Steel Trap
Chapter Ten
Logan spun around to face them. Squinting into the darkness at the Steelheads, he could barely make out the bruises on Eddie's face, or the cut lip. He wondered if Eddie had told Lux that he got smacked down by a guy in a wheelchair; somehow, he doubted it.
"I'm a guest here, same as you, I assume," he replied. Smiling, he asked brightly, "Enjoying the party?"
A momentary scowl passed over Lux's face. "We just got here. Pierpont didn't want us to arrive too -early."
Logan thought to himself, I can understand that. Wouldn't look too good for this affair if your little sister, the Steelhead, showed up. Might put the high rollers right off their feed.
The three of them headed toward the French doors and stopped just short of them. There was more light shining through the glass, so that it was almost as bright outside as it was inside.
Logan smiled, wondering if Lux - or Eddie - noticed the bruises on his face. "Too early and you miss all the excitement, or what passes for it here, anyway."
Lux eyed him up and down, just as she had that day in the market. Once again, she smiled approvingly.
"You clean up nice," she commented. Logan cringed, remembering the same remark coming from Max the day of Bennett's wedding. It felt almost like Lux was vibrating. He heard a hum coming from her that was similar to the one the exoskeleton made when he switched it on. It was certainly disconcerting.
"Thanks. I try. Wouldn't do to show up at this soirée all decked out in sweats now, would it?"
"You look good in sweats, too," Lux replied. Eddie shot her a dirty look. "As a matter of fact, I'll bet you'd look good in almost anything - or nothing."
Logan hoped he had the grace to blush. As he was trying to think up a witty reply, he saw Bennett heading toward him, a tumbler of single malt in his hand. Logan waved at him, and Bennett stepped into the doorway.
"Who're your friends, Logan?" he asked politely, obviously curious as to why his cousin would be talking to such an outrageous-looking couple. He looked at Eddie, taking in the battered face, then back at Logan, as if he were trying to make the connection in his mind. Logan could almost see the gears in his mind turning.
"Ah," Logan stammered. "This is Lux and this is Eddie. My cousin, Bennett."
Bennett eyed them suspiciously. He hesitated for a second or two, then held out his hand to them. Lux shook it first. "We met your cousin through a business transaction," she said sweetly. Eddie sullenly took Bennett's hand. "Yeah, business."
"Nice to meet you both. Um, Logan, hate to drag you away, but the band has started up again."
"Thanks." Logan spun the chair around and followed Bennett into the room.
*****
They spent an hour or so listening to the jazz band. Even though Logan regretted that Bennett had witnessed his encounter with the Steelheads, he was thankful that his cousin had rescued him from an awkward situation. He was also thankful that Lux had chosen to show some discretion when she met Bennett. He wanted to reveal to Bennett as little as possible about his dealings with the Steelheads.
Bennett excused himself to find a restroom shortly after the band took another break. Logan leaned back in his chair, sipping a Scotch and feeling mellow. He had the feeling that everything was coming to a head this evening. The fact that Lux and Eddie had shown up at Lemkin's was significant; he figured they didn't darken the doorstep of the family mansion too often. They must have heard his broadcast and they were scared. Logan wished he were a fly on the wall when they finally met up with Pierpont Lemkin.
*****
Bennett returned to the ballroom, an eager expression on his face.
"Logan, you ready to blow this Popsicle stand?" he asked unexpectedly.
Logan straightened up. "Yeah, I guess. What's up?"
"Ah, I'll tell you in the car. Let's get out of here."
Logan threw back the rest of his drink, then unlocked his brakes. He followed Bennett to the coatroom, where they retrieved their coats. Bennett handed his ticket to the parking valet at the front door. In a few minutes, his car was brought up to the door. Bennett ran down the steps, while Logan navigated the ramp.
The valet held the door for Bennett, then opened the passenger's side door for Logan. Logan transferred into the seat, popped the wheels and seat off the chair, and stashed it behind the seat. As the valet closed the door, Logan rolled down the window and handed him a generous tip.
Once they got past the gates of the Lemkin estate, Logan turned toward Bennett. "Now, what's got you all spun, Bennett?"
"Well, as I was coming back from the can, I overheard an interesting conversation."
"Okay, spill. You look like the cat who swallowed the canary."
"I was walking past Lemkin's study. The door was slightly open..."
"So, you decided to eavesdrop a bit?" Logan hinted.
"I couldn't help it. The voices were pretty loud. Anyway, Lemkin said, 'Hey, sis. Glad you could make it.'"
"So?" Logan said, almost panting to hear the conversation.
"It turns out that the sister he was talking to was that Steelhead woman you introduced me to!" Bennett exclaimed. "She said, 'Well, Pierpont, you can't keep me locked away in that damn funeral parlor all the time.' It sounded like she was not a happy camper. It also sounded like Lemkin didn't invite her to the party - that she just showed up. Our host sure sounded annoyed that she was there." Bennett chuckled, obviously enjoying Lemkin's discomfort.
"Interesting," Logan remarked, trying to stay noncommittal.
"Then she said, 'Brother, we have to talk. Eddie got beaten up last night and it looks like someone got into the files.' Lemkin asked if any were missing, but it seems that she hadn't found any. Do you have any idea what that's all about, Logan?"
"Um, no. Why should I?" Logan replied. "Can you crank up the heat?"
Bennett turned the heat up a bit. "Well, Logan, I've just been trying to put the pieces together. First of all, you actually wanted to go to this party - which is so unlike you. Next, your face is all bruised -"
"I told you, I got tipped over in a basketball game."
"Right. And finally, you seem to know these Steelheads, one of whom is all bruised too. So I wondered what you've been up to."
"Bennett, if I told you, I'd have to kill you," Logan joked.
"Logan, did you know that Lux was Lemkin's sister?"
"I plead the Fifth."
"Did you know the Steelheads were gonna be here tonight?"
"No, not a clue."
"Come on, Logan, you can tell me! Does it have anything to do with that Eyes Only broadcast this afternoon?"
"Couldn't say."
"Dammit, Logan! When will you trust me enough to let me know what's going on?" Bennett was practically shouting. He swerved to avoid a squirrel, throwing Logan against the window.
"Bennett, it's not a matter of trust. It's a matter of safety," Logan stated firmly as he straightened up.
"Yeah, yeah. What you do is dangerous. I know. But..."
"No buts, Bennett. You know what happened to me. I don't want anything like that to happen to you. I'd hate to have to answer to Marianne if you got hurt - or worse. She'd kill me. It's best that you don't know."
"Okay, I'll drop it."
"Do me one favor. When you get home, write down what you told me - the conversation between Lemkin and his sister. Just in case. And keep your head down. Things may happen quickly."
"One of these days, you'll let me in, Logan. I know you will."
They drove the rest of the way in silence. Logan turned on the radio, tuning it to a classical station. When they arrived back at Logan's apartment building, Bennett pulled into the garage and parked next to the Aztek. He fetched the wheelchair from the back seat and watched as Logan assembled it.
"Hey, Logan, it was fun. We should do it again soon," he joked as Logan transferred to the chair.
"Yeah, we should," Logan said. He put out his hand to shake Bennett's. "Thanks."
Bennett gripped Logan's hand. "You want me to come up?"
"And what? Tuck me in? Kiss me goodnight? I'll be fine, Bennett. Honestly, I will."
"I know. I just..."
"It's okay, Bennett. I'll catch you later. 'Night."
"'Night, Logan." Bennett got back into the Mercedes and drove off, while Logan headed toward the elevator to the penthouse.
A sleek black car pulled up alongside him. Logan paid little attention to it, until it was too late. The next thing he knew, a goon who looked like he threw trucks for a living stepped in front of him, blocking the way.
"Mr. Lemkin is in the car. He wants to see you," he said.
Chapter Ten
Logan spun around to face them. Squinting into the darkness at the Steelheads, he could barely make out the bruises on Eddie's face, or the cut lip. He wondered if Eddie had told Lux that he got smacked down by a guy in a wheelchair; somehow, he doubted it.
"I'm a guest here, same as you, I assume," he replied. Smiling, he asked brightly, "Enjoying the party?"
A momentary scowl passed over Lux's face. "We just got here. Pierpont didn't want us to arrive too -early."
Logan thought to himself, I can understand that. Wouldn't look too good for this affair if your little sister, the Steelhead, showed up. Might put the high rollers right off their feed.
The three of them headed toward the French doors and stopped just short of them. There was more light shining through the glass, so that it was almost as bright outside as it was inside.
Logan smiled, wondering if Lux - or Eddie - noticed the bruises on his face. "Too early and you miss all the excitement, or what passes for it here, anyway."
Lux eyed him up and down, just as she had that day in the market. Once again, she smiled approvingly.
"You clean up nice," she commented. Logan cringed, remembering the same remark coming from Max the day of Bennett's wedding. It felt almost like Lux was vibrating. He heard a hum coming from her that was similar to the one the exoskeleton made when he switched it on. It was certainly disconcerting.
"Thanks. I try. Wouldn't do to show up at this soirée all decked out in sweats now, would it?"
"You look good in sweats, too," Lux replied. Eddie shot her a dirty look. "As a matter of fact, I'll bet you'd look good in almost anything - or nothing."
Logan hoped he had the grace to blush. As he was trying to think up a witty reply, he saw Bennett heading toward him, a tumbler of single malt in his hand. Logan waved at him, and Bennett stepped into the doorway.
"Who're your friends, Logan?" he asked politely, obviously curious as to why his cousin would be talking to such an outrageous-looking couple. He looked at Eddie, taking in the battered face, then back at Logan, as if he were trying to make the connection in his mind. Logan could almost see the gears in his mind turning.
"Ah," Logan stammered. "This is Lux and this is Eddie. My cousin, Bennett."
Bennett eyed them suspiciously. He hesitated for a second or two, then held out his hand to them. Lux shook it first. "We met your cousin through a business transaction," she said sweetly. Eddie sullenly took Bennett's hand. "Yeah, business."
"Nice to meet you both. Um, Logan, hate to drag you away, but the band has started up again."
"Thanks." Logan spun the chair around and followed Bennett into the room.
*****
They spent an hour or so listening to the jazz band. Even though Logan regretted that Bennett had witnessed his encounter with the Steelheads, he was thankful that his cousin had rescued him from an awkward situation. He was also thankful that Lux had chosen to show some discretion when she met Bennett. He wanted to reveal to Bennett as little as possible about his dealings with the Steelheads.
Bennett excused himself to find a restroom shortly after the band took another break. Logan leaned back in his chair, sipping a Scotch and feeling mellow. He had the feeling that everything was coming to a head this evening. The fact that Lux and Eddie had shown up at Lemkin's was significant; he figured they didn't darken the doorstep of the family mansion too often. They must have heard his broadcast and they were scared. Logan wished he were a fly on the wall when they finally met up with Pierpont Lemkin.
*****
Bennett returned to the ballroom, an eager expression on his face.
"Logan, you ready to blow this Popsicle stand?" he asked unexpectedly.
Logan straightened up. "Yeah, I guess. What's up?"
"Ah, I'll tell you in the car. Let's get out of here."
Logan threw back the rest of his drink, then unlocked his brakes. He followed Bennett to the coatroom, where they retrieved their coats. Bennett handed his ticket to the parking valet at the front door. In a few minutes, his car was brought up to the door. Bennett ran down the steps, while Logan navigated the ramp.
The valet held the door for Bennett, then opened the passenger's side door for Logan. Logan transferred into the seat, popped the wheels and seat off the chair, and stashed it behind the seat. As the valet closed the door, Logan rolled down the window and handed him a generous tip.
Once they got past the gates of the Lemkin estate, Logan turned toward Bennett. "Now, what's got you all spun, Bennett?"
"Well, as I was coming back from the can, I overheard an interesting conversation."
"Okay, spill. You look like the cat who swallowed the canary."
"I was walking past Lemkin's study. The door was slightly open..."
"So, you decided to eavesdrop a bit?" Logan hinted.
"I couldn't help it. The voices were pretty loud. Anyway, Lemkin said, 'Hey, sis. Glad you could make it.'"
"So?" Logan said, almost panting to hear the conversation.
"It turns out that the sister he was talking to was that Steelhead woman you introduced me to!" Bennett exclaimed. "She said, 'Well, Pierpont, you can't keep me locked away in that damn funeral parlor all the time.' It sounded like she was not a happy camper. It also sounded like Lemkin didn't invite her to the party - that she just showed up. Our host sure sounded annoyed that she was there." Bennett chuckled, obviously enjoying Lemkin's discomfort.
"Interesting," Logan remarked, trying to stay noncommittal.
"Then she said, 'Brother, we have to talk. Eddie got beaten up last night and it looks like someone got into the files.' Lemkin asked if any were missing, but it seems that she hadn't found any. Do you have any idea what that's all about, Logan?"
"Um, no. Why should I?" Logan replied. "Can you crank up the heat?"
Bennett turned the heat up a bit. "Well, Logan, I've just been trying to put the pieces together. First of all, you actually wanted to go to this party - which is so unlike you. Next, your face is all bruised -"
"I told you, I got tipped over in a basketball game."
"Right. And finally, you seem to know these Steelheads, one of whom is all bruised too. So I wondered what you've been up to."
"Bennett, if I told you, I'd have to kill you," Logan joked.
"Logan, did you know that Lux was Lemkin's sister?"
"I plead the Fifth."
"Did you know the Steelheads were gonna be here tonight?"
"No, not a clue."
"Come on, Logan, you can tell me! Does it have anything to do with that Eyes Only broadcast this afternoon?"
"Couldn't say."
"Dammit, Logan! When will you trust me enough to let me know what's going on?" Bennett was practically shouting. He swerved to avoid a squirrel, throwing Logan against the window.
"Bennett, it's not a matter of trust. It's a matter of safety," Logan stated firmly as he straightened up.
"Yeah, yeah. What you do is dangerous. I know. But..."
"No buts, Bennett. You know what happened to me. I don't want anything like that to happen to you. I'd hate to have to answer to Marianne if you got hurt - or worse. She'd kill me. It's best that you don't know."
"Okay, I'll drop it."
"Do me one favor. When you get home, write down what you told me - the conversation between Lemkin and his sister. Just in case. And keep your head down. Things may happen quickly."
"One of these days, you'll let me in, Logan. I know you will."
They drove the rest of the way in silence. Logan turned on the radio, tuning it to a classical station. When they arrived back at Logan's apartment building, Bennett pulled into the garage and parked next to the Aztek. He fetched the wheelchair from the back seat and watched as Logan assembled it.
"Hey, Logan, it was fun. We should do it again soon," he joked as Logan transferred to the chair.
"Yeah, we should," Logan said. He put out his hand to shake Bennett's. "Thanks."
Bennett gripped Logan's hand. "You want me to come up?"
"And what? Tuck me in? Kiss me goodnight? I'll be fine, Bennett. Honestly, I will."
"I know. I just..."
"It's okay, Bennett. I'll catch you later. 'Night."
"'Night, Logan." Bennett got back into the Mercedes and drove off, while Logan headed toward the elevator to the penthouse.
A sleek black car pulled up alongside him. Logan paid little attention to it, until it was too late. The next thing he knew, a goon who looked like he threw trucks for a living stepped in front of him, blocking the way.
"Mr. Lemkin is in the car. He wants to see you," he said.