Chapter 8

Betrayal

Nearly a week went by. Alex’s sense of sharp alarm became dulled because .. things were so normal. Nick stayed on the island because, rightly, he said he had a lot of work to do for the fundraiser. Steve couldn’t help him with it because Steve didn’t know how to read the signs nor did he know the people. If Derek had been wary of taking Steve on trust, his wariness ebbed away. Steve put in the hours, was polite and willing. A rough patch, nothing more, and now definitely in the past.

Rachel had surveyed the damage done to both vehicles and put it down to testosterone. She didn’t actually say but her expression was eloquent enough – boys will be boys, and these two are more boys than they’d care to admit even to themselves. Healthy competition … and it seemed to have worked.

Derek had inquired about the reason Nick and Steve had gone north and Nick had replied that it had blown over about the time they’d arrived. Nothing had come of it. Shame really, it would’ve been a great opportunity for Steve. Maybe next time.

It all seemed logical and reasonable, and, as no one had displayed any kind of unusual behavior since, Alex decided to let it go. Obviously, Derek was right. A rough patch, now definitely over.

Steve had integrated well into the team. He took part in the daily meetings, still listening more than offering opinions, but he spoke up when he had something to say, which was exactly how it should be. He seemed happy with his place and was perfectly amenable to taking orders.

There was only one thing which upset the apple cart during those few days and that was Merlin. She and Nick had an argument. Only small but it rankled because the people in the house cared for both of them.

“You said you’d come meet with Sophie. You want this done, Nicky, an’ she needs your help to do it. Or I can let her finish an’ not put in the things you want.”

“I forgot, okay? I’ll meet with her in a couple of days. I’ve got a lot on right now – ”

“So much that you have to stay over every night?”

“You know my job has to take priority every once in a while. I’ll try to get home tonight.”

“Okay. Will you stay an’ talk to Sophie tomorrow? She’s just about done.”

“I’ll try, okay? I can’t promise,” he’d said and hung up. It had put him in a bad mood for several hours. And he hadn’t gone home that night, or the night after.

Rachel took delivery of the ultrasound scanning machine and called Merlin to arrange a time for the scan. Merlin thought it over and chose a strange time – during the fundraiser. She didn’t want Steve around, wandering in while Rachel was working. This was personal. The only other person who had a right to be there was Nick .. and she was starting to have her doubts about that. The fundraiser would keep Steve busy and out of the way.

“Okay,” Rachel agreed. “Although, he’s settled down a lot, Peri. Almost a different guy again. Alex got it right – he’s mercurial, but I think he’s chosen where he wants to be.”

“Still living Nick’s life?”

“Actually, no,” Rachel answered honestly. “There’s .. elements of what I can only assume to be original Steve showing thru. That has to be good, right?”

“I guess. An’ how’s Nick?”

“You haven’t seen him at all?” Rachel frowned.

“Not in nine days.”

“I didn’t realize that.”

“It’s no big, Rachel. I’ve been busy myself with Alex’s project. I don’t grudge you guys Nick’s time. A call would’ve been nice, that’s all.”

Rachel blushed on Nick’s behalf. “You want me to – ?”

“No. No, don’t. If he feels the situation warrants him staying, he has to stay. I don’t need him here.”

“But you’d like him there,” Rachel commented.

“When he’s ready, not before. I’ll be over for the fundraiser. I’ll arrive early.”

After Rachel had hung up, she realized she hadn’t answered Merlin’s question – how’s Nick? How do I answer that? I could tell a story, and it would start like all good stories …

Once upon a time, there was a guy called Nick Boyle and another guy called Steve Anthony. Neither knew of the other. Then one did and he began to model himself on his hero. And that was okay because a lot of distance separated them. Time passed, and they finally met. One put up barriers to isolate and protect himself, the other looked for new areas to move into, new facets to adopt. And the barriers finally cracked and broke, and the two became friends as well as colleagues. And then .. Steve began to be more like Steve again. He lost some of the other’s personality traits. And Nick … Well, Nick began to be more like Steve. So the distance, slim as it was, was maintained.

It’s temporary. It’s machismo. Until one or other emerges as the dominant male, this battle of wills is going to continue and they’ll do anything to win. Maybe Nick feels that it’s payback – you tried to steal my life, now I’m going to steal yours. How’d you like it, Steve? Not nice, huh.

She decided Alex could use a break and went to find her so they could hunt round the stores for a new dress. The fundraiser deserved such consideration, their sanity demanded it.

*****

With Derek busy conferring with Andrew, Nick and Steve were alone.

“How much longer is this gonna go on?” Steve groaned. “I’m gonna bust something, man. A heart valve or something. This is a fucking prison!”

“We gotta do this,” Nick countered quietly. “Divert the heat. Lay low, keep smiling. Let the suspicions die down. We had a blast the other night but we’re lucky the cops haven’t found us. We gotta remember to have fake plates next time, just to cover our asses. An’, after a few days of being good boys, when we ask for timeout again, Derek will think back on how good we’ve been an’ he’ll say yes.”

“You promise?”

“I do. I know him. He’ll be cool.”

“An’ I have to go to this fundraiser?”

“Yeah. It’s important. But, provided we’re discreet, there’s no reason why we can’t have a little fun at the same time.”

“Like what?” Steve asked, his eyes narrowing slyly.

“Like some minor theft. These people are all very well heeled,” Nick related, glancing round. “They’ll be here to give lots of money to the Luna Foundation. We pop the locks on the cars an’ see what they’ve left laying around.”

“Cool!” Steve exclaimed. “An’ we can do that? Won’t the cameras pick us up?”

“Not if I switch ’em off,” Nick replied, grinning. “I put the system in, Steve; I know exactly how it works so I know exactly how to get around it.” He angled another glance over his shoulder. “Enough reason for you to dress up?”

“Sure. Not a tux, tell me it isn’t a tux.”

“It’s a daytime function. Maybe early evening. Out on the terrace an’ the lawn. Little combo playing tea music.” Nick shrugged. “Deeply boring but the money rolls in.”

They heard Derek returning and wiped the wicked grins from their faces to be a picture of hard working innocence by the time he entered.

“Nick .. when did you go home last?” Derek inquired.

“Er .. eight or nine days ago. Why?” Nick replied, looking puzzled at the question.

“Don’t you think you should? If only to see your wife,” Derek frowned.

“I got a lotta stuff to finish here. She’s okay. She understands.”

Derek hesitated at the casual tone of voice but he couldn’t argue the point. Nick did have a lot of work to finish and Merlin did understand. He went into the office and let the door close.

Steve watched it for a moment to make sure Derek wasn’t about to re-emerge then scooted his chair across the floor. “Hey .. I just had an idea. Why don’t you pass the box on to Peri? We could have a threesome. She turned me down flat when I tried it on before.”

Nick considered it.

“You said she was real feisty. Imagine all that .. freed from all restraint.”

Nick was tempted but, slowly, he shook his head.

“C’mon, man! Why not?” Steve demanded, almost angry and definitely frustrated.

“She’s having a baby.”

“So what?”

“The box could harm the kid. I won’t risk it, Steve. After the kid’s born .. sure. Great idea.”

“That’s months away,” Steve complained, his shoulders hunching.

“Yeah, but what a way to celebrate Christmas,” Nick idly remarked.

*****

“I think we should call in,” Alex commented. “Visit. She may want to come with us, Rachel.” She shrugged slightly. “I haven’t seen her in a while .. an’ I miss her. Plus she has been doing some fantastic research for us. I’d like to say thanks. In person. Much nicer than over the phone.”

Rachel laughed. “Okay, I’m convinced! I’d like to see the baby’s room. It must be just about done by now.”

It was no detour. The house on Paradise Drive was on their way into the city.

“It is such a shame that Nick’s missed an entire week,” Alex remarked. “Yes, he’s been doing the checks but .. I don’t know, does it seem to you like it’s taken longer this time round? Almost .. this is going to sound crazy,” she admitted, “but it’s almost like he’s been deliberately spreading it out.”

“Instead of going home?” Rachel queried.

“He wants to spend time with Steve,” Alex replied, mystified.

Rachel nodded. “Well, it makes sense. The contest hasn’t been won yet. Nick is a guy, Alex. Their brains are wired differently to ours. We see it for what it is – stupid. A waste of time. They see it in a totally different way – crucial, vitally important. A throwback to caveman days. And it’ll go on until one of them comes out clearly on top. Then we’ll get back to what passes as normal.”

“But .. Derek’s the leader. Why aren’t they in competition with him?”

“That isn’t the point of this contest. Derek is definitely the alpha male, the guy in charge. He isn’t weak or feeble or showing signs of age. He may not be the fittest, but he is the smartest. If Steve was younger than Nick or older than Nick, the contest wouldn’t be happening. This isn’t about Derek’s deputy, y’see. It’s about who’s better – Nick or Steve. They’re the same age, physically matched, similar background. Not much to decide between the two.”

“What about mentally?” Alex inquired, glancing at Rachel.

Rachel didn’t reply for a moment. “I’m not sure,” she said eventually. “It could be temporary, a .. contest thing. Getting into each other’s mindset. Psychological warfare. These types of competitions can be dirty. But .. there are signs that they’re becoming mentally matched too.” She turned into the drive of the house. “Don’t mention this to Peri. She doesn’t need to hear it.”

“Shouldn’t she know?”

“What could she do, Alex? It isn’t as if .. Aquila could go beat some sense into them. Nick apparently was okay with starting it, so let Nick work his way out of it. If you tell Peri, she’ll only worry about him. That isn’t fair on her or her baby.”

“Okay. Do you think Peri would like to come with us to Parkfield?”

“She could, yeah. Something to do, away from home. A home which is very big,” Rachel pointed out, peering thru the windshield, “an’ seems a lot bigger with only her there.”

She pulled up and switched off the engine. They went to the front door and rang the bell, and waited. And waited.

“Is she out?” Alex whispered.

A tinny voice said, “Yeah.”

“Peri?” Rachel replied into the intercom.

“I’ll be right with you. I’m in the yard.”

“We’ll come round. Stay put.”

They set off to the right and the nearest corner. “What’s she doing in the yard?” Alex wondered. “Exercise?”

“She had better not be overexerting herself,” Rachel warned darkly.

Merlin wasn’t. She smiled at them as they approached over the lawn.

“Hi, guys. How you doing?”

“We’re fine. What are you doing?”

“I went plant shopping. I’m discovering the joys of getting my hands dirty with something other than blood.” She gestured. “What d’you think? Is it any good?”

They looked and slowly nodded. “It’s wonderful,” Alex replied, smiling. “An’ so unlike you.”

“I know. I also know it won’t last so I’m really making the most of this being normal.” She brushed soil off her hands onto her thighs. “So .. this a professional visit?”

“Uh uh. I can see you’re being sensible,” Rachel commented. “Taking your vitamins, drinking plenty of milk. Still quit with the cigarettes?”

“Yeah, but that one’s tough at times. I’m hanging in there, though.”

“Good for you.”

“I wanted to see you,” Alex said. “You haven’t been over to the island recently .. an’ I missed you!”

“That’s kind. Thank you,” Merlin laughed.

“And I wanted to say thanks for the research. It’s very useful, to the both of us.”

“I had fun doing it. Wasn’t strenuous, an’ it was very interesting.”

“So .. you wanna come with us to Parkfield?” Rachel inquired.

“I’m no scientist – ” Merlin began.

“Neither am I, officially,” Alex cut in. “But we’ll need a spare pair of hands. A gopher. Someone to make things happen. We’d make use of you.”

“An’ I wouldn’t be here on my own.”

They didn’t respond but neither could meet her eyes.

“It’s okay,” Merlin smiled. “Nick .. needs to be there more than he needs to be here. Why make a big thing of it? It’ll happen from time to time. He’s Legacy. I’m not. He has to put up with it when I have to go away. It won’t kill us to be apart for a while. An’ Parkfield sounds great. I’d love to come.”

“Then it’s settled,” Alex declared. “We leave July sixth.”

Merlin nodded. “An’ you could’ve done all that with a phone call.”

“It’s the fundraiser soon. We have to shop for clothes.” Rachel paused, raising her eyebrows.

“You have to ask?” Merlin grinned. “Let me get my charge card.”

“Can we see the baby’s room too?” Alex wheedled.

“Sure you can. It isn’t .. quite finished. But I’ll give it another week. If I don’t get the input I need, I’ll have Sophie just color in the blanks. I’ll know how important it is in the great scheme.” Merlin flexed her shoulders. “It’ll be way down the list.”

*****

“It’s done,” Nick announced. “Everyone checks out clean as a whistle.”

“That’s good,” Derek nodded, “seeing as they’ve all accepted the invitation.”

“You didn’t wait for me to finish?”

“I couldn’t. It was taking too long. Besides, I know all these people,” Derek countered. “In some cases, for years.”

Nick’s face was unreadable. “Are you saying I took my time?”

“Not at all. You were being thorough.”

“And if I’d found something?”

“You would have watched whoever like a hawk all the time they were here.” Derek met Nick’s steely gaze. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah.”

“I assume you will be checking all the cameras and security measures prior to the guests’ arrival.”

“Of course. Derek, I know how to do my job,” Nick defended. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“Just .. running thru a mental checklist, Nick.” Derek smiled. “You’ve done well. You deserve a break. Go and have a beer or something.”

“Okay. Steve – ”

“Steve has a separate task to do,” Derek interrupted.

Nick hesitated but shrugged and went out. Steve watched Derek with carefully veiled eyes.

“Is it a test?”

Derek laughed. “Why is everyone so suspicious of my motives? You are a member of this house, Steve. I have an errand for you and it will allow you to meet one of the Luna Foundation’s most stalwart friends and supporters.”

“It’s off the island?”

“To Berkeley,” Derek confirmed.

*****

Carl Chang was, despite college being out for the summer, still in his rather cluttered, paper strewn, dusty office. He was a firm proponent of the chaos system of filing. But his memory was very good and, in nine cases out of ten, he could put his hand immediately on a single memo.

He looked up at the confident knock on his door. “Yeah?”

The door opened to reveal an unknown face. “Dr Chang.”

“Nick .. that’s very formal,” he remarked with a grin then squinted closer. “Oh. We’ve never met.”

“No, we haven’t. I’m Steve Anthony. I work with Derek Rayne. New.”

“Oh! Well, I’m very pleased to meet you, Steve,” Carl said, coming around the desk to shake his hand. “God knows, Derek needs all the extra help he can get. He an’ I are very alike in that respect.”

“Right. He sent me over with this.” Steve held out a cardboard box. “Said you might wanna take a look at it. Fetch it back at the fundraiser, if you’re done looking, that is.”

Carl had been filing – actually putting papers into folders ready to be put in a proper metal cabinet – but it was a chore easily abandoned in favor of something from Derek. His eyes already alight, Carl took the box and put it carefully on a thick, even layer of ancient fieldtrip reports before levering off the lid.

“Oh .. my, what have we here?” he breathed. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a pair of latex gloves. “What is this? Mesopotamian?”

“Guess again,” Steve replied.

“You don’t know?”

“I don’t. Derek does, but he’d like a second opinion.”

“Then I will certainly do my utmost to give him what he wants.”

“Hey, doc. Just in passing .. what d’you think of this?”

Carl glanced back over his shoulder at a second box. This one was much smaller and made of wood.

“May I?” he asked.

“Sure .. but I wouldn’t open it if I were you.”

Carl nodded distantly as he turned the box over in his hands. “I’d say .. from the design .. it’s maybe Indian. That is from the Indian sub-continent. The carving is reminiscent of the work which comes out of there. What wood is this? Do you know?”

“Not a clue.”

Carl raised it to his nose and warily sniffed. “It could be sandalwood. It has a definite resinous tang yet also perfumed. It’s old. Very old. These coils are .. a type of vine. There are leaves just forming. Y’see? If I didn’t know better .. I’d say this carving is of what’s known in southern India as serpent weed. It snakes along the ground, winds around plants an’ strangles them. Like a constrictor with prey. It’s a lovely thing, Steve. Where’d you get it?”

“It was a gift.”

“That’s nice.” Carl handed it back.

“Is it worth anything?”

“I couldn’t tell you. I’m not into insurance or retail value. I’m into artifacts an’ history. I would say your box has a lot of history attached to it. As to value .. well, I could guess but I wouldn’t know. Artifacts tend to be priceless due to their unique nature. If your box is unique … ” He shrugged and left it hanging.

“I wouldn’t sell it anyway,” Steve responded. “Thanks for your time.”

“No problem. I’ll see you at the fundraiser.”

“Yes, you will. Bye, doc.”

Carl’s mind was already back on the shard of pottery and he waved absently as Steve headed for the door. He bent forward, his hand stretching to lift the pottery from its packaging but he pulled it back sharply. Carl turned his hand over and frowned at the sticky film on his glove. It was a pale blue green, and was turning a nasty yellow brown. It was also getting warm.

Carl peeled off the gloves and tossed them into the trash. A moment later, the gloves burst into flame and he had to make a wild grab for an extinguisher.

“Whoa .. weird,” he breathed. “Some box. Just as well, I didn’t open it.”

*****

“There’s gotta be some here somewhere … ” Nick pulled open drawers and rifled thru Merlin’s clothes. “I know she didn’t throw ’em all away.” He stretched in an arm and felt along the very back of the drawer. “Ah .. here we go.”

He withdrew a half full pack of cigarettes and extracted one. A few seconds later, he was blissfully inhaling tobacco. He missed his friend. He was suspicious of the reason Derek had kept him back. Nick was aware Steve had gone out but he didn’t know why. There was a hole in his life. Half the fun in being reckless was sharing it.

The knock on the door was soft and he glanced toward it. “Yeah?”

Derek peered around the wood. “We haven’t spoken much recently. I wanted to say thank you.”

“For ..?”

“Being a friend to Steve. I’m aware it can’t have been easy for you. Rachel says you were magnificent.”

“She said that?” Nick queried.

Derek shrugged. “Maybe not that precise word but it was her opinion. You were under extreme provocation and you didn’t bite.”

“If I had, you would’ve gone ballistic.”

“Assuredly.”

“Wasn’t worth the risk. Sure, I wanted to .. but I figured what the hell, life’s too short.”

“It is, yes. So, as Alex will be home within the next few hours and Steve won’t be long, why don’t you go home? See your wife. She’s bored. She told me.”

Going home was the last thing he wanted to do but maybe there was a way around it. “You sure? I don’t mind staying.”

“I’m very sure, Nick,” Derek replied. “You don’t live here anymore. Remember? This room will always be yours, but only in emergencies. As far as I’m aware, there isn’t a crisis right now.”

“Okay.”

Nick rose, stubbed out the cigarette and waited for Derek to leave. He followed him out and locked the door, then accompanied his Precept to the stairs.

“I did those checks as fast as I could.”

“I know.” Derek paused. “Do you feel there is an atmosphere in the house?”

“Not particularly.”

“No .. tension?”

Nick shook his head.

Derek smiled. “Enjoy your evening.”

“See you in the morning,” Nick said and went on to the foyer.

Go home? To a wife who’d demand to know where he’d been for over a week? No way. If Nick was being thrown out, he’d go somewhere he could have a little fun. And, if he timed it right, he wouldn’t have to go alone.

*****

Alex sometimes wished she had more money. Money to waste. On herself. It would be lovely to .. have a manicure or pedicure, or both, not because she needed it but because she could. A massage would be heaven on earth. The next best thing to being able to do all that for herself was having a friend with money who didn’t care who she spent it on. Alex felt just a tiny bit guilty at being the recipient of such largesse and felt guilty at the small amount of guilt she felt.

The entire afternoon had been a polite argument which went along these lines: ‘Are you sure? Really sure?’ and ‘I insist.’ The second round had gone: ‘But it’s so expensive’ and ‘It’s only money, Alex. I want to do this.’ This third, final and capitulation round had been: ‘Well .. I suppose’ and ‘It’s settled then. Charge it.’

Alex had a new dress – a floaty, beautiful creation in creamy peach chiffon – and matching shoes, a lovely exotic silk flower ornament for her hair, and a massage, manicure and pedicure booked for the day before the fundraiser.

Rachel had been similarly treated, although the argument had possessed slightly more bite.

‘Peri, you can’t.’ ‘Watch me. I got money coming outta my ass, Rachel. Please, let me get rid of some of it.’ ‘But it’s – ’ ‘This is part of one night’s profit from just one of my clubs. Y’think I’m gonna miss it? Think again.’

Rachel had capitulated before a third round was necessary.

Merlin bought herself some looser fitting shirts and that was the extent of bowing to the inevitable.

“I am not wasting money on maternity clothes. Period. So don’t try to persuade me.”

“You’ve spent a small fortune on us yet – ” Alex began.

“Alex, you’ll get years of wear from that dress. It’s classic. It’s beautiful. Maternity clothes? C’mon. Six months max. Do the math. Figure the economics. Where’s the value?”

“Don’t fight her,” Rachel smiled. “She’s still an Enforcer. You’re bound to lose.”

“I feel like I’m leaning, that’s all. What have I done to deserve such generosity?”

“Been a good friend,” Merlin replied. “Stood beside me when you didn’t have to. Argued with me when you had a need. Can’t I say thank you in a material way once in a while? Is it so terrible?”

“No, it isn’t. I .. just can’t reciprocate.”

“You pay me back in other ways. Ways you don’t even realize. Take today, for instance,” Merlin invited. “This is fun. You got me outta the house, into the stores, gave me company, pleasure, conversation. Means a lot to someone like me. Don’t sweat it, Alex. Enjoy it, like I am.”

“All right,” Alex yielded. “Thank you. I will think of today and the fun we had every time I wear this dress.”

“Great. Now .. you wanna head home or shall we eat out?”

“Only if we go Dutch,” Rachel replied. “I insist.”

“Okay,” Merlin and Alex chorused.

*****

When Nick got to the mainland, he found Steve waiting for him according to the instructions he’d called thru.

“What’s the deal?” Steve asked.

“Derek’s sent me home. I figure we could hit some clubs. Stay over in town. Unless .. you wanna be a good boy an’ head on back to brown nose the ol’ man.”

Steve laughed scornfully. “Are you kidding?”

“Yeah, I thought you’d be up for it. Where’d you go? I missed you being there.”

“Oh gee, I’m touched. Derek sent me over to Berkeley. Give some box to Carl Chang.”

“Not the box?” Nick queried, frowning sharply.

“No way, but I did take it along for him to look at. Just the outside. He thinks it’s Indian. The carving is like that of serpent weed.”

“Who gives a fuck about that?” Nick dismissed.

“Don’t know. Not me. Conversation piece, nothing more.”

“Let’s get outta here,” Nick said.

“An’ .. just so I’m straight on the story .. what do we tell the ol’ man in the morning?”

“That’s hours away. Dare you to think of something before we go back.”

*****

Derek mildly produced a bunch of keys from his pocket and unlocked Nick’s door. He didn’t have Nick’s talent for popping stubborn locks but there again he didn’t need it – this was his house. There was nowhere he couldn’t go. He had keys to every locked door.

He wasn’t sure what he was looking for and assumed he would recognize it when he saw it. Not necessarily what it was or what it represented but he would know it as being alien. He moved carefully, not disturbing one single item. Nick had left the drawers half open and the ransacked contents on view. Derek’s impulse was to straighten it up, close the drawers, but he resisted. The whole point of using stealth was to maintain secrecy.

The disruption in the room was alien in itself. Nick had never been allowed to develop the usual teenage habit of being messy. His father had been too strict for that. And, when Robert had died, the habit of being tidy was engrained. The Navy had only added a further layer of discipline. Nick could be sloppy in the way he dressed at times but never in his room. Yet this .. this was a mess.

As he was alone in the house with only Andrew downstairs somewhere, Derek went along to Steve’s room as well. He didn’t have to use the key on this door – it was open. The mess inside was almost identical to the room down the hall. Clothes scattered across the floor. Shoes tossed anywhere. Derek couldn’t tell what was clean and what wasn’t. He cast a glance around, but couldn’t see if anything was present which shouldn’t have been. Derek didn’t know Steve well enough yet to be able to tell if this state of affairs was normal or not.

Nick was different. He returned to the room and studied it closely. He saw only one thing which disturbed him – the photograph on the nightstand had been turned flat to the wood. He knew how important the photo was to Nick. This .. was alien. Or, as Rachel might say, out of character.

Derek couldn’t see anything else unusual, apart from the disarray. He tried to put himself in Nick’s shoes, see the situation thru his eyes. Try to explain the photograph.

If I were doing something .. dishonorable, I wouldn’t want to be reminded of the good things in my life. I would want to distance myself from them. I may be acting with a noble motive but doing things I would normally find repugnant. Perhaps this .. show of friendship is as shallow as a mirror. The depths are only illusion.

Does that explain the untidiness? Having seen Steve’s room, it might. Match the other’s habits, show solidarity, win them over to your side.

Rachel is right. I must watch how this develops. It could indeed be a dangerous game. And the main risk is that Nick could get sucked in .. and lost.

*****

“You don’t have to stay there alone, Peri,” Rachel said. “You could stay with us. Me an’ Kat. I know she’d love to have you.”

“Thanks for the offer, Rachel, but .. it’s my home. I’m used to living alone. I’m okay with my own company. I have the yard to do. An’ Nick can’t stay away forever. He’ll come back soon enough.” Merlin slid out. “Don’t you worry none about me. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay,” Rachel said with a sigh. “I’ll see you at the fundraiser. Take it easy.”

“Yes, doctor.”

Alex waved as Rachel eased back into the traffic. “She is so generous.”

“She is. She gets pleasure from it. I suppose you can’t take it with you so why not spend it, an’ she has millions.”

Alex smiled. “Wouldn’t I love to be in that situation.”

“Would you?” Rachel inquired, glancing at her. “I ask because people think money will solve every problem. Something happens, goes wrong, so throw enough money at it an’ it’ll go away. But it doesn’t. The problems just get bigger an’ more expensive. It takes a special kinda mind to deal with that much money.”

“I realize that, Rachel. I’m not saying … What I am saying is that I would love to be able to treat my friends an’ not think about it. Money doesn’t rule Peri’s life, it just makes life more pleasant.”

“Ah well .. Peri is different. She has that special kinda mind. And, more importantly, she doesn’t exist. She doesn’t have to file a tax return. Doesn’t have .. everyday complications like that. What she does is employ people. Accountants, lawyers, an’ a whole lotta ordinary people who work in her clubs an’ hotels. She puts money back into the system that way, Alex. An’ it just makes even more money for her.”

“To spend on us.”

Rachel smiled brightly. “Sometimes .. life just works out right.”

*****

Alex and Rachel entered a starkly silent house. It was so silent, they paused to listen. They heard nothing and then hurrying footsteps. Derek appeared at the top of the stairs and halted there.

“Oh .. you’re back.”

“We can always go out again,” Alex promptly responded.

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound so rude. Did you have a good shopping expedition?”

“It was great,” Alex replied. “Why is it so quiet around here?”

“I’m here on my own. I sent Nick home. And I sent Steve over to Carl Chang hours ago. I’d expected him back before this.”

“Gone AWOL again?” Rachel ventured.

“The generous view would be to say perhaps he got lost .. but I’m not feeling that generous,” Derek said. “Do we have a cell phone number for him?”

“No,” Alex sighed. “You sent Nick home?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Hours ago. Why?” Derek frowned.

“Rachel, did you see his car there when we took Peri home?”

Slowly, Rachel shook her head. “Do you think they’re together? Nick an’ Steve?”

Derek didn’t answer her. His expression said it for him.

“Derek, don’t call Peri,” Rachel urged. “Please. It’ll only upset her.”

He didn’t tell them about his stealthy forays into the two bedrooms. There was a question here which begged an answer but, as yet, he didn’t have the answer .. and he wasn’t sure of the question. Derek knew only one thing for a certain fact – he felt sad that he seemed to be losing Nick Boyle. The guy who was his rock wasn’t so stable anymore.

*****

Several hours after leaving the ferry stage, Nick and Steve were putting money into Merlin’s pockets, although they didn’t realize it. Merlin had an excellent grasp of her property portfolio and business empire, but Nick didn’t know all of it. He would have been amazed at the true numbers involved. Mary Barrett should have had an Inc after her name.

They weren’t thinking of anything beyond having a good time and pushing back the boundaries of decent behavior. Steve got his face slapped more than once but he only laughed.

Nick leaned on the bar, watching the action. There was a dance floor and a band playing on a small stage. It was loud, jumping. Steve sank his beer and wiped his mouth.

“Whoa .. see the fox?” he shouted.

Nick nodded. He’d been watching her for some time. She was a stunning blonde. Her skirt was barely legal.

“Dare you to make a move on her,” Steve said. “Dare you to take it to the max. An’ see if she has a friend.”

Nick’s eyes flickered blood red for a split second, then he went forward to put his hand lightly on the blonde’s shoulder.

“Hey, buy you a drink?”

The blonde’s green eyes swiveled to his face, a sneering retort already on her lips, but she turned it into a smile.

“Maybe.”

“Could be the start of an amazing night,” Nick added. “But .. if you’re not interested – ”

“I didn’t say that. Sure, you can buy me a drink. Let’s see what happens.”

He gently turned her toward the bar. “See that sad looking individual over there?” he said as they began to walk. “He is in desperate need of attractive female company. I don’t suppose you have a friend ready to take him on.”

“Wow .. are you twins?”

“Just coincidence. You got a friend .. or do you want to party with the both of us?”

She looked tempted but laughed. “I got a friend for your friend. But we may exchange partners so we can compare notes tomorrow.”

“Bring it on,” Nick grinned.

*****

Merlin woke abruptly at around a quarter after midnight and thought she was dying. Her chest felt tight, her breathing was coming in gasps. She lay there for several long minutes and, eventually, it started to fade. But it was hours before she could sleep again.

*****

The next morning found Nick and Steve already at the breakfast table when Derek came down. He halted in the doorway, surveying them.

“Morning, skipper,” Nick greeted.

“Nick. Steve. What happened to you yesterday?”

“I got lost on the way back. Then I met Nick at the ferry an’ he suggested we go check out some of the clubs in town. Apparently, there’re some .. unsavory characters who live in the dark belly of the beast. He thought I should get to know where they hang.”

“So you didn’t go home,” Derek said to Nick.

“I didn’t. I can go home anytime, Derek. Steve needs to know stuff. It’s more important.”

“You stayed over?”

“Some cheap hotel. I can afford it.”

Your wife can afford it, Nick, and she’s very generous. I wonder if she would continue to be as generous if she knew how you were spending her money.

Derek saw Steve smirk about something but didn’t press it. Try as he might, he couldn’t decide whether Nick was playing an undercover role or whether there was something even more dangerous going on.

“Yes, you can,” he commented. “Easily. But I am giving you the day off. Go home, Nick. I mean it.”

Nick deliberately swallowed a mouthful of coffee before looking up. “You gonna drive me there an’ watch me go inside?”

“Do I need to?” Derek inquired in a level voice.

“Hey, Nick,” Steve urged, “you should go home. See the little lady. I mean, she is pregnant an’ all. She needs your support at a time like this. An’ you really should fess up what you did last night.”

Derek’s eyes flashed to Nick’s face. He expected to see a flush of embarrassment or even anger. Steve’s words had the worst implication. He didn’t expect to see a smug, satisfied grin.

“Yeah, I guess I should. Wish me luck, bro.”

“If she throws you out, you always got a place here,” Steve said, squeezing Nick’s shoulder, then he leaned closer and whispered something quickly into Nick’s ear.

“Nick, what did you do?” Derek demanded, horrified, as Nick rose.

It was Steve who answered him, laughing as he said it.

“Man, what didn’t he do? He was awesome!”

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