He almost didn’t recognize Addie in a fashionable suit and hairstyle. He bent, kissed her cheek. “You look just radiant.” He wondered if other homeless might do as well if given the chance.
“Thanks to you. Walter, this is my son, Josh.”
Josh was younger than he anticipated, blondish, handsome in a kooky way. He wore some sort of goop to make his hair stand straight up. They shook hands.
“I had no idea Mums had no money, Mr. Byerly. I would never have-”
“I’m sure not.” He smiled. “You’re here now to look after her, that’s all that matters.”
Wine was ordered and poured. He mostly just listened to Josh’s talk about cars, Addie’s hope to get back into her apartment. Actually he was glad to be distracted from thoughts of tomorrow and the hospital.
“Did your father leave you financially well-off, Josh?” he asked.
“I really don’t know a number. It’s all in a trust. The income is more than enough for me to live on.”
Lucky kid. “Your grandfather set up the trust?”
“Not very likely. My grandmother set up the trust from her family fortune. It went to my father, now to me. My grandfather Kinkaid had no use for my father and very little for me.”
“I only ever saw him once or twice,” Addie said.
“I understand he’s a bit reclusive.”
Josh laughed. “That’s an understatement. Nobody’s seen Karl Kinkaid in years. Few people know where he actually lives.”
“Then who runs his affairs, lawyers?”
“There are battalions of those, but the real power is the latest Mrs. Kinkaid. She makes the decisions, spends the money.” He shook his head. “A real piece of work, my step-granny. What a laugh that is, Granny Joy.”
“I assume you mean Dr. Joy Fielding.”
“The one and only. I slept with her once, you know.”
“Josh, you didn’t!”
“I’m a big boy now, Mums-at least she thought so. I was 17, spending the night at the castle. She crawled in my bed.” He looked away. ”She’s something else, really likes it.” Suddenly embarrassed, he drank from his wine. “A big mistake is what it was. I guess she decided I wasn’t worth any possible scandal. Overnight I was persona non grata, out of the place, never to return.”
“Then it wasn’t old Mr. Kinkaid who-”
“No, Mums, I’m not sure he knew I existed. It was Granny Joy.” The wine again, a far away look in his eyes. “Some luncheon discussion, don’t you think?”
“Does Dr. Joy make nocturnal visits a habit?”
“Get yourself invited to the castle some night, maybe you’ll find out. I keep in touch with a couple of people. They tell me she’s insatiable, a real nympho, makes Catherine the Great look like a nun.”
“You know that bit of history, do you?” Josh rose in his estimation. “Let’s change the subject. What can you tell me about Victor Dragon?”
“He’s into her pants big time, expects to be the next Mr. Joy, as soon as the old man dies and leaves every penny to her. Personally I think it’ll be Justin Wright. That’s why she’d backing him. She’d adore being Madame President.”
Their food came and Josh returned to his favorite subject, cars. In a break between Jeeps and Land Rovers, Byerly said, “Addie and I drove out to the estate the other day. A couple of rough-looking men threw us out.”
“They were awful,” Addie said.
“They’re Joy’s goons-and what else I don’t know.”
The woman’s sexual proclivities were much on the young man’s mind. At the next opportunity he said, “Josh, would it be possible to hide a person out there so no one knew they were even there?”
“Easy, the tower. As a kid I always wanted to go up there and play. No way. I never have set foot in it. A heavy oak door bars it. Behind that are stone steps leading upward.”
"How do you know that?”
“I caught a glimpse once when the door was open. The place is a regular Tower of London.”
What had Doreen called it? Oh yes, tower of evil. Could be?
17: Unwelcome Visitors
He stopped at her shop.
“Such a day, Walter, I can’t get off the phone. Everybody in the world must read the News-Press.”
“Let me guess.” He raised his voice to a falsetto. “Such an ordeal, darling, you must be a nervous wreck.”
“That’s what I am, sorta.”
“I just hope the story keeps Lucretia away until-”
“Who?”
“Dr. Joy, last name Borgia. Wait till you hear the dirt on her.”
“It’s going to have to keep. Will you look after Jamie while I play sleuth?”
He listened to her plan. “Hmm, it’s worth a shot, I guess. Sure, I”ll hang out here, but who tends to business?”
“Karen and Gabriella will handle the phones. You take care of walk-ins-and Jamie.”
She stuck her head in the door. “Remember me?”
Hyacinth Owens hesitated, then smiled brilliantly. “Of course, you’re…DeeDee, wasn’t it? See, your flowers are still lovely.”
“Not as lovely as you. You look radiant, my dear.”
“I am sort of excited. This is my last day here. I’m going to make a movie-in Hollywood!”
“Good heavens! Are you really?”
“I didn’t want to tell anyone. I was so afraid it wouldn’t happen, then I’d have all the explanations. But I had the screen test and I’ve been offered a part.”
“I couldn’t be happier for you.”
“It’s only a small part, of course, but it’s supposed to be an important movie. Maybe I’ll get noticed.”
“With your looks, Hyacinth, I have no doubt.”
“They’re changing my name to Ollie, Ollie Owens.”
“It has a certain ring to it, but I still like Hyacinth.” She sat in the chair beside her desk. “Tell me all about it. How did this wonderful thing happen? Have you always wanted to be an actress?”
“Yes, I studied, worked with the Ensemble Theater company, you know, the local-”
“Their shows are so good, go on.”
“I never thought I’d get anywhere. Then Mr. Dragon — “
“Is that Victor Dragon, the attorney?”
“He and I were, well, sort of dating, you might say. One day he said I ought to be in films. He’d make a couple of calls. I thought it was just breeze, you know, then one day I got called for a screen test.” She beamed. “The rest is history, as they say.”
“And a grand history it will be.” She laughed. “If history can be in the future, that is. How do you happen to know Victor Dragon?”
“Like I said, we went out a couple of times.”
“I know that, but how did you make his acquaintance in the first place?”
”Oh, he comes in here often. Actually Vic-Mr. Dragon-set up this place. He’s the landlord, you might say, owns the space and equipment. He hired me and Lola to work here.”
“Fascinating!”
“The lawyers don’t actually work for him, but he wants to help them get started in their own practice.”
“Mr. Dragon sent business Harry’s way?”
“I’m sure.”
“Can you remember anything in particular?”
“No, it would be in the files, but that’s erased.”
“Try Hyacinth, something may come to you.”
The girl looked away, a pensive look on her face. Her profile was to die for.
“Maybe there was something. Yes, I remember. Harry said he had a job for Karl Kinkaid. He thought it might lead to more, you know, legal work.”
“I’m sure it would have.” She stood up. “I have to run, but good luck in your movie, no, I’m certain you’ll be a huge success.” She kissed the beautiful cheek. “You’ve been a big help to me.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
Byerly saw the black limo stop out front and knew at once whose it was. He looked around for Jamie, found him playing happily with his truck, picking up fallen blossoms on the floor, wheeling them to the trash. There was no place to hide him. The store was L-shaped, with a counter blocking the base. The workspaces were clearly visible.
The woman who entered was a knockout, blonde and built with the imperiousness that comes from knowing she is a knockout, blonde and built. A respectful three paces behind strode the Ninja who had threatened him. He smiled at him, said, “Made any pancakes lately?” That earned him a scowl.