by Penny Henry
"That's a bit harsh, Temple. I know it’s personal to you, and I understand you're taking it hard, but it really is just business.”
"That's all it is, is it? Hart Leisure isn't just a building, Travis. It's about dedicated staff and clients that are like family. We watch them achieve levels of fitness they never dreamt possible. The weight loss clinic has a superb record. People are gonna be lost without us. They come to us from all over the state on the recommendation of their friends. But, I don’t expect you to understand."
"You're so wrong, Temple. I understand exactly what you're saying. But if it's so damned important, then why did Ben sell you out? Answer me that."
They walked in silence for a minute. Temple knew they would end up going round in circles. But that wasn't going to stop her restating what to her was obvious. "I'd stake my life that Ben didn't sell me out. I don't know how you got his witnessed signature on that agreement or what Ben was promised. But as sure as God made little green apples Ben did not sign that contract because he wanted to sell me out."
Travis shot Temple a sideways glance. "So now we blackmailed Ben into signing the contract. Is that it?" He continued without waiting for an answer. "Yes, of course. So what should I do now? Hey, I know. Let's just cancel the contract, pay Pegasus a couple of million dollars in compensation, dump my Company's reputation in the trash can and forget all about it, eh? Then Temple Hart can continue in her own sweet way as if nothing ever happened. How would that suit you, honey?"
Somehow, whether because of the beauty of the day or at the whim of a benign god, Temple kept her temper. "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. And don't ever call me honey again."
Travis held his tongue. He didn't want this encounter to go the same way as every other clash they had experienced. They walked on a little farther until another idea occurred to Temple. "Travis," she began quietly enough. "Who witnessed Ben's signature?"
Travis had calmed himself down but he was on his guard. He wasn't prepared for Temple to be this reasonable. His brain raced to recall the details. "As I remember... the contract was signed and witnessed on neutral territory. A law firm in Kissimmee. Chapman and Corder. They have a solid reputation. Lance Chapman witnessed the documentation himself. I’m sure of it."
"You know him then, do you?" asked Temple. She was intrigued that Travis could bring the smallest detail to mind when it concerned business. She was also interested in just how neutral Lance Chapman was.
"Vaguely," answered Travis, but his voice had assumed a hard inflection. "He’s one of Elliot's friends." His face had turned to stone and he didn't offer anything else. Nor did he look in the mood to discuss the matter farther.
Temple took in the little Travis had given her. The story so far was that Elliot and Ben had signed the contract with Lance Chapman as a witness. Lance was a friend of Elliot’s. Ben had supposedly spent the evening celebrating the deal. The only thing that Temple knew for sure was that Ben had suffered a fatal heart attack during the night. She also guessed that Ben hadn’t spent the night alone. It seemed strange that no one had mentioned the presence of a female friend.
"Temple." Travis' voice retained the cold edge it had acquired during Temple's question about Lance Chapman. "Have you got what you came for?"
They had reached the house and turned to face each other. Temple felt a cold chill invade her heart. Was Travis about to suggest what Temple fiercely hoped he wasn’t. She challenged him head on. "What are you trying to say, Travis? Tell me why you think I'm here."
"I had hoped that you took the invitation in the spirit that it was intended. It was given so that we could get to know each other. Now I'm not so sure. You would do anything to prevent this deal going through, wouldn't you?"
Temple was appalled that Travis could even think that way. "You said it yourself, Travis. We're on opposite sides. What did you expect?" The words were spat rather than said.
Travis paled with anger. "And last night, what was that all about? Didn't that go beyond the call of duty?"
"You tell me, Travis. You were there. You were the one beating yourself up. Something on your conscience was there?” She stopped short of throwing Melanie in his face.
"I don't have a thing to hide, Temple. My conscience is clear. We have a business deal. Nothing is going to interfere with that. Nothing you can say or do. And whatever the relationship that exists between you and me. It won't change a thing."
"Relationship?" scoffed Temple. "You're a machine, Travis Campbell. You’re a money-making machine without an emotion in your body. How you got Ben to sign that contract I might never know, but you have to live with it. I hope your money keeps you warm.”
"How many times do I have to tell you that I had nothing to do with the contract? You don't know what you’re saying." Then his voice dramatically softened. "I... I had hoped we could talk it through. Spend some time together. Just the two of us..."
Temple realized the tempo had dropped. Travis was reducing the heat as he had done before when he was trying to turn her round. This time she wasn't falling for it. "I think we've spent enough time together, Travis. You're an insensitive oaf. And I'm a fool for listening to you." With that she turned her back on him and strode to the corner of the house.
"Temple!" called Travis. But he didn't come after her.
She half-ran along the pathway at the side of the house to reach the driveway where her car was parked. Belle had padded along behind her and looked up with her tongue lolling from her mouth. "Bye, old girl. Take care of your master. He doesn't get too much female company. I wonder why."
The fob was in her pocket and she pressed the keyless ignition. The powerful motor roared into life. Belle watched impassively as her new friend eased the sparkling machine from the driveway. Then Temple booted the gas as she hit the stretch of road that would carry her away from Travis' property. Belle yawned and shook her heavy head. She blinked her shiny eyes and turned back the way she had come. It was time to catch up on some sleep.
Coincidentally Temple's eyes were also shiny as she made good time to Orlando. But she wasn't looking for sleep. Her glistening eyes were caused by the wind that slipped round the windscreen on the fast road. What other reason could there be?
Chapter Ten
Temple breezed into the leisure complex apparently unconcerned and trouble-free. She smiled hello to the desk staff and headed for Ben's office. She needed some time to try to work out where it had all gone wrong. She had noticed Elliot's car in the parking lot. He hadn't wasted much time in Fort Lauderdale. Temple was in no mood to listen to his insinuations and deal with his schoolboy rivalry with Travis right now. He would be with Jill, anxious to protect his investment in the demise of Hart Leisure. She wondered if Elliot had negotiated a little something on the side of which Travis was unaware. The idea appealed to Temple and took her mind away from her own confused thoughts. She knew there was no love lost between the two men. Would Elliot have gone so far as to be in cahoots with Andrew Denham? She reached Ben's office and didn't allow herself time to reflect on the loss of the previous occupant. Her hand was reaching for the handle when the door was jerked open from the inside.
"Elliot! What the hell are you doing in Ben's office?" She looked past him. “...on your own.”
"I was looking for you, Temple. I just popped my head round the corner to say hello and here you are right behind me." His explanation was given in an instant without a flicker of guilt or a trace of hesitancy.
Temple was positive the door had been shut. Elliot had been behind a closed door inside Ben's office. For how long he had been there or what he been after, she couldn't even guess at. Perhaps he had let his curiosity get the better of him on finding the office empty. Elliot might even consider that Hart Leisure had already expired and caution was no longer required.
Temple put him straight in no uncertain manner. "Elliot, I do not expect to come into my offices to find you skulking around. Do me the courtesy of making an appointment or at least wait until y
ou're invited."
"You've got it all wrong, Temple. It was just a quick hello."
"I wouldn’t care if you were bringing me orchids. You do not enter an empty office uninvited. Is that clear enough for you?"
Elliot smiled sheepishly. Curious looks were coming in their direction from people attracted by Temple’s raised voice. "Okay, okay. I apologize." Elliot raised his hands in surrender. "I thought that things might be different between us now, you know..."
Temple wanted to avoid a public row. She stepped inside the office and held the door open. "Step inside, Elliot." His smile broadened at Temple's change of heart. She faced him and raised her eyebrows. "You were joking, right?" she asked in disbelief. Elliot was looking at her with a curious gleam in his eye. Latin charm was oozing from his pores.
"Why would I joke about it? We were having a great time in the pool until Travis came by. You know we were. We could get along, Temple. We can mean something to each other. It doesn't always have to be about business. Come on, Temple, give me another chance."
Elliot's words were sugar-coated but to Temple they were poison. She regarded Elliot coolly. "You mean you want to fuck me? You tried hard enough the other night.”"
Elliot looked hurt. "Hey, that’s the last thing on my mind. That was a mistake. I was drunk,” he shamelessly protested. “Honestly, how could you think such a thing?" I have a lot of respect for you, Temple. With what I'll make from this deal we could do anything. With the money you get for the lease we could set up our own property company. Think about it. We're both going to be rich."
Elliot's dark eyes were gleaming. But Temple had misread the signals. It wasn't lust that drove Elliot. It was greed. She considered his proposal for two heartbeats. She already had a thriving business and, if she needed a man, then Elliot wouldn't make the preliminary rounds. He hadn't even shown the good grace to want her for her body! Temple's first reaction was to throw Elliot out of the office and out of the complex. Her second was that she might get more out of Elliot by playing him along rather than fighting him.
"So you don't want me for my body, Elliot. That's kind of a disappointment. It's only my money you're after. You're not interested in little ol’ me at all?" She pouted sexily and prayed that no one who knew her came through the door.
Elliot was too engrossed in his own schemes to recognize Temple's bad impression of a giggly air-head. “Well, I wouldn't say that, Temple. You are so beautiful that any man would be insane not to want you."
As long as that man wasn't Travis Campbell, thought Temple bitterly. But she didn't allow Elliot's oily words to wipe the pretty smile from her face. She was doing her dandiest to look sultry. She opened her mouth and moistened her parted lips with the tip of her tongue. It appeared to be working. A bead of perspiration appeared at his temple.
"Damnation." Elliot was confused. "You’re just so darned sexy, Temple. I would give you everything you ever dreamed of. We would be so good together, I promise you."
His marbled eyes were locked on her mouth and he was having a problem controlling his breathing. Elliot was almost fawning at Temple's feet. She decided he was ready for the taking.
Temple baited the trap. "But can you afford me, Elliot? I have expensive tastes. Ben bought me everything I asked for. I’m kinda used to getting what I want."
"You’ll be able to have everything you want... and more," promised Elliot. "This deal is big, believe me." He was leaning close. His hands were gesturing widely. His breath was wafting over Temple's face.
"Oh, I believe you, Elliot. But isn't it Travis who will really make big out of it? Isn't that why he persuaded Ben to sign over the lease?”
"Travis?" scoffed Elliot. "He thinks he’s the big man. He hasn't handled a real deal in years. This one is down to me, Temple. It’s all mine. I'm the one that’s gonna make a fortune from it. I can guarantee it."
"That’s very clever of you, Elliot. There’s more to you than I imagined. I'll never know how you convinced Ben to sign on the dotted line." It was a bridge too far.
Elliot froze. His relaxed features suddenly stiffened. Temple could almost hear the shutters come down. "Well maybe it wasn't all my doing." Elliot was getting evasive. "I had been talking to Ben for a year or so. In the end I think he just saw the sense in it. I'm pretty sure Ben had big plans of his own. So it wasn’t all down to me."
No, not Ben, thought Temple savagely. You're lying to me Elliot Buchanan. But her words were still as soft as sugar coating. "So when everything was signed and duly witnessed by Lance Chapman, you went out to celebrate."
"How... how do you know about Lance?"
“I guess I saw a copy of the agreement, Elliot. It was there for all to see," bluffed Temple. There had to be a copy in Jill's office by now. For some reason she wanted to keep Travis out of it.
"Of course, it’s not a secret.” He appeared relieved at the simple explanation. "Yes we did celebrate. But it was just Ben and me at a restaurant later. We both drank a little too much, then I went home and Ben said he was going to find a hotel for the night. You know the rest, Temple. I'm so sorry that it ended like it did."
Temple had one more question. "Was Ben alone when you left him?"
Elliot was nonplussed for the briefest moment. Then his defense mechanism kicked in. "He was when I left him, but you know Ben. He had a way with women. Anything was possible, though I do believe he was discovered on his own the following morning."
"In a double bed," added Temple.
"It was a last minute thing. I suppose Ben took whatever was available. There's no big mystery about it," countered Elliot neatly. His greedy eyes wandered over Temple as he spoke. His breathing was becoming louder and he was noticeably perspiring. He watched Temple closely as she mulled over what she had heard. It all sounded very plausible. By the time that Ben's body was found the ink would have dried on the contract. There were no suspicious circumstances. It just didn't ring true. Ben wouldn't normally take an expensive double room to sleep on his own. He would have more likely slept in the car. But her guesswork could hardly be construed as hard evidence. Temple decided that Elliot had told her all he wanted her to know. It was pretty much the same story as before. There had to be something else. It just didn't feel right. There was something that Travis had said. But Elliot was standing too close for Temple to think straight. She put her hand on his chest to push him farther away. Elliot misunderstood the gesture.
"Oh, Temple," he sighed and hooked her round the waist. "Can't you see we're made for each other." His right hand lifted to enclose a warm breast.
"In your dreams," murmured Temple. She reached up her own right hand to cover his groping fingers and forced his hand flat against her breastbone. At the same time she brought her left hand up to his right shoulder, pushed and rolled him forward. Then she stepped neatly to the side and forced him to bend with his stiff arm held back against the joint and his wrist locked in her strong fingers. Temple refrained from delivering the sharp upward kick that may have permanently altered Elliot's perception of the weaker sex. She felt a little guilty at playing Elliot along. Instead she slammed her foot into the back of his knee joint, collapsing him to his knees.
Temple's response had taken two seconds flat. Elliot hadn't had time to cry out. His arm was held rigid in the painful wristlock as he saw the door open and two long legs enter. To his dismay the legs were clad in the white cotton material of a martial arts gi. He raised his head slowly to take in the gold bands of the 3rd Dan black belt. Then he looked upwards into Grace's unforgiving eyes. Elliot smiled his most winning smile. Perhaps he hoped that the stone-faced instructor - Temple's best friend in the world - would take pity on him. Hell would freeze over first.
"I heard there was a commotion in the corridor," said Grace at her sudden arrival.
"Everything's under control, Gracie. I was just demonstrating a move to Elliot," said Temple. She released her grip and Elliot struggled to his feet, rubbing at his shoulder. "There you go, Elliot. Now don't you
be late for your next appointment on my account."
Elliot shot Temple a wounded look. He shoved his loose shirt back into the top of his trousers and ran his hands through his disheveled hair. "Great, just great. Thanks a lot, Temple. I'll see you around." He threw a wary glance in Grace's direction and stepped through the open door. Elliot didn't look back as he walked quickly down the passageway and rounded a corner to disappear.
"What was that about?" asked Grace the moment Elliot was out of sight.
"Nothing I couldn't handle, Gracie," Temple reassured her friend. "Elliot apparently thought that I came as part of the deal."
"Well it looked like you put him straight, honey," said Grace with feeling. "The guy's a creep."
"I think he got the message." Temple laughed lightly. "Unless he's a very slow learner."
"You let me know if the guy needs another lesson. I'd be happy to oblige," said Grace.
"Don't give it another thought, Gracie. But thanks for the offer. It's what Elliot may have already done that’s the real problem. Not what he might do in the future."
"How come? What do you think Elliot might have done that's gonna bother you?"
"I think Elliot knows more about Ben's death and why he signed away the lease than he’s telling us."
"I could beat it out of him."
"I don't think that's the answer, Gracie," said Temple doubtfully. "The law just might frown upon a vigilante beating the crap out of one of Florida's sons."
"So what is the answer, then? What makes you think that Elliot's holding out?"
"It’s nothing definite. That's the problem. I just know that Ben would not have given everything up without a word to anyone. I just know it."
That was the best that Temple could come up with. She told Grace everything that she had learnt from Travis and Elliot. Neither of them could find any flaws in their stories. Temple was forced to admit there was nothing to suggest anything illegal had taken place. In fact Temple was almost resigned to accepting the inevitable. Almost, but not quite. That was when Grace suggested she talk it over with Tim Crane. It was something that had slipped Temple's mind. Tim's experience as a detective lieutenant with the Orlando police department would be invaluable. His trained eye might easily pick up on something that to Temple was meaningless. Grace left her friend to her thoughts. She promised to get Tim to call at Ben's office after his Tang Soo Do class. It was Temple's first slice of luck. There was a grade examination coming up and Tim was training every day.