by Claire Perry
“Are you from Israel?” Matt grinned. Alice beamed as she observed the power of first impressions.
“Yes. Thought I’d lost my accent. I guess not.” Claudia bashfully looked at her feet buried heel-deep in the sand. Matt eased himself to sitting, wincing at the pain that never went away.
“Mm. Well, this looks like an interesting story here. Alexis sends the Jewel of the Universe and her charming Israeli companion to my neck of the woods on business urgent enough to dredge me up from the dead. Okay, that’s cool. What’s the big deal?” He took a tiny sip of his drink, face wrinkling with exhaustion. Alice felt her whole body shiver at that look. How much pain and disturbance had her family trouble brought to other people?
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Matthew. I can tell from your living situation that you’ve probably fallen on hard times and prefer to be left alone. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t have come to you if I’d known that. It’s just… I have this son, you see…”
“Right. The infamous Joe Cornwell. I watch the news, ma’am.”
“Ah, ‘ma’am’ makes me sound old. Just Alice. Anyway, if you watch the news, you might have seen my son’s proposal to some distressed blonde in a San Francisco Starbucks a day or two ago. Made off with one of my biggest assets, the Venus’ Heart diamond, to complete that proposal. When I confronted him with it, it came to physical abuse, young Miss Claudia having her chin cracked on a mic stand, and maybe the near decimation of a nightclub. Which is the moment when Alexis decided to intervene.” Alice covered her lips with her palm. It sounded so bad when she said it aloud.
“Right. This is where I come in. You don’t approve of the woman Joe proposed to. He’s not the kind of guy to commit to anything other than an exhausting wedding night, if I’m reading it right, which makes you anxious for the future of your priceless Rockzilla and the rest of everything you guys own now that Mr. Cornwell has passed. Alexis gave you Parenting Coaching 101 even though she never even had siblings. Alright then. Well, I can begin the basic steps to solving your problem as we speak.” Matt stood up and dove behind the surfboard bar. He produced an iPhone wrapped in plastic waterproofing.
“Ready for the shock of your life? I have Wi-Fi way out here!” He turned the phone on and plunked down on the log.
“Okay, so let me give you the crash course. First things first: a lot of people are exploring the nightmare world known as social media these days. It sucks, but this is the arena where modern duels are waged. If he’s acting out to the hurt of your family name, it’ll happen under your nose on the Web because of cowardly youth and too much Internet access countrywide.” He chuckled at his own sarcasm and typed a Web address into the phone. Twitter pulled up.
“Something else that this is good for: we can figure out exactly who this girl is just by reading your son’s Twitter account. See, I can do better than a name or pictures. Anybody can social media stalk, giving credit where credit is due. But in my day, I was a little too good at what I did, if you haven’t already observed that by the kind of feedback I got from it.” He indicated his scarred body with upturned hands.
“I’ve got her name on screen. Anita White is the girl commenting all the huggy-kissy flowers and unicorns crap on his profile. Okay, so she’s our girl. Now, we go to her profile. Family and friends. I don’t need any more than the names. It just begins with social media, eh? If I have a name, then I’ve got data to run through algorithms, pictures to take, cell phones to eventually hack into. I could get you a name, a number, physical residence, and credit card registry in case he decides to give her access to your cash. Did I mention all of this is illegal?”
“Will that cost extra? Let’s talk price.” Alice felt breathless when Matt bowed over his knees laughing.
“Well, a guy’s got to eat. Sometimes a beer and a burger would beat oranges, ya know?” He shrugged.
“A beer and a coconut would do in a pinch.” Claudia flicked sand into the breeze.
“Yep. Okay, then. We need more data. You’ve got to have sand before you can shape the castle, right ladies? Family and friends–” He stopped mid-sentence as he scrolled through the people commenting on Anita’s profile.
“What? Find something juicy? You must be good. Better than Sparks said even.” Alice was already totally trusting of this man’s skill. She pushed herself along the log until she could lean over the screen. There was a beautiful picture of the young astronomy professor at San Francisco’s own Montague’s Institute of Galactic Academia, Journey Erickson-Law.
“Hey! I know her! She helped me host a charity for inner city kids last summer. What would somebody like her be doing hanging with that crazy Anita? I mean, the whole Starbucks thing? I’d be willing to bet on her staging it just so she could get press attention, knowing Joe would get it for her. She’s just like all of his other girlfriends – money hungry and spotlight thirsty.” Alice caught her breath at the intense pain that flickered over Matt’s whole countenance. His past would remain a mystery to them, yet both women could tell that he also knew young Professor Erickson-Law. The knowledge that she was consorting with millionaires and their shady girlfriends had visibly upset him, which was a difficult thing to accomplish when a man is well-trained in intelligence operations.
“Mrs. Cornwell, let me gather my gear. I will take your case and throw in some extra services like street sweeping, for instance.” Without attempting to explain, Matt leaped up and bounded down the beach and up a hill. They saw him dive through the crumbling window that served as the shanty’s back door and heard things being rustled around. He dove through the window-door again, a loaded duffle bag on his shoulder, and headed for the most decrepit green truck they’d ever laid eyes on.
“Wow. That was fast, yeah?” Alice gritted her teeth and looked at Claudia who nodded.
“Fast enough to make me wonder if perhaps your problem isn’t bigger than you’ve feared it is. Sorry, Mrs. Cornwell.”
Chapter 6
The night was as young as they were and filled with their aspirations. Journey smiled looking on at her class. Was there any joy on earth or in the heavens she observed with trained critique quite like instilling knowledge in young people?
“Alright, class. Good evening.” She clapped her hands together, smiling at all of them. They were all smiling back at her. It was a rare day when students and teacher all loved each other like a surrogate family.
“Tonight, we’re going to do a little in-depth study on the Milky Way. This is kind of philosophical at its core, as I think that philosophy produces deeper thinkers, and scientists definitely have to be deep thinkers to reach inside themselves far enough to delve discovery. Yeah, I know that sounds dramatic. I went to school originally hoping to go into theater and fell in love with the stars instead.” She beamed at their laughter.
“Okay, so questions time.” She held up a pencil and pointed to Grant, her valedictorian, whose hand was already raised. He never got to breathe a word. The door had quietly opened, unbeknownst to them.
“Right. I have a question. Can you skip class and your philosophy stuff to maybe help a friend out? Because I, like, really need your help at the moment, Jay.” It was Anita. She was standing in the dimly lit corner, clothes and hair a mess, tears blurring her mascara like an art major’s charcoal.
Journey’s spine tingled. Why did she feel like she was being interrupted in the most beautiful moment of her life? It was like waking up from a lover’s dream to the sound of a hell-cat shrieking alarm clock.
Was it a crime to be so torn? Her reason and her philanthropic compassions were in a heated debate within the walls of her skull. Here was her friend, derailed in every sense. She hadn’t been able to help her before, and it was unlikely that she’d ever be able to help her if she refused to help herself. Yet there was that nagging sense of urgency to try again. To do something, even if it would ultimately backfire.
She looked desperately to Grant, lips pursed in a question of her own. There was a strange reluctance t
o go with Anita as badly as she wanted to help her get this right.
Her kids were all horrified by the sight of the girl who had totally derailed their study team-up at Starbucks just this week. Why did their professor still hang with her? She was obviously just using her as an emotional crutch! They didn’t want her to leave. Their eyes begged her not to go. She didn’t want to leave them. Her eyes begged to be allowed to stay.
“Jay? Earth to Jay? Please?!” Anita was trembling.
“It’s really urgent, right? Joe’s mom’s at it again? You didn’t try to hurt yourself, did you? Remember, we talked about this. It’s better to go to the hospital first than to come to me when you feel like that.” Journey felt like she was walking on ice.
“I’m scared, Jay. Just help me.”
Journey looked back at her class, a wistful smile on her face. They knew what she was going to choose. As bad as they hated it, they admired her for her loyalty. If they’d learned nothing else from her, the value of friendship had been showcased by her careful need to help this wayward, somewhat despicable lady.
“Grant, why don’t you show the class the video I put together for tonight? I’ve got notes up here. Your assignment for tonight is just discussion time, okay? I’m really sorry guys, this is kind of an emergency. Somebody forget the ‘no phones in class’ rule just for tonight. Totally film how Grant does and post it to Youtube. I’ll watch it in the morning, take notes on all the questions and everything you guys discuss, and we’ll do it again tomorrow night, okay?” She smiled as brightly as she could and looked from one student to the next, feeling horribly anxious for reasons she didn’t know.
“Go wait for me in the car, Ann. I need to get my purse.” She pushed the keys into Anita’s hands and headed to the locker room, pulled out her phone, and dialed Kenneth.
“Hey, baby. I thought you were in class?” He sounded sleepy. Her heart began to race. Why did she feel so suddenly desperate to hold him?
“Kenny, umm, it’s Ann. She interrupted class and I don’t know why, but she needs help, and for some reason, she’s really wigging me out by the way she’s acting. Just… I’m going to take her to Smokey’s Pizza, okay? Can you come meet me? In case she does something like what happened at Starbucks… Then maybe we can take her to the hospital or something if she starts getting violent or weird. I’d do it myself, but you know how I feel about going into hospitals since… since my wreck.” She was on the verge of tears.
“Hey…It’s okay, honey. You don’t ever need an excuse to ask for my help. Let me put my pants back on and I’ll be there before the cops can write me a ticket.”
They both laughed and hung up. Journey let out an anxious gasp. Why did she regret hanging up so badly? Why did she want to run to him or back to the classroom so intensely that her mouth was watering?
Her feet carried her to the parking lot, but her soul was far away. Something about this was wrong and she knew it.
“Thanks, Jay. You’re the best.” Anita collapsed against her shoulder. Journey laughed and ran a hand over her head.
“Anytime, Ann. Let’s just go like a block or two down the street to that pizza dive we only like because it has the best sky view in the city, yeah? Then you can tell me what’s up with you and maybe we can fix it…”
Chapter 7
Alice watched the California skies, darkness growing in her heart as the sun was sinking down.
Why did it feel like this was the beginning of the end? The sun was bleeding over the skyline, sinking with her heart. Could it have been a mistake bringing Matt into all of this? Alice felt queasy envisioning the day when her son found out she’d hired someone to spy on him.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of him. She was afraid of failing Anders. Facing the sun, she felt closer to the hereafter. Now she understood why she had hung on so tight to her unruly child. She understood this maelstrom struggle to persuade him to follow after reason. Anders Cornwell had been the greatest businessman that had ever drawn breath and the love of her life. There was so much of his father in Joe when one rubbed away the grease of his overbearing selfishness. It would be unforgivable if she let that potential go to waste without fighting for it.
With a wistful smile, Alice Cornwell felt truth echo through her soul. It gave her a small measure of peace.
“I’m not the bad guy…” She hadn’t said it aloud. It had been somewhat quieter than a thought; something deathly secret that would never chance to be breathed. Just realizing it was enough. She had extended the right hand of forgiveness to herself when no one else would ever have afforded her that grace.
Justification had dared to rise from her soul in the nick of time. The door flung open and banged against the wall, knocking her favorite Japanese vase to the floor, breaking it in as many different shards as her heart had also broken long ago because of this young man.
He strode in smiling. A canary-feasting cat would have seemed more remorseful. She sighed and felt her shoulders sag. Then, she saw the camera crew behind him. Fire swept through her, from her heel to the crown of her head.
“Get these bastards out of my office! I’m calling the police and my lawyer. I don’t know who you work for but I will sink you!” She swung her arm and a crystal paperweight flew across the room, colliding with one of the cameramen’s guts. They took a consecutive backward step before Joe held up a hand.
“Easy, gentlemen. Remember, this is an intervention. We all know what we’re here for.” He nodded and smiled, plucking a notepad from his front pocket.
“I’d like to start off. Mother, you realize what we’re here for? We’ve all come to discuss your OCD and your BPD and how you need help in managing your domineering attitudes when it comes to relationships. It’s unhealthy. We’re here to talk through your problems and maybe offer you some treatment options, like rehabilitation.” Joe never finished his tirade. Alice snatched the notes from his hand and ripped them to shreds, turning to face the camera and standing up straight. If she kept a stiff upper lip and maintained a business persona, the audience would be harder pressed to believe that any of this was actually credible.
“I believe there has been some sort of misunderstanding. You see, ladies and gentlemen, my son is convinced that because I have said ‘no’ to some of the things he wanted to waste my money on, then I must be either A) an evil person or B) mentally ill. If he can put me away, then he can run the company however he wants. Well, I’m here to attest that all my screws are tight when it comes to mental capacity. This also reiterates what I’ve been telling him for months about many different girls, but it has finally culminated with this still somewhat vague relationship with the troublesome Anita White.
With compulsive stunts like this, my son has pushed me into a decision that is not in the best interest of my company, but is one that I am faced with little choice but to have to make. Joseph, these are my terms. This is your choice. You will stop making demands of me to bless your marriage to a girl you only met a few days ago (and have been cheating on since). You will stop insisting that I fund your wedding and honeymoon to this girl, and you will stop lavishing extremely costly gifts of my money, such as gifting this mysterious Anita White with the Venus’ Heart – my diamond. You will immediately break off your engagement with Anita White, and all gifts that were in my personal possession will be returned. You are also going to formally apologize to Anita White’s family for this vulgar breach of their privacy!
If you refuse, you will be removed from the Cornwell Enterprises Executive Board and you will be removed from my will, which will take from you at least 75% of the estate since your father’s passing. In short, you will be left with the college trust fund your father put aside for you, never expecting he would die so young. How much is left of that after you burned through it and stayed at school partying for one semester? Yeah, maybe as much as 50 grand? Good luck learning to live on a regular person’s wage, Casanova!”
There was silence. The reporters regretted getting themselves in
volved in this.
“I’m sorry, Mom. If you’re unwilling to talk through your problems like a rational person, then I’ll be forced to take necessary steps in getting you help. I’ve already had a budget plan made up. You’re going to a rehab facility in Bermuda. It will be fun.
“In the meantime, I will marry the love of my life, Anita White. If only you could have been able to make it to the biggest day of your only son’s life…”
A pair of doctors came through the door.
“What? This is practically abduction! You’ll have to drag me out of here! When I get free, which I will, I’m going to sue all of you until your insides bleed. You won’t have money to bury your own mothers, so you’d better hope you treat them right!” Alice hated getting older. Her heart was squeezing, panic-stricken, and she was losing the strength to fight.
“Nobody is going anywhere!” There was a mosh-pit of confusion by the door. Then Matt burst into the room, flashing a badge and a Glock.
“Who are you?!” Joe’s jaw dropped and his hair stood on enraged ends.
“Matthew Erickson, CIA.” He flashed his badge.
“I’m a former employee of the U.S. government and am currently contracted as a personal bodyguard of your mother. In the eyes of the state of California, what you are doing is an encroachment of property and a violation of your mother’s constitutional rights. Now, I am ready and capable of detaining you here until the authorities arrive, or you can vacate. Like yesterday.” Matt’s eyes were withering. The camera crew didn’t have to be told twice.
Joe stood smirking for a long, silent moment after they’d split.
“Since when does my Mom hire a bodyguard?” He stuck his tongue into the side of his cheek.
“I don’t know, man. I guess since you had your head shoved so far up your own rectum that you’d just as soon throw your Mom into the nut house as you would stop blowing cash you didn’t lift a finger for.” Matt raised a brow. Fuming, Joe spun on his heel and jabbed a finger under Alice’s nose.