but the main concern right then was getting Bill to the hospital. "Take him to Metro," he said, handing her his keys. "It's the closest." So Metro it was. Bill was on a first-name basis with the staff, he'd been there so often. They wheeled him away quickly. Three hours later, after pacing and pacing, with repeated trips to the ladies room, Lydia was finally allowed in to see him.
He was sitting up in bed, looking tired but well. "We did okay," he said. "It might not be that bad."
Lydia smiled. "I reached your wife; she's on her way. She was at the amusement park with the kids all day."
Bill nodded, then leaned back and was quiet for a moment. "I really appreciate what you and Tony…."
Lydia waved it off. "
He is gonna ask though, you know."
Bill swallowed. "I know." He was leaving it up to her.
* * *
Lydia arrived back at the plant at dusk, and in the ladies room, discovered she'd used up all the sanitary napkins she'd stashed in her purse that morning. No money either, which had her pounding on the Kotex machine in frustration. She went looking for Tony. He was in the cafeteria, going over next week's production scheduling with one of the line foremen. She smiled as he introduced her, and then promptly asked for a quarter.
He had two, she took them both and left, and when she returned, the other man was gone, so she sat down. "So how is he?" Tony asked.
"Fine. Or at least he will be. It was broken, though."
Tony nodded and just looked at her for a moment. "Did you eat or anything?"
Lydia shook her head. "No, I forgot to get my wallet before I left the house."
Tony thought about the morning he took it out of her purse and put it away. "You hungry?"
"Starved."
"Come on," he said, standing up slowly. "We'll get something at the diner down the street."
Lydia hesitated, looking up at him. "You didn't cash your paycheck, did you?"
Tony smiled. "No, now come on."
Outside, she gave him his keys, following him in her car, and at the diner, they sat in a booth off in the corner. "Do they serve breakfast this late?" Lydia asked, looking at the menu.
Tony nodded. "'Round the clock."
The waitress came over then and, while pouring Lydia's coffee, made a casual observation referring to the cuts on Tony's face. "It's looking better tonight."
Tony smiled. "Thanks, it feels a lot better too."
Lydia reached for a few packets of sugar, and then a few more, wondering how often Tony came here.
"So what can I get ya?" the waitress asked.
Lydia couldn't remember what she'd decided on and had to glance at the menu again. "The number three special. Eggs over easy."
The waitress jotted that down and turned. "What about you, Tony? The usual?"
He nodded and, when she walked away, fixed his coffee and took a sip. "So what is it with Bill?"
Lydia's reply was unrelated. "Your face does look a lot better."
Tony nodded and then looked away, shaking his head. "I still can't believe I hit that old woman."
Lydia hesitated discussing this. "From what I've been told, you couldn't have known it was a woman at the time."
Tony swallowed. "Yeah...well I still hit her."
Lydia studied his eyes. Reed was right. He was never going to forgive himself for that. "I'm sure she's okay."
Tony smiled sadly. "She is. Or at least seemed to be. I went to see her the other day. But then that was before they found Dan's body."
Lydia's heart stopped. "In the river?"
Tony shook his head. "No, some alley. Frank says, according to the coroner, he hasn't been dead a week."
Oh Jesus. Murder had been a possibility then. "Do you think Bob killed him?"
Tony didn't say; he didn't have to. He just sipped his coffee. The answer was yes, him or somebody he'd hired, and Lydia lowered her eyes, thinking about how vicious Bob had been on the phone. How manipulative. This led to thoughts of the rest of the day, all of it, every agonizing moment. When, hard as she tried, she could no longer think of anything but the part that hurt the most, she reached for her purse.
"I'm sorry," she said. "But this wasn't a very good idea."
Tony grabbed her arm, urging her to stay, but she shook her head. "I can't eat...."
"Then you don't have to," he said. "Just don't go."
Lydia swallowed, looking into his eyes, and here came the waitress with their plates. And so pleasant yet. "Would you like some ketchup?"
Lydia shook her head, the waitress left, and Tony pushed their plates aside.
Lydia didn't know what to do and, for a moment, just sat there. She should just leave. She should, but God help her, there was something she wanted to know. Something she had to ask. "Tony, how could you do that to me?"
"You never let me explain. I tried."
Lydia looked away to try to keep from crying, and Tony reached over and touched her face gently to get her to look back. "And I let you walk away, because I do care."
Lydia bit at her trembling bottom lip. "But you knew how that was going to hurt, Tony. You knew. And yet...."
True. What could he say? "I may have been wrong in how I handled it, but I wanted you out of there." His voice grew lower, but more emphatic with each word. "And goddamn it, Lydia, I asked you to trust me one more day. Just one more day."
Lydia shook her head. He'd asked too much. "Anything but that. Christ, Tony, a woman having your baby?"
"Anything else would've had you throwing things and breaking chairs. I wanted you the hell out of there! And forgive me, but that's all that mattered at the time."
Lydia lowered her eyes, and for what seemed like an eternity, where she would never understand, Tony just watched her, swallowing hard. When she looked up, he had tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Lydia," he said softly. "But I'd do it all over again."
Now it was Lydia who didn't know what to say, and for a moment, they just gazed at one another. Then here came the waitress again, asking if there was something wrong with their meals.
Tony sat back, saying, no they just weren't hungry. He paid the bill, and he and Lydia walked out into the night.
Lydia turned to him at the car. "Thanks for being so understanding about Bill today. I didn't know who else to turn to. He's a hemophiliac, Tony…a bleeder, only he doesn't want anyone at the shop to know."
Tony nodded. It made sense. He knew there was something, what with Bill being so funny about certain things, so extra careful. He'd never suspected this, though. "How long have you known?"
"Not long. I found out last week."
"Last week? Why didn't you tell me? I could've watched out for him then."
Lydia looked up into his eyes, shaking her head. "Which is exactly what he wouldn't want. Don't you understand? Don't you see how you are?"
Tony's jaw tightened, accenting a spark of anger which now flickered deep in those dark eyes of his, and Lydia looked around the parking lot with a frustrated sigh. She didn't want to get into this again. And yet here she was. "You can't keep going around looking out for everyone, which is exactly what you did to me! And you have no right to do that!"
"I love you!" Tony said, smacking the hood of her car. "And that gives me the right!"
Lydia stepped back, shaking her head as she unlocked her door. This wasn't getting them anywhere. "The only reason I'm telling you, is in case you have to help him again. Not so you treat him differently."
Tony turned, crossing his arms as he leaned back against her car, and Lydia hesitated. "If he catches you watching out for him, Tony, you'll have let him down. And he trusts you. So please…."
Tony nodded; she'd made her point. "And what about you, Lydia? Did I let you down? Are you still not sure you can trust me?"
Lydia shook her head no, and when he reached for her, she allowed him to pull her close. It felt so good being in his arms. "I know now I can trust you with my life. I'm just not sure of anything else when it comes to us."
Tony leaned down and kissed her gently. "Tell me you still love me," he whispered, kissing her again.
"I do love you, Tony. I'll always love you. Always...." She gazed up into his eyes. "But everything happened too fast for us. You touch me, and I want you. You just look at me, like you're looking at me now, and I want you. You're all I want. And it scares me." She pushed against his chest and stepped back. "You control me, Tony, and you know it. Christ, you even bragged about it to Bob."
Tony shook his head. "I wasn't bragging, Lydia. I was trying to piss him off. I didn't want him dealing with you. I wanted him dealing with me."
Lydia studied his eyes; he was telling her the truth, and yet…. "It's no use," she said. "I can
't think straight when I'm around you. That's why I've decided to go away for a few days. I need to be sure about...."
Tony's eyes hardened instantly: those phone messages from Greg, messages and questions - questions about plans for the weekend and about being sure.
"I'll be back Monday or Tuesday."
"Where are you going?"
"I can't say. I'm sorry. But I have to go, so try to understand."
Tony stopped her from getting into her car. "Why? Why do you have to go?"
"I don't know. I can't explain it. I just know that I do. It's the only way I'll know for sure."
Tony let go of her arm, glaring at her. "If you go, Lydia, I'm telling you this...you're not coming back to me. You understand?"
She didn't and reached for his hand. But he pulled away, as if he couldn't stand her even touching him. With that, he turned and walked to his car, leaving her standing there with tears in her eyes as he drove away.
Chapter Thirty-One
Lydia booked an early flight for the following morning, and after being up half the night trying to decide whether to go, wishing Tony hadn't given her that ultimatum, she phoned for a cab and left.
At Regionaire, she stayed pretty much to herself, spending a lot of time in the pool, sunbathing, taking long walks, and sleeping deep dreamless sleeps. But nagging at her constantly was a desire to go home, so unlike the first time she'd retreated here, when going home was the one thing she didn't want to do. It made her realize something - something she'd been afraid to admit.
She flew back Tuesday morning and took a cab to the beach house, opened all the windows to air the place out, then drove to the plant. She arrived a little past noon and, first thing, looked for Tony's car.
Jan was as relieved to see her. "You look terrific! So it must've been good."
Lydia smiled. "Come to think of it, it was. A little boring, but I got plenty of sleep."
"And a lot of sun too. Your tan is beautiful."
Lydia thanked her and started down the hall. "Is Reed in?"
"Yes, but he's in the conference room. They've been using it to interview for the plant manager's position."
Call Me Lydia Page 48