The Tulip Terror

by C L Bauer

  Lily had to discover how he learned a couple of the hardest languages in the world. “Jeremy, you really know Russian and Chinese, how and when?”

  “Actually, Mandarin. Schezwan is a little harder for me. Not the food. I love those little dumplings, but I’m not sure what province they are from. I learned the languages online. I’m self-taught. I also played a lot of competitive video games with this guy in Hangzhou. My mom knows Mandarin too. She says I get my aptitude from her. My dad only knows three languages.”

  “So,” Lily interrupted, “obviously you are very talented in some skills the FBI really needs. It’s a great career choice and it seems like you’ve thought this out.” Lily looked over at the now crying Abby. “Why didn’t you share all this with her?”

  “I didn’t think she’d approve.”

  Dev had surprised Lily with a dog, Mort last Thanksgiving. Her surprise was his attempt at protecting her while he was away. He had thought it through, but her reception of said gift was underwhelming and frankly, cold. When you didn’t share “the plan” and someone was left out of the decision making process, the reception meter didn’t rise too high. Jeremy had obviously thought this out, with Tom’s help. His surprise was intended for good not the chaos he was creating. Lily would make a note later to talk to her old buddy Tom. Why hadn’t he mentioned Jeremy?

  Of course, it was all that covert indoctrination. DEA agents didn’t divulge and FBI agents didn’t elaborate, both sets of law enforcers didn’t share with the ones they loved. But that was for another day.

  Abby was still crying and Jeremy was still standing there like a lost soul. “Jeremy, you have a scholarship at Georgetown. You have a job for experience and you’ll be working with the FBI. Then what? Where does Abby fit in with all this? You haven’t asked her. You thought she’d disapprove.”

  Abby looked up and added, “Yes, what Lily said.”

  “The FBI sounds so conservative and I know she’s such a free spirit. I just knew she wouldn’t like me working for the MAN.”

  Lily laughed. “Jeremy, this isn’t the sixties. The MAN is part of the federal government and they protect us. I’m sure Abby would’ve thought this was all pretty cool.”

  “No,” Abby screamed out. “That’s where it’s your fault, Lily. You brought all this agent stuff around. Jeremy could be shot like Dev was just a few weeks ago. Heck, you were hurt too. I don’t want my baby hurt.”

  “I won’t be, Abs. I’ll be in some van or office building in some basement. I won’t be actually fighting the bad guys, well at least they won’t know I am.” Jeremy finally moved from his safe space and kneeled in front of his girlfriend. “I love you Abby and I want us to have a good life. I’m really good at this, and I want to help get the bad people around the world. I can’t do it without you. You can come visit, and we can visit those Georgetown coffee shops. There’s this little French café right beside one of the historic canals. It’s so cool. We can go to the art galleries, maybe take in a show at the National Theatre. It’s right by the White House. I’ll have some time off during the week, and you could come up and be back for weddings on the weekend. I know you like the weddings.”

  And Abby nodded. The crisis was over. Lily would wait until later to talk to Abby about another plan she had developed.

  He held her hands in his and added, “I’m so sorry, Abby. I should’ve told you. I should’ve trusted you. Abigail?”

  Lily held her breath. Oh, Lord, is he really going to ask her right now? That could be a dangerous move. As if in slow motion, he held her left hand and began to fiddle with something in his pocket.

  “Will you marry me? I mean, if you want to, if that’s cool with you?” He held out a small gold ring. A small diamond was the bloom within gold petals. Etched into the side of the band were delicate leaves.

  Lily shut her eyes and smiled when Abby finally stammered out a positive response. Life was certainly going to change around here.

  Chapter Two

  After almost a full hour of kissing, hand holding and words of love, Jeremy finally left the shop. Lily found Mort. The poor dog was hiding out in the backroom until the shouting had concluded. Abby and she went through orders and had their lunch. It was almost two in the afternoon when Lily had finished today’s part of her list.

  “Abs, are we caught up on everything back there?”

  “As far as I know. We don’t have any deliveries until tomorrow, and I thought I’d take them. There’s a couple downtown and then the midtown funeral chapel.”

  “Great, come and sit down.”

  Abby had already become proficient in walking and looking at her engagement ring. It had taken Lily almost a week to obtain that little known talent. She grabbed a chair from up front and brought it to sit near Lily at the desk. Lily removed her glasses and smiled.

  “You’re firing me.”

  “No, silly. We need to talk.”

  “You’re giving me a raise?” Abby smiled sweetly with all her teeth showing.

  Lily laughed. “No silly.”

  “Then what’s up?”

  “You really do love working here, don’t you?”

  Abby eyed Lily suspiciously. What was her boss up to?

  “Yes, more than anything.”

  Lily sighed, grateful for the correct answer. “You know, eventually Dev and I will get married, and I’m not sure how we are handling anything yet. I was wondering if you could take on managing the place when I’m out. If I am out.”

  Abby nodded an enthusiastic yes. “I would love that. I know I can do it, Lily. I can even do some of the weddings by myself.”

  “I know you can. You’ve been doing more and more. I really have appreciated it. So, after today, I’d like to put you down as the manager of Lily’s Flower Shop.”

  “Do I get business cards? I’ve always wanted those little suckers. I don’t really know why, but I’d love that. I could even pay for them.” She clapped gleefully at the thought.

  “I’ll get them. I’ll do it tonight. I’m so happy you’re excited and now that’s all settled. With all this with Jeremy,” Lily stopped talking. Abby was crying, full out ugly tears. “Abs, what’s wrong now?”

  “I have to be out of our apartment by the fifteenth. I can’t afford to stay there with him gone.” Terror was in her voice. It was one thing to be uncertain about your future, it was another to be homeless.

  Lily gulped. Dev had to marry her now after what she was going to ask. Even if she only lived with him just part of the time in his Alexandria, Virginia townhouse it would be fine. She could do this and this would be the right thing to do. Maybe not the smartest, but the best for all of them. She gulped again.

  “Abby, come live with me. You can pay me and I won’t charge you as much as your half of the apartment rent. Then, if I do live for months with Dev, you can pay me the rent money and still be able to have a nice place to live.”

  “Can I buy your house?” Abby had sat straight up in the chair in anticipation. Her tears had suddenly ceased.

  Lily was shocked at first. “Well, let’s think about that. The rent money could go toward the purchase of that house, if it eventually comes to that. How about that? No guarantees, but a tentative agreement?”

  Abby extended her hand out and Lily took it. “I’m good with that. Mort will have the yard back then. I won’t be lonely without Jeremy. We will be one little happy family.”

  “Yes.” Lily answered tentatively. She had a few doubts, but this was the right thing to do. She’d have to live with that for now. Besides, she was prepared. She had plenty of wine, and the liquor store was just a mile away.

  “Oh no,” Abby exclaimed.

  Lily was confused. “What? I thought everything was good.”

  “Not you silly, but that?” She pointed in the direction of the sidewalk and peering through the big shop window was Gretchen Malloy, premier wedding coordinator and planner, delusional sidekick and lusty pain in the you know where. “Your bestie is here and I�
�ll be in the backroom.” Abby quickly ran from Lily’s side.

  “Coward,” Lily yelled after her as Gretchen arrived into the shop. Could this day get any weirder? Yes, it could and it just did.

  “Bestie,” she yelled as she sauntered into the consultation area. She didn’t just walk, her hips swayed and heels clicked on the wood floor. Gretchen seemingly always made an entrance. Her entrances made some, like the cowardly Abby, perform hasty exits. “I want to see that ring.”

  How did she know? Who told her? Lily never understood how Gretchen knew everything and everyone in Kansas City. That annoying sing-song speech pattern was patently Gretchen speak.

  Gretchen grabbed Lily’s left hand without permission and pulled out a jeweler’s loupe from her pocket. What the heck? Lily just shook her head. The woman surprised her at every turn. Gretchen continued to make small noises, mostly in approval.

  “Why white gold?” she asked as she plopped down in the open chair, placing her loupe back in her pocket.

  “It’s not white gold. It’s platinum. With all the hand work I do, he went with that.”

  Gretchen agreed. “You need a manicure if you’re going to wear that beauty. Mr. Delicious did very well. Those diamonds are so fine and that sapphire is unbelievable. That set him back a pretty penny.”

  “He had it made for me. He designed it with a jeweler he knows.” Lily smiled as she looked down at her hand. Gretchen was right. Her work- hardened nails were in direct contrast to the delicate beauty of that ring.

  “And didn’t I tell you he was the one for you? You can thank me.” Gretchen was serious. Lily couldn’t stand her egotistical, condescending manner. Damn, she had been right.

  “I’m not thanking you for anything, but you did say we fit together.” She should’ve thanked her, but she just couldn’t. Gretchen had reprimanded her for not having enough confidence to go after him; to think she could have him. Lily had listened and taken in the good advice. The silliness was thrown out like bad garbage. The overly--made--up wedding coordinator was still calling her Dev Mr. Delicious!

  “Where will we have the wedding? Now, let’s see, his family and yours are on the east coast. Where’s his brother? Nevermind, he can travel. The Bahamas are a short hop, so is Bermuda. Oh, Bermuda! I had a wonderful time there with a certain gentleman. It was my thirtieth birthday and he gave me some gift!”

  Lily rolled her eyes. She leaned her head back, closed her eyes and began to pray as Gretchen continued with her memories of Bermuda. The man had been a captain of a luxury cruiser. He’d only been in port for a week. Lord, please give her laryngitis. Lord, you aren’t listening because you can’t stand to listen to this either, can you? What? What did she just say? The palm tree did what when they…

  “And then he just sailed away. But you better believe he was still removing that chocolate for days.”

  Lily opened her eyes. It was best to ignore her story. “What are you doing here?”

  “I have this client. The couple is very particular and I’m sure they want to do a church wedding. Is your little church nice?”

  Lily blinked. Gretchen was asking her opinion? “Yes, it’s nice. It doesn’t need any decorating. When we do a wedding there, maybe we do something on the pews. If it’s an afternoon wedding, maybe an arrangement in the foyer. They have a large table there. If it’s an evening ceremony, I’d use their candelabra and really decorate them.”

  “And the bride is a lot like you. Where would you have a reception?”

  Lily smiled softly. Her eyes sparkled at the thought of a wedding.

  Gretchen Malloy caught the softening of Lily Schmidt. The little wedding florist apparently knew the exact place that made her happy. “Well, where? Some barn?”

  “No, but there are some great barns, snobby Gretchen.” She stuck her tongue out. “No, I’d love the hotel off the Country Club Plaza. At night, even if it wasn’t the holidays, all the lights on the buildings just sparkle from that penthouse room. It has that cocktail area on one side that is very New York chic, and then the full ballroom on the other. You could do tons of candles in both areas. Maybe low arrangements everywhere, vines, ivy, soft petals. Now if the couple is younger, then somewhere else.”

  Gretchen howled. “No, they’re verging on elderly.”

  “Well, then the beauty of that hotel is you can do your magic and get them a block of rooms. They have the reception and the guests take the elevator down to their rooms. It’s perfect.”

  “It’s an idea. I’m hoping they pick some island.”

  “When is the wedding? Who’s doing the flowers?” Lily really didn’t want to work with Gretchen, but as the owner of a flower shop she thought it was mandatory to ask that question. The client would probably go with one of Gretchen’s outrageously expensive florists who could also provide the tablecloths, the fabric hanging from the ceiling, the disco ball. Lily laughed at that thought.

  “Something funny?”

  “No. So, when and who?”

  “I’m not sure. They’re trying to clear their schedules. Sorry, honey, but I think I’m going with this new florist. I know you have your hands full with Mr. Delicious.”

  Whew, that was a close one. “Gretchen, could you please stop calling my Dev that. He has a name.”

  Gretchen rose slowly, almost seductively up from the chair. Lily just shook her head. There was no one to impress with her sexuality in this room, yet she still oozed seduction. She just couldn’t help herself.

  “See you, bestie. I have to keep calling him that for now. Gorgeous seems so provincial and Hercules has been taken for a long time. Tootles.” Her ring laden hand waved behind her as she departed the shop.

  Seconds later, Abby stuck her head out. “Is she really gone?”

  Lily threw her hands up in the air. “If you mean gone as in left the building, yes Gretchen and Elvis have left the building. If you mean gone as in lost her mind completely, yes she is absolutely bonkers.”

  “And she’s your bestie!” Abby ducked before the flying magazine glanced by her leg. “Nice throw, boss.”

  By the end of Lily’s day, hours and miles away, a man walked quickly to his meeting spot in Les Halles. Cave people of the catacombs, those who enjoyed the vampire and werewolf lifestyles escaped their dens and roamed. This was not the world of light and runways. Paris was different at night; the shadows seemed longer, filled with intrigue or romance. There was nothing else but those two dangerous ingredients when the clock of a nearby medieval church chimed midnight. His Gucci shoes made no noise on the cobbled street. He saw his contact near a corner café. The cloaked form leaned against the building, the only light provided by the window. Only a few patrons were sipping wine inside the establishment. The drizzle prevented others from sitting outside.

  “Bernard Notte, it has been way too long, mon ami. Do you have it?”

  He slid the small brown paper wrapped parcel from the inside of his raincoat. With his hat pulled down to his eyes and his attire, he resembled a cold war spy, not a cultured man from a good family. He definitely did not have the appearance of a criminal, a man possibly wanted in the United States. The framed artwork was small but worth the price he was to be paid.

  “Yes, and you have my package?” He held his hand out and it was filled with a black velvet pouch. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take a quick peek.”

  Even in the darkness of a rainy night in Paris, the dim light exposed the shimmering diamonds. Yes, this would do for now. “Merci.”

  “You were a couple of weeks off this time.”

  Bernard shook his head. He’d had a few problems. “I was delayed this time but it shouldn’t be a problem now.”

  “Your delay was because of your government? They want you returned to answer their questions. Lucky for you France has a very weak extradition policy for your crimes. That mess with your son will not do. Mon Dieu.”

  Bernard nodded. “He had his demons. He fell in with riff raff. I don’t associate with people like th
at. I only worry if there is too little champagne at a party.” And he definitely didn’t plan on returning to the United States or to his hometown of Kansas City. That life was in the past. Now he was only running to his future, perhaps a little villa in Ez on the Côte d’ Azur, maybe a wealthy socialite attending to his every need, arriving on the red carpet annually at the film festival. He nervously pulled his coat tighter to his body and shoved his hands in his pockets. His left one wrapped tightly around the pouch.

  “So, we will return to our regular schedule now that you are settled?”

  “You’ll know where to find me either here, Brussels, or Zurich. My apartment in the sixth arrondissement is rather nice. You should stop by sometime. I’d love to show you some things I’ve picked up along the way.”

  His contact stifled a laugh. “Maybe. You never know with me, but you have someone looking for you. He wants to do business with you.”

  “And do you have a name?”

  “Oui, I have met him many times. I know him intimately, and we can trust him to help us with our little project. Will you be able to have our little bowl in Paris for the gala?”

  “I told you I will. Do I need to meet your contact before I leave for Turkey? And what is his name?”

  His contact was turning to leave, to disappear into the darkness and anonymity. It was a preferred and necessary talent.

  “And his name?”

  “Pierce. He will contact you. Bonsoir, Bernard.”

  Chapter Three

  “Abs, just put the bouquet box over there.” Lily directed her assistant as they brought four more boxes into the church. It was a church she knew very well. It was her church. Just a couple of weeks ago, she’d celebrated Holy Week and Easter in her favorite back pew. Dev was unable to visit, but he’d be in Kansas City soon. But she did miss him during this church season. During her favorite church service on Holy Thursday, she sat alone this year, but she was comforted by the memory of the Holy Thursday night he had shown up, sat beside her and then kissed her in the parking lot. That kiss had begun everything.