Chapter 12

Maggie knew what Sabrina would say about it. That her imagination was on the loose, and that her obsession with Barnabas was reaching the danger point. That she had no proof that Barnabas was hiding anything, unless it was that she made him uncomfortable. And what was so surprising about that? Their relationship was a disaster waiting to happen, and he had every right to keep contact with her to a minimum.

But what did Sabrina know? Barnabas was too secretive, with that special face he put when he was lying, when excuses came too many and too fast. She knew when Barnabas lied, and he had been lying to her.

Well, it was daytime. She had been stubborn about seeing Barnabas again after dark, and had finally let Sabrina convince her not to. Sabrina was less concerned about what she did in the daytime, and would not shadow her steps. So she had sent her to discuss some health policy matter with Julia and her husband - saying that she did not feel comfortable with Julia...

Sabrina had accepted it, no, had been glad. Maggie and Julia could get as nasty as Maggie and Barnabas. After all, Julia had betrayed her trust as a patient in 1967 and Maggie could not help pointing it out and watching Julia squirm..

As she left for Wyncliffe, Sabrina wondered if she could solve her problem by staking Barnabas... tempting, but she doubted that she would get off scott free.

Well, it was daytime. She would see to Julia, and Maggie would work the locals,. She had said that she wanted to talk to Deputy Hamell, who was very likely going to be the next sheriff, about the helicopter he wanted for Collinsport..

Very likely she would use the time to get nasty with George Brant. Well, that was tolerable. Nothing like what might happen with Barnabas...

Maggie watched Sabrina leave, and smiled. She finally had gotten rid of that watchdog...

Now to get inside the Old House. Urien was out of town, and Barnabas was completely out of it. Which meant that she could get in and spy as much as she wanted. And when it was done, Sabrina could complain and fume as much as she wanted. She would have done what she had come to do."

Barnabas was not in the habit of locking the Old House. He usually left those details to whoever was with him at the time. And if no one was there, well, it did not get done...

It was very convenient to have servants who took care of the details. And Barnabas had grown up spoiled that way... She wondered how much easier it would have been for everybody if Barnabas had grown up taking care of himself instead of being assigned a servant for whatever he needed. He'd made a lot less stupid decisions, maybe...

As she expected, she got easily enough. Really, it was a miracle that non one had burglarized the Old House. Of course, Barnabsa' condition might have soemthing to do with it. But criminals tended to be rather stupid and taht would not be a deterrent forever...

She studied the parlor. Yes, the room was just as it had been the last time. Josette's portrait was gone. Well, it would be difficult of Barnabas to profess his devotion while he and George...

And then she heard the doorknob turn...

Someone was coming in."Maggie, what are you doing here?" Quentin asked.

"Looking for you." she said, brazen. "They said that you may be here. And that there was something you wanted to discuss with me. Your plans for affordable housing."

"But how did you know to find me here?'

"They told me a the hotel that this was one place to look for you."

"And you got in how?'

"Barnabas' habit of not locking the door. Really. One day he's going to get up and find out that all his furniture is gone."

"Yes. We are trying to tell him to lock up, but, well, he is not in the habit of doing it for himself. I finally learned, but him... And now it is worse with his religious crisis."

"Religious crisis?"

"Yes. Thanks to an exorcism he participated in, he is no longer repelled by crosses. Which means that he can go to Church. Which means that he spends a great deal of time there. It is disconcerting, but we are adjusting to it. Well, as you can imagine, when you are contemplating the mysteries of God's mercy you cannot be bothered to lock up."

"Oh, well, he is what he is... Say can I have a drink?'

"By all means." Quentin was a bit disconcerted by Maggie. Sure, he wanted to talk about affordable housing and Maggie could control the flow of money. But Maggie seemed to have a hidden agenda... A hidden agenda that he knew too well. Quentin Collins was sexy and had a bad boy vibe that women found irresistible. How long would be before Maggie put her hand in an inappropriate place and invited him to "come up and see me sometime."?

There was a time when he did not mind, when he actually enjoyed and exploited it. But those days were gone...

On top of that, he had to go check on Adam, make sure that he was comfortable, and try to reason with him.

But first he had to be firm but polite in convincing Maggie to leave.

He poured two glasses of brandy. He wondered what would be the best way to handle Maggie. Truth to tell, she was attractive. If only she was not so predatory about it...

"Here," He gave her one glass while he sipped from the other. "Let's talk business."

"Only business?" there was slight teasing in her words.

"Only business."

"You, Quentin Collins wanting to talk only business with an attractive woman... I cannot believe it."

"You are attractive, Maggie. But you can do me a lot of damage if I insult you in any way. I do not know how far to go."

"You can go quite far."

Quentin shook his head. "No, because anything that you give me because you like what I do to you, you can take the moment I no longer please you. This is too important for it."

Maggie sighed. "Are you playing hard to get?"

"I want to leave such playing for afterwards. Now there are too many families with no place to go because rentals are too high and too many apartments are being converted to high scale places. That's what I care about now."

"And I..."

"You are an attractive woman. Also a powerful one. Power can be aphrodisiac, and it would be easy for me to give in."

But you do not want to?

"Not now."

"I see."

"Maggie, it would be much better if we continued this conversation in your office, with Sabrina there. I care too much about the subject to allow it to become foreplay."

"My, my, are you getting picky in your old age..."

"Yes." Quentin got up, uncomfortable and walked around. "I am sorry, Maggie. What I want and what you want are two different things. "It would be better if you left."

Maggie sighed, a deeply offended sigh. "Well, you know how to rebuff a lady, don't you?" She walked behind him.. He was uncomfortable as Hell, which meant that he did not watch her. She had the paperweight in her hand. and in the moment that he turned his head away, in disgust, she hit him on the head.

He was only stunned, but she lost no time tying him up.. Then, once she was sure she had plenty of time, she went down to the cellar, to the cell.. She knew where the keys were.

Who was in the cell? Another girl who reminded him of Josette? Not likely. George Brant was not likely to put up with that.

"Adam!" she said with surprise. "So it is you that he has locked up!"

"Get me out of here! I got something to do You must help me."

She opened the door for him. "Why did they lock you up?"

"Follow me, it is important."

"What is it?"

"I will tell you later."

On the way out they passed Quentin's' unconscious, trussed up body.. They did not spare him a look. They had more important things to do.