"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
Lao Tzu

(cemetery); Outside London, England
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Cory Lynch walked along a row of trees he used for a landmark. He called the caretaker as always to make sure the family wasn't around. They rarely made an appearance. While he'd never be ashamed of his relationship with Jonas, his granddaughters didn't need to know about it.

Cory set the flowers against the tombstone under Lucille's name. He never met her, but he'd heard a lot of Lucy stories. As Jonas told it, she was a selfless angel. She married Jonas knowing he preferred men and stood by him for thirty years.

Cory rested a hand on the marble above Jonas' name. They'd met by chance one afternoon in the grocery store. Fifty-eight years old and he had no idea how to shop for food. His mother instructed the staff during his childhood. After he had married Lucy at eighteen, she took over. Their housekeeper managed the house after Lucy died. When she retired, due to her health, it was a wonder Jonas survived.

"I thought of you at the store yesterday." Even after eight years, the tears welled in Cory's eyes. "They had a sale display for your favorite biscuits."

He and Jonas had what others called an unconventional relationship. Thirty-eight years separated their ages. Loneliness was the only thing they truly had in common. Cory barely had enough to eat that day in the grocery store. Jonas came from generations of money. It worked for two years. Jonas taught him everything he needed to know about society and business and gave him the money to survive without him.

"I'm planning one of those garden parties you hated. Silly decorations and pretentious food." Cory stared off remembering the first event he planned for Jonas. "With dogs and kids, I shouldn't have to explain that expensive china is a bad idea."

"Did your office call?" Sheldon Robards asked.

Cory took a moment to compose himself before turning to face Jonas' oldest son. "No."

They met at the funeral. The funeral Cory planned because Jonas' children didn't have time. They didn't care he existed until the will was read. Then all of a sudden, Cory found himself accused of everything their lawyers could invent. Before the civil suit ended, Jonas' attorney proved the children were greedy liars who hadn't cared about their father until it was time to pick over his legacy like vultures.

"You brought flowers for my mother?" Sheldon sounded confused.

Cory suspected Sheldon never considered doing it himself. "For the last ten years. I bring her irises on the anniversary of Jonas' death, and have a standing order for sunflowers on her birthday." Cory wiped at the tears. "What do you want?"

Sheldon hesitated, looking much like he did the day the judge ordered him to apologize. "I need your help. My youngest is in trouble."

Lynch Event Planning; London, England
Hosting a Robards family meeting was not the highlight of his week. Cory called his office to warn them. He rarely did damage control and not at the office. But he knew better than to trust any of the Robards. While they occasionally supported each other, as they did during the lawsuit over the will, they had more in common with rabid dogs than family.

"How many?" Forest sounded uneasy.

"I don't know. If any attorneys show up, the meeting isn't happening."

When Cory parked in his reserved space, there were four unfamiliar, luxury vehicles in the car park. The fire engine red, midlife crisis convertible belonged to Sheldon. He stared at the Ferrari briefly. The only Robards with that taste in cars was Jonas' younger brother William. That made Cory wonder. William didn't like his nieces and nephews anymore than Cory did.

Forest met him in the entryway looking pale. "There are ten Robards in the big conference room." He handed over a notebook and pen. "Sherburne Robards."
That was a level of bad Cory hadn't considered. "No interruptions." He met Jonas' father briefly at the funeral. He was a hundred years old, never left his family's large estate, and was one of the richest men in Europe. He had more pull than the prime minister.

Cory's heart raced as he headed down the hall. In eight years since the family found out about him, he'd never had a problem with the family patriarch. He suspected one of his first referrals came from Jonas' father. Even then he knew better than to ask those types of questions.

With as much confidence as he could fake, he opened the conference room door and stepped inside. Four generations of the family that once tried to destroy him over a small percentage of their inheritance sat at the table. He once coordinated a society wedding between two organized crime families. That was easier than sitting at one end of the large, oval table and facing the Robards.

"What happened?"

"Tessa joined a cult," Sherburne said bluntly from the other end of the table.

Extortion, brainwashing or both, Cory thought. "Does the cult know who she is?"

"I received a letter demanding money with photographs."

"Did they threaten to hurt Tessa or release the pictures?"

"This is ridiculous," Belinda, Sheldon's wife, declared as she stood.

Sherburne responded coolly. "Sit down." He waited until she sat. "If we pay, they will demand more money. If we do not pay, they will hurt her as an example to others."

Cory flipped opened the notebook. "I need the location, names of any cult leaders, and any other families that might have received letters."

"What can you do?" William asked quietly, sitting next to his father.

"It depends on the specifics."

Calling the police would result in a media circus. Even if he called one of his contacts, the result would be the same. It would leak. A sex scandal involving the Robards would be tabloid gold, and even officers would be tempted to risk their jobs.

Cory had one favor to call in that wouldn't result in a media leak. It might end in a three-ring circus, but a very different type. Technically, he was bartering an emergency call involving an assassination attempt against Jack's son. That was tasteless. But other young people were in danger. He could sell it if he had to.
Using a burner phone with a few interesting apps, he called.

"Harkness."

"Hey. I have a situation that isn't Torchwood jurisdiction, but if it makes the evening news, people could die." Cory explained the cult, extortion letter, and the complications of calling the police. "I was hoping you could check out the situation quietly."

"Have you seen the letter and pictures?" Jack asked.

"No. I'm not asking a man to show me indecent pictures of his daughter."

"It could be a con."

Cory rolled his eyes. "Do you remember my friend Jonas?" It was how they met. "It's his family."

Jack hesitated. "The Robards asked you for help?"

"Yeah. Sherburne and William are in my conference room with Jonas' kids."

"What do you know about the missing woman?"

"Not much. Tessa was a kid when Jonas died."