Chapter 2: Terms


The large door opened before Roger could even grasp the large brass knocker shaped like a great bird.
"The phoenix, actually." Charisse explained when he questioned her about them.
She had met him in the mansions enormous library. Again, she was dressed in completely white attire. She wore white slacks with a form fitting white sweater and an expensive pair of white flats. Again, her only hint of color was a red rosebud pinned to her sweater.
"When the kidnappers call, let me answer the phone." Roger said.
Charisse nodded silently and sat down on a soft couch illuminated by a reading lamp. She clasped her hands together and bit her lips, again painted a dark, sultry crimson. Roger leaned casually against the oak desk that was home to the only telephone in the room. Charisse looked up at him and smiled nervously.
"Can I get you something? Coffee, tea?"
Roger opened his mouth to politely decline when the doors to the library burst open. "Charisse, I came as soon as I could." The new arrival said, taking her hands as she rose from her seat.
"Seth, I'm so glad to see you. But I hope you weren't called away from anything important." She embraced him and held his hand as she turned to Roger.
"Seth, this is Roger Smith, the best negotiator in Paradigm. Roger, this is Dr. Seth Goldwyn. He has been our physician for years and a family friend for even longer."
Seth held out a hand and Roger accepted it, scrutinizing the good doctor. He was still a young man, but patches of gray at the temples of his shaggy, chestnut brown hair revealed him as closer to forty. He looked the part of the honorable physician, down to the wire rim glasses that sat in front of dark brown eyes. He was dressed neatly but simply, his gray suit pressed and his sapphire blue tie spotless.
"Darnell Triax has been my closest friend for almost ten years. I trust that you will get him back safely."
Roger nodded shortly, "It's what I get paid for."
Seth returned his nod and went to sit on the couch with Charisse. He put a comforting arm around her and Roger felt himself wince with a twinge of jealously. All three of them jumped when the phone rang. Roger picked it up on the second ring.
"Hello."
The voice on the other end was definitely a by-product of a sound synthesizer, "We want to speak to Triax."
"This is Roger Smith, her negotiator."
The voice paused for a moment, and Roger could faintly hear an argument in the background. He strained to hear, but they had a hand over the receiver and it was difficult to get anything except a few jumbled words.
"Very well, Mr. Smith." The voice once again returned, "Our demands are simple. We want Miss Triax to cancel the Eden Project by eight a.m. tomorrow or Daddy here dies."
"I'd like to hear from Mr. Triax first. I want some proof that he is still alive."
Again there was a muffled silence, and Roger turned, taking his attention away from the phone for a moment when he felt a hand on his arm. Charisse was standing behind him, her slim hand on his forearm, a look of anxious concern washing over her features.
"Let me talk to him, Roger. Please."
Roger nodded in reply and. "Don't say anything, as much as you want to. Then they'll know how desperate you are and they won't return your father any time soon."
Charisse nodded, "I'll try to remember."
Roger handed her the phone and she held it to her ear with both hands.
"Daddy?" She said, her voice so low it was almost a whisper.
"Charisse! Whatever they want, don't do it! I'm fine! Just don't give in to them!"
Charisse was on the verge of tears, "Daddy!"
Roger took the phone from her gently and Seth pulled her back to the couch. Roger put the phone back to his ear and the voice was back, "Eight a.m. or else."
"No deal." Roger said coolly.
Charisse leapt off the couch and had Seth not held her arm she would have wrenched the phone out of Roger's hand.
"Fine. Bring documented proof that the Eden Project has been cancelled to the edge of the Coldwater Cemetery tomorrow morning, eight a.m. No cops, just you, the documents, and Miss Triax." The voice said.
"I'll expect you to be there with Mr. Triax and no weapons. We'll have what you want." Roger agreed and he replaced the phone on the receiver.
He turned and looked at Charisse who was still trying to wrench free of Seth's hold on her arm. Roger nodded and Seth let go. She glared at him, then faced Roger.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?! No deal?! They could have killed him right then and there!" She was breathing hard, her tirade taking more than it's fair share of her energy.
Roger was almost amused, but he kept a straight face, "They wouldn't go to all the trouble of kidnapping him just to kill him. Can you tell me what the Eden Project is?"
Charisse's anger quickly quenched, "Yes, why?"
"They want documented proof that it will be cancelled by eight a.m. tomorrow. That's all."
"That's all? No money or jewels or a car?" Charisse looked puzzled.
"What exactly is the Eden Project?" Roger asked.
"It's an agricultural study that tests different hybrid plants in different growing conditions to see what can be done to make them better. It's a lot of technology and gene splicing." She shook her head, "I don't know why they would want that canceled, but it's not a problem. I'll do it."
"What does Triax Plastics Inc. have to do with an agricultural study?" Roger asked, getting curious as to just what kind of case he was handling.
Seth stood up, "I believe I can answer this question. When Darnell started his company, he was just making plastics. But when he expanded his business, he started investing in research that would utilize his products, and one of these studies happened to be the Eden Project. When it's finished, Triax Plastics Inc. will be the name on every plant produced. Darnell figured it would be, if nothing else, fabulous publicity."
"So he only funds this? He has nothing to do with what is done in labs?" Roger asked, starting to get a vague idea of what might be going on.
"Dad does make sure that only plants are tested. He abhors animal testing, so it can't be an animal rights group." Charisse said, "And if he ever found out anything going on was a moral risk, he would cancel funding right away. My father isn't the monster that the other industrialists are."
She said it with such conviction that Roger believed her, "Well, these people, whoever they are, want that study cancelled, so I suggest that you get to it. They insist that you be there. It doesn't seem like an unreasonable request, for these people, so be at Coldwater Cemetery by eight o'clock."
Roger opened the door to the library and walked out into the hall, taking his coat off the hanger before the butler could respond. Charisse followed him and helped him put on his black over coat.
"Roger, I'm sorry about my outburst. I should have trusted that you knew what you were doing." She used her unwavering stare, and again Roger felt himself sinking into her olive green eyes.
"It's all right. This is an emotionally trying experience for most people. But you'll have your father back tomorrow."
Charisse nodded, then in a sudden fit of emotion, wrapped her arms around him. Roger was startled at first, but found it easy to return the embrace, although his intentions were beginning to border something that should never take place between a him and a client.
"Thank you." Was all Charisse said. She only held onto him because she couldn't believe that she had hugged him in the first place. She finally let go and tried to turn her head, hoping to hide the blush rising to her cheeks.
"You're welcome." He went to the door and the disgruntled butler opened it for him. He left without another word, but the chilly air seemed especially bitter now that he knew the warmth of holding her in his arms.