Chapter Six
Danny gently placed a cold compress on Margot's forehead as she laid on his couch in his apartment. "Feeling any better?"
Margot opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Let me answer your questions with a question. Do you have any relatives you know that have risen from the dead?"
"No, and I pray that I don't." Danny sat down beside her. "Want to talk about it?"
Margot sat up on her elbows and pulled the cloth from her head. "Why on God's name would I want to do that? Or haven't you notice that I was downing enough bourbon to not talk about this?"
"I'm only asking to try to help you make light of this, Margot," Danny said soothingly. "Fifteen or sixteen years ago, there had to be something you and the rest of the family missed. Anything that can help Alice and Ben. And you."
Margot stared into Danny's brown eyes as if she was seeing him for the very first time. She smiled as she reached up to caress his cheek. "We never had a chance to properly say hello, B Team."
#
Ethan Ward straightened his silk tie as he casually strolled through the crowd conversing in small groups in the ballroom. Almost every person he came in contact with was offered a warm smile and handshake before moving on, closing in on his primary objective.
It was readily waiting for him when he reached the bar. Lisa, a petite brunette, held it out in the palm of her hand from behind the bar. "Here you are, sir."
Ethan smiled as he accepted the glass of bourbon. "I hope you have enough of this stuff in the back, Lisa," he said. "I have the feeling I'm going to need it tonight."
The bartender wiped the bar down with a towel and flung it over her shoulder. "Oh? What's the problem, Mr. Ward? Looks like the usual movers and shakers are out tonight."
Ethan took a sip of his drink and subtly pointed to a corner of the room. "You see the two men talking with that woman over by the large fern? They are three of the largest landowners in Los Angeles, and I have them in the same building. Somehow I need to convince them to sell me two hundred acres apiece. Six hundred total. And the the land that I want to buy? All connected. Prime real estate. At least that's what I got from geological surveys. So I have a mission on my hands tonight."
Ethan took another sip as he noted his executive assistant enter the ballroom and headed straight towards him. "Mr. Ward, I have Alice Vaughan on the line for you," she said, holding out a cell phone. "She said it was important."
Ethan finished his glass and signaled for Lisa to pour him another as he raised the phone to his ear. "You know, I'm looking around and I don't see you, Val, Danny, or Sophie here. Group effort to stand me up?"
"I'm sorry, Ethan. Something came up and it tied our office up the whole day. I'm still at AVI."
"Is this an AVI thing or an AVI slash Benjamin Jones thing?"
Ethan could see the grin of his ex-fiancee' in the back of his mind as she answered. "A bit of both. He's back."
"Really." A bit of jealousy rose within. He quickly pushed it aside. "What are you helping him with?"
"Taking down Rhys Griffiths, and before you ask, the FBI has Ben under a new conditional deal, so no worries there."
Ethan nodded his thanks to Lisa as she set another drink down on the bar in front of him. "Well, that's good," he said, trying hard not to make it sound forced. "But I have a feeling this call isn't to tell me what you guys were up to today."
"No, it isn't." Alice paused before continuing. "I need to borrow your jet."
Ethan almost laughed. "If it wasn't for the fact that I have three, I would be rolling my eyes right now." He sighed. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know."
"Okay. Well, when will you need it?"
It was Alice's turn to sigh. "I don't know that either."
Ethan glanced at the corner where the three property owners were still talking. "This isn't a secret honeymoon getaway with Ben, is it? I remember how he wanted you to get on the plane with him a few months ago."
"Far from it. I have to meet with the former head of the Kensington Firm. Exchange of information. She agreed to meet with me and only me."
Ethan snorted. "What does Ben have to say about that?"
"That's a conversation for a later time."
The executive assistant caught Ethan's eye and tapped on her wrist, tilting her head in the direction of the landowners. He gave her a confirming nod. "I have a meeting right now, but set up everything with my assistant here before you get off the phone. She'll get everything ready for you, okay?"
"Thank you, Ethan. Hopefully this will be the last time I borrow your plane."
"I hope so, too. The gas isn't cheap."
#
Valerie entered Alice's office with two coffee mugs. "I ran that number of Sybil's every which way after Danny left with Margot. It's a burner. No telling where on the planet she is."
"Oh, I am quite sure without any doubt whatsoever that she's in a country that has no extradition agreement with the U.S.," said Alice, reaching up to accept one of the mugs. "Actually, that's the least of my worries right now."
Val sat down in one of the chairs facing the desk. "Let me guess. Ben wasn't happy with you agreeing to fly off to God knows where. I can't say I blame him. Where is he, anyway?"
"He's down in the secret office with Her Highness and the rest of the gang." She sipped on her coffee and sat back in her chair. "She's really very excited about all this. Giddy and everything."
"Oh, God. I hope not." Val made a face behind her coffee mug. "But back to this trip. I understand you wanting me here to run AVI, and pretty much everyone else is stuck here as well, especially Ben. So, who's going with you?"
Alice rose to her feet. "I thought about that last night, and finally came to a decision. It turned out to be the one thing that Ben actually liked about the trip."
#
Tessa frowned up at Alice. "Let me make sure I heard you correctly. You want me to go with you to meet with my grandmother."
Alice smiled. "You did hear me correctly. I need to make sure that I'm not flying into a trap. I really don't think that she'll do anything with her only granddaughter present."
"That's a plan you use if you're planning on using someone as a human shield."
"Far from it." Alice started to slide her tablet into her purse, but stopped as an afterthought occurred. "But just in case, stay by my side at all times."
Finished with her bag, she moved to the couch and sat down beside Tessa. "Any idea where we're going? Just for general purpose, of course."
"Of course." The younger woman shrugged. "We spent a few weeks in Morocco. Vatican City, almost a month. She was making plans to move again when we came back to Los Angeles."
"By herself?"
"If I remember correctly, she has a dozen associates still loyal to her from the firm at her beck and call."
Alice nodded as her cell phone vibrated on the table in front of her. She picked it up and glanced at the screen for a second before holding it up for Tessa to see.
"It's time."
#
"Fly from LAX to JFK, and receive further instructions." Ben sat on the bed and read the text on Alice's phone several times, struggling not to hurl the device against the bedroom wall. "Allie, I'm not liking this at all."
Alice zipped up her suitcases behind him and walked into her closet. "Well, I'm not surprised. Sybil had a dozen guards from the firm facilitating moves and security. She has to pick up and be ready to move at a moment's notice."
She walked out with her gun case, which she slipped into her purse. "From the list of non extradition treaty countries, JFK would be a reasonable launching point."
Ben rose and handed Alice her phone. She reached for it, but he didn't immediately let it go. She looked up into his face and smiled.
"Sybil could have did whatever she wanted in the days since she was sprung from federal custody. She may have twelve men, but who knows? She really may have fifty. A hundred. Two hundred."
Alice reached for Ben's hand with her free one. "The point is she had her best chance to do whatever months ago, and she didn't take it. I think I'm gonna be okay."
Ben gave a slow nod and released the phone. He turned around and reached for the suitcases and hefted them off the bed before heading for the bedroom door. Alice dropped her phone into her bag as she followed him out to the living room where Tessa, Danny, and Margot waited.
Ben looked over at Tessa as Danny relieved him of the luggage and exited the house. "Try to behave yourself … wherever it is that you're going. And give your grandmother my best."
Tessa smiled. "And if she says that the best you deserve is a word that television censors bleep out?"
"It wouldn't be surprising." Ben held his arms out, and Tessa fell into his embrace. Margot hesitated for a few seconds before placing a hand on their daughter's shoulder. She kept it there for three seconds before steering her towards the door.
Alice leaned in close to Ben as she watched as the two slowly walked outside. "Sometimes I feel those two just might have a chance at a normal mother-daughter relationship," she whispered.
Right before the women stepped out of view, Tessa looked at Margot and laughed. "Fine, I'll see if I can get your favorite pistol back from Grandmama, but you should have never given it to her in the first place."
Alice looked up at Ben, who shrugged. "Don't look at me. I have boys, high school proms, and high school pyramid schemes to look forward to. And you do, too, stepmummy."
She wrapped her arms around his waist to pull into his chest. "Ugh. Don't remind me. I much rather make sure Margot gets her pistol back."
Ben brushed a lock of Alice's hair away from her eyes and reached down to give her a passionate kiss. She returned it, embracing him tightly for a long minute.
When they finally pulled apart, she cupped his chin with her hands. "Promise me you won't rush and do anything crazy. At least hold off until I get back."
Ben grinned. "I can't make any promises, but it gives you incentive to get there and get back. And I won't follow you to the airport and try to talk you out of this trip. Deal?"
Alice stood up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "Deal," she whispered.
Ben returned the kiss, keeping contact to her face to cheek. "You are the bravest woman I know, Alice Vaughan."
She held onto his arm as she walked away, sliding her hand down it until it fell into his open, outstretched hand. She continued until the last thing touching was one single fingertip before they finally parted.
Ben watched as Alice walked outside. She stood for a second at the door before turning to look back at Ben, who remained standing in the living room. He gave her a small wave, his eyes never wavering from hers as she returned it.
Then she was gone.
#
"For someone who has entered and exited the country several times under next to illegal circumstances, I have a penchant for traveling in style," said Tessa, marveling from the backseat at the Gulfstream Danny navigated towards on the tarmac.
Alice glanced over her shoulder. "Well, if you get in trouble and you're deported, believe me when I say that this will not be an option."
Danny brought the SUV to a halt beside the boarding ramp. He got out and walked around to the back as Alice and Tessa exited. "Don't worry about Val and AVI while you're gone," he said, handing the luggage off to two baggage handlers who appeared from underneath the fuselage. "And Ben and I will make sure we keep Dao and Diaz off of your trail."
"We'll need three days at the longest." Alice slung her purse over her shoulder. "I prefer if you can finish this, it will be before we cross into international waters, but whatever you can do, I appreciate it very much."
Danny nodded and gave her a hug. He looked over at Tessa and said, "Behave yourself, please? Try not to start an international incident."
Tessa gave him her trademark smirk as she rolled her eyes. "Behave yourself with my mother, stepdaddy," she said over her shoulder as she walked up the boarding ramp. "I just hope you two are using protection. I prefer being an only child."
Alice grinned at Danny who shook his head as he walked over to the car and slid behind the wheel. He gave Alice a small wave before turning the vehicle back towards the airport entrance.
Alice headed up the ramp and met the pilot at the door heading into the cockpit. "Miss Vaughan, I should be receiving clearance for take off in a few minutes. If you could join the rest of the passengers, I'll get us going."
Alice's eyes widened. "Passengers?" Heart racing, she spun to face the rear of the plane's cabin, reaching inside her purse for her gun at the same time.
The Hammer caught her hand before she could draw her weapon. He raised his eyes from it to lock onto hers. "Valerie and Sophie said you would probably try to shoot someone," he said in his usual soft tone. "I didn't want to believe it, so we made a bet."
The noise of someone clearing their throat caught Alice's attention. She looked over the Hammer's shoulder at a smiling Sophie. "That's right. Time to pay up."
The Hammer released Alice while reaching a gloved hand into his jacket and pulled out a neatly folded hundred dollar bill. He held it out over his shoulder between two fingers for Sophie to snatch it with glee. "It seems betting against the women of Anderson and Vaughan Investigations is not something for anyone to do," he said, a hint of a smile forming on his face.
Alice finally relaxed, dropping her pistol back into her bag. "What are you two doing here?"
"I suggested to Val to fly with you to … wherever it is you're going." Sophie glanced at the Hammer as he sat down and buckled himself him. "He offered to come along."
Alice noted Tessa was seated in the very back of the cabin, looking out of the window. She smiled at Sophie and grasped her hand as she looked over her shoulder at the pilot who waited patiently at the cockpit entrance.
"We're ready."
#
