Claire Gulliver #06 - Carnage Goes Coastal (9 page)

And how ironic was it that when the beautiful Phoebe, who he had met at one of the many social events he had attended during that time, invited him home to meet her family, he discovered she was the daughter of one of the most important clients of his law firm. Nor had he realized her mother was Cecelia Cranford Smythe, the legendary power broker behind the politics in their state. Of course he knew Phoebe came from a good family, it was oozing out of her pores. She had that look, that attitude which could only mean breeding and money.

Before he had even arrived at Phoebe’s house, her father, Stanford, had checked him out. And he apparently approved of what he heard from the partners at the firm. So Phoebe’s parents became strong supporters of his liaison with their daughter even though he wasn’t from their group of friends. Even now, Scott wasn’t willing to dwell on whether it was Phoebe’s beauty or her family’s’ power that so attracted him. In a very short time after that first meeting with the Smythes he found himself promoted to a junior partner at the firm and engaged to marry Phoebe. Now he could hardly remember the details of that year, everything happened so fast.

He and Phoebe had only returned from their honeymoon and installed themselves in the house gifted to them from the Smythes, when Phoebe’s mother was forced to confess she had been diagnosed with a virulent type of breast cancer. She was already at stage four and there was no real hope of her survival. She had gotten this devastating news during the wedding preparations, but she had decided she didn’t want to taint her daughter’s big event with such terrible news. Or perhaps she didn’t really believe she could be felled by anything as common as cancer. She marched stoically forward, never giving a sign that she was not well.

Phoebe was not as strong as her mother and was devastated at this news. The newlyweds practically moved into the house with the elder Smythes. Phoebe spent every minute possible with her mother. It was strange how Cecelia had managed to get through the wedding with no hint of her illness, but now was wasting away with alarming speed before their eyes. In less than two months she succumbed and her family, shocked from the suddenness of her end was left to patch together what was left of their lives.

It had been during those last two months of Cecelia’s life that the plan had been formalized. It was something they all discussed and worked on. Now it was as if it had been written in stone. They all agreed Scott Ellington was destined to be president of the United States of America. He had the charm to attract devoted supporters. He had the brains to understand the issues. He had the determination, proven through his success at the university and later in the firm, to hold the power needed. And with careful planning and management, he could be the most powerful president ever elected. The entire family was behind him, each would play their own role in getting him elected and in keeping him in power. Each would benefit in their own way. So the plan was drafted.

Now, looking out the window at the small garden, Scott sighed with satisfaction. At first he just went along with them, thinking it was something to distract them from Cecelia’s illness. But as their plans developed, he started thinking, why not? Why couldn’t he be elected president? Certainly some of the men holding that title in the past were not nearly as smart as he was. So with the plan in place, he was positioned on the Taskforce for Urban Renewal to give him management experience as well as some visibility. At Stanford’s insistence he had started the book Phoebe’s mother insisted he needed to publish. It had been an effort to wrap all he knew about the Constitution around the responsibilities of the presidency, but he admitted it turned out somewhat more impressive than he expected and it would pay off. The draft, back from the editor would be published later in the year, which would now coincide with his assignment to the senate.

So now the first significant phase of the plan was about to be launched several years early because of a fluke. And because they had a plan they were ready to take advantage of the situation. He knew there would be no stopping them. Some day, he would be president!

“Daddy,” Karen squealed like a teenager and launched herself across the room into her father’s arms.

Claire felt tears burn her eyes at this display. She realized she hadn’t appreciated the bond between them. She knew Jack as a colleague, a friend and a lover, but to Karen, he was simply her dad. It was a while before Karen was willing to let go of Jack long enough to tell him what brought her to Claire’s house. But, eventually they were all sitting in the living room and Karen began to tell her story. She told it as she told it to Claire, beginning when she met Scott Hutchins, more than a year ago.

“Karen, are you telling me you forgot to protect yourself during sex. After that long conversation we had before you left for college? What were you thinking? How could you have been so reckless?” Jack was angry, holding Karen at arms length, not at all concerned about being supportive.

Karen shook her head, tears leaking from her eyes. “I was so stupid, Dad. I admit it. I was so in love with Scott I wasn’t thinking straight. It was like I was in the middle of one of those silly romantic comedies, like in the movies. It didn’t seem as if anything bad could happen. I had been on the pill, but I hadn’t been using them regularly as I hadn’t been sexually active for quite a while. Of course, as soon as I met Scott I started them again. But I have to admit I sometimes forgot to take a pill, or I stayed over with Scott and the pills were at home. I figured I’d catch up the next day. And he used condoms besides. But after a while, maybe neither of us was paying attention like we should have been, because somehow I ended up pregnant. I didn’t even realize it until Thanksgiving week.

“And when he accused me of being stupid, I realized I had been. I was acting totally irresponsibly. I shouldn’t have been out in the world on my own.” Now she was sobbing in earnest and Jack helplessly pulled her into his arms, patting her on the back murmuring, “Now, now,” in her ear.

Claire went to the kitchen to get Karen a glass of ice water and Jack handed her a Kleenex from the box on the table beside the sofa.

“I’m sorry. I’ve made such a mess of things, Dad. I don’t know how you’ll ever believe in me again. And you don’t even know the worst of it.”

Jack looked alarmed. “What? What is the worst of it?”

“Someone has been trying to kill me.”

Jack’s alarm turned to a look of disbelief. “What are you talking about? Who would try to kill you? Why would someone try to kill you? What makes you think that?” His eyes fastened on Claire and when he saw her nod her head he turned to look at Karen again.

Jack gulped in a big swallow of air and said, “All right, tell me the rest of it. Don’t leave out any details.”

Karen explained Scott’s reaction to her news and his sudden disappearance from her life. She told her father of her terror in the subway and the subsequent weekend visit to the country only to come home to find her building in ruins. She had just finished her story where Claire and she snuck out the back way at the Crown Plaza, when she suddenly cocked her head toward the rear of the house saying, “Oh, there’s the baby. He’s probably hungry.” Karen was off the couch and heading out of the room before Jack and Claire heard the first wail.

Claire called after Karen’s back, “We fed him at two,” then looked at Jack and said gravely, “And there’s more to Karen’s story, Jack. The man, who followed Karen to the hotel, was wearing a wire. That got my attention. That’s when I knew she wasn’t overreacting. She was in serious danger.

“After I found her in the ladies’ room we started looking for a bug. Sure enough we found it in her coat pocket. Apparently when the man in the tan jacket bumped into her at the escalator in the airport, he had slipped it in her pocket. I knew we had to get rid of it if we wanted to have any hope of getting away from him.

“I took it back out to the lobby and managed to drop it in the tote bag of a lady, who was in the process of leaving with a van load of people. Sure enough, while I stood there and watched her leave, the guy who had been questioning the clerk about Karen, came racing out and got into a dark SUV idling outside. That SUV took off in the same direction the white van took.”

She looked at Jack with a touch of pride. “So the diversion worked beautifully. We immediately left the hotel by the back door and got on the road for home.

“We lost Karen’s tail, but we’ve been constantly vigilant ever since. We’re worried that somehow they’ll find us again. She’s been keeping a very low profile. She’s had no contact with anyone she knows. She doesn’t use her credit cards, and hasn’t contacted her bank. We’ve been very careful to make sure neither she nor the baby is entered into any computer data bases anywhere. In fact, Dr. MacIntyre helped us find a natural birth clinic, so the baby was born at home with a mid-wife’s help. We avoided the hospitals and all their forms and regulations. So far it seems to be working, but we’re both thankful you’re home and can take charge of this problem. I know we’ll be safer with you managing the situation.”

Jack’s eyes closed a moment and he said with feeling, “Thank God you were here to get that phone call, Claire.” They heard Karen in the kitchen, so they moved into that room to join her. Jack took the baby while Karen fixed him another bottle and Claire scooped up the little piles of onesies, blankets and burp cloths she had been folding on the table when Jack arrived. “I’ll just put these away and start some dinner,” she told them as she headed for the baby’s bedroom. “Thank goodness Mom stopped in yesterday with a new supply of food for us.”

Jack was peering intently in little Jack’s face as he made more clicking noises for the baby and only nodded abstractedly at Claire’s comments.

When Claire returned, Karen was feeding the baby while telling her father all about the birth. “We did it right here. The mid-wife was the most wonderful woman. She was so caring and involved. She had prepared us so we knew just what to do. And Claire was right there with me through the whole process, coaching me and holding onto my hand. It was kind of like we had the baby together, wasn’t it, Claire?” She paused a moment for Claire to nod her agreement and then went on. “And Dr. McIntyre came by afterwards to check me and the baby.”

Karen took the bottle out of Jack’s mouth and laid him over her shoulder to burp him. “The only part that was really sad is that Mom missed the whole thing. I haven’t been able to call her for fear of leading my tracker right here to the door. Since Mom was listed as my emergency contact person on my work records we’re assuming they are watching her to see if she has any contact with me.

“I did send her one letter to let her know I was okay, but I didn’t tell her about the baby, because I thought that would really make her crazy.”

“You sent her a letter?” Jack looked up with alarm on his face.

“Yes, we sent it to a friend of Claire’s in Chicago and she dropped it in the mail there. So when Mom doesn’t get a response to her e-mails and her phone calls don’t go through, she’ll know why. And I told her if anyone inquired about me, anyone at all, no matter who they said they were, she should tell them the truth, she doesn’t know where I am.

“I’m hoping you’ll help me find a way to get in touch with her without leaving a trail. I want her to see baby Jack. I want to send her pictures.”

Jack nodded his approval. He knew how close Karen felt to her mother and understood how hard it was for her to not have contact. “You did good, kid. You were right about making sure you didn’t leave traces. Whoever this is has some powerful resources. Claire was right about that. But this whole thing just doesn’t make sense. Who cares that much in this day about the illegitimacy of a child?”

They all looked at each other and Claire shook her head. “You’re right, Jack, it does seem pretty melodramatic.”

“But Dad, it all started to happen right after I saw Scott. And you should have seen his expression. He looked murderous. He was obviously furious.” Karen shivered. “I just put it all together. I could be wrong. I want to be wrong. I don’t like thinking he could be such a monster he is trying to murder his own child.”

Jack nodded. “This whole situation sounds ominous. I’m going to see what I can do to resolve it.” His serious expression started to lighten as he took a deep breath. “Meanwhile, what is that I’m smelling? Is it time to eat?”

Claire laughed, jumping up to check the oven. “It’s one of Mom’s casseroles. It will be ready in a few minutes. I’ll make the salad if you open some wine. Karen, can you put the baby down long enough to set the table?”

Claire popped a loaf of sourdough bread in the oven beside the casserole and quickly assembled a green salad. After dressing the salad with olive oil and the juice from a fresh lemon, she set the bowl on the table, pausing long enough to put her face down close to baby Jack, who was lying in his bouncer on the table, to make faces at him. When she got a smile from the baby she finished putting the food on the table and took her place.

She picked up her glass of wine and gestured to Jack. “I want to say how relieved I feel to have you home safe, Jack. And with your help I’m sure our other problems will soon be solved. Welcome home!”

Karen raised her glass as well, both women beaming at Jack. Jack took a sip, nodded and said, “Look, you two, I appreciate your confidence in me. But just because I’m in the CIA doesn’t mean I’m one of those super heroes from the movies. Mostly I’m just an average working Joe. I’m impressed as all get out at what you’ve done so far. And I promise to do my best to resolve this, because I’d really like to get my hands on this Scott person.

“And besides doing my best, I’m going to get everyone I know to help us. This is a very scary situation. It almost seems impossible to be real.”

They all fell silent as they busied themselves with the food. A few bites later Jack said enthusiastically, “Claire, this is great. What is it exactly?”

“I don’t really know. It’s some concoction of Mom’s. I know it has chicken, mushrooms, pasta, cheese and garlic, but I’m not sure what it’s called. She brings us several dishes once a week and Karen or I pop one in the oven every night. So far we haven’t found any we didn’t like, although we each have our special favorites. We usually have enough for leftovers for lunch the next day, so we get two meals out of each dish.”