Claiming Amelia

by Jessica Blake

  “Very well,” I answered patiently and for her benefit, made a show of removing my jacket, loosening my tie and popping out the cufflinks to fold my sleeves up my arms. The effect was intended to look like we were getting down to business, but its mockery seemed lost on her.

  “Auggie, what is it? This isn’t normal for you to get this shook up.” I sat on the sofa and faced her, taking her hand in mine. “Tell me what’s up,” I encouraged her.

  Before she could say a single word, she threw herself around my neck and clung to me, almost like a small child seeking a parent. This totally alarmed me. “Auggie, tell me!”

  “I was with the baby when someone came to the door. Betsy was outside hanging up the sheets, so I answered. It was a man, Worth.”

  Tensing, I asked, “What man and what did he want?”

  “Worth, there was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t place it. I was so focused trying to figure out where I knew him, that I almost missed what he was saying.”

  “Which was?”

  “He asked for you. By name. I told him you were at the clinic and he could find you there. He said ‘no’ and that this was a personal matter. I told him I’d let you know he was here and asked his name.” At this point I could tell Auggie was too overwhelmed; her sentences running together like a child who can’t wait to divulge everything at once.

  “Well?” I asked the question slowly, hoping it would calm her.

  She had, however, one more bombshell to explode. “Worth, he said his name was Linc LaViere.”

  As her words penetrated, the alarm I’d felt at her obviously being so upset changed to anger. I cocked my head and almost snarled. “That’s not funny, Auggie.” I let go of her hand and was about to stand up when she grabbed my arm.

  “I’m not kidding, Worth! So help me God, why would I make something like that up? That’s what he said. But what’s worse is when I realized why he looked so familiar. He had my eyes and was built just like you. Your jaw and your nose. To someone who doesn’t know you well, they could mistake him for you.” She was obviously shaken by all this. “I don’t think he was lying, Worth. I really—”

  “Linc is dead,” I cut her off. “You know that. I saw him in his casket. Don’t be ridiculous!”

  “Don’t shout at me! I don’t know who it was, but I know who he said he was. There’s a resemblance, dammit. Just don’t shout at me!” She began to cry. It was rare that she cursed.

  “Auggie, look, I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know this isn’t an issue between you and me. You understand?” I set aside the irritation and hugged her against me. “Look, I’ll call Bill Daughtery. He’s done some investigative work for me in the past. He’ll check it out. Did the guy leave a number or address?”

  She sniffled and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “He said he’s at the Hilton and wants to talk to you.”

  “Jesus!” I swore, my mind scrambling for options. My professional training urged me to relax and give the situation thought before taking action. The LaViere in me was preparing strategy for a fight. “Sit tight and I’ll be right back,” I ordered and grabbed my jacket as I headed for the bedroom. I tapped Bill’s number and he answered on the first ring. He knew by the caller ID it was me.

  “Worth! Good to hear from you,” he greeted, even though he was aware that when I called, it was generally not to invite him to a game of golf. What he did know, however, was that he was about to be well paid. “What’s up?”

  “My dead brother apparently showed up at my door today.”

  There was a long pause, then, “Have you been drinking?”

  “I wish.” I groaned and briefly explained the details of the unexpected visitor.

  There was a crackle on the line as Bill exhaled deeply. “So the brother who was killed in a car accident when he was sixteen years old showed up? Does Auggie’s mother know?”

  “Hell no,” I said quickly. “I don’t want her to.” I shuddered, thinking about that conversation. My father and Auggie’s mother had an affair decades ago. Linc was the result. When their secret was exposed and I discovered the truth, my father took his own life while the rest of us attempted to pick up the pieces.

  “Things still bad on that front?” he asked and I knew he’s talking about Auggie’s relationship with her mother.

  “Actually, things are better since Carol was tossed out. Auggie’s dad is doing well since that bitch is no longer in his life.” As it turned out, Linc’s existence wasn’t the only secret Carol Langford had attempted to keep. She was also screwing her psychologist, my former business partner, and seemed to have forgotten all about the pre-nup that gave her nothing should her marriage to Auggie’s father dissolve. In my opinion, the cheap apartment on the west side of town was still more than she deserved.

  “What do you need from me, Worth?”

  I shook my head, still trying to process it all. “I don’t know who this guy is, Bill, but there aren’t very many people who know about Linc’s birth.”

  “Stay calm. There are guys out there who go through all those genealogy records online. They take a bit of information that sounds plausible and then scam people. I see it all the time. I’d say forget about it. How’s that little one?” he asked, and I knew he was trying to change the subject to calm me down.

  “He’s fine, Bill, thanks for asking. Listen, do you think I should go down to the Hilton and talk to this guy?”

  “Not alone. Wouldn’t be a good idea.” He must have heard my breath of indecision. I wasn’t the type of man who let others make my decisions. He sighed, “Yeah, I know what you’re going to ask. Let me drive over there in an hour and meet you. That work?”

  “Thanks, Bill. I’m sure you’re right, but I know Auggie won’t settle down until we can prove the guy’s a phony,” I said. “See you there.”

  I changed into khakis and a light sweater, and as I came down the stairs, Auggie was waiting. “Honey, can Betsy stay with Ford?”

  “Yes, already asked her to,” she said, coming to hug me around the waist. “I knew you’d go over there.” She was smiling now and the leftover tears in her eyes made them glitter like huge green diamonds.

  “I imagine you want to go with me?” I asked, knowing her answer.

  “You know it, let me grab my jacket.”

  “Get ready, then. We’re meeting Bill there in an hour.

  ***

  We drove to the Hilton and left our car with the attendant. Bill was already standing in the lobby, waiting for us. He was a stocky man in his late fifties, gray hair cropped closely to his head and was in his typical military stance. There was no doubt, despite his heavy leather jacket that he was armed. We shook hands before I went up to the desk.

  “I’d like to speak to a guest here, please. Linc LaViere.” Even as I said his name, my stomach churned with dread.

  “Yes, sir, and you are?” the young lady behind the counter prompted me. From the way her uniform fit, it was obvious she’d intentionally worn one a size too small. Her breasts were straining the buttons and she was highly proficient at bending forward. I wasn’t remotely interested. That was a new sensation for me.

  “I’m Dr. Worthington LaViere,” I answered, using my credentials in case it made a difference.

  “Yes, Dr. LaViere. He said you may be coming,” she said with a secretive smile. You’ll find him in the Back Stretch.” She bent forward and pointed to the bar entrance at the edge of the lobby.

  I motioned with a nod of my head toward Bill and Auggie, and they followed me. We stepped just inside the door of the bar and that familiar smell of stale liquor and the sound of clinking glasses brought back the reasons I liked my personal bar beneath the Third Street Bridge much better. At Joe’s, men could be men — smoking, cussing liberally and making their world go round. This place might as well be a vending machine.

  I bent and whispered in Auggie’s ear, “Do you spot him?”

  Auggie looked around and then froze, her eyes gr
owing larger. She nodded toward a table in the corner near the back. I kept her behind me and let Bill approach him first while we waited by the door.

  “Mr. LaViere?” Bill queried and the man in the corner turned to look at him.

  “You’re Worth?” The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked for some recognizable feature.

  “No, sir, he’ll be along shortly. In the meantime, I’m representing him and with your permission, I’d like to make sure you’re not carrying a weapon.” Bill flashed his police badge. As a former Louisville detective, Bill had remained an auxiliary with full police privileges even though he’d long ago started his own investigation firm.

  “Sure, no problem.” The man stood, holding his arms out at an angle while Bill quickly ran his hands down the man’s body.

  “You’re clean, sir. May I see some identification?” Bill examined the driver’s license he was given. “If you’ll excuse me for a few moments?” The man nodded and turned back to his drink as Bill came in our direction.

  Bill held out the license. “It says that’s his name, Worth.”

  I checked it out. “Did he say what he wants?” I asked Bill, who shook his head. “What do you think?”

  Bill shrugged. “He’s clean and this is a public place. I don’t imagine you’ll take my advice and go home, so you might as well get it over with. I’ll be at the next table where I can hear, but I’m going to run this license. I also want to get my hands on one of his empty glasses, so keep him drinking and I’ll have a chat with Charlie behind the bar. I’ll be right there.”

  What the hell am I going to say? I started toward the table and as we drew close, the guy turned to look at me. He looked at Auggie and his mouth took on a well-rehearsed smirk. “Yeah, that’s more like it. Couldn’t believe when she opened the door that you were actually married. Shit, but that made it easier.”

  He hadn’t held out his hand. There was no hug; not even an attitude that made him look decently glad to see us. I had to keep from staring, though. It was like looking at myself with Auggie’s eyes. It shook me up.

  The guy indicated the remaining chairs at his table. “Plant yourselves, let’s talk,” he said, lifting his glass and downing the second half. “What can I get you?”

  I didn’t want a drink but remembered Bill’s request. I motioned to the waitress and ordered a beer and a soft drink for Auggie. She was a nursing mother and had sworn off alcohol for the time being.

  I glimpsed Bill taking a chair behind the man who called himself Linc. He nodded in approval and busied himself with a newspaper. I put Auggie in the chair furthest away and sat next to the guy.

  “Who are you?” What else was there to say? I sure as hell wasn’t going to ask about the weather or if he’d had a good trip.

  He laughed, taking the drink from the waitress and downing a sizable gulp before saying, “Hell, get right to the point, why don’t ya?”

  Auggie’s back was rod straight, her knees pressed together as she sat on her hands. She hadn’t even removed her shoulder bag or opened her jacket. Her body language was fearfully anticipatory. I wanted to get her out of there, but she had as much right to sit in on the conversation as I did.

  “Well?” I asked him again, not allowing him to control the conversation.

  “Your ol’ buddy there,” he pointed over his shoulder at Bill, “is having me checked out as we speak.” With a great show, he picked up his two drink glasses, sandwiched them firmly between this hands, then turned and set them on Bill’s table. “For the prints, ol’ man,” he said with a smarmy smile. “And this,” he plucked some hair from his scalp, “is for the DNA test.” Bill’s eyes grew thin beneath his frown.

  Was this a show to put us off the trail? There could be no other explanation. “You’re not Linc. He’s dead. I saw his body myself,” I challenged him.

  The man laughed, but it was a wicked sound, and held up his finger, wagging it in my face. The waft of liquor between us was nauseating. “Ahhh, you think you saw Linc, but since I’m sitting here next to you, I’d say you were mistaken, wouldn’t you?” he challenged me back.

  I grabbed his finger to push his hand out of my face and the electricity between us shot through to my feet. It was as if two pieces of steel, once severed, had been forged together again — but made a Cain and Abel connection. Even Auggie must have felt it for I heard her sudden intake of breath.

  “Talk!” I ordered him, but he didn’t flinch. He continued to smile as if he owned the world and I was begging to become a part of it.

  “Careful, Bro,” he warned in an almost snarl. “I might just take a notion to get up and walk out of here, and you’ll spend the rest of your life lookin’ over your shoulder,” he warned slyly and I struggled to rein myself in. “Alright, alright, I’ll let you off the hook. You just stay where you are and we won’t have any trouble.”

  I glanced at Auggie and could see her quivering, but couldn’t hold her; not then. Damn! I swore to myself. He was already coming between us! “Why are you using Linc’s name?” I asked as calmly as I could. I drew upon my psychologist’s ability to be objectively removed.

  “That daddy of ours; he wasn’t such a good boy. You know what I mean?” He chuckled and took the soda that Auggie hadn’t touched. “I’m sure you don’t mind if I do,” were the first words he directed toward her.

  “Go on,” I said tersely, again wearing my mental spectacles and holding my notepad as I remained detached while studying his facial expressions and body language.

  His face went blank, even angry. “I was the baby born to him and that bitch she calls a mother.” He jerked a thumb in Auggie’s direction, not knowing that he’d have gotten no argument from her.

  “Seems about the time I was born, he’d arranged to have me adopted, but that’s when things got a little screwed up. You see, ol’ Daddy was in to the syndicate. He owed them, big time. And there was this little matter of a jockey named Torez they found with a knife in his chest. Ol’ Daddy was knee-deep in shit but had his daddy and a whole lot of friends around here who kept him clean. They couldn’t get to him, so they did the next best thing.” He finished Auggie’s soda. It seemed he couldn’t have a complete conversation without punctuating it with something to drink. I made note of this and realized he was probably an alcoholic. He motioned to the waitress over my shoulder and she appeared within moments with a refill.

  “Which was…?” I pushed him to finish the story.

  “They gave him somebody else’s bastard and took me. I was the ransom!” His words held a defiant yet defensive vehemence. “Yeah, I got raised by a platinum floozy who petted cocks for a living,” he growled. “I grew up in a backwater shack in the Keys that flooded every time God took a piss. Roaches, snakes, ‘gators. Yeah, these were my playmates.”

  “Why didn’t Father give them the money to get you back?” I challenged his story.

  “Because,” his eyes narrowed with lifelong hatred, “our ol’ daddy was a cold-hearted bastard, Bro. He wasn’t about to let go of his money or take a murder rap on behalf of a bastard, even if I was blood. Hell, no! They’d always have me to hold over him. Nah, he chose to take another man’s bastard and raise him as a blueblood. He figured the odds were the brat had better genetics than I did, anyway.” His eyes flicked toward Auggie. “He got to keep his pride, his freedom and screw the syndicate at the same time. Only reason they let me live was to keep him from doin’ anything else, to at least keep his mouth shut.”

  “You’re saying Father didn’t claim you to avoid going to prison?”

  He twisted in his chair and his face came close to mine. “Tell me that wasn’t his style. I challenge you — tell me!”

  I backed off. I couldn’t argue the logic of what he said and he’d obviously lived the life to prove it. No one outside the family, and possibly this syndicate as they were called, knew Father’s black soul. He was capable of everything — but more to the point — he was capable of doing nothing, which was worse. “So, if he would
n’t claim you, why did they think he’d protect you by keeping his mouth shut?”

  “It wasn’t me, Bro…” he leaned back and smirked at me. “It was you.”

  My mouth must have dropped open as the import of what he said sank in.

  “Surprised?” he poked me verbally. “Yeah, Bro… you were just sprouting in your mama’s tummy and he knew for sure he had an heir. He kept his mouth shut to keep you on this planet. The other kid, the bastard… did you ever think that maybe his accident was just a little too convenient?”

  I fell back at this and heard Auggie’s small cry. “What are you saying?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ve been keeping track. The floozy watched the papers from Louisville. I guess she thought she might find an angle some day and get some dough from him. Shame he shot himself, Bro. It woulda been kinda fun to meet him, just once.” His voice carried the threat that he would not have left his father alive.

  “Linc’s car turned over in a curve. He was alone. Father had nothing to do with that!” I was outraged and not just at him, but at myself. How could I defend the man I hated?

  “You’re smarter than that, Bro. Open your damned eyes! Look at me! I’m your spittin’ image; you and her.” He pointed at Auggie whose eyes were wide. She was still visibly shaking. I still couldn’t embrace her. I would be giving up position. I hoped she understood.

  “What do you want?” I demanded. Brother or not, I wanted away from this creature and more importantly, I wanted Auggie away from his filth.

  “Wondered when you’d get to that,” he snickered. “You figure you can just buy off anyone, is that it?” Why did he continue to provoke me? “Nah, no money, Bro. I don’t need much and I do okay on my own. Just want my family, that’s all.”

  “Your family?” His words filled me with horror. “You can’t mean Auggie and me? You do that and you’ll get us all killed!”

  “Exactly.” He slapped the table in gleeful irony. “Now you’re catchin’ on, Bro. The only thing that stands between you and the syndicate is me. You see, I picked up where good ol’ Daddy left off. I work for them now. As long as I do, they let me live. And now, I’m workin’ for your hide too.”