Authors: Fern Michaels
Annie's Rainbow (16 page)
“This is going to be a fun trip.” Annie giggled. “I had our lunch catered. You're going to love it, Elmo. Do you think you'll miss your lady friends?”
“Nope. Wouldn't even tell them where we're staying. They'd be calling all hours of the day and night. One of these days they're going to smother me. I love the attention, but sometimes it gets to be too much. Are you gonna be seeing that coffee fellow that broke your heart?”
There was no use in pretending she didn't understand what he was saying. Elmo knew her too well. “No. And he didn't break my heart. There was something off-kilter about him. To this day I can't put my finger on it. I was smitten, though.”
“Then why'd you do all that shopping last week. You bought out the stores,” Elmo said as he poured root beer into two plastic dishes.
“Because I'm rich, and I can shop till I drop. Everyone wants new clothes when they go on vacation. You didn't say a word when I gave you the new stuff I bought for you.”
“That's different. Don't let me forget to bring back two grass skirts. Did you spend a lot of money?” Elmo asked slyly.
“A fortune. More money than I ever spent on clothes in my life. I bought a Chanel handbag, Elmo. Guess how much it cost.”
“Two hundred dollars?”
“Try twenty-two hundred dollars.”
“Mercy!”
“Before you can ask, I spent seven thousand bucks. I almost got sick when I tallied it up. I went crazy.”
“I'd say so. Looks to me like the tranquilizers the vet gave these dogs is kicking in. What should we do?”
“Read. Or, I can have the steward put on a movie. You have to wear earphones to hear the voices. If you plug in the headset, you can hear music. If you move over here, we can play cards. Or we can take a nap.”
“Let's just talk. Do you know what I heard on the news last night?”
“News?” Annie giggled.
“Yes, news but Boston news. Remember that kid that went to prison for stealing the money? He's getting out a few years early for good behavior. He's over thirty now. Imagine that. He spent the best years of his life in jail. He said something I really didn't understand. He said if the money had been recovered immediately, he wouldn't have had to serve all that time. Can that be true, Annie?”
“I don't know, Elmo. I didn't watch the news last night. When that insurance investigator was dogging all of us he never said anything like that. Maybe it's something he wants to believe. Robbery is robbery.”
“What tickles me to no end is half the money being returned. When it was returned all those years ago, they said it was
fluffy,
like someone washed it in fabric softener.”
fluffy,
like someone washed it in fabric softener.”
“Elmo, do you believe everything you hear?”
“In this case I do. They showed the kind of money bag the bonds and money were in. When the person returned it, it filled three big garbage bags.
Fluffy
was what the reporter called it. There wasn't one fingerprint on any of the money, the bonds, or the bags.”
Fluffy
was what the reporter called it. There wasn't one fingerprint on any of the money, the bonds, or the bags.”
“I guess fluffy is better than nothing. They probably found some prints and just aren't saying they did.”
“Nope. Not a one. That insurance man said he personally inspected each and every bill and it took him
forever
. The insurance company got half their money back from the bank. Everyone's happy but the kid in jail.”
forever
. The insurance company got half their money back from the bank. Everyone's happy but the kid in jail.”
“You see, Elmo, that's the part that doesn't make sense. He should be happy he's getting out of jail early. I don't want to talk about it. I keep remembering how miserable that man made all of us.”
“It's okay with me, Annie. I didn't mean to upset you. I knew that old fool wouldn't get anywhere harassing us. Are you going to your fifteen-year college reunion later this month?”
“Jane asked me the same thing not too long ago. She wants to go. I've been thinking about it. Fifteen years is a long time, Elmo.”
“When you're my age, it's even longer. I'd like to see the old store again. I liked talking to the kids and hear them call me Pops. Guess it will depend on how I feel at the time. The man that bought my store promised to send me back my sign, but in thirteen years he never did. I called him and wrote a dozen letters. You don't think he's still calling the store the Richardson Pharmacy, do you?”
This was safe ground. “Could be. I'll have our lawyer look into it. Was it part of the contract?”
“Yes, it was. When I die, I want that sign to go with me. Make a note of that, Annie.”
“Stop talking like that, Elmo. You told me that three hundred times and three hundred times I said okay. You're going to live to a hundred and ten. You know how psychic I am.”
“About as good as I am at predicting rain,” Elmo snorted. “I'm going to take a nap.”
Annie stared straight ahead until her eyes started to water. She thought about the strange tone she thought she'd heard in Elmo's voice. Almost as though he was trying to warn her of something. There had been moments over the years when she thought the pharmacist suspected something. But then she'd thought Jane felt the same way. All the while it was Jane Peter Newman was homing in on. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Did people who got out of jail really go after vengeance? Wasn't jail supposed to rehabilitate the prisoner? Would the kid who was no longer a kid throw in his lot with the insurance investigator? To what end?
“Phooey on the lot of you,” Annie muttered. “I'm off to Paradise, and I'm not going to think about any of that junk now. Maybe later. A lot later.” For now she was going to close her eyes and dream about wearing the rainbow island dress Mattie had made for her years ago. Where she would wear it, she had no clue. She supposed she could wear it to sit behind the waterfall Parker had taken her to. Maybe, if she was lucky, she'd see Annie's Rainbow again. Where are you, Parker? What are you doing right this minute? Do you have a sixth sense that soon I'm going to be within shouting distance? Is there even the remotest possibility that we might run into each other? She wished now that she had called Daniel on some pretext or other and in some offhand way, casually mention that she was going to Hawaii.
Why didn't
I
do that?
Because I'm a
fool, that's why.
Why didn't
I
do that?
Because I'm a
fool, that's why.
A moment later she was sound asleep. She didn't wake until the steward tapped her shoulder lightly. “Fasten your seat belt, Miss Clark, we're about to land.”
Annie walked the groggy dogs while Elmo opted to stay on the plane. They were airborne again forty minutes later. She closed her eyes in the hopes she could continue the wonderful dream she was having about Parker Grayson.
It wasn't to be; a dark-eyed young man wielding a gun, a money bag slung over his shoulder, stalked her as she tried to hide behind the waterfall where she'd spent blissful hours with Parker Grayson. Lurking on the other side of the falls was Peter Newman in a yellow-rubber raft, a gleeful expression on his face. “Gotcha!”
Annie woke with perspiration dripping down her face. Elmo looked at her with worried eyes. “What in the name of God is wrong, Annie?”
“I just had a horrible dream. I guess it's all the excitement,” Annie said as she dabbed at her face with a tissue from her purse. “Plus, I didn't eat today. Are you ready for lunch? We could watch a movie while we eat if that's okay with you. I ordered some very good wine to go with lunch.”
“Then, let's do it, girl.”
Â
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“You look pretty darn spiffy, young lady,” Elmo said as he walked Annie to the taxi that would take her to the Grayson Coffee Company. “You will charm those Hawaiians right out of their sarongs.”
Annie giggled. “They don't wear sarongs here, Elmo. I'm not even sure they wear grass. skirts. The women wear colorful island gowns called muu-muus. I have one I can model for you. I'm going to get one to take home to my niece. Are you sure I look okay?”
“You look better than okay. You look like a model in that dress. Tip the hat a little. Didn't know women still wore hats,” Elmo grumbled.
“Everyone wears them in the sun. It sure is hot. Don't keep the dogs out too long and make sure they have plenty of water.”
“I've been baby-sitting these dogs for years. I guess I know how to take care of them. Still beats me how you got the condo management to agree to dogs,” Elmo continued to grumble.
Annie rubbed her thumb and index finger together. “It's called money, Elmo. I'll call you when I'm heading back. We'll go out to dinner, walk around a little if you feel up to it, drink some wine on our terrace, hit the sack, and do some sightseeing tomorrow. We'll rest up and head for Maui the next day. I think Maui is the prettiest island of them all. See you later.”
In the taxi, Annie took great pains to smooth her dress and sit up straight, so she wouldn't be mussed and wrinkled when she showed up on Parker's doorstep. Would he be there? Would he join in the meeting? How would he look? What would he say? She'd rehearsed her responses and initiated others the night before until the wee hours of the morning. She didn't want to think about the possibility of Parker not being in the offices. He'd said he worked long hours, sometimes from five in the morning till ten at night. Who was Kiki Aellia? His assistant? A partner? An executive secretary? She didn't even know if Kiki was a man or woman, not that it mattered. She should have asked Tom for more details.
Annie stretched out her legs. The- panty hose had been a mistake, but her legs were so white she felt embarrassed. Sheer Nude at least gave her a hint of color on her legs and gave the sexy, strappy sandals a little zip. The lime green linen dress was perfect for the climate. The pearl daisy pin, a gift from Elmo that first year, was pinned on her shoulder. The lime green ribbon around the band of the delicate straw hat was a perfect match. She looked professional and felt as successful as she looked.
If she'd ever felt inferior to Parker Grayson, that feeling had been wiped away. It had taken her a few years to realize her tirade against the coffee king had a lot to do with her own insecurities and feelings of inferiority as well as the other nebulous feeling that wouldn't leave her. She closed her eyes and thought about all the awards, all the accolades, all the honorary degrees, the ceremonies, and the write-ups that had been bestowed on her these past years. Being awarded Businesswoman of the Year was something to be proud of. Animal rights organizations had bestowed four Golden Paw awards on her in the last four years. She had so many golden keys to cities all over the country that she'd lost count. “Well done, Annie Daisy Clark,” she murmured under her breath.
“Here we are, miss,” the taxi driver said, getting out of the cab to open the door for her. “It will be no problem to wait for you.”
Annie shrugged down her dress and took a deep breath as she adjusted the gold-and-leather chain of the Chanel bag on her shoulder.
Please let him be here. Please, please, please
.
Please let him be here. Please, please, please
.
She was so beautiful she was almost intimidating. Almost. Annie extended her hand, “And you are ... ?”
“Kiki Aellia. And of course you are Tom's sister, Annie. Welcome to the Grayson Coffee Company.”
“Thank you.”
“We have a small dining room we can use to have some coffee and sweet rolls or we can sit in my office. I've carved out thirty minutes from my schedule to see you today.”
Gee whiz,
a
whole thirty minutes
. Annie felt herself start to bristle. The hell with the dining room. She continued to bristle when she said, “I can state my business in five minutes. I certainly don't wish to intrude on your busy day. A cola would be a little more refreshing than a cup of coffee. Shall we get on with it?” Annie said in a voice that could have chilled milk.
a
whole thirty minutes
. Annie felt herself start to bristle. The hell with the dining room. She continued to bristle when she said, “I can state my business in five minutes. I certainly don't wish to intrude on your busy day. A cola would be a little more refreshing than a cup of coffee. Shall we get on with it?” Annie said in a voice that could have chilled milk.
Kiki Aellia's perfectly sculpted eyebrows shot upward. “Certainly,” she said, leading the way to a beautiful office filled with native flowers. It smelled heavenly.
Annie sat down and crossed her legs. She knew the woman across from her was assessing the total cost of her clothing as well as the handbag.
Best
money I
ever spent in my life,
Annie thought sourly.
Where the hell is
Parker?
Best
money I
ever spent in my life,
Annie thought sourly.
Where the hell is
Parker?
“Let's cut to the chase, as they say. I cannot handle an increase in coffee prices. In fact, I came here to ask you in person to shave two dollars a pound from your price.”
“That's out of the question, Miss Clark. Labor prices have gone up. Kona coffee is primo: We have no other choice. Unlike the other coffee exporters, we have not raised our prices in seven years,” Kiki said flatly. “Unless you want your coffee unroasted.”
“If that's your final word, then there's no point in my eating into that thirty minutes you allotted me. I would like to leave you with a thought,” Annie said, getting up out of the rattan chair. “If I take my business elsewhere, which I will, that means you have to peddle two hundred forty thousand pounds of coffee somewhere else. Where's the logic to that? I don't know if Tom told you or not, but we're adding something new to the Daisy Shops. We're going to start selling coffees by the pound. If our projections are on target, we would be tripling our order. So you see, the price cut is essential. Are you sure you want to risk losing ten million dollars a year? That's at fourteen dollars a pound. Roasted, of course.” Annie looked at her watch. She'd used up eight minutes. She smiled sweetly. “I'm staying at the Whaler. Perhaps you'd like to think about this. I'll give you until five o'clock this afternoon. It was nice meeting you Miss Aellia. Oh, my brother said to say hello. I can see myself out. Cat got your tongue? Mr. Grayson seems to suffer from the same affliction when things get to the squeeze area. By the way, where is he?” Annie asked boldly.
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