LOST AND FOUND - PART II
GOING HOME
Chapter 10
For some reason Adam's father and brothers were surprised when Thea told them at breakfast the next morning that her husband had already left for the office hours ago with the four detectives in tow.
"I guess I was assuming he would take some time off now that Jackson's organization has been dismantled," her father-in-law said.
She smiled at Ben. "Normally that would be true, but he has a lot to do today because we decided last night to be rude and invite ourselves to go back with you."
The three men smiled at each other in pleased surprise and the children were practically humming with excitement.
Ben laughed at their enthusiasm, "So you're looking forward to coming home with us?"
Annalise nodded vigorously, her eyes shining an emerald green as she grinned at her grandfather.
Alexander was bouncing in his chair, so Thea put a hand on his shoulder to quell him. Bouncing was not proper behavior at the table.
"Yeah," the little boy enthused, "and specially since we get to go in our own car!"
The three men looked to Thea to explain.
"Adam's businesses are all owned or jointly owned by his company, Eden Enterprises, and the company has it's own railway car."
"We've never even seen it," Alexander continued and started to bounce again. His mother gave him an chiding look, so he reluctantly stopped.
"Well," Thea said to him, "I can tell you're finished so you and Annalise may be excused."
The two children quickly slid from their chairs and started to run to the door until their mother cleared her throat. They both stopped and turned to walk back to her.
She looked at them with a raised eyebrow, but didn't speak. Glancing at each other they hung their heads, knowing what was coming.
"What is the first rule of this house?"
"No running," they replied in unison.
"Correct. Now I have a lot to do today and am not in the mood for punishing anyone so I am asking you to do your best to stay out of trouble. Can you do that for me?"
Looking up at their mother's smiling face they both nodded. She held her arms out to them and they crowded up against her, one on either side. Giving each one a squeeze, she put her own head down in between theirs.
"I'm going to need a lot of help from you two on this trip and I hope I can count on you."
The children looked up at her, a little startled at first, then with joy at the idea of having some responsibility. They earnestly nodded.
"Alright, here is what I want you to do. Go to your rooms and decide what you want to take with you. We will be gone for two weeks and you need to pick out five toys each, no more than that and no exceptions. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes, Ma."
Thea bit her lip to keep from laughing at their solemn faces, "Then I think the two of you need to get to work."
The children turned away and walked to the door, although Annalise did skip just a little. The two went through and Thea listened to see if they would run after leaving the room, but she didn't hear any thundering feet.
Thea blew out a breath and smiled at the rest of her family. "I imagine I don't have to tell you three what to do, but Adam would like to leave early in the morning, day after tomorrow."
When she stood so did the men and she smiled, pleased by their good manners. "You know, now that we are family I think we can dispense with the gentlemanly gestures when it's just us. If we are to stay for two weeks, you three will be exhausted by all the jumping up you will have to do."
The three men laughed at her joke as she motioned for them to be seated. Smiling at them with deep affection she said, "Take your time over breakfast and if you need anything today just tell me or one of the staff. I'll be rushing around, so you may not see much of me except in passing." She laughed as she gave them one more smile, and then slipped through the door to the kitchen.
Hoss looked at his brother and father, his face alight with anticipation. Joe was almost bouncing in his chair, just like his nephew.
"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" Joe chortled with glee, "I hope Adam will walk down the main street with me when we get there. I want to see the faces of all those people who kept saying he was dead."
Ben just shook his head at Joe's childish excitement.
Hoss chuckled, "That's somethin' I wouldn't mind seein' myself."
"Maybe Adam will do that for you Joe, if you ask him nicely," Ben said. "But don't pester him if he refuses."
Joe nodded, but was absolutely sure Adam wouldn't let him down.
The three men then turned their attention back to breakfast and discussed what they needed to get done before leaving for home.
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Ben, Hoss, and Joe left the house in the morning and didn't return until close to five o'clock. When they came in, a member of the house staff who had been watching for them said the family, including Adam, was out in the garden. The three men were following the path to the family's favorite spot and they stopped abruptly when they caught sight of Adam and what he was doing.
Thea and the children were sitting on the grass and applauding as Adam walked around on his hands. He was facing the path and when he saw the men's expressions he started to laugh, bent at the waist and dropped his legs as he pushed off with his hands and came gracefully upright.
His father and brothers were still laughing when they reached the rest of the family and the twins threw themselves on their grandfather. Ben staggered back a bit then crouched down to tuck one under each arm as he walked up to his daughter-in-law. He put the twins down and surprised her by dropping to the ground to sit next to her. The twins plopped down on either side of him.
Thea smiled at her father-in-law then glanced at the three brothers; Hoss and Adam had Joe upside down, each one holding onto an ankle as Joe tried to mimic his older brother and walk on his hands. Every time they would let Joe take his full weight on his arms his elbows started to buckle. His brothers were becoming weak with amusement and were having a hard time holding him up, so Adam let Hoss hold both ankles and put his arms around Joe's waist to flip him up.
When Joe was finally upright the other two tried to stop laughing, but couldn't for a minute. Adam put an arm across Joe's shoulders, "It takes a lot of arm strength and practice, Joe. I couldn't do it the first time either." Adam said as the three came over to the rest of the family. "But if you want to see a true expert you should ask Thea to do a demonstration."
Thea gasped and her husband laughed at her outraged expression. "Sorry dear, but they are family and would have found out your deep, dark secret eventually. You can keep things like that hidden for only so long."
Ben turned and his eyes twinkled at her, "Show us," he said having noticed she was dressed in male clothing.
"Alright, but I'm not like Adam, I'm out of practice. Don't expect anything spectacular."
Adam winked at his father, then said, "I'll spot you," to his wife.
"You'll have to move fast."
"I know."
Thea stood and moved away from them for a good distance. Adam had stayed where he was, knowing she would begin by running.
She took off, running fast, and when she was opposite the family she launched herself into a string of handsprings then finished with a double flip. When her feet hit the ground at the end, she started to fly backward, but Adam had kept pace with her and was there to stop her fall. He grabbed her around the waist then whirled her around a few times, before setting her back on her feet. He kept a hold of her though, knowing she was still a little unsteady - she seldom did anything like that anymore.
The children and the rest of the family applauded enthusiastically as Adam took her hand and they walked back. Ben had a twin under each arm now and he looked up at her with raised eyebrows and a smile. "That wasn't spectacular?" he teased and she blushed, ducking her head.
"Did you teach her how to do that?" Joe asked, still amazed.
Adam put a hand on top of Joe's head and shook it. "No, idiot, who do you think taught me."
Joe grabbed her other hand, excited. "Would you teach me?"
Thea was a little startled at first but said, "I'd be willing to, but Adam would have to be there. I'm not strong enough to spot you."
Before Joe could ask Adam said, "If we can find the time," and his younger brother had to be satisfied with that answer.
Thea cleared her throat, still a little embarrassed by their reactions, "I think it's time to head in, dinner will be ready soon."
The twins jumped up and grabbed their grandfather's hands, making a big show of helping him up as Joe and Hoss started toward the house; Ben holding the twins by the hand followed closely behind. Adam and Thea stood there and watched them for a moment then glanced at each other, thinking the same thing - how quickly Ben and Joe and Hoss had let Thea and the children into their hearts without reservation. In just a few days they had become a solid family unit, bound by love and respect.
Thea slipped her hand into his and squeezed it as he looked down into her shining eyes. "This is so much more than I ever even dared to hope for," she said in a whisper as she looked up into her husband's smiling face. "Thank you," she said as he tucked her hand under his arm and they followed the rest of their family down the path and into the house.
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The family had all fallen into the habit of congregating in Adam's office every evening and this one was no exception. Joe and Hoss were on the sofa and Thea was near them, curled up in a wing chair. Ben was comfortably settled into a large, overstuffed leather chair, while Adam was in front of him sitting cross-legged on the floor with both children crowded into his lap. The twins were heavy-eyed as they leaned back against their father's strong arms.
Looking at his eldest son, Ben was struck by how different Adam looked tonight, sitting on the floor and dressed in a dark red shirt and black trousers, instead of one of his tailored suits. If not for the beard and mustache, he would have looked exactly the way he had six years ago, before he disappeared.
He was pulled back from his musings by Adam's deep laughter. "Where were you?" he asked his father, still smiling.
Ben shrugged, "In the past."
Adam nodded, his expression saying he knew exactly what his father had been thinking.
"Tell me about your plans, son." Ben said, giving Adam his full attention. Joe, Hoss, and Thea fell silent to listen.
"Well, the first order of business is to make Wes and Charlie offers they would be crazy to pass up."
Ben raised his eyebrows expectantly.
"Wes now has the option of running the hotel with Dulcy, giving me a percentage of the profits for five years. At that point we will become partners, with me as the 'silent' one with a reduction in my percentage. After five more years they will own the hotel outright. " Adam paused to settle one of the twins more comfortably. "Charlie will be offered the same deal with the club."
"You're just going to let the hotel and club go like that? Won't that bother you?" Joe asked.
"No, not at all," his older brother answered.
"I thought you enjoyed the work," Joe continued.
Adam laughed, "I did, but now it's time to move on to something else," he looked at Joe and saw he was still not completely understanding.
"Let me explain. When I got such a close look at how short life can be, I made up my mind I would try to accomplish as much as possible with the rest of my life. So, I start a business, build it up, then become a silent partner with someone so I can move on."
All three men were leaning forward, listening to him intently. "I started the publishing house, then moved on to the club, and then the hotel. Once I prove to myself I can do something, I move on to another, although the two constants have always been my family and law enforcement."
"What I want to know," Hoss said, "is how your businesses became so successful so quick-like."
"You want to know the secret?" Adam said, glancing over his shoulder. "It's really rather simple. You can't succeed without the help of the people who work for you. All you have to do is find the right person for the job, whatever that job may be, then let them do it without a lot of interference." He laughed, "But you also need to know how to do unexpected, random checks to keep everyone on their toes. My people know I can show up anywhere at anytime. They never know when they might turn around to see me standing right behind them."
He leaned down to look at the twins. Both were fast asleep, lulled by their father's deep voice rumbling in his chest.
"You also need to reward initiative and a job well-done, and to deal with incompetence in a decisive manner. You just have to know people. I've used these methods successfully in businesses in Chicago and London, too."
Joe's mouth fell open. "I asked you what businesses you owned and you didn't mention them."
Adam chuckled, "You asked me how many businesses I owned 'here', and I told you. Remember, you have to learn to ask the right questions." Everyone, even Joe smiled at that.
Thea stood and stretched. "I think I will head upstairs now and take the children with me. It's been a very long day." She yawned as she came over to her husband and gently shook the children awake. Taking them both by the hand, Thea made a circuit of the room with them, dispensing kisses and 'good nights' to all.
After she left, Adam stood and settled himself into the rocking chair next to his father, his expression serious. "I wanted to tell you what we now know about the attempted kidnappings. Seemingly, the dead man in the gazebo, Brian Kestler, was the one who let the kidnapper into the house and drew the map for him. Jackson was paying him for information and when his usefulness was over they killed him to keep him quiet."
"That's terrible!" Hoss said.
"I agree," Adam nodded, "and it's even worse. The only family he had was his mother, he was her sole support." The other three men all looked distressed for the poor woman.
"So, she will be coming by here tomorrow to sign some paperwork for the pension I've arranged and to discuss what she wants for his funeral."
Joe looked startled, "You're giving her a pension?"
"Of course, her son died while in my employ. She doesn't need to know what else he did, the poor woman has suffered enough. Besides, the money is what tempted Brian into doing what he knew wasn't right. He made a mistake and paid for it with his life."
"You're not going to the office tomorrow?" his father asked.
"No, I'll be seeing people here in between making the arrangements for our trip. The pastor of our church will be coming by and Lieutenant Tolson will be bringing the final reports on the kidnapping. They found the man who tried to take Annalise in the gardens and Tolson would rather I not be within striking distance of him. I guess I will have to be satisfied with him going to prison and that he has lost the use of his left arm. Thea was a very good student when I taught her to how to throw a knife. She's pretty good with a gun, too."
Ben looked at his son and wondered what other revelations about his daughter-in-law would be coming out next.
"I do have to leave long enough to escort Thea to the hospital for the next board meeting. She's decided to resign before we go, instead of waiting for when we actually move. And I would rather she not be alone because of the hostility some of the men on that board have shown her."
"If they dislike her so much, how did she end up on the board?" Joe asked.
"The president has been a friend of Thea's and mine since we lived in New York. He's always respected her surgical skills and was hoping it would attract other female physicians to the hospital, but it didn't work."
"Well, if it would help with your busy schedule I'd be happy to be her escort," Ben said, his eyes snapping with anger at the thought of anyone treating his new daughter badly.
Adam smiled at his father, "I would appreciate that, Pa."
"We'll go with you," Hoss said and Joe nodded.
"Good, and thank you. I'm sure she'll feel a lot better about this with your support," Adam said and began to rock as he finally started to relax from his hectic day.
"I've been meanin' to ask you," Hoss said, "what are you plannin' on doin' with this place when you move? Sell it?"
"No, Thea has decided to endow an orphanage-school and we are both looking forward to getting out of this mausoleum."
When he saw the other men's puzzled looks, Adam laughed. "I'm sorry, we never told you the story of how we came to live here. A very nice, very rich, and very eccentric old man named Boomer left this house to us in his will. His children were trying to have him declared incompetent and he came to us for help. I handled the legal end and Thea handled the medical end. We won, and Boomer got to live out his last year in the house he loved so much."
Adam paused for a moment to yawn. "Anyway, Boomer had a provision in his will that the house would go to his children if we did not live here for two years. Thea hated his children so much for breaking his heart there was no way she would ever have let them get their greedy hands on this place, so we moved in. Thank God the two years is almost up."
Adam yawned again and his father said, "You look exhausted."
His son nodded as he briefly laughed, "I am. I've worked eighteen-hour days frequently for the past two years and a person can only keep up that pace for so long. Even a work horse like me." He yawned again.
"But that is going to change; the children need me even more now." Adam continued, "I've lost so much time with them that I can never get back, and we need to put down some permanent roots. Especially with another one on the way." He yawned a third time and it became contagious.
Laughing at the chorus of answering yawns Adam stood. "On that note I think this lively group should throw in the towel and get to bed. Tomorrow is going to be another extremely busy day." He began to put out the lamps as Ben, Joe and Hoss slowly moved out the door.
When Adam came out of the office and closed the door only Hoss was still in the hall waiting, a frown on his usually smiling face.
"What's wrong, Hoss?"
"I don't rightly know, but I had a strange feelin' all day today that someone was followin' us."
Adam instantly became fully alert. "But you didn't actually see anyone?"
"Nope. But I just couldn't shake that feelin'."
His older brother nodded. "Hmmm...I know what you mean," he said, then stood there thinking for a few moments.
"Well just to be safe, please be extra careful with Thea tomorrow. I was sure we had picked up everyone working for Jackson, but someone could have fallen through the cracks and is still out there. Although why they would want to still be here and risk being turned in I don't know."
Hoss nodded, "That's pretty much what I was thinkin' but wanted to run it past you first."
"Thanks," Adam said as he clapped his brother on the back. "Stay around us much longer and you'll end up being as suspicious as I am." Hoss gave a small chuff of laughter.
"I usually do the rounds of the house to make sure everything is secure before I go to bed. Want to come along?"
The relieved look on Hoss's face told his brother that he was truly concerned about the family's safety, so whatever he had sensed while out today had him badly unnerved. And Hoss did not spook easily
"Come on," Adam said while moving toward a table across the hall that held small lamps. He lit two and handed one to Hoss. "We'll start at the bottom and work our way up," he said and the two men disappeared through a door to the cellar.
GOING HOME
Chapter 10
For some reason Adam's father and brothers were surprised when Thea told them at breakfast the next morning that her husband had already left for the office hours ago with the four detectives in tow.
"I guess I was assuming he would take some time off now that Jackson's organization has been dismantled," her father-in-law said.
She smiled at Ben. "Normally that would be true, but he has a lot to do today because we decided last night to be rude and invite ourselves to go back with you."
The three men smiled at each other in pleased surprise and the children were practically humming with excitement.
Ben laughed at their enthusiasm, "So you're looking forward to coming home with us?"
Annalise nodded vigorously, her eyes shining an emerald green as she grinned at her grandfather.
Alexander was bouncing in his chair, so Thea put a hand on his shoulder to quell him. Bouncing was not proper behavior at the table.
"Yeah," the little boy enthused, "and specially since we get to go in our own car!"
The three men looked to Thea to explain.
"Adam's businesses are all owned or jointly owned by his company, Eden Enterprises, and the company has it's own railway car."
"We've never even seen it," Alexander continued and started to bounce again. His mother gave him an chiding look, so he reluctantly stopped.
"Well," Thea said to him, "I can tell you're finished so you and Annalise may be excused."
The two children quickly slid from their chairs and started to run to the door until their mother cleared her throat. They both stopped and turned to walk back to her.
She looked at them with a raised eyebrow, but didn't speak. Glancing at each other they hung their heads, knowing what was coming.
"What is the first rule of this house?"
"No running," they replied in unison.
"Correct. Now I have a lot to do today and am not in the mood for punishing anyone so I am asking you to do your best to stay out of trouble. Can you do that for me?"
Looking up at their mother's smiling face they both nodded. She held her arms out to them and they crowded up against her, one on either side. Giving each one a squeeze, she put her own head down in between theirs.
"I'm going to need a lot of help from you two on this trip and I hope I can count on you."
The children looked up at her, a little startled at first, then with joy at the idea of having some responsibility. They earnestly nodded.
"Alright, here is what I want you to do. Go to your rooms and decide what you want to take with you. We will be gone for two weeks and you need to pick out five toys each, no more than that and no exceptions. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes, Ma."
Thea bit her lip to keep from laughing at their solemn faces, "Then I think the two of you need to get to work."
The children turned away and walked to the door, although Annalise did skip just a little. The two went through and Thea listened to see if they would run after leaving the room, but she didn't hear any thundering feet.
Thea blew out a breath and smiled at the rest of her family. "I imagine I don't have to tell you three what to do, but Adam would like to leave early in the morning, day after tomorrow."
When she stood so did the men and she smiled, pleased by their good manners. "You know, now that we are family I think we can dispense with the gentlemanly gestures when it's just us. If we are to stay for two weeks, you three will be exhausted by all the jumping up you will have to do."
The three men laughed at her joke as she motioned for them to be seated. Smiling at them with deep affection she said, "Take your time over breakfast and if you need anything today just tell me or one of the staff. I'll be rushing around, so you may not see much of me except in passing." She laughed as she gave them one more smile, and then slipped through the door to the kitchen.
Hoss looked at his brother and father, his face alight with anticipation. Joe was almost bouncing in his chair, just like his nephew.
"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" Joe chortled with glee, "I hope Adam will walk down the main street with me when we get there. I want to see the faces of all those people who kept saying he was dead."
Ben just shook his head at Joe's childish excitement.
Hoss chuckled, "That's somethin' I wouldn't mind seein' myself."
"Maybe Adam will do that for you Joe, if you ask him nicely," Ben said. "But don't pester him if he refuses."
Joe nodded, but was absolutely sure Adam wouldn't let him down.
The three men then turned their attention back to breakfast and discussed what they needed to get done before leaving for home.
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Ben, Hoss, and Joe left the house in the morning and didn't return until close to five o'clock. When they came in, a member of the house staff who had been watching for them said the family, including Adam, was out in the garden. The three men were following the path to the family's favorite spot and they stopped abruptly when they caught sight of Adam and what he was doing.
Thea and the children were sitting on the grass and applauding as Adam walked around on his hands. He was facing the path and when he saw the men's expressions he started to laugh, bent at the waist and dropped his legs as he pushed off with his hands and came gracefully upright.
His father and brothers were still laughing when they reached the rest of the family and the twins threw themselves on their grandfather. Ben staggered back a bit then crouched down to tuck one under each arm as he walked up to his daughter-in-law. He put the twins down and surprised her by dropping to the ground to sit next to her. The twins plopped down on either side of him.
Thea smiled at her father-in-law then glanced at the three brothers; Hoss and Adam had Joe upside down, each one holding onto an ankle as Joe tried to mimic his older brother and walk on his hands. Every time they would let Joe take his full weight on his arms his elbows started to buckle. His brothers were becoming weak with amusement and were having a hard time holding him up, so Adam let Hoss hold both ankles and put his arms around Joe's waist to flip him up.
When Joe was finally upright the other two tried to stop laughing, but couldn't for a minute. Adam put an arm across Joe's shoulders, "It takes a lot of arm strength and practice, Joe. I couldn't do it the first time either." Adam said as the three came over to the rest of the family. "But if you want to see a true expert you should ask Thea to do a demonstration."
Thea gasped and her husband laughed at her outraged expression. "Sorry dear, but they are family and would have found out your deep, dark secret eventually. You can keep things like that hidden for only so long."
Ben turned and his eyes twinkled at her, "Show us," he said having noticed she was dressed in male clothing.
"Alright, but I'm not like Adam, I'm out of practice. Don't expect anything spectacular."
Adam winked at his father, then said, "I'll spot you," to his wife.
"You'll have to move fast."
"I know."
Thea stood and moved away from them for a good distance. Adam had stayed where he was, knowing she would begin by running.
She took off, running fast, and when she was opposite the family she launched herself into a string of handsprings then finished with a double flip. When her feet hit the ground at the end, she started to fly backward, but Adam had kept pace with her and was there to stop her fall. He grabbed her around the waist then whirled her around a few times, before setting her back on her feet. He kept a hold of her though, knowing she was still a little unsteady - she seldom did anything like that anymore.
The children and the rest of the family applauded enthusiastically as Adam took her hand and they walked back. Ben had a twin under each arm now and he looked up at her with raised eyebrows and a smile. "That wasn't spectacular?" he teased and she blushed, ducking her head.
"Did you teach her how to do that?" Joe asked, still amazed.
Adam put a hand on top of Joe's head and shook it. "No, idiot, who do you think taught me."
Joe grabbed her other hand, excited. "Would you teach me?"
Thea was a little startled at first but said, "I'd be willing to, but Adam would have to be there. I'm not strong enough to spot you."
Before Joe could ask Adam said, "If we can find the time," and his younger brother had to be satisfied with that answer.
Thea cleared her throat, still a little embarrassed by their reactions, "I think it's time to head in, dinner will be ready soon."
The twins jumped up and grabbed their grandfather's hands, making a big show of helping him up as Joe and Hoss started toward the house; Ben holding the twins by the hand followed closely behind. Adam and Thea stood there and watched them for a moment then glanced at each other, thinking the same thing - how quickly Ben and Joe and Hoss had let Thea and the children into their hearts without reservation. In just a few days they had become a solid family unit, bound by love and respect.
Thea slipped her hand into his and squeezed it as he looked down into her shining eyes. "This is so much more than I ever even dared to hope for," she said in a whisper as she looked up into her husband's smiling face. "Thank you," she said as he tucked her hand under his arm and they followed the rest of their family down the path and into the house.
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The family had all fallen into the habit of congregating in Adam's office every evening and this one was no exception. Joe and Hoss were on the sofa and Thea was near them, curled up in a wing chair. Ben was comfortably settled into a large, overstuffed leather chair, while Adam was in front of him sitting cross-legged on the floor with both children crowded into his lap. The twins were heavy-eyed as they leaned back against their father's strong arms.
Looking at his eldest son, Ben was struck by how different Adam looked tonight, sitting on the floor and dressed in a dark red shirt and black trousers, instead of one of his tailored suits. If not for the beard and mustache, he would have looked exactly the way he had six years ago, before he disappeared.
He was pulled back from his musings by Adam's deep laughter. "Where were you?" he asked his father, still smiling.
Ben shrugged, "In the past."
Adam nodded, his expression saying he knew exactly what his father had been thinking.
"Tell me about your plans, son." Ben said, giving Adam his full attention. Joe, Hoss, and Thea fell silent to listen.
"Well, the first order of business is to make Wes and Charlie offers they would be crazy to pass up."
Ben raised his eyebrows expectantly.
"Wes now has the option of running the hotel with Dulcy, giving me a percentage of the profits for five years. At that point we will become partners, with me as the 'silent' one with a reduction in my percentage. After five more years they will own the hotel outright. " Adam paused to settle one of the twins more comfortably. "Charlie will be offered the same deal with the club."
"You're just going to let the hotel and club go like that? Won't that bother you?" Joe asked.
"No, not at all," his older brother answered.
"I thought you enjoyed the work," Joe continued.
Adam laughed, "I did, but now it's time to move on to something else," he looked at Joe and saw he was still not completely understanding.
"Let me explain. When I got such a close look at how short life can be, I made up my mind I would try to accomplish as much as possible with the rest of my life. So, I start a business, build it up, then become a silent partner with someone so I can move on."
All three men were leaning forward, listening to him intently. "I started the publishing house, then moved on to the club, and then the hotel. Once I prove to myself I can do something, I move on to another, although the two constants have always been my family and law enforcement."
"What I want to know," Hoss said, "is how your businesses became so successful so quick-like."
"You want to know the secret?" Adam said, glancing over his shoulder. "It's really rather simple. You can't succeed without the help of the people who work for you. All you have to do is find the right person for the job, whatever that job may be, then let them do it without a lot of interference." He laughed, "But you also need to know how to do unexpected, random checks to keep everyone on their toes. My people know I can show up anywhere at anytime. They never know when they might turn around to see me standing right behind them."
He leaned down to look at the twins. Both were fast asleep, lulled by their father's deep voice rumbling in his chest.
"You also need to reward initiative and a job well-done, and to deal with incompetence in a decisive manner. You just have to know people. I've used these methods successfully in businesses in Chicago and London, too."
Joe's mouth fell open. "I asked you what businesses you owned and you didn't mention them."
Adam chuckled, "You asked me how many businesses I owned 'here', and I told you. Remember, you have to learn to ask the right questions." Everyone, even Joe smiled at that.
Thea stood and stretched. "I think I will head upstairs now and take the children with me. It's been a very long day." She yawned as she came over to her husband and gently shook the children awake. Taking them both by the hand, Thea made a circuit of the room with them, dispensing kisses and 'good nights' to all.
After she left, Adam stood and settled himself into the rocking chair next to his father, his expression serious. "I wanted to tell you what we now know about the attempted kidnappings. Seemingly, the dead man in the gazebo, Brian Kestler, was the one who let the kidnapper into the house and drew the map for him. Jackson was paying him for information and when his usefulness was over they killed him to keep him quiet."
"That's terrible!" Hoss said.
"I agree," Adam nodded, "and it's even worse. The only family he had was his mother, he was her sole support." The other three men all looked distressed for the poor woman.
"So, she will be coming by here tomorrow to sign some paperwork for the pension I've arranged and to discuss what she wants for his funeral."
Joe looked startled, "You're giving her a pension?"
"Of course, her son died while in my employ. She doesn't need to know what else he did, the poor woman has suffered enough. Besides, the money is what tempted Brian into doing what he knew wasn't right. He made a mistake and paid for it with his life."
"You're not going to the office tomorrow?" his father asked.
"No, I'll be seeing people here in between making the arrangements for our trip. The pastor of our church will be coming by and Lieutenant Tolson will be bringing the final reports on the kidnapping. They found the man who tried to take Annalise in the gardens and Tolson would rather I not be within striking distance of him. I guess I will have to be satisfied with him going to prison and that he has lost the use of his left arm. Thea was a very good student when I taught her to how to throw a knife. She's pretty good with a gun, too."
Ben looked at his son and wondered what other revelations about his daughter-in-law would be coming out next.
"I do have to leave long enough to escort Thea to the hospital for the next board meeting. She's decided to resign before we go, instead of waiting for when we actually move. And I would rather she not be alone because of the hostility some of the men on that board have shown her."
"If they dislike her so much, how did she end up on the board?" Joe asked.
"The president has been a friend of Thea's and mine since we lived in New York. He's always respected her surgical skills and was hoping it would attract other female physicians to the hospital, but it didn't work."
"Well, if it would help with your busy schedule I'd be happy to be her escort," Ben said, his eyes snapping with anger at the thought of anyone treating his new daughter badly.
Adam smiled at his father, "I would appreciate that, Pa."
"We'll go with you," Hoss said and Joe nodded.
"Good, and thank you. I'm sure she'll feel a lot better about this with your support," Adam said and began to rock as he finally started to relax from his hectic day.
"I've been meanin' to ask you," Hoss said, "what are you plannin' on doin' with this place when you move? Sell it?"
"No, Thea has decided to endow an orphanage-school and we are both looking forward to getting out of this mausoleum."
When he saw the other men's puzzled looks, Adam laughed. "I'm sorry, we never told you the story of how we came to live here. A very nice, very rich, and very eccentric old man named Boomer left this house to us in his will. His children were trying to have him declared incompetent and he came to us for help. I handled the legal end and Thea handled the medical end. We won, and Boomer got to live out his last year in the house he loved so much."
Adam paused for a moment to yawn. "Anyway, Boomer had a provision in his will that the house would go to his children if we did not live here for two years. Thea hated his children so much for breaking his heart there was no way she would ever have let them get their greedy hands on this place, so we moved in. Thank God the two years is almost up."
Adam yawned again and his father said, "You look exhausted."
His son nodded as he briefly laughed, "I am. I've worked eighteen-hour days frequently for the past two years and a person can only keep up that pace for so long. Even a work horse like me." He yawned again.
"But that is going to change; the children need me even more now." Adam continued, "I've lost so much time with them that I can never get back, and we need to put down some permanent roots. Especially with another one on the way." He yawned a third time and it became contagious.
Laughing at the chorus of answering yawns Adam stood. "On that note I think this lively group should throw in the towel and get to bed. Tomorrow is going to be another extremely busy day." He began to put out the lamps as Ben, Joe and Hoss slowly moved out the door.
When Adam came out of the office and closed the door only Hoss was still in the hall waiting, a frown on his usually smiling face.
"What's wrong, Hoss?"
"I don't rightly know, but I had a strange feelin' all day today that someone was followin' us."
Adam instantly became fully alert. "But you didn't actually see anyone?"
"Nope. But I just couldn't shake that feelin'."
His older brother nodded. "Hmmm...I know what you mean," he said, then stood there thinking for a few moments.
"Well just to be safe, please be extra careful with Thea tomorrow. I was sure we had picked up everyone working for Jackson, but someone could have fallen through the cracks and is still out there. Although why they would want to still be here and risk being turned in I don't know."
Hoss nodded, "That's pretty much what I was thinkin' but wanted to run it past you first."
"Thanks," Adam said as he clapped his brother on the back. "Stay around us much longer and you'll end up being as suspicious as I am." Hoss gave a small chuff of laughter.
"I usually do the rounds of the house to make sure everything is secure before I go to bed. Want to come along?"
The relieved look on Hoss's face told his brother that he was truly concerned about the family's safety, so whatever he had sensed while out today had him badly unnerved. And Hoss did not spook easily
"Come on," Adam said while moving toward a table across the hall that held small lamps. He lit two and handed one to Hoss. "We'll start at the bottom and work our way up," he said and the two men disappeared through a door to the cellar.