by Ciana Stone
“Where’d you go?” Nikki jumped up as Max entered the room.
He cupped his hand around his ear and signed to her.
“Robinson? You were eavesdropping on him?”
Max nodded.
“So, what’d you hear?”
Max knew it’d take far too much effort with their still less than perfect mode of communication, to let her know what he’d overheard. Squaring his shoulders and marshalling his nerve, he went to the computer and quickly typed in a sequence of numbers.
Nikki looked at the screen then at him, clearly puzzled. Max opened another window and called up a chart. Nikki’s expression metamorphosed from confusion to astonishment.
“A cipher!”
Max nodded, feeling his stomach knot with excitement and anxiety. She grinned at him and turned immediately, to the screen, using the key to decipher his message. Before she finished, however, she stiffened and turned to him.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Max looked away. She glared at him for a moment, muttered under her breath and turned back to the screen. Once deciphered, his message read It seems that my father’s friends are not as loyal as they would have him believe.
Nikki paid less attention to the message than to the fact he could deliver it. Angrily, she whirled and grabbed his arm. “All this time you could do this, and you never bothered to tell me? Well, thanks a hell of a lot.”
Max tapped out another long string of numbers. She blew out her breath and started to decode it, but he stopped her and opened yet another window. After copying the string of numbers, he pasted them into the new window. Almost immediately, words began to appear on the screen.
“A decoding program?” she asked.
He nodded. And pointed to the screen. She read the message. I’ve only been able to do this for the last three years. Before that, every time I tried, the words came out scrambled and meaningless. It took me several years to master the skill. But anyway, I’m not the only one who’s keeping secrets.
Nikki looked at him as she finished the sentence. How could he know she was keeping things from him, unless…
“Simon told you.”
Max nodded.
“What exactly did he say?”
That you and he had met and that he approved of what you were trying to do to help me, but that I should remain silent about my communication skills until such time as I felt I could completely trust you.
Max watched her as she read his message. She turned and looked into his eyes and some of her anger faded.
“Well, I don’t guess I can argue with that. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought about it—a lot—but I just didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t want you to think I was conspiring behind your back. I’m sorry.”
It’s okay, his message replied. Trust is a two-way street. Is there anything else you’re keeping from me?
Nikki blushed to the roots of her hair. There was quite a bit, but nothing she was ready to admit. Max noticed the flush but made no comment for which she was grateful.
“You said you’ve only been able to do this for three years. How did it come about? Was it something that happened gradually or all at once?”
Until three years ago, I could think the words, but every time I tried to write or type them, they would come out a meaningless jumble of letters. I tried to use a cipher, substituting numbers for letters, but it didn’t work. It was like something was blocking me from forming words. Then three years ago I had a nightmare. Strange images that made no sense—blood in thrashing water, a cat licking its mouth as if in anticipation while it watched a fishbowl, a demon’s face coming closer and closer to me—a lot of flashes of things that made no sense, but left me in a complete state of terror. I awoke in a panic, unable to remain still as if my body was possessed by some bizarre energy. I tried screaming but no sound came out. Without thinking I sat down in front of the computer, which I never used except to play video games. The next thing I knew my fingers were keying in numbers. I didn’t know what to make of it at first. It didn’t seem to make any sense. Then it dawned on me to try a simple replacement cipher. It worked. I looked at what I had typed and it read bang bnag - ded - wrd no - slvr kee.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
It didn’t to me either, but I saw two complete words in what I had typed—bang and no. It was the first time I’d ever been able to form a word, and it made a thrill run through me, even if it was a mistake. From that moment on, I practiced and learned that if I wasn’t thinking about what I wanted to say, I could key in the right numbers to convey the thought. All I had to do was forget the letters and use the numbers. But the conscious act of forming words made everything gibberish.
“That’s amazing. And Simon knows?”
Yes, we communicate via the computer.
“God, Max, this is fantastic! But—” She gave him a hard look. “But that means you deliberately failed the written parts of the exam I had you take. You could’ve completed those parts using your decoding program.”
Max shrugged with a little smile and she couldn’t help but smile in return. “So, I guess we don’t need to worry about a sign language after all, do we? I mean with smart phone or something like that you can communicate anything at any time as long as your decoding program is loaded.”
It is imperative that no one else know I can communicate this way.
“Why?”
I don’t know, only that my grandfather is convinced if anyone finds out, my life will be in great danger.
Nikki thought she understood. She hadn’t taken Simon’s words as fact, but had done some checking on her own, sifting through old newspaper and magazine articles and had found articles about the so-called rape at the estate and how Richard had acted as the hero and saved his wife from certain death when he fought and killed her assailant. She’d also read the obituaries and found listings for the two people Simon claimed worked for Richard and tried to blackmail him. The cause of death in both instances was listed as automobile accident.
Taking that into account, and the way the Westons treated Max, she didn’t doubt that if they knew they would probably do something to him, like having him permanently drugged or institutionalized.
“I see your point,” she agreed. “So tell me what you heard.”
Max nodded then turned to the keyboard and typed out what he’d overheard Mark and Charles say on the phone. Nikki read it quickly.
“I knew it!” She grabbed him in excitement. “We need to get into his office.”
No. It wouldn’t be smart for him to keep anything there. Robinson is in charge of security for the entire building since Weston owns it. I guarantee he and my father know the contents of the files in the office. If he has information it will be somewhere safe. A bank vault or perhaps a vault in his apartment.”
“You’re right! Okay, we obviously can’t break into a bank, so we’ll try his apartment. Do you know where he lives?”
Max shook his head, then held up both hands, palm out like a street cop stopping traffic. She looked at him curiously. He smiled and motioned for her to follow him.
Nikki didn’t realize where he was going until they started down the hall to his mother’s suite. She looked around to make sure they weren’t being watched. It didn’t take Max long to locate Charles Abernathy’s address and private phone number in the address book in Helen’s desk. Nikki tore a slip of paper from a pad on the desk and jotted down the address.
Quickly, they returned to Max’s room.
Nikki’s mind was in gear, trying to figure out how they could get into Charles’s apartment. Suddenly she stopped and looked at Max. “If that guy Mark takes care of the security, does that mean that it’s all monitored and controlled from some central location?”
Max nodded. She whooped and jumped around. “We can do it, we can do it!”
He took her arm to stop her and she explained her idea. “Ben can hack into anything. If he hacks into the mai
n computer, he can get us by security.”
Max had to admit it sounded like a plan. But he didn’t like the idea of talking to her friend about it over the phone and typed it out on the computer.
Nikki thought about it. “I know what we can do. Some friends who play in a band have a gig tomorrow night. If I can talk Osgood into switching my night off from tonight until tomorrow, I can talk to Ben about it then.”
Max nodded but his lack of enthusiasm was obvious. It dawned on her Max was probably not looking forward to being left behind. The more she thought about it the less she liked the idea. In fact, she had a much better idea.
“If we can get Osgood to go along with it, then after they turn in, we can sneak you out to the garage. You can hide in the trunk until we get off the estate.”
Max wasn’t sure about the idea. He had never been to a “gig.” As a matter of fact, he hadn’t been off the estate by himself since he was brought home. But the idea did have its appeal.
She took his hand. “Come on, Max. It’ll be fun. We can have a few beers, dance—you can meet my other friends. Please?”
Are you sure you want them to meet me?
“Of course I am! Please. It’ll be fun, and we won’t have anyone watching us.”
As nervous as the idea made him, he agreed. It would be almost like a date. That thought made him break out in a sweat. What did one wear on a date to a “gig”?
Chapter Seven
Max was combing his hair for the fourth time when Nikki tapped on the door.
She smiled at him as he opened the door. “Wow, look at you!”
He wasn’t sure if that meant he was acceptable or looked foolish. The former he hoped. He raised his eyebrows and indicated his clothes.
“You look great!”
So do you, he signed to her.
She smiled at the compliment. “Thanks. You ready?”
He nodded and pointed to the bed. She checked it out. If anyone came to check up on him it should pass a cursory inspection.
“Great. Let’s go.”
Max almost forgot. He held up his hand then went to the desk and retrieved an electronic card for the front gate and an iPhone.
“I have one.” She pulled her card from her pocket.
Not like this, he typed on the keyboard of the phone. This one belongs to my father’s driver, Steve. The security system monitors everyone who enters or leaves the estate and the times. If we use this one, it won’t register as you having left.
“Well, okay. But do you think it’s necessary? I mean, Osgood knows I’m planning on going out.”
He shrugged. As far as he was concerned it paid to be extra careful.
They made it to the garage without being seen. Nikki opened the trunk of her car. Max took a look inside and grimaced.
“Sorry.” She’d forgotten about the junk she’d crammed in the trunk when she left Mr. Sprull’s building. Shoving it as far into the back as possible, they made room for Max to climb in.
“I’ll stop as soon as we’re out of sight of the gate,” she told him and shut the trunk.
Max didn’t like being closed up in the trunk. He felt the car moving, stopping, and heard the sound of the gate as it unlocked. The car started again. A few seconds later the car stopped. Max sat up as Nikki opened the trunk.
“Woohoo!” she cheered. “We made it.”
Max got in the passenger seat beside her. She cranked up the volume on the radio and looked over at him with a grin. “This is going to be great!”
Max smiled but his confidence was far less than hers. What if he made a fool of himself? What if her friends didn’t like him or thought he was a freak? Would she be embarrassed to be seen with him in public? It'd been a long time since he'd interacted with people. Did he even remember how to be sociable?
Uncertainty made his stomach feel queasy.
Nikki looked over at him and her smile disappeared. “Hey, you okay?”
He shrugged then nodded. A little nervous.
She reached over to give his arm a squeeze. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. You’ll like my friends and Ben’s dying to meet you. It’ll be fun.”
Max hoped she was right.
The nightclub seemed crowded to Max when they entered. Nikki held onto his hand as she led him toward the bar. She smiled at the bartender. “Hi, Mike.”
“Nik! Where you been hiding?” The bartender looked at Max. “Or should I ask?”
She laughed at the remark. “Could I get a couple of beers?”
“Sure thing.”
She pulled some money out of her pocket and put it down on the bar. The bartender put two bottles in front of her. She handed one to Max.
“Cheers!” She touched her bottle against his and took a drink.
Max hadn’t had beer since he before he was shipped home. He took a drink. It was good but not as good as he remembered. Nikki smiled at his reaction.
“Been a while, huh? Come on, there’s Ben.”
With a firm grip on Max’s hand, she led the way toward a table where a tall man with sandy brown hair was waving at them.
“Hey, you made it!” Ben leaned over and gave Nikki a kiss on the cheek. “And this must be Max. Glad to meet you, Max. I’m Ben Marshall.”
Max smiled and extended his hand. Ben didn’t hesitate to take it.
Nikki introduced the rest of the people at the table. “Max, this is Bill. Soon to be legal-eagle extraordinaire. Cat and Jimmi and this big guy is Tony, ex-jock turned musician. Tony and Jimmi are in the band.”
Max nodded to everyone.
“So, what’s your thing, Max?” Tony asked.
Panic flared and Max looked to Nikki. She gave him a smile and turned to Tony.
“Max doesn’t talk.”
“That’s cool,” Tony smiled.
Max relaxed a little. The talk turned to everyone catching up. He listened and watched the way everyone seemed so interested in one another and so at ease. Nikki made sure that he was included in the conversation, interpreting his gestures for them. They all seemed quite unconcerned with the situation, as if it were perfectly normal.
“Well, it’s time.” Tony stood and looked around. “Where’s Tom?”
Jimmi got to his feet and pointed toward the stage. “Where else?”
Max looked and saw a man in a wheelchair, seated in front of a keyboard. Tony and Jimmi made their way toward the stage.
“Hey!” Another man wearing dark glasses, being led by a thin woman with a shaved head, stopped beside the table. “Am I late?” the man asked.
Everyone laughed. “Just under the wire, as usual,” Ben replied.
The man shrugged and felt for the woman’s hand. “Lead on, darlin’.”
Nikki leaned over to Max as the couple moved away. “That’s Phil. He’s blind but one hell of a bassist.”
Max was surprised. He’d never imagined that Nikki had so many handicapped friends. Yet she didn’t seem to pay any special attention to their disabilities. His opinion of her and her friends grew.
The band started and everyone at their table cheered, clapped, and pounded on the table. Max didn’t feel comfortable doing anything but clapping.
During the first set, everyone at their table just listened and drank. Max had two beers and was starting to feel a buzz. When the waiter came around again, he declined another drink, but Nikki grinned at him and told him to live it up, so he ordered another.
The band took a break and talk started up again. Ben wanted to know how Max could figure out the equations he’d given Nikki so fast. With Nikki’s help Max explained that he just did it in his head. Ben got very animated and started talking about algorithms and programming. Everyone groaned but Max, who thought it was interesting. Before long Ben was scribbling on all the napkins. Ben would ask his opinion and several times commented how cool it was to meet someone who spoke his language. Max had to admit it felt pretty good to him too. He caught Nikki smiling at him several times, and once she even reached over to g
ive his hand a squeeze.
Music suddenly blasted from the speakers and Nikki stood. “Okay Ben, you’ve had your turn. Now it’s mine. Come on, Max. Let’s dance.”
Max wasn’t sure about getting up and dancing in public. He looked up at Nikki with uncertainty. She smiled, took his hand and pulled him to his feet. “Come on. Please?”
Nikki whirled around as soon as they were on the floor and extended her hand to him. He took it, trying to will his feet to move but they were rooted to the floor. Nikki pulled on him, drawing him closer. “It’s no different than dancing at home. Look around, no one’s even paying attention. Just relax and go with it. Here everyone just does their own thing.”
He tried to relax and after a couple of selections found himself not quite so tense. The music slowed and Nikki looped her arms around his neck, swaying in time to the beat. The feel of her body pressed against his made Max’s palms sweat. Hesitantly he put his hands on either side of her waist, very lightly.
She smiled up at him and hugged him closer, resting the side of her face against his chest. As if of their own accord, Max’s arms wrapped more securely around her. God, she felt good.
Nikki felt relaxed for the first time since she had taken the job at the estate. Max seemed to be fitting right in with her friends, particularly Ben. It had made her feel very good to see Max communicating with someone about something he was interested in. That, combined with a couple of drinks, made her forget her reservations somewhat and relax the restrictions she had placed on herself in her behavior with Max. For someone who hadn’t been out in public in a decade, he seemed to be just fine. Maybe he was more mature on several counts than she’d realized.
And it did feel good to have his arms around her with no worries of what someone would think or concerns about being seen.
The music ended and he released her. She smiled up at him then they reclaimed their seats at the table. The rest of the evening passed quickly, everyone talking, laughing, and enjoying the music and one another’s company. They were the last to leave.
Ben suggested they all head to Wanda’s for breakfast. Nikki didn’t see any reason for the evening to end. She asked Max and he agreed.