by Gina Watson
Max eyed her with intent. “You’ll do no such thing. To involve you involves Cara and I won’t have it.”
“My, my aren’t you testy?” She placed her hand on his arm. Her way of warning that her next words were the hand of God. “Max, I care about my daughter too. I’m helping you on this or I’ll go it alone.” She took a bite of spaghetti and chewed while he remained quiet, no doubt at a loss for what to do to dissuade her. “Anyway, I won’t be alone. Have you heard the name Alexander Falcon mentioned in your circles?”
“The Falcon family?”
“That’s the one. I’ve been working for Alex Senior for nearly twenty years now. Consequently, Alex and I are friends. He would do anything for me, but he would kill for family. One of the girls involved in the incident was his brother’s daughter.”
Max grimaced, “Mirabelle, if he thinks I’m at fault, he’ll come after me and possibly Cara.”
“No, I already told him the situation. He loves your family. He says your father is the reason he’s so well established. He’s got his kids in the best schools. Anyhow, he wants the video.”
Max stood, dropped his napkin, and left the room. Cara and her mother sat frozen. When he opened the front door Cara jumped up and ran after him. But she was too late. His Stingray was peeling out of their driveway.
Chapter Seven
One week…the amount of time that had passed since Cara had seen Max. Since anybody had seen Max. She was losing her mind. She’d been to his house and spoken to Zach, but he had no new information.
Now she and Zach were en route to the plantation home where Max had grown up, hoping to speak with Max and Zach’s eldest brother Ashton.
She rode in the passenger bucket of Zach’s truck. If she weren’t so worried about Max, the silence would have made her feel awkward. “I know that I’m what most families refer to as the black sheep, but Max had been in a real funk until he met you.”
“We met six years ago.”
“I mean…uh…since you’ve been together he’s been different.”
“I agree.”
“Look…for what it’s worth, the day before he disappeared, he told me he loved you and planned to spend the rest of his life with you.”
Tears immediately coursed down her face.
“I’m sorry, Cara. I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought girls liked all that shit.”
She laughed through her tears. Zach’s ability to comfort a woman was tremendously lacking. “Girls do like that shit, but no offense, I’d rather hear it from Max’s lips.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s cool. I get it.” He turned the truck onto a long and winding road that was lined with thick, low-hanging oaks and they drove past what Cara assumed was the David plantation. Workers in white coveralls worked the grounds, patios, and roofs like ants.
A few turns later had them pulling up to the little cottage where Ashton and Harmony resided.
Zach knocked on the cheery green door.
Harmony cracked the door shouting “Zach!” And then she reached out for a hug. “And Cara. So good to see you again.”
She invited them in. When she mentioned Ashton was tending the cows, Zach went off in search of his brother. Cara recounted her story for Harmony…the entire Ed Koch story. Harmony didn’t have much to say other than to encourage Cara to have faith everything would work out.
When Zach returned with Ashton he had a response similar to his wife’s. However, the way Ashton’s gaze cut to Harmony’s for guidance told Cara that they were hiding information. Harmony was better at deception than her husband, but to quote Shakespeare’s Marcellus, ‘something was rotten in the state of Denmark’.
Zach and Cara stood to leave and she turned back. Addressing Harmony she said, “I know you know where Max is. And you know what’s going on. I love him more than my own life. Think about what you did for Ashton…I would do no less for Max. Please, help me get to him.”
Harmony’s lips thinned. Ashton hung his head to look at something he evidently found quite interesting on the floor. Harmony walked to a bookcase in the small cottage and retrieved a book. “We weren’t supposed to give this to you until graduation day. There are some answers in it, but that really is all we know.”
“His copy of Wuthering Heights.” She knew it from his office. He’d let her borrow it for Roberta…his eighteen forty-eight, first American edition. She hadn’t wanted to use it and he couldn’t understand why. When she’d said it was a collectible he’d said Roberta would get much joy out of it and wasn’t that better than having it collect dust on his shelf. She swallowed, holding back tears. “Thank you.”
Zach drove them back to Max’s house. She held the book to her breast, trying to understand what Max’s message meant. She’d read the book cover to cover, but she’d needed to be alone so that she could focus.
She left Zach, asking him to call her as soon as he heard anything. At home in her room she sat on her bed cross-legged and placed the book in front of her. She inspected the outside of the book first. She was no sleuth, but it didn’t seem that the leather cover contained any clues.
She opened the book to find that someone had written in ink over the faded author inscription. The page was signed MvD…Maximilian von Doodoo. She smiled and suddenly she recognized his precise penmanship.
Cara,
You were beautiful today at graduation. I know, this was written before that day, but there is nothing that could happen between now and then to make you anything less than perfection. Know that every day I am away from you a little piece of me is dying. I don’t eat. Don’t sleep. I am struggling to survive away from your side. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that my actions may be keeping you and your family safe and free from scandal.
I need you to go to New York and start your internship. I am asking you to trust me. Please, it is the only control I have left.
I saw you receive your diploma today. There’s nothing that would keep me from celebrating your achievements. Congratulations, Cara. When we are together next we’re going to celebrate proper.
I love you. You are my life now and I will do everything within my power to protect you. I would die for you, Cara. If it came to that, I wouldn’t even hesitate.
Yours,
MvD
Her tears hit the page, smudging the ink like a watercolor painting. Max was going to be at her graduation. Of that she was certain. Selfishly she wanted to seek him out and go to him, but he’d written a desperate message and she would bring him no more anxiety than he already had. She’d comply with his message, however hopeful, that they’d be together soon.
***
In her bedroom on May fifteenth—graduation day—Cara Presley dressed in the silk blue dress that Max had purchased for her in New Orleans. She adorned her feet with the nude heels he’d said were his favorite.
Her mother walked in, looking beautiful in a sleek beige dress. “Baby, I’m so proud of you.” She smoothed Cara’s hair with her hand. “You look beautiful in that blue.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
They rode to the school in the Chrysler they shared. Mom drove, which gave Cara time to think about Max. Would she see him today? Somehow she doubted that he’d let himself be seen after going to such great lengths to remain hidden these past weeks.
Mom parked against the curb near the side door of Ballinger Center where the graduation was to be held. “Aunt Lucy is holding seats for us in the front row. West side she says.”
“I’ll look for you.”
“Okay, baby. Go get your diploma. You’ve earned it. You’re so smart.” Mom squeezed her hand and Cara grabbed her robes and mortarboard and exited the car before she started to cry.
The activity inside the center was mayhem. Everywhere she turned, students dressed in black robes brushed against her. Hundreds of faculty members wore elaborate velvet robes in vivid colors that represented their school of study. She desperately searched for green eyes and a strong jaw, but was sorely disappointed.
If he were here, he wasn’t standing with his college.
After asking a volunteer for assistance she found her small class of six. She put on her gown and then Amanda helped her adjust her hood. Amanda was from California and glad to have been accepted for internship back home at UCLA.
“The collar is a beast and must be secured with safety pins,” Amanda said.
Despite the overwhelming sensation that Max wasn’t in the near vicinity, Cara continued to search. “Ouch!” Cara’s fingers rubbed her neck.
Amanda clicked her tongue, “Sorry. Will you stop squirming long enough for me to attach your collar?”
Cara stilled, the anxiety creating a slow burn in her belly.
All the graduates filtered out in order of seating. The graduate college placed seating for its honorees at the back of the large auditorium since they were to be celebrated after the undergrad college.
Cara took her seat, all the while looking around the stadium seating nearest her. She found her mother and Aunt Lucy. They energetically waved and Cara returned it with a halfhearted wave of her own. She searched the crowd for Max, but never found him.
It took about an hour to get through the distinguished speaker and the horde of undergrads, with the College of Education being the largest awarder of degrees.
When finally her name was called she swiftly walked to the stage, climbed the steps, and reached her hand out to take her degree.
“Cara Presley, congratulations.”
She knew that voice and how it spoke the syllables of her name. Looking up her eyes followed the length of his robe until she met the verdant green eyes that pervaded her dreams. “Max,” she whispered.
“Cara.”
She smiled, relieved that he was before her in the flesh. His face was thin, but it was him. He placed a leather-bound folder in her hands and whispered, “I love you. We’ll be together soon.”
Throat clearing behind her had her moving her feet. She floated across the stage, down the steps, and back to her chair. She didn’t see Max again. He’d vanished immediately after he presented the degrees to the library science graduates—all six of them. She held tight to his words that soon they would be together and she prepared for her journey, knowing he’d find her when the time was right.
Chapter Eight
It wasn’t until Max learned that Cara was safely ensconced in her New York City, Madison Avenue apartment, that he returned home. He couldn’t risk her coming to him because if she did he wouldn’t be able to turn her away. It wouldn’t due for anyone to associate her name with his until he was certain the Koch scandal was behind him and, more important, that Alexander Senior (or Junior) didn’t blame him for what had happened to his niece.
Driving the Vette recklessly, Max turned on two wheels into his neighborhood and thought long and hard about his situation. He was not unfamiliar with the ways of the Falcon family. Max’s father, and Falcon’s partner in business, used to tell a story about how Alexander Senior threw a man off a fifteen-story hotel balcony for not being able to pay his debts at the gambling table. The Falcons owned most of the casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Max pulled his Corvette onto the drive for his estate and immediately set eyes on Alexander Falcon Junior leaning against an antique Porsche Carrera coupe. Max inhaled deeply and prepared to face the music. The silver car mirrored the provocative image of its driver.
Alex had served as Max’s wingman when they’d been in college. Together they’d been, to hear the woman tell it, impossible to resist. Max had appreciated the attention greatly as their shenanigans had offered a distraction from Elizabeth’s death. Max only regretted getting a little too reckless. Their friendship had ceased when Alex caught him in bed with his girl.
Max parked his Corvette and admired the Porsche as he walked toward Alex. “Nice wheels.”
“Touché.” Alex removed his aviator shades that were the same color as the car. “We need to talk.”
Fuck. Max nodded. Since Alex’s niece had been one of the women involved in the Ed Koch disaster, they did in fact need to talk. Max had thought long and hard about the situation. Max leaned against his Corvette, mirroring Alex’s stance so that they were directly facing one another.
“We’ve been friends for a long fucking time. It’s actually the only reason I don’t beat the ever-loving shit out of you right now.” He huffed and turned his head to look toward the woods and bayou. “There’s a video that has my niece on it.”
“Yes.”
“It’s taken me weeks to get this information from Alicia. Have you seen the video?” His brown gaze bore into Max.
“I only recently saw it. I couldn’t watch it all.” Alex stared at Max without blinking, but Max saw the cogwheels of his mind turning. Trying to figure if he was going to trust Max.
“Alex…I’m humiliated and humbled. I take full responsibility for the actions of that night. Ed was in my care…he was in my home.” Max’s voice broke. “There is no excuse.” In that moment Max wanted Alex to hurt him and hurt him badly. He wanted to purge his life and his memories of all the wrong he’d done. Max had lived a selfish existence—one that put the needs of others behind his own. That chapter of his life was over now. If Alex allowed him to lived to see the next one, he vowed to give back until his dying breath. “I have since resigned. Only Simon has seen the video. Ed’s out. Any connection he had to the school has been eradicated.”
Deep in thought, Alex crossed his arms. “You’re right, there is no excuse. However, I’ve spoken with Alicia about the incident. She said you had absolutely no knowledge of her or Ed’s intent. She said you didn’t know she was at your house, which is why I’m going to let you live, but I need that video.”
Max understood that. He’d demand the same if it had been one of his nieces. “Of course.”
“Just to confirm…no legal action was taken against Ed?”
“No. Given the nature of the scandal, the school wants to handle the situation with as much dignity and confidentiality as possible.”
“Who knows?”
“Simon, the chaplain, the provost. Those last two don’t know the details.”
Alex nodded. “I’ll take care of Koch.”
Though he didn’t like to admit it, sometimes Alex and his family could scare Max. Mr. Alexander Falcon Senior and Max’s father had been equal partners in a number of real estate and oil ventures. Still sort of were…Max didn’t know the extent of it because Aston handled the family’s estate and trust, but the money continually flowed into his account from those investments. There’d been a third partner, but one summer after an exceptionally heavy rain he’d been found in a ditch. His throat had been slit. During the weeks leading up to his death Max had seen him around the plantation. The three partners had been arguing heatedly.
“Have you told your father?”
“Alicia made me swear I’d keep it quiet.”
“I’m sorry, Alex. About everything.”
“Everything?”
“This fiasco and the Belinda thing. We were friends and I keep letting you down. I’m hoping for the chance to right some of that wrong. I can’t tell you how sorry I am Alicia was involved…and Belinda”—
“Belinda was a whore, Max. She didn’t do it for money, but in every other sense of the word, Belinda was a whore and I wasn’t at all surprised or upset to find her in your bed. And Alicia is an idiot. Why do you think she works at the club? She doesn’t need the money. She was fucking some guy who would only stay with her if she were an exotic dancer. She’s ridiculous. Ed Koch is an adult, and believe it or not, so is Alicia. You’re not exclusively to blame is all I’m saying. I’m surrounded by idiots. It doesn’t change the fact that Koch deserves what’s coming to him.
“We could go public with it. Hire an attorney”—
“And have my family entangled in scandal? No thanks. I’ll take care of it, quietly.”
Max winced. “Koch is…”
“Relax, I’m just going to roug
h him up some. I want him to experience some of his own handiwork.”
Max inhaled deeply, relieved. Alex’s lips curled in a smirk and Max understood why he needed to do this for his niece. Max didn’t believe what Alex had said about Belinda. He knew she wasn’t a whore. Alex was still hurting and for that Max would never forgive himself. However, he’d try hard to make it up to his friend. “I haven’t been a good friend to you, and for that I’m sorry.”
Alex froze as he let Max’s words sink in. “Max, your parents died. Your brother was in an asylum, and then your fiancée died.” Alex lifted a shoulder, “Sure you’ve been a little self-centered, but for good reason, buddy.”
Max’s jaw dropped. Both he and Alex had the ability to be quite bold. Having his life’s tragedies itemized made him realize that in spite of everything, he’d survived. “Thank you, I guess. I’m going to be making big changes. Huge changes. No longer am I going to take friends, love, or family for granted. I’ve found love not once, but twice. It’s like I’ve been offered a second chance, and by God I’m going to take it.”
Alex smiled. “It’s good to see you like this.”
Max felt vulnerable spilling his guts to Alex, but he hoped it would bring them to an understanding. “I’m not good enough for her, but I’ve got a plan.”
“What can I do to help?”
Yes, he’d suffered through much loss. However, he was still alive, and Max intended to make the most of the rest of his life…he only hoped a certain little blonde bombshell would want to make the most of it with him.
***
Cara was deep in the bowels of the One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street branch of the New York City Library System. Deeply enmeshed in researching and cataloging thirty photographs from King Leopold’s rule in Africa, she’d lost all track of time. The room that held the artifacts was narrow and entombed by floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves that held endless books and catalogs useful for identification and research. Cara inhaled deeply as she read of Leopold’s growing fortune. A fortune amassed by exploiting natural resources from the Congo.