Scent of Gardenia (Scott Tucker Series) (4 page)

Chapter 6

Margaret
wished one of the men could apply suntan lotion to her back, but she would just
have to manage by herself. It was time to roll over as she had been lounging on
her back for too long. She needed to be careful since her fair skin burned
easily. She loved the warmth of the sun on her body, causing tiny droplets of
perspiration from her forehead to her toes. The smell of suntan lotion reminded
her of her childhood and sailing with her family.

Stretching
her arms above her head and raising her knees, she was delighted to see the light-brown
shade all over her body. She looked out to the aqua waters and the waves
breaking over the reef in the distance. The sea was calm this morning. Her dive
class this afternoon would benefit from the calm seas.

She noticed
passing sailboats in the distance, wondering if they ever trained their
binoculars on her nude sunbathing. A smile crossed her face. If they did, she
was sure they enjoyed the sight. She had not an ounce of fat anywhere on her
body. She always noticed men staring at her breasts when she wore bikinis or
sundresses. Since Bermuda was ideal for wearing sundresses, she rarely wore anything
more substantial. She dabbed the moisture on her body with a towel.

Her
private beach front home provided her this luxury. It was private enough not to
be disturbed from her other passion. She stood up, applying lotion to her
shoulders, the back of her legs, and buttocks. She spent considerable time
rubbing in the lotion, but would have much preferred someone else massaging her
body. She applied lotion to her back sponge and spread it over her back. As she
lay down on the chaise, she thought of the men, who if they could see through
the earth above them, could see her naked body.

Her mind
drifted to the image of their naked bodies waiting for her. She was aware of the
delightful feeling between her legs. It was almost time for their morning
feeding. This morning she wasn’t going to dress.
Her mind quickly went to
what games she could engage them in today. What a gorgeous life. She could feel
the rush coming just thinking about it.

Chapter 7

I enjoyed
meeting with Mercedes last night. In the two years since I last saw her, she
has become even more beautiful. She has to be my height with high-heels which
makes her about five foot eight. Most of that is leg. It was hard not to think
of her long legs, but the rest of her was pleasurable as well. I meant to ask
her if she has a boyfriend, but judging from last night I would say no.
How
could anyone so gorgeous not have a long-line of suitors? Maybe her sharp
tongue keeps them away?
That’s it—I’ve got to get up and get ready for
work.

I was
ready to shave when my reflection caught my attention. It didn’t look the same
as it did yesterday. Maybe there’s a new glow after sparring with Mercedes. A
few minutes later the shower was more enjoyable than normal, given the thoughts
of spending some time with her in the near future.

*.*.*

Once
again, I was first into the office and opened up. I quickly made a pot of
coffee, and then went into my office getting ready for the others to arrive. I
looked at the card Mercedes had given me; Stephen Strong, Executive Officer,
Strong Realty Enterprises. I wonder how he feels about losing one of his
daughters.

She was
one of four women who had killed four men in revenge for what had been done to
them or someone in their family. I had tracked her down, but was almost her
fifth victim until Mercedes intervened, and then fortunately Mike saved us both.

Mercedes
sister, Melanie, had eluded capture by jumping through the open access port
into the icy waters of Boston Harbor. It was the dead of winter and she was
naked. The policemen who ran to the opening never saw her surface. Her body was
never recovered. Speculation was that the sea creatures consumed her body
before it could wash up on shore.

I should
not bring her name up when I talk with Mr. Strong. If he brings it up that’s
one thing, but I better not. I wonder if he has red hair as well.

Even
though I had blocked the memory of that ordeal for three years, seeing the
Strong
Realty Enterprises
name brought the memory back.

I recalled
checking out suitable property where the victims could have been held, cut
apart and dumped in the ocean. The listings were supplied by Mr. Strong’s real
estate company, which Melanie worked for. Well I guess I got lucky and found
the right site, but I got unlucky finding it at the wrong time. Melanie knocked
me out. When I came to, I was naked and about to have my extremities detached.
However, that was after Melanie finished enjoying some of my parts before they
were removed.

Mercedes,
who was suspected at being involved, put things together and found the missing
real estate listing and tried to rescue me. The two of them fought and Mercedes
wound up being tied up and forced to watch her sister’s actions. Then the cavalry
arrived several minutes later, saving both of us. Mike and the others watched
Melanie bolt for the hole in the floor. That was the last we ever saw of her.

Now I
have to meet with their dad. This should be interesting, but I can’t overlook
the business lead. I heard Paddy’s and Mike’s voices and dialed the number on
the card.

Chapter 8

“Strong
Realty Enterprises, this is Jean, how can I help you.”

Paddy
and Mike slowed as they walked by my office. “Yes, my name is Scott Tucker and
Mr. Strong is expecting my call.” Paddy came back to my office door with a
questioning expression. I gave him the ‘thumbs up’ sign. He smiled and
disappeared.

“Yes,
Mr. Tucker, he is expecting your call. Please hold while I see if he is
available to take your call now. Thank you for holding.” I was holding for just
a moment. “Mr. Tucker, I’m transferring your call now to Mr. Strong. Please
have a nice day.”

“Scott,
its Stephen Strong. Mercedes said you would be calling me soon. You’re smart to
call me this early. I expect she told you what it’s about?”

“Yes,
Mr. Strong, she—“

He
interrupted, saying, “Please Scott, call me Stephen. Please continue.”

“Thank
you. She told me you have some ideas on how to improve the real estate listing process.”

“Yes,
and that’s a good introduction. The best approach, if you have some time, is to
show you what we deal with every day and then I can elaborate on the problems
associated with those methods, and make some suggestions. Mercedes says you’re
a bright Harvard graduate, and some other things more personal, and you’re helping
Paddy O’Brien expand his business. I have some contacts at the Real Estate
Board that can be influential if they see how positive changes can be made.
They just need to understand in more detail what I’ve been spouting about.
Regardless, when can you come over to see what we do?”

“Well
M…Stephen, I have some things I need to finish this morning, but would this
afternoon be too early?”

There
was a moment of silence on the other end. “Scott, I like your style. There’s
nothing on my calendar that can’t be switched around. You call the time.”

“How
about 1 p.m.?”

“Excellent.
I’ll see you then. Goodbye.”

I didn’t
even have time to say goodbye.
That went much better than I expected. Sounds
like Mercedes shared some personal thoughts.
I took a deep breath and
headed toward Paddy’s office.

*.*.*

I was
two steps out my office when Mike yelled at me.

“Hey
Scott, you owe me an update on seeing Mercedes. How did that go?”

When I
stepped into his office, he motioned me to have a seat. “Mike, I wish you could
have been there.”

“Really,
I don’t think so. Tell me the details.”

I didn’t
answer immediately. “Where do I start? Well she’s as gorgeous as ever. Her
entrance stopped all conversation in the pub. You can fill in the details
there. I realize I should have called her some time over the last two years…I
owed her that much. She made me as uncomfortable as ever, but I enjoyed being
with her. It just takes some getting used to. To that point, we’re going to be
seeing each other when she returns from a trip.”

I could
tell he was filling in the blanks, which detectives are known to do.
“Interesting, I’m glad you met her there alone. Did I hear you calling her dad’s
office?”

“Well,
there were two advertised reasons to meet with me. One was a business
opportunity with her dad and the
Boston Real Estate Board
to improve the
real estate listing process. The other is more sensitive and involves Mercedes’
trip to Bermuda.”

“I heard
Mercedes’ name mentioned,” Paddy said as he stuck his head in the door.

“Yes
Paddy, I met with Mercedes last night. I was just telling Mike she has one
opportunity for us to help improve the real estate listing process. Her dad has
some ideas. I set up a meeting with him for this afternoon. The other relates
to Mercedes trip to Bermuda. I was just coming to see you. This will save me
explaining it twice. She’s going down there in an unofficial/official Bureau capacity
to learn anything more about rich-young men disappearing.”

Paddy
questioned, “Where do we fit in with that?”

“Well,
unofficially a family of one of the missing men is not satisfied with progress
and wants to conduct their own investigation. Mercedes trip is going to confirm
what the FBI knows so far, and if a parallel investigation could help. I think
she feels the Bureau is limited in what they can officially do since another
country is involved. She said she’s in a position with that family to recommend
our office. I shared Charlotte’s letter with her. Her thoughts were if that
other private investigation actually got started we could combine Charlotte’s request with it.”

“Sounds
very interesting, Scott. Maybe we should let you date more often,” he said,
laughing.

“Well, I
should have called Mercedes a long time ago. I think I might be seeing more of
her in the near future.”

“Scott,
I think that will do you a world of good. You’ve grieved long enough. You look
like the Scott we used to know,” Paddy said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“How did the conversation with her dad go?”

I smiled,
quickly responding, “I was apprehensive about that call, but he was very
professional and made me quite comfortable. I was worried if he was going to
bring up Melanie’s name, or that whole scenario.”

Mike
quickly added, “If anyone should have been uncomfortable with that conversation
it should have been him…his daughter almost killed you.”

Paddy
held up his hand. “Scott, do we need to assist with anything you’re working
on?”

“No
Paddy, thanks for asking. I’m going to drop off the Wang flows, and then the
ball will be in their court for a few days. I’m okay. By the way, the people
over at Wang have offered a mainframe setup for us, but I told them we do not
have the space for it here. I should have let you deal with that, but I can
always amend my answer. I think they realize our focus on business processes is
going to be closely related to computers. They want us using their computers,
and no one else’s.”

“Can’t
you just see Bill if he had a computer right in our office. We would need a
much larger space, but we might just take them up on it…that is if you keep
bringing in business.” He smiled, and looked at Mike. “What do you think Mike? Do
you think we should make him our official bait?”

“No
Paddy, you’re forgetting Melanie almost made him that. By now she’s been long part
of many a meal. I’m sorry, that was a little distasteful…but she did make four
men food for the crabs. She got what she deserved. The other two women, who
didn’t kill themselves, got life imprisonment.”

“Okay
Mike, you made your point. Scott, if you need any help with the real estate
project, or Wang, just let me know. If Mercedes has information from her trip,
maybe we can all meet with her. Keep it up Scott, and we’ll need bigger
offices.”

Mike
held up his hand and commented, “Scott, one further comment, I’m really glad
you’re going to be seeing Mercedes on a personal level. Lisa would not want you
to spend the rest of your life focused on something you can’t change. You loved
each other, you did the best you could—fate changed it, and you can’t alter it.
You can only influence the future—go for it.”

I got up
and looked at Mike. “Thanks ‘coach.’” Coming from my ‘best man’ at our wedding,
that was advice received as a close friend.

Chapter 9

The
meeting with Stephen was very productive. He covered the existing process and
problem areas. His suggestions were sound and could be implemented with some
technology. I had enough information to rough out an existing process flow, and
what the new process would look like.

I told
him I would need two days to put my material together. We planned on meeting
Friday afternoon. His real estate operation was much larger than I expected. He
not only listed and sold properties, but his company had a development arm
which he had successfully expanded into an entity large enough to redevelop
entire city blocks. No wonder he had the attention of some important people. I
was amazed he had architects working in his own company. I even recognized one of
my Harvard classmates.

Stephen had
red hair, but it was graying around the edges—that is, what was left of it. He
was a tall man. I could see where Mercedes had developed her handshake. His
hand dwarfed mine. It took a moment for the feeling to return. I was more
prepared when I said goodbye, reminding me of Mercedes…but she had kissed me instead
of giving me a handshake…pleasure versus pain.

I
noticed pictures on his credenza were of his wife and Mercedes’ Harvard
graduation. There was no picture of Melanie to be seen. I remember the stories
in the paper were cruel, tied Melanie’s ability to operate a slaughter house,
because she was connected to his real estate office. However, as time passed,
things got back to normal. It was obvious his business hadn’t suffered.

*.*.*

I put
the finishing touches on the process flows and created some overhead slides. My
presentation lasted about an hour with additional time for questions and
answers. Stephen had many members of his real estate office in attendance and several
people from his property development team. There were some suggestions made,
which Stephen asked me to incorporate.

Stephen
was tickled to see his thoughts conveyed so thoroughly. We were going to use
computers to provide full listings of available properties, sorted three
different ways, and tied to the actual listing documents with a reference
number. Any updates and changes would be incorporated in the new property
listings and available on microfiche via the reference number.

This
approach gave even new agents a complete list of available properties,
eliminating the time consuming manual process of updating hard copy listing
books. It also eliminated much of the paperwork and cost of mailings. I was
convinced it would be a real benefit to the Real Estate Board and manageable. I
could envision how computers could be used in the near future to provide even
greater efficiency and functionality.

My task
was to update the slides with the recommended changes and be prepared to meet
with Stephen and the Real Estate Board as soon as he could set it up.

Late in
the afternoon, Stephen invited me back to his office. He pressed a button,
revealing a well-equipped bar.

“What
will you have Scott?” He smiled, waving at the selection.

I
thought about asking for a beer. “I’d like a Jack on the rocks with a slight
touch of water.”

“Excellent
choice, in fact I’ll join you.” He poured the drinks, and then waved me to have
a seat in a lounge area near his personal conference table. When I sat down I
felt like I was headed to South America. The chair was so soft it engulfed me.
He just smiled at my reaction.

“So
Scott, you’ve met the best and worst of my family. What do you think of
Mercedes?”

I
remembered my first response when Paddy asked me that question. “She’s quite the
package.”

He
nearly choked on his drink. “What an excellent choice of words. We are really
proud of her, but we would have preferred her to be in a different line of
work. However, she’s found her niche and I’ve learned the hard way not to try
to change her mind. She gave me part of a story about being stranded in a cabin
on Christmas Eve with you. Would you care to share?”

“No sir.
If you want those details you need to get them from her. However, you’re very
correct in not trying to change her mind once it’s made up.”

“Nicely
put young man. Scott I really enjoy your involvement with our project, or our
two projects. Cheers…here’s to changing the future.”

“I’ll
drink to that.”

*.*.*

I
enjoyed my time with Mercedes’ dad, but I will remember to limit my drinking to
one drink. I’m not sure what I may have said after the second drink. He didn’t
mention anything about it when we met with the Real Estate Board the following
week.

The
meeting was a success. They asked us to set up an actual demonstration as soon
as possible. We told them we would work out the details, but it would take a
week to set up the equipment and process. We would do a selection of the
listings for one of their territories including loading the data into the
computer for the listings. Our next meeting was scheduled for next week.
Stephen provided a contact person in his office to fund what was needed. I
worked out the details with Bill in our office on how to load the data and
sorts required.

I had
been so busy with this project and my other work that it dawned on me that
Mercedes had returned from her trip a while ago. When I got to my apartment
that night, I decided not to wait any longer and called her.