Fate's Edge (31 page)

 

KALDAR walked next to Paul through the shiny, polished hallway of the Church of the Blessed and pretended to listen to the man droning on about the camp and the runaways, while keeping an eye on Audrey and the gaggle of children ahead. They had gone to McDonald’s, and, afterward, Audrey insisted on seeing where the “poor boys” were sleeping. She made it sound like she expected them to be chained to the walls in some cell somewhere, which caused their handler no end of distress. Paul was a true believer. He was honest and hardworking, and he genuinely wanted to help the children.

“You see, most of them really have no place to go. It’s horrible what they’re reduced to on the streets. Drugs, violence. Some of them even prostitute themselves. I had two boys just today standing there, looking as hungry as could be, and I had to promise that nobody would touch them, or they wouldn’t come near me. What is the world coming to, I ask you? These children, they’re suspicious of charity. I mean, wrap your mind about that one, will you? Childhood should be a happy thing. At least this way they get two decent meals a day.”

Ahead, the double doors opened, and Ed Yonker entered the hallway. He looked exactly like his photograph: well-groomed, tall, with clear blue eyes and a well-oiled smile. Kaldar disliked him instantly.

“Paul, what’s going on here?”

“Immunization,” Audrey proudly told him, and kept walking.

“What?”

Kaldar sighed.

“She means emancipation,” Paul said helpfully.

“I see. Who is being emancipated?”

Paul launched into a long explanation, complete with arm waving. Kaldar studied Ed Yonker, and Ed was clearly doing his best to study him. His gaze slid from Kaldar’s shoes, to the expensive suit, to the Rolex on his wrist, to the three-hundred-dollar tie, then, finally, to his eyes.

Paul was winding down.

“You must excuse my wife,” Kaldar said. “She has a soft spot for underprivileged children, and she gets carried away. We’ll be on our way shortly.”

“It’s no trouble. No trouble at all.” Ed Yonker stuck out his hand. “Edward Yonker. Everyone here just calls me Ed Junior. We’re not very formal here.”

Kaldar took the hand and shook it. “Jonathan Berman. As I said, Mr. Yonker, we’ll be on our way soon.”

“Please, just Ed will do.” All three of them looked after Audrey’s retreating behind, clasped in a skintight skirt. Yonker raised his eyebrows a bit, appraising Audrey like a piece of meat in the market, and Kaldar felt a powerful urge to hit him in the mouth.

“If your wife wants to make sure the boys aren’t mistreated, then I say more power to her. In our day and age, it’s so rare to find people who take interest in God’s less-fortunate children.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Kaldar said.

“Come, I’ll show you around.” Ed strode next to him, shoulders back, firm gait. No trying to dominate, but secure in his authority all the same. They went through another set of double doors, down the hallway, and entered a small dormitory.

Ahead, Audrey called, “Y’all don’t rush now, I don’t want any of you falling.”

“Is that a Southern accent, if you don’t mind my asking?” Ed asked. “Georgia perhaps?”

“Florida,” Kaldar said, just out of spite.

“Oh. What brings you to sunny San Diego?”

“Business. Real estate.”

“There is plenty of that around here.” Ed gave a hearty laugh.

“Indeed.”

Audrey inspected the dormitory, letting the boys lead her.

“Your wife is very passionate about doing good works, I see.”

“She is very generous,” Kaldar nodded. “Luckily, I’m in no danger of bankruptcy.”

Ed chuckled. If he had been a cartoon, his eyes would’ve ignited with dollar signs.

Audrey came full circle and headed back toward them. Her eyes shone, and her face was slightly flushed, just enough to put all sorts of interesting thoughts into a man’s head. She held on to Jack and ruffled his hair. “Isn’t he just the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen? I want to take him home.”

“Feel better, doll?” Kaldar asked her.

Audrey let go of Jack, leaned forward, and Kaldar kissed her, carefully so as not to smudge her lipstick. Their lips barely touched, but for once he was grateful for the tailored trousers of his suit. Most men didn’t go erect from a casual kiss from their wives.

“Yes, I do. Thank you, darling.”

“Livie, this is Ed Yonker. He’s in charge here.”

“Nice to meet you, preacher.”

Audrey beamed. Kaldar was prepared for the smile, but it took even him off guard. Ed Yonker blinked. Paul had to have a private moment studying the floor. Kaldar slid his arm around Audrey and cupped her butt possessively, a fact Ed Yonker noticed and obviously filed for further reference. Dear Gods, Audrey had a nice ass.

“I do miss going to church,” Audrey prattled on. “Jonny has been so busy lately. One day we’re in Seattle, then in Nevada, now here. We never get to worship anymore. Especially in such a lovely church. Y’all seem like such nice people, and your kids are darling.”

Ed finally collected his wits. “As you can see, only a small group of our younguns stay here. Most of them stay with us at the camp.”

Audrey opened her eyes wider. “What kind of camp?”

“That’s where most of our services take place. The Blessed Youth Witness Camp and the Wooden Cathedral.”

Audrey turned to Kaldar. “Can we see the camp, darling?”

“Not today, doll,” he told her. “I have a business meeting.”

“I don’t mean to be rude or to upset you,” Ed said. “But the Wooden Cathedral is a special place for our congregation. That’s where we worship and meet in fellowship. One must aspire to be a member of our church to visit there.”

They were losing Ed’s attention.

Audrey pretended to pout and made a small dog noise. Nicely done, but Ed still didn’t seem involved.

“No, Livie,” Kaldar shook his head. “As I said, I have an auction to attend today. Ed has his congregation to look after. He can’t exactly give us a grand tour. I do apologize again for the interruption.”

“No problem at all.” Ed nodded, amicable. The hint had flown clear over his head. Ed was swimming away and fast. “What is it you said you did?”

“Real estate,” Kaldar said.

“My husband provides housing for poor people,” Audrey said proudly, petting his shoulder. “He owns apartments, and when people can’t pay their rent, he buys them back and turns them into stores.”

Kaldar grimaced. “Livie . . .”

“It’s something to be proud of,” she said.

Slum lord, tons of money, beautiful wife without a brain, and loads of guilt. Come on, Ed. Come on. Take the bait.

Ed considered it. The thought flashed in his eyes for a moment and dulled. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you folks. Paul here will show you out.”

Damn it.

“Later!” Kaldar raised his hand and steered Audrey to the exit.

“I really wanted to see the camp,” Audrey pouted.

“Sorry, doll. Besides, tonight we have to go visit Magdalene, remember? Your brother recommended her?”

Behind them, Ed Yonker came to life like a shark sensing a drop of blood in the water.

Three.

Kaldar put a little pressure on the small of Audrey’s back.
And we’re walking away. Walking away . . .

Audrey let out a cute sigh. “I suppose. It will be boring. Those people are always boring.”

“It’s supposed to be inspiring,” Kaldar said. “I’m sure you’ll like it. Supposedly, she gets great results. One session, and your mind is sharper. Your brother swears by her.”

Two.

“You’re already the sharpest man I know.” Audrey leaned into him, slipping her arm around his waist. It felt like heaven.

“Thank you, doll.”

One.

“Mr. Berman!” Yonker called.

Audrey squeezed his side a little. Kaldar turned. “Yes?”

Yonker came toward them. “If you folks attend tonight’s service, I can see to it that you can come and worship with us tomorrow at the Wooden Cathedral.”

Got you, you greedy sonovabitch.

“We don’t want to be a bother,” Kaldar said.

“Please!” Ed raised his hand, as if blessing them. “As a fellow Christian, I’d hate for you to miss out on the opportunity to witness God’s glory. I won’t take no for an answer. Tonight at seven. I’ll be looking for you.”

Fifteen minutes later they were out in fresh air. They stayed in part, strolling leisurely to their Hummer. Kaldar opened the door and helped Audrey into her seat, then unhurriedly got in, started the engine, and pulled away from the curb.

The church disappeared behind the buildings.

“The kids did great,” Audrey said.

“The kids did fantastic,” he agreed.

“Risky mentioning Magdalene,” Audrey said.

“We were losing him.”

“Still risky. You take chances, Kaldar.”

“Fortune favors the brave.”

“Or the prepared.” Audrey pulled a prepaid cell from her purse and punched in a number.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Calling Magdalene to let her know we’re canceling our evening appointment. Who knows how long Ed’s reach is? He might have someone in her office.”

 

JACK watched Kaldar and Audrey exit the building.

“The Witness work is over for the day,” Paul called out. “Go on.”

The kids around them scattered. Some went back to the dormitory, others headed for the exit. In a moment, only Jack and George were left standing. Farther down the hall, Ed Yonker stuck one finger into his ear and raised his cell phone to the other.

“No dinner today. Sorry, boys.” Paul spread his arms. “That rich woman messed up all of our plans. But you had McDonald’s anyway.”

“It’s fine,” George said.

Jack grimaced. “Thanks for nothing. We’ll be going now.”

Paul reached into his pocket and peeled off a small rectangle of paper. “This is the address of the Children Services Center. If you go there and register, you can come here and hand out more flyers. If you do really well, you can sleep in the dormitory here, too.”

“Dude!” George leveled a look of pure scorn at him. “We’ll find our own place to sleep.”

Ed Yonker snapped the cell phone closed and stomped down the hall toward them. A heavy stink of cloves clung to his clothes and hair. Jack moved out of Yonker’s way. George occasionally smelled like that after a session in the estate laboratory. Ed was playing with heavy-duty magic.

Ed’s gaze snagged on Jack. “You!”

Jack cringed. “I didn’t do nothing.”

“Leave my brother alone!” George moved forward.

Ed pointed at Jack. “The Berman woman likes you.” He turned to Paul. “Clean them up. I need them on their best behavior tonight and tomorrow.”

“What? But they aren’t registered with the Center . . .”

“I don’t give a goddamn if they’re registered or not. That bastard Berman is trying to buy the Graham Building from under me. No wonder that slick sonovabitch was trying so hard to slip away. That’s fine. He might have fifteen million, but I’ve got my hooks into his wife. Before long, he’ll be signing Graham over to me. Mark my words.” Ed stabbed his finger in Jack’s direction. “Get them cleaned up, Paul. I want them at tonight’s service and tomorrow at the camp front and center.” He turned and stomped down the hall.

Paul stared at them helplessly.

“A hundred bucks,” George said. “Fifty for my brother, fifty for me.”

Haeh-heh. “For fifty bucks we’ll be nice to the rich lady.” Jack nodded. “She likes my hair.”

“And if we stay overnight, we get our own room. With a lock,” George said. “And we sleep light.”

Paul shook his head. “Fine. A hundred bucks and a separate room it is.”

“Deal!” George stuck his hand out, and Paul shook it.

THE church service was boring and tedious, Jack decided. George had once dragged him to a lecture Declan’s granduncle Tserebus was giving on the practical applications of flash. This was only slightly less dull.

It started exciting enough. Paul herded them into a huge room and made them sit next to Audrey and Kaldar. Jack sat on Audrey’s side and George on Kaldar’s side. Then a big choir came out and sang “hallelujah,” at first quiet, then louder and louder, until Ed Yonker appeared from the back and walked through the aisle, shaking hands and hugging people.

“He thinks he’s a rock star,” Audrey murmured under her breath. Her mouth was still smiling. Jack couldn’t figure out how she could talk like that, with her mouth stretched out.

Yonker kept hugging people until he got all the way to the stage. Then he picked up a microphone and started talking. And talking. And talking . . .

“. . . God wants us to live a full life. Let’s think about it for a moment. What does living a full life really mean? It means being healthy, in spirit, in body, and in your work. God loves us. And that love, oh that love is all-encompassing. We are His special children. We are the chosen ones.” Yonker waved his arm. “God has chosen us above aaaall of his creations. Above the beasts of the forest, above the fish of the sea, above the birds in the air, above the angels in Heaven! God wants us to succeed! Are we a success if we’re not healthy?”