The
Mousetrap – Part 3
“There you are
– what kept you,” Peter said as he stood and kissed Alex.
“Lady talk –
Will, and this is?”
“Allow me to
make the introductions – Mohammed al Salim, this is John and Marianne Vosloo,
Peter and Alex Hope-Green – and Francesca, Marchesa di Cambrello.”
“Ah yes – Angel
Fitzstuart rode for you today,” Marianne said as he shook the hands of the men,
and kissed the women on the cheek.
“Have we met
before,” he said as he looked at Francesca.
“I do not
believe so – perhaps it was at a race meeting?”
Mohammed nodded
and said “possibly…”
“So where is
Susan Shirley?” Juliette asked as their order was taken.
“Susan? She and Clint are staying with her in-laws at
their house in Long Beach. It gives Clint’s parents the chance to get time with
April.”
“Grandparent
time,” Klaus smiled, “something I will admit to taking every opportunity to
enjoy myself.”
“A pleasure
that John and I hopefully will get to enjoy one day,” Shirley said with a
smile.
“Does Maisha
have a boyfriend yet?”
“She’s been out
with a couple of the lads from the tennis club,” John said, “but I don’t think
there is anyone serious yet.”
“Well she has
plenty of time,” Juliette said, “and she is still young.”
“Not that much
younger than Carina.”
“True – but
Carina is a mother of three. Not ready
for that yet,” John laughed.
“And she does
have a lot else she wants to do in her life,” Shirley said with a smile.
“Indeed. Agnes
was telling us this afternoon how she’s helping plan out a schedule of classes
to make Maisha ready to go study at the LSE.”
“That’s true –
she needs to do some more formal qualifications, but she is also going for an
interview in the New Year. She sees it
as her path to doing what she wants to do with her life.”
“Which is what
if I might ask Shirley?” Klaus said as he sipped from his glass.
“Working in the
field of sustainable economic development in Africa.”
“A highly
worthwhile ambition,” Juliette said, “and is that why I overheard her talking
intently to John Vosloo about something in Botswana earlier?”
“It might well
have been,” Shirley smiled slightly.
“She is taking a great deal of interest in the work Francesca and
Charlotte are doing out there.” She
looked over to where Francesca was sitting, and noticed her standing and leaving
the room after Kay Cromwell.
As did Eleanor…
“Francesca,”
Kay said as she closed the door, “enjoying your conversation with Mohammed?”
“I do not think
enjoy is the right word,” Francesca said quietly.
“You know him,
don’t you?”
“It was a long
time ago – but yes, I have crossed paths with him before,” Francesca said quietly.
“You’ve been on
edge all day – what’s going on?”
“The sins of
the past. Kay - without asking
questions, or even how I know this, can I ask you to put your LA people on
standby to help in an operation?”
“Francesca I
thought you were retired?”
“Properly I am,”
the Italian noblewoman said, “but I may need to clean up a mess I made 25 years
ago, and better that I ask you for help than get Eleanor and the Americans
involved.”
“They may need
deniability?” the British woman looked curious.
“Exactly.”
Nodding, Kay
said “how big an incident are you about to create Francesca?”
“Hopefully I’m
not going to create anything, but the way the stars are aligning I may need get
someone safely out of the way.”
“When you say
out of the way you don’t mean?” Kay slightly gestured as though she was cutting
her throat.
“No, nothing
like that. This is to do with getting an agent away to safety if her cover is
finally broken.”
“So it’s an
extraction?”
“It might turn
out to be one, but as I said I’m hoping it will all die down.”
“And if it
comes to it?”
“Destination is
known, we can discuss that if we need to.”
Kay nodded, and
said “let me make a couple of quick phone calls.”
“Thank you old
friend,” Francesca said as Kay left the room – and Shirley came in.
“Can I be of
help Francesca?" she said quietly.
"Of help
Shirley?"
"Yes,” Shirley
said quietly. “Help with whatever it is
that has had you in a panic most of the day. And before you deny that you know
fully well I can tell when something serious might be about to happen."
"You might be better off not getting involved Madame," Francesca
whispered, "leave this to the intelligence community."
"I
understand that darling. Just understand that if you need us my organization
will give whatever aid you ask for."
Francesca
nodded as they headed out…
“How are things
between you and Peter nowadays Alex? I’ve been meaning to ask” Marianne asked
quietly as the table was cleared, Peter talking to John quietly.
“Pretty much as
they’ve always been Marianne,” she sighed.
“So you still
think he is seeing other women?”
“I can’t prove it,”
Alex said quietly as she sat with her eyes down. “He’s too good at covering his tracks for
that, but yes I guess I’ve always suspected there are others out there, and
that there still are.”
“Women’s
intuition?”
“In part I
guess,” Alex laughed, “but also little clues that I’ve learned to be suspicious
of during a long career in ‘the trade’. Little unexplained absences, whispered
conversations, etc.”
“He is a spy
you know?”
“I know, but
this has never felt like work, it’s always felt too personal to be merely him
covering business matters.”
Nodding,
Marianne sighed as she said “I’m just glad that John’s always been pretty open
with me.”
“I’ve even
caught him on the phone while we have been here in the States you know?”
It was Marianne’s
turn to look shocked. “Surely not?”
“Earlier
today,” Alex sighed again. “I love him,
but at times… Well, let’s just leave it
at that for now.”
“Do you regret
never having children?”
“As much as you
do Marianne – but you had a surrogate daughter in Charlotte Gordon. I never had that luxury – and now I see her
with Francesca…”
Nodding,
Marianne said “I know – to be a complete family again…”
“So let us
discuss the true matter of the moment,” Nessa said as she looked round the
table, “who is going to win tomorrow – Saints’N’Sinners or Acadaria?”
Sandy wiped her
mouth as she said “I have stopped taking bets – it’s too close to call.”
“And Guy and I
are staying right out of this one – what about you Francesca?”
“Oh no – I
value my friendships in both camps too much to say anything,” Francesca said as
she looked round. “I wish to have a
happy social life after this weekend both sides of the Atlantic.”
As Kay walked
back in from the lobby, she was taken by surprise as Eleanor took her by the
arm and walked her back again to the washrooms.
“What the fuck
is going on Commander Cornwall?” Eleanor hissed, as she made sure they couldn’t
be overheard.
“Now why would
you think anything is going on as you put it Captain Ball?”
“The simple
fact that Francesca is as skittish as a cat. That I’ve seen her holding several
whispered conversations, and that after I saw her take you in the powder room
you started working that phone of yours like a demon.” Taking a deep breath, Eleanor whispered “Something
is going to happen Kay and you either tell me, or I alert my son the FBI agent
that several foreign spies may be about to do something on US soil.”
“Look Eleanor
darling I can’t say anything,” Kay said as she held her hands up, “because
Francesca has only really given me a heads up that something might need doing.”
“Okay. What?”
“Just take it
from me though that you and your government might want to be able to say that
you have no idea what is going on, and that you weren’t involved.”
“Alright I get
that, but I’m speaking here as a friend of both yours and Francesca’s Kay, not
as a former agent.”
“Meaning what?”
“That
officially I’m out of the game, so if you do need my help it won’t create a
situation for my government, and that as your friend I want to help if I can.”
Nodding, Kay
said “Eleanor, if I was to ask a question, one I could ask several people in
the room today.”
“Such as?”
“You, Veronica
Joyce, Liz Egwegwe, Princess Itzy – even, if I’m right, Marianne Vosloo and
others?”
“I may have to
plausibly deny a few things.”
“Well, know
this. Francesca is worried an asset is
in danger of being uncovered, and wants her saved if that happens with minimal
fuss and plausible deniability all round.”
Eleanor nodded,
and said “and if I asked you the same question?”
“I’d give the
same answer as you.”
Eleanor nodded
as she said “I know who to talk to when the time comes. Let’s just hope it does not come to that…”
8 pm PT
The Clarke Apartment
Oakwood Hills
“Well, that was
a good day,” David said as he sat on his favourite chair, Mary smiling as she
held her mug, “how are the others?”
“The boys are
in bed, Suzie should be back in half an hour, and the girls are talking in
their room,” Mary said with a smile.
“And Dave?”
“Took Sarah to
the pictures.” Taking a sip from her
mug, she said “Pops – Allyson. I think
she’s finally learned her lesson.”
“Yeah – I saw
she was being more sensible today. What
happened – what we said finally got through?”
“From the sound
of things, it was Agnes McAdam’s daughters who got through to them, but yeah –
something settled in.” As the telephone
rang, Dave walked over and picked up the receiver.
“Clark
residence.”
“Oh hey Maddie
– what can I do for you?
“Uh huh…
“Uh huh…”
Mary turned and
looked at her father as he raised an eyebrow.
“Let me talk to
David, see if he can bring the others tomorrow while Mary and I come
early. I’ll call you once I’ve talked to
both of them.”
“Who’s on the
phone,” Suzie said as she came in and took her coat off.
“Maddie,” Mary
said as her father put the phone down.
“What’s up Pops?”
“Maddie wants
to see you and me tomorrow morning, with Missy and – have you met Rhenia?”
“She’s the
comptroller at Norstar,” Suzie said, and then she and Mary looked at each
other. “You did say Missy and Maddie,
right?”
“I did – why?”
“Now I get what
you say about her,” Suzie said as she sat down.
“Pops, remember when I went to Sydney?”
“Yes, Missy
took me to one side and…
“Oh…
“OH!”
10 pm PT
Hilton Los Angeles
“Well, that was
a nice meal,” Alex said as she placed her purse on the bed, Peter closing the
door behind her. “But I am about ready
for my bed.”
“Yeah – it has
been a good day,” Peter said as he slipped his jacket off and hung it in the
wardrobe, “but before you get ready, I need ot ask you something Alex.”
“Oh – and what
is that,” she said as she sat at the dressing table, and removed her earrings.
“When did you
first meet Francesca di Cambrello?”
“Francesca? I told you last week – I spent a year at the
Italian Naval Academy when she was there.”
“You did – and
that’s the funny thing, because when she was in South Africa, we thought she
went to the University of Pisa.”
Alex turned and
looked at her husband, before she said “from what I read in the files of her
time there, that was what we did believe, but I knew the truth from our later
files.”
“And you never
met between then and last week?”
“No – Peter,
where are you going with this?”
He smiled as he
said “nowhere – it’s my natural curiosity, that’s all. Let’s get to bed.”
“I’ll follow
you up in a minute,” John Vosloo said as he looked into the hotel bar, Marianne
nodding as she headed to the lift. “Liz
– spare me a few minutes, will you?”
“Of course John
– what’s wrong?”
“I wish I
knew,” he said as they walked into the bar, smiling as Hennie Botha stood up to
greet them.
“I have to say
retirement seems to be suiting both of you,” he said as they sat with him. “Maybe I should consider it myself.”
“And the
springbok may thrive again,” Liz said quietly.
“What are you really doing here Sir?”
“Cauterising an
old wound, I suspect.” Hennie sipped his
whisky, before he said “and I need you two to keep out fo my way for the next
forty eight hours. If I’m wrong, no harm
done, but if I’m right, we may finally, FINALLY put the wounds the Marchesa
caused to bed.”
“And why should
we do that,” Liz asked as she saw Itzy and Karen sit at the bar.
“For old times
sake – if this woman is a Sister, then I am sorry, but if she is who I think
she is, she has things to pay for.”
“And when will
you know?”
Hennie smiled
as he said “I’ll tell you one way or the other, but I wanted to let you
know. For old time’s sake, stay out of
our way.”
“Our?”
Hennie smiled
as he stood up and walked off, John and Liz looking at each other before Liz
said “should we warn them?”
“No – I’ll talk
to Francesca tomo…” He then stopped as
he looked to the entrance to the bar, the older woman coming in with a young
man.
“John?”
“That – that’s Andrea
di Matteo.”
“Should I know
the name?”
“No – but look
at the young man with her. Remind you of
anyone?”
Liz looked
over, and then nodded as she said “Peter Hope.
There were rumours even when I was at the ring, but this is proof…”
“It’s more than
that – I think Francesca might be right to be worried…”
Saturday 5th
November
10 am Local
Time
Macao
As the helicopter slowly came down onto the large green lawn, the woman
stood, her hands clasped together, her red cheongsam undisturbed by the motion
of the blades as they slowly came to a stop.
She then walked forward as the pilot got out and opened the door at the
rear, the thin woman stepping out in a red trouser suit over a black jumper,
and ankle boots.
“Welcome,” she said with a low bow as they came closer, the pilot now
carrying a bag. “The Honoured Father
awaits, if you will come this way, Miss Harker?”
“Thank you,” Penny said as she bowed in return, and they walked up to
the house, the pilot handing the bag to another servant as Penny followed her
to the large double doors. She paused as
the woman knocked on the door, opened it and said “Miss Penelope Harker has
arrived.”
“Show her in.”
As she walked in, Penny stood with her head bowed and her hands clasped
in front of her. “I thank you for allowing
me to visit you, Honoured Father,” she said quietly, “and I bring greetings
from my esteemed employer, Madame X.”
“Welcome my child,” Feng Lui said as he waked forward, “you may raise
your head. Some tea – our other guests
should be arriving shortly.” The woman
bowed her head and left the room as Penny was surprised to feel the hug, and
then said “I thank you for the greeting.”
“Come – let us not stand on ceremony, this is a special day,” he said
with a smile as he indicated the red leather chairs, both of them sitting as
the day was brought in. “How is
Madame? I had heard the news of her
upcoming nuptials, and hope you will pay me the honour of taking a small gift
back with you when you return for the occasion.”
“The honour would be mine,” Penny said quietly as she accepted the cup,
“but I presumed Cathy would be attending as well?”
“I believe she is invited, but I wish this to be from me personally –
ah, I see our other guests have arrived.”
Penny stood and turned as Cathy Lu came in, wearing a blue blazer over
a roll neck sweater dress – and behind her was Helen, wearing a black jumper
and pants, the smile broadening on her face as she saw Penny before she along
with Cathy bowed their heads in greeting.
“You have summoned us, Honoured Father, and we are here,” Cathy said
quietly, “but we are also pleased to see your other guest has arrived safely.”
“I am sure she is glad to see you arrive safely as well,” Feng Lui said
quietly. “Come, sit, take some tea, and
then while you and I discuss business, I am sure Helen and Penelope would
appreciate the chance to talk together…”
“May I ask where Beverley is,” Penny asked as she sat with Helen.
“She is undertaking some duties today for me at the factory,” Cathy
said with a smile, “she was out last night with Helen performing other tasks.”
Penny raised any eyebrow as Helen nodded, before saying “as with my
previous students, she had proven a most capable student – she executed your
request to the letter, Honoured Father, with maximum effectiveness.”
As Feng Lui nodded, Penny whispered “how are you, my love?”
“I am – returning to normal,” Helen said with a smile. “I have spent time in meditation, and
talking, and I have resolved how I felt that night. It is as if a door has finally closed – and
the future is fully opened.”
Penny nodded as she squeezed her lover’s hand, Cathy and Fang Lui
noticing.
“Forgive me,” Penny said with a smile.
“It is only natural. May I ask
what you know of the origins of the Honourable Society which I have the
distinct honor of belonging to Miss Harker?”
Penny looked at the old man, and said “beyond the little that Helen has
told me then I must admit very little.”
“It’s something we have striven to keep hidden over the centuries,” the
old man smiled, “and yes I did centuries.
We Chinese place great stead in tradition and our ancestry.”
“I had no idea it was so ancient,” Penny whispered as she shook her
head.
“The Honourable Society started as a group of merchants banding
together for support and defence, particularly from aggressors and
interlopers,” Feng Lui said as he sat forward, “and to this day that remains
our primary aim.”
“You might call it a mutual benefit organization,” Cathy murmured. “A cooperative.”
“Just so.”
Nodding, Penny said “I think I understand a little of that.”
“Unlike similar groups, however,” Feng Lui continued, “we have always
tended to be outward looking in our activities, and not focused just on China.
We welcomed contacts with the rest of the world at a time when many wished to
keep our frontiers closed.”
“Something we still try and do,” Cathy spoke again.
“A laudable thing Honoured Father.
I would presume to say the mutual benefits our organizations have shared
through our cooperation have been greatly appreciated.”
“Thank you child,” the man said before he paused and took a deep
breath. “Current events however may be leading to a situation in which we are
forced to take sides in conflicts that can ultimately bring no good to anyone.”
“The political developments that you asked this unworthy ones opinion
upon Honoured Master?” Helen spoke.
“Indeed. The election this
coming week in America is, I fear, going to provide a result that will benefit
no-one in the long term, and cause real problems in the shorter term.”
“Forgive me, Honoured Father,” Penny said as she looked over, “but are
you telling me he may actually win?”
“You stopped some of the influencing, but I fear too late to affect the
result,” Cathy said, “and other similar movements are seeking to gain footholds
in the European markets.”
“As basically traders and merchants,” Feng Lui said, “we basically
desire freedom of access to all markets possible for our various goods and
services. We are however also patriots Miss Harker, wishing the best for China
and its people.”
“So I understood from the uses that you put the gold we recovered in
London to.” Penny smiled.
“Yes we were able to put it to use in the spirit in which it was
originally donated,” Feng Lui allowed himself a smile.
“The Honoured Master wishes to assure Madame, and your organizations
many other associates that whatever happens we will strive to continue to stand
with you.” Cathy said quietly.
“And on her behalf, I assure you we will continue to support you in any
endeavours you undertake,” Penny said, “but will it really be that bad?”
“Let us pray it is not, but it is always best to be prepared. Now, you may go and spend some time together,
my children. Catherine and I need to
discuss – private matters.”
“Of course, Honoured Father,” Helen said as she and Penny stood, bowed,
and walked to where the young Chinese woman was standing by the door. As she closed it, Helen whispered “and
breath. Hello my love.”
“Hello,” Penny whispered before they kissed. “You are truly recovering?”
“I am – come, we shall walk in the gardens.”
“So are you allowed to discuss what Beverley did last night?”
“Let me put it this way – she has a remarkable ability with the ancient
arts I practice. I think she may surpass
the Mongoose and the Swan.”
“And does she have a name now as well?”
“Oh yes – she has been named Sī yǐng.”
“And that means?”
“The Silk Shadow…”
1 am
Hilton Los
Angeles
As he entered
the bar area, Hennie Botha looked round for a moment, and then walked over to
where the two men were talking at a side table.
“So this is
where you hang out to discuss matters,” he said as he sat down.
“Indeed –
Mohamed al Salim, allow me to introduce you to General Henrik Botha, head of
SAIS. General, I believe you know Mr al
Salim by reputation.”
“Indeed,”
Hennie said as they shook hands, “so why are you not in bed with your wife
Peter? Either of them?”
Al Salim raised
an eyebrow as Peter said “I know you did not mean to say that out loud.”
“Didn’t I? Let me put it this way then – why am I not in
my bed?”
“Mr al Salim
and I were discussing past history,” Peter said as he looked at the other two
men.
“Really? How far past?”
“1990 – in
Rome?”
Hennie sat up
and said “I remember that – but why are you talking about it now?”
“We need to be
honest with each other first, General – was someone following me there?”
“No – someone
was following him,” Hennie said as he looked at al Salim. The Arab nodded and chuckled as he said “I
can understand that – I think our mutual friend here was the only South African
operative I knew well at that time. It
was understandable.”
“Especially
given the state of flux the country was in at the time – but to get back to
basics, what do you know of the reason I was there?”
“Nothing –
except you came home and were damn lucky to keep your job,” Hennie said
quietly. “It was the first shadow job I
gave John Vosloo to do.”
Peter and
Mohamed looked at each other, before Peter said “this was before the true role
of the Marchesa was revealed, correct?”
“She was just
Francesca di Cambrello then, but yeah – and do not remind me of that time,”
Hennie said in a dangerous voice.
“Sadly, we may
need to – I was on a mission to obtain certain details of a missile targeting
system from the manufacturer, and we were using his daughter as leverage. The mission, however, was a failure – because
she was rescued by two female operatives, I presume from La Citadella.”
“So you got
caught with your trousers down?”
“Metaphorically
speaking,” Peter said with a shrug, “but as Mr al Salim has told me tonight, he
did see who they were.”
“You did? Were they masked?”
“Not after they
deposited the young lady into an official car,” Mohamed said with a smile,
“then they removed their balaclavas, and I saw them in the moonlight.”
“So who were
they?”
Mohamed smiled
and sat back as Peter said “Hennie, for him to tell us, he needs certain
guarantees that we will not look too closely into certain business transactions
he is involved in with near neighbours.”
Looking at both
of them, Hennie said “answer this – would they be to the detriment of the
innocents in other countries?”
“Not directly –
but of course, I cannot speak for those I am conducting the transactions
with. Why?”
“Then it’s not
me you need to worry about,” Hennie said as he sat back, “but let’s not worry
about that now. I’ll cover you – who
were they?”
Peter sat back,
looking at Mohamed with Hennie as he said “I recognised them both today – still
very beautiful after all these years.
One was the Marchesa di Cambrello – better know now, of course, thanks
to those idiots at La Citadella as Il Pesce Diablo.”
“And the other
one?”
Mohamed looked
at both men as he said “I regret to say, Peter my friend, it was your wife –
Alex.”
The other two
men looked at each other before Peter said “are you sure?”
“I am sure?”
“Goeie god - is
dit moontlik? Peter, kan jou vrou wees ...” Hennie whispered under his breath,
“Is dit moontlik?”
“Ongelukkig
dink ek dit is: sy moet muis wees”
2.30 am
Alex was uneasy
in her sleep – the events of the last twenty four hours had unsettled her,
especially the unexpected arrival of Hennie Botha, and she was worried other
people may have recognised her as well.
And Peter had
been a bit distant tonight – Something had obviously been bothering him, but he
had done his usual job of putting on a face and saying nothing. There was more going on however – the string
of coincidences, from meeting Francesca in New York to Andrea today. Why on earth had he sprung this trip on her
anyway?
She had joked
earlier about there been no such thing as coincidence, but this was getting
beyond a joke – not only Hennie, but faces and names she knew from the
intelligence world. Commander Cornwall
of British Intelligence, Captain Ball of US Intelligence, and others – all in
the same room?
There was one
good sign – they were all women, which to Alex was an indicator of one
thing. Marianne had tried to hide it,
but she and John were obviously involved with something else…
She had heard
them mentioned in briefings. The Sisters
of Maisha, the liberators of Mogola and Mazengwe, the shadow…
She suddenly
sat up as something occurred to her, and then she saw the message.
“Breakfast,
seven tomorrow, we need to talk.
Marianne.”
She looked at
Peter, and then tried to go back to sleep…
7 am
As Alex walked
into the hotel lobby from the elevator, wearing a short sleeved blouse and
jeans, she saw Marianne waiting for her in a khaki dress, a wide brown leather
belt round her waist.
“Where’s
Peter,” she said as she kissed her friend on the cheek.
“He’s got an
early morning telephone to take, so you get me for an hour or so on my own –
and that’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is –
and for that reason, we’re going for a little walk,” Marianne said as she took
Alex by the arm and walked her out of the hotel, along the street and into a
small café. The woman at the front
looked over and nodded, as Marianne led Alex into a back room.
“A private
morning coffee? I have to say, Marianne,
that…” She stopped as she saw the other
two women in the room, the small red-brown haired woman feeding her paper, and
the tall, proud South African.
“Your Majesty,”
Alex said as she bowed, “what are…”
“Welcome Alex,”
the smaller woman said, “and thank you for bringing her here Ariadne.”
“I serve the
Heart and the Strength,” Marianne said as she indicated a chair at the table,
Alex sitting as the African woman poured the coffee.
“The… Marianne, are you one of the sisters?”
“We all are –
do you know who I am?”
“Charlotte
Gordon Cambrello van der Byl, daughter of the Marchesa, but…”
“In the
Sisterhood, I am Little Mother, and this is Leader. Alex, we have an offer to make to you…”
8 am
“Hey,” Erica
said as she saw Poppy come into the restaurant, “so are you ready for the day?”
“I think so –
Mom is having breakfast with the board today, yours?”
“She’ll be down
in a little while,” she said as they walked over to the buffet, joining Laura
and Miley there. “How did you both sleep
last night?”
“Like a log,”
Laura said as Miley giggled, “So when does everyone else come down?”
“Oh they’ll
come in drips and drabs,” Poppy said, “listen – we wanted to ask both of you if
you wanted to be included in our re-focused group.”
“Re-focused as
in…”
“A bit more
grown up – and I think we could use the guidance from both of you as well,” Erica
said, Poppy nodding in agreement.
“So who else is
in from our side of the ocean,” Mylie asked quietly.
“Well, us for
starters.”
Laura smiled as
she heard the Irish brogue and turned to see Orion with them, Katy standing
with her. “Well,” she said, “when you
put it that way…”
“They’re here,”
Rhenia said as she saw Mary and David coming into the restaurant. She was wearing a grey jacket and skirt with
a cream top, while Maddie was in a dark trouser suit and white blouse, and
Missy in a grey dress.
“They’re here,”
Mary said as she looked at the table, her father nodding as they walked
over. “Pops, if I’m right, just take a
moment and breathe, all right?”
“Okay – let’s
find out,” Dave said quietly as they walked over, Maddie standing and smiling
as she said “Hey – come and sit, have some coffee, and we’ll get some pastries
brought over.”
“Thanks,” Mary
said as she sat and crossed her legs, “so what have we done to deserve the
invitation, Missy?”
“Can’t we buy
breakfast for two of my favourite people,” Missy said with a smile.
“We’re in trouble,”
Mary laughed as the coffee was poured.
Dave shook his
head as he said “I still remember when you bought me coffee with Juliette at
the Hilton,” Dave said as he took a sip from his cup, “are we in the same
situation here?”
“Not quite,”
Maddie said with a smile, “although it does concern your girls again – in this
case Allyson and Tracy.”
“Oh lord,” Dave
said quietly, “look, are you telling me they are going to do what Mary and
Suzie do?”
“Not quite,”
Missy said, “but I do think one day they may.
They’re too young for that at the moment however…”
“What we do
want you to consider,” Maddie said, “is having them sign to Rising Stars with
Kathy and me. That way, they can do some
work and earn some money for college funds, but under much tighter controls
than the other two.”
“So no catwalk,
no long shoots, but more age appropriate ads and catalogue shoots?”
“Got it in one,
Mary. We do nothing to disrupt their
schooling like we do with Suzie, but no Fashion Week trips at this stage. Although, on a side issue, I do want to talk
to you about January – Alice has enquired about whether Suzie can fly over to
NY to do her show, alongside Katy, Orion and Poppy…”
Mary looked at
her father, and said quietly “promise me the boys are out of this.”
“With all due
respect, Dave, the boys are out of this…”
“Hey – mind if
we join you?”
“Not at all,”
Jan said as Tom and Gale sat with her and Adam, “where’s Allen?”
“Natalya
offered to watch him while we got some breakfast,” Tom said as he looked at the
menu, “and we wanted to offer our congratulations to both of you anyway. Any word on a date yet?”
“Not yet – we
weren’t the only ones to announce their engagement over the last few days,”
Adam said with a smile, “and besides, negotiations have still to be opened
between Katherine and my mother as to who gets to take charge.”
“Take my
advice, leave them to it,” Gale said with a smile as the waiter took their
orders.
“So – what’s
the big mystery around your trip to Omaha – or is that plunging in too
quickly,” Jan said as more coffee was poured.
“We’re – not
quite sure,” Tom said before he took a drink from his cup. “There was a set of deeds in the box for a
second property.”
“A second
property? You mean your grandmother
didn’t just leave you the ranch,” Jan said as she looked at Gale.
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