Читать книгу Deja Vu - Fern Michaels - Страница 8

Charles Martin had set up a buffet on the terrace at Pinewood. “It would be a shame to eat indoors and miss all this beautiful sunshine on such a glorious day,” he’d said. The Sisters had agreed.

Sunday these days was dinner at Pinewood. It was the Sisters’ way of staying in touch after a week of getting on with their lives. Or as Annie put it, there will be no more separations in this family. Everyone agreed, so it was dinner at Pinewood every Sunday, and each of them looked forward to it because when dinner was over, the table cleared, they sat around and hashed and rehashed and speculated on what the future was going to hold for all of them. Today was no exception.

“And there still has been no word on Hank Jellicoe,” Alexis said. “I don’t know why, but I find that hard to believe. The man gets away from some of the most experienced, the most knowledgeable guys in the spook business and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Un-be-lievable!”

“There are a lot of red faces on the other side of the world,” Nikki said. “I think we made the right decision when we turned down the Big Five’s request to find him. I also think we were right when we told them that sooner or later Hank will find us and to save their money. It’s nice to know, though, that they wired half our fee into our secret account in case we changed our minds. Speaking of minds, I think we blew theirs when we had Lizzie return our fee. I guess it’s safe to say we built a little goodwill by doing that. And not one of the five rescinded our immunity contracts. Lizzie said that was a good thing, and it is.”

“I have some news,” Annie said, a smug expression on her face.

“And that would be … what, dear?” Myra asked.

“Fergus Duffy from Scotland Yard called me early this morning. Me! He asked me to have dinner with him the day after tomorrow. Why are you all looking at me like that? I am not in mourning over Fish. Just like Isabelle is not in mourning over Stu Franklin. What? What? Do you think no man would want me after … after Fish?”

“But…” Nellie sputtered.

“But what, Nellie?” Annie bristled. “Are you trying to say something here, like maybe I’m not attractive to men of a certain age? Some men prefer experienced women, did you ever think of that?”

“That’s not what I meant, Countess de Silva, and you know it. What I meant … mean is, why now? It’s been almost eight months since you all signed off on your deal with the Big Five. What is Fergus Duffy doing here in Washington? He is here, right? Or are you jetting off to some wild and woolly place for this surprise dinner?” Nellie said, refusing to give Annie an edge.

“I hate a wiseass, Nellie. All he said was he was going out to the farm at Langley. Seems there is some kind of powwow going on at the CIA, and they called him in. I’m going. But I don’t have a thing to wear.”

“I’ll lend you my pearls,” Myra volunteered.

“I never wore that dress I bought in Neiman Marcus; it’s yours,” Maggie said. “But those rhinestone boots won’t cut it with that dress.”

“I have a beautiful pair of slut shoes if you can walk in them,” Alexis offered.

Jack Emery looked around at the men seated at the table. He rolled his eyes, a signal they should retire to the garden while the ladies got down to the real business at hand, high fashion and a thousand and one ways to reduce Fergus Duffy to mincemeat.

“Oh, good, they’re gone,” Nikki said. “What else did Fergus say, Annie?”

“That he wants to talk to me. I don’t think it’s a date date, if you know what I mean. I think he has some questions about Fish and Stu, and he thinks I can fill in the blanks.”

“Do you know anything you haven’t shared, Annie?” Myra demanded.

“No. Listen, I had … have a hard time coming to terms knowing the man I slept with was a cold-blooded killer. I can’t make that go away. Nor can Isabelle. You were all with me when we ransacked Fish’s house out in the desert. We found everything there was to find. The same goes for the penthouse at Babylon, which, by the way, now belongs totally to me because of our key-man agreement. I didn’t even know Fish had a will until Cosmo Cricket came up with it.

“Just because he left everything to me doesn’t mean I know anything. I plan to donate all of his holdings to charity when I get around to it. Isabelle said she’s going to do the same thing with Stu’s monies. I convinced her to keep a portion of it to start up her new business. She graciously agreed to accept it. Babylon is different; that was a business deal. So if Fergus Duffy’s intention is to pick my brain, he’s going to come up empty-handed.”

“I think he’s smitten with you, Annie.” Yoko giggled. “I have a stunning jade bracelet that would look lovely on your arm.”

“Where are you going for dinner, did he say?” Kathryn asked.

Annie grimaced. “Well, he did say … more or less … and when I wasn’t overly enthusiastic, he said perhaps I should pick the place. He’s got that thick Scottish brogue, and it’s hard to follow him sometimes.”

“Where did he suggest you go?” Kathryn asked.

“Chick-fil-A. They have some kind of chicken he likes.” Annie’s voice was so defensive sounding, the girls went off into peals of laughter.

Down below in the garden where the men were smoking their cigars, they stopped in mid-puff.

“I feel sorry for old Fergus,” Jack said.

“Maybe we should do a little discreet tailing the night of the date,” Bert suggested. “You know, just to keep up on what’s going on. We all know the girls don’t share everything, much as we lie to ourselves and say they do. It’s every man for himself when it comes to gathering information where they’re concerned.”

“Who are you kidding?” Elias said. “Fergus Duffy travels with a security team just like our Secret Service, and you won’t get anywhere near him. Forget it! Then again, Annie might take it upon herself to shoot your dick off for interfering. I’m just saying,” Elias twinkled.

“Point taken,” Bert said.

“You think Annie will be packing some heat Tuesday night?” Ted asked with a straight face. “She’s been like a wet hornet since … you know … Fish, and how that all went down.”

Harry barked a sound that was supposed to be a laugh. “Who do you think would have the guts to frisk Annie? A pat down? And get away with it?”

Jack blew a perfect smoke ring. “As always, Mr. Wong, you are on the money.”

Back up on the deck, the fashion discussion was winding down, with Annie saying she’d accept any and all offers even if she ended up looking like a rummage sale gone wild.

“Anyone want more coffee?” Kathryn asked, getting up from the table.

“Absolutely I would like more coffee; and bring that bottle of brandy in the cabinet. We need a little excitement here,” Annie replied.

“I’ll help,” Yoko said, getting up to follow Kathryn into the kitchen.

The minute the kitchen door closed, Annie leaned forward. “Listen up, girls. I have this fabulous idea. Kathryn’s upcoming fortieth birthday. Five weeks from today. I want to throw her a surprise birthday party at Babylon. I’ll close the joint, and we can have ourselves a real party. What do you think? Don’t let on; it has to be a surprise. I can have her haul our slots in for repair and bring a new batch. She’ll never be the wiser. Is this a plan or what?”

“That’s right up there with going out to dinner with the head of Scotland Yard to Chick-fil-A,” Nikki observed, laughing. “Count me and Jack in.”

“I’m going to invite everyone I can think of,” Annie said. “There’s Rena Gold out in the desert with Paula Woodley. Maggie, I’m sure you’d like to invite your new best friend Emma Doty and her friends and that person with the strange name, Abner Tookus. Then there’re Pearl and a few of her closest… allies. Lizzie and Cosmo, of course. We’ll make a real party of it. Maybe Joseph would like to bring his family. While the hotel has excellent security, I’m also thinking I’d like Mr. Snowden helping us out. As an added precaution.”

“You’re willing to close the casino on a weekend?” Isabelle asked in awe. “You’ll lose a fortune, Annie.”

“No, dear, I will be deducting it from Fish’s side of the ledger. I’m thinking I’ll even empty out the hotel. We’ll need the rooms. Not all of them, but why not? That way, we’ll have total privacy.”

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, Annie. You can count on Charles and me. It will do him good to get away from here for a few days.”

“The best part will be the whole strip wondering what I’m up to. We need a theme, though.”

Alexis cleared her throat, a signal that Kathryn and Yoko were on the way with the coffee and brandy.

The conversation quickly switched to other matters as Myra poured coffee.

“So, girls, how is life in town these days?” Myra asked as she watched Annie pour brandy into each coffee cup.

“Jack and I are managing,” Nikki said. “Since he and Bert made the decision to take over Lizzie’s office, things are a lot better. But it’s just temporary. Basically, they’re closing up shop, clearing the decks, so to speak. He still complains that he’s not a defense attorney, but he is, and he’s a good one. I’m back with my firm, and it’s all working out. More or less.”

“I’m back on the road a few days a week,” Kathryn said. “Bert and I agreed to each keep separate residences, at least for a while. We still have some issues to work through, but we’re getting there. I think. He doesn’t think like I do, however.”

Annie saw her opening and jumped right in. “Kathryn, who do I have to call to get some of our slots picked up and taken in for repair? We have an order for fifty new ones. Do you want the job?”

“Well, yeah, Annie, I’d love to haul your machines. I’ll give you the number later. Tell the dispatcher you want me doing the hauling. Are you going to Vegas?”

“I am sometime in the next week or so. There are a lot of legal ends that have to be tied down,” Annie said vaguely.

“Sounds good,” Kathryn said. She reached down to pat Murphy on the head.

“Yoko, how are things with you and Harry?” Myra asked.

“Harry is very busy. He likes it when his classes are full. I’m working back at my old nursery. My people took very good care of the business in my absence. I have no complaints.”

“Joe wants to get married, and I don’t,” Alexis blurted. “I do love him, but that piece of paper bothers me. I’m willing to live together, but Joseph said no. He said he’s tired of living in sin, and his mother doesn’t approve of such things. So, I stay in my little house, and he stays in his apartment, but somehow or other we manage to hook up six days a week. I’m the new office manager at Lizzie’s firm. Jack and Bert are working me to death. The pay and benefits are really good. The plan is for me to transfer over to Nikki’s firm once they close down Lizzie’s office.”

The girls hooted to show what they thought of that and offered a ton of advice, none of it good for Jack and Bert.

“I really don’t have a story,” Isabelle said, “other than I’ve sworn off men. I opened a small office downtown. I used some of Stu’s money to fund the start-up. I’m keeping enough of it in reserve to help me pay the rent for two years, because that’s how long I had to sign the lease for. I plan to donate the rest to worthy charities. I have three clients. Small jobs, but I have to start somewhere. I bought a ramshackle house on Connecticut Avenue that’s a work in progress. I rescued two cats from the SPCA, Lily and Lennie. And I got a fish tank. I haven’t gotten any fish yet. Like I said, small steps.”

Maggie held up her left hand, her emerald-cut diamond engagement ring sparkling in the sunlight. “Ted and I are happier than two pigs in a mudslide. We might get married someday, then again, we might not. Time will tell.”

“Elias and I are very contented. Well, he is; he sleeps most of the time. I do my thing with the shopping channel, he feeds all the cats and oils the lawn mower for the gardener. My new hips are working out well. I’ve been able to ride as of last month. Not much, but it’s a start. Like Isabelle said, small steps,” Nellie said.

“Charles and I just putter around. We have the dogs now, and with Annie here, it’s wonderful. So, what we’re all saying is we are reasonably happy and content, at least for now, is that it?”

The Sisters jumped in with, well, there’s happy and there is happy and similar remarks ending with yes, they were all reasonably content.

“What we’re really saying without saying it is, we’re missing the adrenaline rush,” Annie said.

“We’re still on the Big Five’s payroll, and we have all that glorious immunity that we can activate anytime we want,” Myra said slyly.

Annie chewed on her lower lip. “That only applies to Henry, call me Hank, Jellicoe. Do you girls really think he’s going to come after us? By the way, last night I had a dream that there was a line of people outside Myra’s gate begging us to help them. We were getting ready to vote on it when I woke up. Maybe it wasn’t a dream but a nightmare,” Annie said fretfully.

The Sisters as one said there was no doubt in their minds that Hank Jellicoe, even though he was on the run, would somehow, some way, come after them.

“I heard Global was being sold off, division by division,” Kathryn said. “It was on the news last week. That means to me that Jellicoe has no one to call on to help him. We took all his money, so he has to scavenge for funds. I’m sure he’s got safe houses all over the world he can hide out in until things cool down. The man could be anywhere. For all we know, he could be living down the road from Myra, and we’d never know it. As far as the public goes, he’s already just a memory. I don’t know what his priority is in the spook world. My gut tells me he is not at the top of anyone’s list but ours. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.”

“Did you see his face when Nikki said, ‘Hello, Mr. Graverson’ back there on Dolphin Drive? It was so priceless I don’t think I’ll ever forget it,” Isabelle said. “He literally didn’t bat an eye when Kathryn crashed her truck through his house, and he didn’t seem surprised to see us all come off the Jet Skis at his dock. Nope, it was that we knew who he really was. In a million years he never thought we’d find that out, and we wouldn’t have except for Emma Doty,” Isabelle said.

“He also didn’t figure that you and Annie would incapacitate Fish and Stu as quickly as you did,” Myra said. “He was counting on them to keep him safe. What a silly, stupid man he is.”

“Ah, here come the boys,” Maggie said. “Do we need more coffee? Dessert?”

“I’ll have another piece of that banana pineapple upside-down cake,” Elias said.

“No, he won’t. He’ll have a sugar-free mint,” Nellie said.

To Annie’s dismay, the conversation returned to her date with Fergus Duffy. She turned a bright pink as everyone chimed in at once to offer additional advice. When she had had enough teasing, Annie held up both hands, a signal that all conversation should cease.

“Listen up, all of you. I think I can handle Fergus Duffy all by myself. If I need any of you, you’re just a phone call away. Are we all clear on this?”

“Yes, ma’am, we are clear on that,” Harry Wong said.