Double or Nothing

by Wells, Donald

  June simply smiles at the man and the guard waves them in.

  The mansion is a work of architectural beauty. It stands three stories high and has twelve bedrooms, each bedroom has more square footage than many small homes. The ceilings of each level are twenty-two feet high and the entrance hall ceiling soars an impressive sixty-six feet to a skylight view of the star-laden sky.

  David parks in front of the house in the great circular driveway. A moment later, a servant appears seemingly out of nowhere to open the passenger door for June. In the center of the driveway sits a spectacular fountain. Water spurts in thirty-foot high geysers in choreographed beauty as spotlights sparkle amidst the spray.

  As they gaze up at the house David asks. “Does it look at all familiar honey?”

  “The size of it, yes, but not the house itself.”

  “Do you remember that fountain?”

  June turns and stares at the fountain. “No, I don’t remember it at all.”

  “That’s because the last time you were here, it wasn’t.” Says a voice from behind.

  David and June turn to find a man in his late thirties with receding black hair. He stands a few inches taller than June and has a small potbelly. The man walks up to June with a broad, happy smile that is so beautiful it rivals June’s own.

  “Simon? You’re Simon aren’t you?” June says.

  “Yes my dear I’m Simon, and I am so pleased that you remember me, and you young man, you must be David.”

  “Yes, it’s nice to meet you Mr….?”

  “Phelps, but please just call me Simon. I’ve been trying to cultivate the single name recognition; it makes me feel like Cher or Madonna.”

  “Right,” David says.

  “I hope you’re famished? I had the kitchen prepare a feast.” Simon suddenly embraces June. “Oh, it’s so good to have you back June. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

  “Thank you Simon, but this is just dinner.” June says.

  Blake stands in the doorway looking out upon the scene. “Simon don’t keep them outside all night, bring them in.”

  “Yes, of course. I was just so overwhelmed at seeing June again that I forgot my manners.”

  “We’ll soon learn if she’s June or not, don’t jump the gun.”

  “I know now Blake, April and May were right. June’s alive!”

  Everyone goes inside and Blake leads David and June to his study while Simon goes to check on dinner preparations. Blake’s study is larger than David’s Greenwich Village apartment and nary a bit of wall space is empty. There are so many books in the room that David would be surprised if even at Blake’s age he’s had time to read half of them.

  Blake motions for them to sit in two ornate leather chairs while he moves behind his desk. “David, what did you think of April and May?”

  “I can honestly say that they are the only women in the world who rival June’s beauty.”

  “Very well said, I can see you have a wry way about you; I like that.”

  “Thank you for your invitation Mr. Davenport, it is very nice of you.”

  “My daughters are convinced that you’re June young lady, their opinions on anything rarely sway me but I do believe that they would know their own sister.”

  David catches Blake’s eye. “Are you saying that you believe June now?”

  “I’m not saying that at all. I am saying that I am hopeful that she is June and that the girl’s opinions give me reason to be so.”

  “Will you be convinced when the test results come back?” David says.

  “Yes of course, I won’t put you through any more hoops. DNA testing is irrefutable.”

  The phone on Blake’s desk buzzes and he answers it. Simon, on speakerphone, informs Blake that dinner is ready to be served.

  The three move from the study and down a long hall adorned with paintings and sculptures and soon enter the dining room. David is amazed at the size of the table. It could easily seat fifty.

  April and May are seated on the right side of the nearest end of the table with an empty seat between them. They wave to June to sit in the midst of them while Blake sits at the head of the table. David takes the seat at Blake’s left and looks across at the three identical sisters. It is only then that he notices they are all wearing the same blue dress.

  Dinner is served, and it is during the meal that June relays her story to Blake and the girls. Blake listens attentively while the girls ask June questions about her state of mind after she was abducted. They tell June that it sounds similar to what they themselves experienced.

  Blake has a question. “This woman who kept you locked-up all those years, are you certain she was Chinese?”

  “No, she was Oriental, but I can’t say for certain she was Chinese.”

  “Hmm, when Angeline and I first met in Paris she had a Chinese servant who was devoted to her. The woman spoke not one word of English. I wonder if…never mind.” Blake waves a dismissive hand, not wanting to seem convinced by June’s story.

  After dinner, everyone moves into the living room and David finds it amusing that April and May sit on either side of him on the sofa. He notes that both girls feel the need to touch him while speaking. He wonders if it is their natural manner or an attempt at seduction. Carol’s secondhand story about the girls’ game of Double or Nothing is still fresh in David’s mind.

  June is on the other side of the room talking quietly to Blake, and David notices that the old man smiles often around her. June is eyeing David on the sofa and glances over frequently with an annoyed look on her face at her sisters’ pats and touches. David smiles at her innocently while keeping his own hands in plain view.

  Simon appears and hands Blake a phone. It’s the test results.

  Blake listens and then David hears him ask a question, although he cannot make out the words, only the tone, which is inquisitive. Blake hands the phone back to Simon and stands. He then looks down at June and puts his hands out for her to take. June takes his hands and the old man shows surprising strength by pulling June out of her chair and into his arms.

  The two hug sweetly for long seconds and David feels his heart sing for June’s happiness. Father and daughter part and walk over to join the rest of the family.

  David notices with some surprise that Blake is crying unashamedly, June likewise, is shedding tears.

  “April, May, say hello to your sister June. By God in heaven she’s come back to us!”

  “Yes father, if you’ll remember we told you as much last night.” April says.

  Blake smiles sweetly at June. “Yes, but now I know it’s true. My June bug’s alive.”

  David squeezes out from between the two sisters and stands next to June.

  “How does it feel to be accepted honey?”

  June wipes tears from her eyes. “Oh David you were right about, what did you call it…closure? I feel as if now I can put the past behind me.”

  “Not only that my dear but the future lies before you.” Blake says jovially.

  “You are a Davenport and you will live like a Davenport. I want you to move in. This is your home now.”

  “That’s kind Mr. Davenport, but I live with David. We’re very happy in Carol’s house.”

  “June I didn’t mean for you to leave David behind, I want you both to move in here, and June, call me father.”

  June looks about in confusion. “…I don’t know, David?”

  “That’s a generous offer Blake, but as June said we’re very happy where we are.”

  “June, I am an old man who’s been given a second chance, I ask you to please reconsider. If you don’t want to move in permanently then at least stay for a visit, I want to get to know you again, please?”

  June looks moved by the old man’s plea and turns to David. “What do you think?”

  Blake looks at David with beseeching eyes, silently begging him to help.

  “A visit would be a good way for you to get to know your family.”

 
“Yes, I guess it would, all right Mr. Davenport we’ll come for a visit, to get to know each other.”

  “Thank you June bug, and please, call me father.”

  “All right…father,” June says.

  April and May rise from the sofa and stand on either side of David, separating him from June.

  “May, it looks like we’re going to have a man around the house, isn’t that nice?”

  “I guess this means we’ll have to stop sleeping in the nude April.”

  David says. “I promise not to look ladies; I’ll sleep with my eyes closed.” He then makes his way back to June’s side.

  April and May move off to a corner, watching June and David.

  “April I think you’re getting a little too friendly with David, June looks to be getting annoyed at you.”

  “Who are you trying to kid May? You were practically unbuttoning his shirt while we sat on the sofa.”

  “I couldn’t help it, he’s so yummy. It’s a shame he’s going to rot in prison soon.”

  “Better he be in prison than living here.”

  “Still, it’s a waste.”

  “I’m not going to let it be a total waste. I’m going to sleep with him at least once.”

  “No April. If David turns you down he might talk, you’ll alienate June.”

  “Not if he thinks I’m June.”

  “You mean pretend you’re her and…”

  “Exactly, while you keep June busy, I’ll be keeping David very busy.”

  “If it works, do you know what that means?”

  “What?”

  May lights up in a smile. “It means I’m next.”

  17

  Within a week, David and June are settled in at the Davenport Estate. Simon takes them on a grand tour and David is impressed by the luxury and sheer size of the home. From its Olympic-size indoor swimming pool to the media room with every type of electronic equipment available, the home is a modern castle.

  On the second night of their undetermined stay, Blake asks David to join him in his study while June is being kept occupied by her sisters, who insisted that she see their wardrobes. David notes that a love of clothing is at least one thing the triplets have in common other than their looks.

  Blake settles himself behind the massive wooden desk in his study while David sits in the leather chair he had sat in previously.

  On his initial visit to Blake’s book-lined sanctum, David observed the fact that Blake’s seat behind the desk sat higher than the visitors’ chairs.

  He was certain this was a planned effect. A man like Blake would use any and every device to get the upper hand in a conversation. Having to look up at Blake behind the wall of desk did give him a sense of judicial authority, and after all, you were in his home.

  Blake glares down from his perch. “David, I have looked into your background and discovered that you are a criminal.”

  “Blake I’ve looked into your background and discovered the same thing about you.”

  Blake continues his glaring, then suddenly, he breaks into a smile.

  “By God, I don’t intimidate you one bit, do I?”

  “No Sir, you do however garner my respect for your business acumen. You took the small machine shop that you started at the age of sixteen and built that into the global enterprise that you have today. This you accomplished with luck, timing, ingenuity, and more than a small amount of questionable business practices. If you’d like to think of me as a criminal I would just say—it takes one to know one.”

  “The F.B.I. suspects you of computer hacking. Did you know that?”

  “Yes, I’ve been aware for some time.”

  “My sources say you only focus your skills on finding missing children, why is that?”

  “It’s what I do. I help to find missing children because I’ve found I’m good at it.”

  “You certainly found mine.”

  David grins. “That’s funny, I’ve never looked at it that way.”

  “June loves you very much. I don’t want her heartbroken by seeing you incarcerated.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “It will eventually, someday you’ll slip up and they’ll lock you away as an example.”

  “You’re right, that would be inevitable if I continued, that’s why I’ve stopped.”

  “You’re not going to play Mr. Smith anymore?”

  “You know of Mr. Smith, Blake? You have very good sources.”

  “A deputy director, we play golf occasionally, but getting back to point, are you saying you’re no longer acting as Mr. Smith, why?”

  “For June primarily, but I’m not a fool, eventually they would catch me and arrest me. It’s simply a matter of quit now and stay free or be caught soon and go to prison. I can’t go to prison; June needs me.”

  “I believe you love my daughter.”

  “You believe correctly. June is first in my life. As far as finding missing children goes, I’ll have to look for another way to do that, a legal way.”

  “I asked you the other night what you thought of April and May and you gave me a diplomatic answer, but that was in front of June.”

  “And June’s not here now,”

  “No she isn’t, what do you think of them?”

  “They’re extremely friendly.”

  Blake lets loose a chuckle. “David you would do well in politics. April and May are a couple of sluts, plain and simple.”

  “I have heard some fascinating stories.”

  “I could tell you more. Since puberty those girls’ libidos have been out of control, so much so that I threatened to disinherit them. I will say though that over the last few months they’ve gotten some control over themselves.”

  “How so?”

  “They used to be indiscriminate in where they copulated. I’ve dismissed more than one houseboy or chauffer for being with them in this very home. Out of respect for me or a belated sense of decency they’ve rented a bungalow at the club to do their deeds in now.”

  “Blake…why are you discussing your daughters’ sex lives with me?”

  Blake leans back in his chair and stares at David. “My daughters are obviously your type and I’ve seen April and May hovering over you. I hope you are not a weak man.”

  “I have no interest in them that way. I love June. I didn’t fall in love with June’s body, I fell in love with June. To me they’re like every other woman, they just happen to share June’s looks.”

  “Tell me more about June, about how she was when you found her.”

  David glances down at the thick, green carpet, recalling the past.

  “Actually it was June who found me, when we met she was still more child than woman, still living on the streets in that strange fugue-like state. At first, she didn’t want to live with me. She was understandably afraid of being confined. Eventually though, she moved into my apartment and began interacting with me, and later Carol. Over a period of about five months she gained more and more self-awareness until she broke through the barrier that kept her from speaking.”

  “I will be forever in your debt for rescuing my daughter from the streets. There are men of lesser morals who would have used her for their own pleasures.”

  David looks up at Blake, shaking his head in disagreement.

  “It’s your daughter who’s rescued me. I never knew what it was to love someone like this, it’s…indescribable.”

  “I understand completely, her mother affected me the same way, such love…” Blake says, and seems to drift off into memory.

  David stares at him. “You still love Angeline, don’t you?”

  Blake looks up, shocked. Then he slowly nods his head affirmatively.

  “Yes, I still love her. I think I always will. I have spent the last twelve years trying to locate Angeline without success. I told myself that I looked in order to bring her to justice for June’s kidnapping, the truth was that I just wanted to see her again. After our divorce, I lost track of her as her
drug habit spiraled out of control, such a damn waste of a fine woman.”

  “You know,” David says, “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the child you identified as June.”

  “So have I. I swear to you I thought she was my June bug, the resemblance was uncanny.”

  “Maybe there’s a reason for that. Perhaps Angeline had another child after your divorce, the dead girl could have been a half-sister. That would account for no one else coming forth to claim her body. When Angeline abandoned June she may have also abandoned this other child.”

  “I guess we’ll never know now.” Blake says sadly.

  “Angeline may still show up someday, she would only be in her mid-forties.”

  “No David, Angeline is dead; I know that now.”

  “How?”

  “Angeline, drugs or not, would not have forsaken June that way, she must have died before she could come back for her.”

  “That would explain why she kidnapped her and then abandoned her.”

  “Yes, Angeline is dead.”

  “I’m sorry Blake.”

  Blake lets loose with a dismissive sigh, he then looks at David fixedly.

  “My lawyers say it will take about a week to bring June back legally. At that time she will officially be June Davenport again, I am going to change my will to include her. When I die she’ll be a very wealthy woman.”

  “All she really wants is to be June Davenport, she just wants to be herself.”

  “I take it that soon she’ll be June Davenport Manning?”

  “Yes, we’re going to marry soon.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that. I want you to wait a year.”

  “A year? Blake why would I wait a year to marry the woman I love?”

  “For her sake David. She’s just learning who she is and you’re foisting this marriage on her. I think you should give her more time.”

  David shifts in his seat while looking annoyed, and perhaps, a bit uncomfortable.

  “I don’t give a damn what you think. June and I are going to get married, and soon.”

  Blake reaches into the top drawer of his desk and brings out a contract and a certified check.