Lance just nodded vaguely and looked out the window as they traveled down Harbor Boulevard.
Taking the silence for affirmation, Daniel saw his chance to put another foot into the mix. “I’m part of the family, you know. Yeah, me and Kimberly, well, we’d be glad to assist in any way we can.”
Daniel felt a wave of satisfaction when Lance’s eyes swung to the mirror again at the mention of Kimberly’s name. He could see Lance didn’t miss his reference. Daniel heard a lot as he drove his boss around because there was no partition between driver and passenger. Yes, Lance can have his little plans. He, Daniel, had his own—and he was not about to have this newcomer interfere with them.
The two men traveled the rest of the short distance to the cast member parking lot in silence. Stopping at Lance’s dust-covered 1989 Jaguar Vanden Plas, Daniel gave him a smug salute and sped off, the rear tires spitting gravel back at Lance.
Muttering something unpleasant under his breath, Lance turned to his Jag with a short sigh. He still missed his sleek, black Mercedes. And his townhouse…and his lifestyle—all of which he had before his father cut him out of his trust fund. He shoved the thoughts of his father to the back of his mind as he reached for the keys in his pocket. When he inserted the key in the door’s lock, he heard the Mark Twain’s whistle. He could tell from the location of the sound that the paddle-wheeler was approaching the loading dock. Kimberly is working at Disneyland today. The sudden thought stilled his hand. Ignoring the not-so-subtle reference from Daniel Crain, Lance brought her lovely green eyes to mind and wondered how she would look as a brunette dressed as Belle.
With a smug smile of his own, he relocked his Jag and turned toward the employee shuttle bus that would take him to the entrance. As he rode, he planned what he would say. “Why, hello there, Miss…Miss….” Lance’s mouth went from a smug smile to a confused frown. What was her last name? As he thought back, he realized he had never learned the blond-haired man’s name. Three days in their house and he never thought to ask.
Lance’s smugness returned. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Even a lovely green-eyed cat. He even whistled a little tune as he turned toward Personnel. Misty would be working today. Petite, raven-haired Misty. She would be very happy to see him.
Ariel’s Grotto was a lovely spot nestled between the Matterhorn Mountain and Tomorrowland’s entrance. As if carved from the same faux-granite that formed the rock pond, statuesque King Triton majestically from the water. More water sprayed out from the tips of his trident and his hand extended over all he commanded. Dark green ferns gave the garden a lush, almost tropical feel, and shaded the grotto like a Pacific Island paradise. At the end of the curving walkway that meandered around the pond under carefully-manicured trees, a rock formation made to look like Ariel’s undersea hideaway was used by many of the princesses for their Meet-and-Greet sessions with adoring children. They would pose for pictures and sign countless autograph books, smiling and beautiful in their royal costumes. Sometimes their costumed prince would be their escort, regally leading them by the arm to their next location or “backstage,” as cast members call the behind-the-scenes areas of the Park.
It was here that Lance found Kimberly in her flowing gown of gold, her hair now brown and wrapped around her fair head, held in place by a circlet of gold. His breath caught in his throat at her beauty and it wasn’t just her elegant costume or her surroundings. Kimberly possessed a natural beauty and poise that couldn’t be disguised by makeup or a costume. She didn’t see him at the back of the crowd, busy as she was with pictures and answering questions about the Beast and why he wasn’t there with her that day. Mesmerized, he couldn’t take his eyes off the lovely sight in front of him.
When the assisting cast member announced that the princess was through for the day and needed to get back to her castle, a groan went up from the crowd, including one from Lance as he joined in their disappointment. Kimberly gave a final wave and hugged one little girl who was dressed in a much smaller version of Belle’s gown, telling the little girl how beautiful she looked. Smiling, Lance watched Kimberly walk away, still under her spell. With a self-deprecating laugh, he shook his head and remembered why he was there.
His long stride caught up to her as she passed Snow White’s Grotto. He knew there was a Cast Member Only door just inside the Castle and she would disappear through there. He had to say something fast. “Why, if it isn’t Miss Kimberly Bryan Waldron.” Not the best line, but it was all he could think of.
Kimberly recognized his voice and came to an abrupt stop. Her assistant, unaware she was no longer beside him, kept walking until he reached the door. On looking back, Kimberly gave him the ‘all right’ signal, that she would be just a minute. She gave Lance a beautiful smile, one that melted something deep inside him. “Oh, very good, Lance! You discovered my full name! I wondered if you noticed the oversight at the house.”
Rocking back on his heels, Lance returned her grin. “It takes a lot to pull one over on me.”
“So, did my father tell you? No, don’t tell me.” Her golden-gloved hand came up to his lips, silencing any reply he would make. “He wouldn’t do that. You had to do some detective work, didn’t you? Snooping at the house? No, you wouldn’t do that. What would you do?” She was playing with him, but he didn’t care. He could see the amusement in her eyes. “Ah, Personnel then. Was it Misty? She always spoke highly of you. Yes, it must have been Misty. Am I right?”
Lance wanted to test something. “It could have been Daniel. We did have time to chat in the car on the way over here.” He saw a momentary tightening of her lips and something flash across her eyes. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it certainly wasn’t love.
Her outer composure didn’t waver. “No, it wouldn’t be Daniel who told you. It had to be Misty. So, what are you going to do with this monumental discovery?”
That set Lance back a step. “Do?” That made him pause. “I just know who you all are now and who I’m dealing with.” He felt he needed more of an explanation. “A name to go with the face.” There was a modicum of bravado that seeped back into his voice.
“Well, I do congratulate you, Lance.” Her head bowed as if she bestowed a blessing. He should have been warned by the gleam in her eye when she looked up. She turned to leave, and then turned back abruptly, one finger raised. “Oh, one little thing, Lance. I was given my mother’s maiden name.” When she saw a smug smile return to Lance’s face, she could see the wheels work in his brain. She decided to burst his little bubble. “And they were married out of the country. Good luck with that!” With a laugh, she disappeared through the waiting door to take her backstage and a break before her next appearance.
Lance stood rooted in the same spot, looking at the closed door as people walked around him to enter the Castle or to stop at Snow White’s Wishing Well. He thought back to all the times that Adam had tried talking to girls. Lance grunted a self-deprecating laugh as he wondered if this was what Adam had felt like every time he had been shot down.
A bright red 1967 Mustang GT Fastback pulled up in front of the mansion, its white racing stripes glittering in the bright sun. The 427 engine had announced its arrival long before the actual car came to a skidding halt. The owner of the car reached behind his driver’s seat as the blond-haired man approached the car. Handing his boss the brass plaque from below Pirates, Wolf had a question. “So, Lance was here?”
The older man slowly ran a hand over the words etched on the plaque. ‘Sunnee holds the key.’ It seemed like a lifetime ago since he had helped put the plaque in place and then waited and waited for its discovery. Wolf’s words brought him back to the present. “Yes, yes, he’s fine,” was his distracted reply. “I’d ask you in to join me for lunch, but I know you have to get back to work.”
Wolf nodded briefly. He knew there was another reason for his summons than just the delivery of the plaque. As was his nature, he waited patiently.
Looking off into the distance, the blond-haired
man contemplated his next words. He had never liked this part of his assignment. “I realize Mr. Brentwood is a personal friend of yours.” He paused and, as expected, received no answer. “You now know about his discovery of the secret chamber. Kimberly and I believe Mr. Brentwood might possibly work out to be my successor, and, as you are already friends with him, that would work out well for you. However,” he paused again and sighed, looking away from the intent blue eyes fastened on him, “however, if he doesn’t work out, we both realize he already knows too much. As he is your friend, would you still be able to carry out your assignment? Would you be able to use your, how shall we say, ‘special talents’ to remove him from the scene?”
“I already promised Mr. Disney that I’d protect him. The same promise was made to you when Walt introduced us. I won’t go back on my word.” Wolf’s breathing was very shallow. He knew his words were honest and true. He just hoped he wouldn’t be called upon to back them.
The personal reference to Walt stilled his boss for a moment. He knew not to question the issue of Wolf’s age. Wolf appeared to be thirty years old—he always appeared to be thirty years old—yet he recalled a personal conversation with Walt Disney that happened well over thirty years prior. There were some things that had arisen over the years that the older man simply did not question. Seeing Wolf quietly standing, staring at him, brought the blond man back to their current conversation. He understood Wolf’s position and could sympathize—to a point. Personal feelings had never and would never be allowed to interfere with the grand purpose with which they had both been entrusted. “I know I can count on you, Wolf.” They both knew he meant it. “If worse does comes to worst, do you know how you would handle it?”
Wolf thought for a moment. A small smile came across his serious face. “Off the cuff, I think I know where he could be taken. Actually, he might actually enjoy it…eventually…once he got used to the transition, that is.” The smile disappeared as quickly as it came. “But, I don’t think it will come to that.”
“Let’s hope not, Mr. Wolford, let’s hope not. Stick close and be there if and when I need you.”
“Yes, sir.” Wolf knew he was dismissed and slid back into the black leather driver’s seat. As the engine roared to life, Wolf shifted his four-speed top loader into second and sped down the long driveway. He really hoped Lance didn’t muck this up.
Days later, Lance was expected back at the mansion. Before he arrived, Daniel came out to the garden to tell Kimberly her father needed her in the library. She felt a mild irritation when Daniel accompanied her into the room and took a chair to take part in the discussion. He gave her a smug smile, secure in the knowledge that she wouldn’t challenge him in front of her father.
Busy studying a couple of faxes that had just come in from the Park, the blond-haired man didn’t notice this little byplay. “Oh, there you are, my dear,” he smiled as he looked up. “Thank you, Daniel.” When Daniel didn’t take the hint and leave, Kimberly’s father let it go. The important matters would come later, after they were alone. “So, now that we have all had a few days to think, tell me what you think of Mr. Brentwood.”
“I don’t like him.” Daniel took the lead as he leaned forward in his chair.
Daniel was ignored as if he wasn’t even there. Kimberly directed her comment to her father. “He’s very handsome.”
Looking over at the rude noise Daniel made, her father kept his face straight. “That’s not what I meant.”
Kimberly gave her father a smile. “I know.” She laughed for a moment before becoming serious again. “I think he might prove worthy. He’s certainly intelligent enough and seems to have a disposition that would suit.… But,” she paused, frowning.
“But what?” her father prodded.
“But what if he doesn’t work out? What then? He knows too much already.”
Daniel decided to try and find out a little more himself. “What exactly does he know?”
Daniel was again ignored. The blond-haired man paced the area in front of his expansive desk. “Yes, there is that problem, isn’t there? Well, there’s no need to worry too much about that. I already have an inside man on that job.” He made a grimace and clutched at his heart.
“Who is…,” Daniel started to ask.
The answer of this startling revelation was lost to Daniel as Kimberly instantly rushed to her father’s side. “Daniel, you can go. Now.”
“But I can help.”
Kimberly didn’t even glance over as she placed a small white pill under her father’s tongue. “Now.” The order was abrupt and final.
With a glare at the two people in the room, no look of compassion or care, Daniel strode from the room and headed for the kitchen, wondering who it was the old man had mentioned.
“Are you feeling better, Dad?” Worry was etched on her face.
She made sure he settled into the tufted leather chair behind the desk. He always felt more at ease behind his desk, surrounded by his papers and bulletins. The tightness began to loosen. Color was coming back into his pale face as he patted her hovering hand. “Yes, yes, my dear. It is passing.” He looked up into her worried face. “I wish I could say it was over now, but we both know better. I’ve been trying to prepare you for this eventuality for quite a while now.”
Eyes closed, Kimberly rested her forehead against his clammy one. “I know, Dad, I know.” She could only whisper, her voice full of the emotion she was trying to contain. “It just doesn’t make it any easier.”
As if she was a little girl of five again, and not a grown woman of thirty, he pulled her into his lap. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don’t like it either,” he tried to joke, his arms around her. “There’s so much to do, and I don’t want you to have to do it alone. I always wanted you to have a normal family life. Children. Cooking. A career. Traveling. Whatever you wanted. Your mother gave up a lot to be with me.”
“Mom loved you more than life itself. She didn’t see it as a sacrifice.”
“I know that, my dear. I was lucky. But you…you have a whole wonderful life ahead of you. You’re what? Fourteen? Fifteen years old now?” He was glad to hear her chuckle. “I just don’t want you to have to be anonymous.”
Kimberly sighed and snuggled deeper in his arms. A lone tear escaped her eye and streaked her cheek. “Can’t I have both?”
His hand stroked her golden hair, a gesture he used to use when she couldn’t sleep as a little girl. “It’s possible. It would take the right man,” he said slowly, thinking. “I never intended for this to be put on you, you know.”
“I know, Dad, but I want it. I can do it! It’s been my whole life. I…I want to meet Walt. I want to see this through!”
“Forty years and I still miss him.”
They sat quietly for a moment, each with their own thoughts. The tightness was coming back to his chest, but he ignored it like he had been doing for months now.
“Well, we have Lance and Daniel so far. And, if need be, we could always take a second look at Adam.”
Kimberly’s head shot up. “Daniel? You’ve got to be kidding.”
He shrugged. “He’s been with me for a number of years and has proved quite loyal. Not the brightest bulb in the Christmas tree, but I think he could be trained…eventually.”
Kimberly closed her open mouth and shook her head in disbelief. She wasn’t going to get in this argument with her father right now. If things worked out like they both thought it would, it would be her decision and hers alone. Her throat tightened again, and she couldn’t have spoken anyway.
“Now, I need you to get off my lap so I can get some papers organized. Lance is due here any moment, and this isn’t the picture I’d like to portray.” With a playful push, he got her to move to one of the burgundy leather chairs facing his desk. She didn’t fail to see that his face was still ashen white. Glancing out of the window, a Jaguar pulled into the circular drive, and he hit one of the buttons in the panel on the desk.
“
Yes, boss?” Daniel’s voice was raspy through the intercom. “Do you need me?”
“Yes, Daniel. Could you please bring us some tea and show Mr. Brentwood in here, if you would. I see he just pulled into the drive.”
Kimberly hid a smile as she heard a muttered, disgusted, “tea…,” through the intercom before the button was released.
Lance and the Limoges tea service were brought in minutes later. Daniel went to stand behind Kimberly’s chair after he had set down the fragile service. Lance saw her eyes slightly roll upward at his gesture, and stifled his smile behind a cough.
“Welcome back, Mr. Brentwood,” the blond-haired man started. “We have a lot to cover. You’ll excuse me if I’m not too quick on my feet today. I’m a little under the weather. There is a room I would like you to see. It itself will answer many of your questions. I call it my War Room. You shall shortly see why.”
Daniel’s ears perked up at this revelation. He had been unsuccessful in his attempts to get into that locked room for two years. Now would be his chance to see one of the secrets that had eluded him so far, and learn what it was that Lance apparently had seen that no one else had. As the other three people in the room stood and headed for the library door, Daniel quietly fell right in step behind them. It was when his boss turned back for his teacup that his plan was foiled.
“Ah, Daniel, I see you’re still here. Good. Good. Could you please hand me my teacup?”
“Yes, boss.” With an inward groan, Daniel went back to the desk. He hesitated as he looked at all the flowered cups that had been placed there. Which one was it? He thought for a split second and picked up the cup and saucer closest to the pot. “Here you go, sir.” He handed the cup to his boss and gave him a one-sided smile.
The blond-haired man looked into his flushed face. “Are you all right, son?”
It All Started... Page 5