Thin Blood Thick Water (Clueless Resolutions Book 2) (19 page)

At 7:15 AM on Saturday morning, Maggie Marshall arrived at her office in Marshall Real Estate Services. As a sole proprietor with one employee Maggie had, since she started the company, followed a strict work ethic. As an expert in her field of financial services, she felt that the success of this business enterprise would hinge on her abilities and her being attentive to every detail. It was, after all, her only source of income.

Maggie hadn’t been in the office for a week now and consequently, while she drove to the office on this morning, she had experienced a vague feeling of impending doom. She felt, sort of, like an employee whom had goofed-off for a few days and expected to be fired when she showed up. She had laughed aloud at that mental image.

As she turned the key and stepped through the office door it was gratifying to feel the sense of normalcy that came over her.
“In reality I am totally in charge and answer to only one other individual, Jessie, my secretary-receptionist, and that would be on Monday morning”,
she thought humorously. Actually, Maggie appreciated the girl’s handling of the business affairs as well as she did. She decided then and there that her young protégé was due for a reward.

The first priority Maggie had to deal with this morning was to get an appointment with her primary physician to get a proper diagnosis for her hand injury. A call to her doctor’s shared medical facility resulted in an appointment, on an emergency basis, at 1:00 PM for the exam. Next on her list of tasks were reading the message memos and playing back the voice-mails.

By 9:15 Maggie had gotten caught up on her business details and she wrote a note to Jessie, thanking her for handling things during her delayed return. She left the office, satisfied that everything was under control and headed back to the apartment, with a side stop for a dozen of eggs at the local mini-market. She hoped to join Max for a well-deserved leisurely breakfast.

Max had gotten out of bed and was in the shower by the time Maggie arrived, egg carton in hand. An electric percolator was on the kitchen counter emitting its aroma-filled pulsations as she walked in. Within ten minutes the breakfast table was set for two with glasses of orange juice, plates, empty coffee cups, napkins and silverware. The four-slice toaster was primed with bread slices waiting to be engaged, and the pre-buttered griddle, an opened package of bacon and an opened egg carton awaited the appearance of Max.

“Now, this is the way I like to come out from my morning shower!” Max exclaimed as he strode to the dining area. “This is a habit I could get used to really fast,” he continued, as he gave Maggie a hug.

“As long as you get up first and start the coffee like this, you’ve got a deal,” Maggie retorted. “I just had to get to the office to satisfy myself that everything was okay,” she explained.  Max agreed, nodding understandably.

With the breakfast finished, the coworkers went about perusing the Hargrove House ‘books’ on Max’s computer files, updating and executing the activities required by his accounting firm.

“There, things are looking good. Once I drop off these print-outs it should result in a good report for this quarter,” Max stated. “I think I’ll give my apartment manager a raise,” he added with a glint in his eye, as he beamed a broad grin at Maggie.

“Yeah, right. Apartment manager, bookkeeper, housekeeper, chief cook and bottle-washer,” Maggie quipped, conspicuously counting on her fingers. “That’s four raises as I see it, you tight-wad!” They shared a good laugh from that exchange. Despite the changeable and challenging year they were experiencing, their relationship apparently had ‘weathered the storm’.

Meanwhile, it was a busy Saturday in Lakeside. The USAP headquarters, usually quiet on weekends, was abuzz with the comings and goings of the various air and land transportation vehicles.

Brad Charles was test-flying his newest addition to the USAP fleet. He had been working on the overhaul and rehab of a Bell 206 Helicopter which was purchased as fully-depreciated, surplus equipment from the New York State Police. Almost all of the control mechanisms, some windshield glass, and seats, were replaced and the motor was rebuilt.

The helicopter was intended for use by the Partnership to replace the on-demand rental helicopter which they had been using. Lamar was the only pilot/partner who had helicopter training in the military and no other partners had been instructed on rotary wing aircraft. Brad had been instructed in, and recently received his certification for, maintaining and flying the aircraft.

Today was his first attempt at flying the Bell 206 following his overhaul project. He had been alternately working on it and waiting for parts for eight months, as time allowed. After lowering the completed helicopter from the overhead suspension crane onto its dolly, Brad towed it outside to the airplane parking pad at the rear of the hangar. He disconnected the runabout used for the towing from the dolly and locked the dolly wheels. After buckling the seat belt, the motor was started and Brad went about the recommended checklist prior to takeoff. When he was satisfied with the readings on the instrument panel he increased the throttle and, when he felt the rotors begin to lift the aircraft, he turned it to face into the wind direction. With full throttle now the accent began, and Brad was flying the Bell 206.  The exhilaration he felt was beyond description. It was what he did.

Activity at USAP also included the arrival of Chip Chaplain, Senior Partner.  Chip arrived from Nova Scotia on a commercial airline. He was transported in a service limo from Ithaca-Tomkins Airport accompanied by four staff security guards.  Chip went immediately to his office as the staff guards were set up with taxis to their home addresses.

Danyel had incurred an overnight stopover at Bar Harbor.  Piloting the Cessna Amphibian, she radioed the USAP flight office at 3:10 PM Saturday announcing her pending arrival, by a transition landing via Black Bottom Lake. She explained that the wheel brakes had been less than reliable when she made a conventional landing for fuel in an airport at Bar Harbor. She feared that the relatively short headquarters runway could be problematic if the brakes failed. Brad picked up the message through the portable radio transmitter, which he almost always wore on his belt when out of the flight office.

After circling the lake and headquarters just above tree-top level, Danyel turned into the wind and landed on the lake surface heading parallel to the USAP ramp and boathouse. The turnaround and taxi to the exit area in a crosswind took close to 9 minutes with two attempts to precisely line up for the power-rush up the exit ramp. At 40 yards off shore, full power was applied. The wheel lowering was perfectly timed and the Cessna rolled up the ramp and onto level ground. Danyel feathered the prop to eliminate any thrust and allowed the airplane to coast to a stop. She shut down the engine while still on the runway rather than attempting a taxi to the hangar. This eliminated relying on the questionable braking system.

All Partners were accounted for except for Lamar, who was assumed to have remained in either New Brunswick or Nova Scotia.

Back in Connecticut, having been seated in the dining room of a newly-opened New Haven restaurant, Maggie had ordered beverages for herself and for Max while he was using the men’s room. He returned to their table with a rather perplexed look on his face. He explained that Chip had called on his cell phone and asked that he return to Lakeside by Sunday evening. This was so that he could be at headquarters for a hastily-arranged meeting scheduled for 7:30 AM Monday.

“Is someone else in trouble?” Maggie asked.

“He didn’t say much about anything specific,” Max told her. “But he did say that he was back at headquarters, Mario had gone from the airport to the accident room to be checked out, Danyel got back around 3:00 this afternoon, and Lamar is still among the missing.”

Although Max’s and Maggie’s custom was to not ‘talk shop’ when dining out socially, this call did relate to their recent escapade which involved themselves along with the others. They talked quietly about the bizarre activities that Lamar was involved in, the loss of his brother and his relationship with the tribe of Native Canadian Indians. They had only met him recently and it wasn’t surprising that they had never heard about a connection with the tribe. Lamar’s vague references to his re-married father, who visited him and his mother in New York City when he was a boy, and how he picked-up on their odd language by eaves-dropping on the conversations.

The fine meal, good drinks and excellent company eventually prevailed in this evening experience and the relaxed couple mellowed substantially during the drive back to their East Wayford apartment.

The weekend ended earlier than usual for the ‘Dynamic Duo’, as Jerry Pippin often referred to Max and Maggie. They were having a late lunch on a rainy Sunday at Jerry’s Jug. Showers had been coursing through the area since late morning but the weather was deteriorating due to an approaching storm front. For his flight to USAP headquarters in Lakeside, Max would have to depart in the small and relatively slow Cessna Skylane, from Tweed airport before 3:00 PM. This would be necessary in order to stay ahead of the storms which were approaching from west-to east. The Lakeside weather would be affected before the front reached Connecticut.

“This meeting had better have some real substance,” Max intoned, as he settled the tab Jerry had left. “I was looking forward to some R and R for you and me,” referencing the military acronym for rest and recuperation.

“Let me know if the meeting is about what happened last week,” Maggie suggested.  Max agreed and assured her that he would call later to affirm his arrival in Lakeside.

Maggie drove Max to Tweed airport and waited at the pre-selected vantage point where she could watch. He filed his return flight plan and was transported to the aircraft parking area. He went to the location of the re-fueled Cessna and went through the preflight check. Once buckled into the pilot’s seat Max started the engine, gave a wave to Maggie, and began his taxi to the assigned runway for take-off.  Maggie waited until Max had lifted off so that she could affirm, in her mind, that he was safely on his way. Following that she went about her plan-de-jour consisting mostly of errands, and returned to their Hargrove House apartment to enjoy some entertaining TV while she awaited Max’s call.

As Max approached the USAP airfield the cloud cover was thickening. He radioed for the automatic weather information and didn’t like what he heard. A visual landing might not be possible and the airfield was not equipped with an instrument landing system. Brad was in the flight office and picked up on Max’s frequency.

“Max… Brad here,” was the interruption into the auto-weather recording in Max’s earphones. “I think a VFR landing isn’t going to work for you today, the ceiling is low and the visibility is less than a quarter mile.”

“Roger that,” Max responded. “I’ll file for an IFR landing at Ithaca Regional and get a service ride to Lakeside.”  With that, Max radioed his request and received permission to land at nearby Ithaca-Tomkins Regional Airport under Instrument Landing Rules. Traffic controllers picked him up on radar and issued a new directional heading for a straight-in landing.

The Cessna Skylane handled perfectly on the downward glide path and broke through the cloud ceiling at 400 ft. above ground. Max executed a smooth touchdown, taxied the small plane to the assigned short-term parking area and completed the shutdown procedure.

Max had a service car drop him off at his Lakeside apartment, where he hadn’t been since the weekend before the crew of investigators left for Nova Scotia. The living space was essentially as he left it but Max had a vague sense that someone had been in the apartment during his absence. When Maggie and he chatted later in the evening, Max mentioned the eerie feeling he had experienced.

“For Christ’s sake Max,” she chortled, “What do you suppose it was, a ghost?”

“Alright, I know I sound a little paranoid. It must be post-traumatic stress,” he reasoned. “I guess I’m still a little jumpy from our ‘vacation’ in Nova Scotia,” he concluded derisively.

Before he turned in, Max put together an abbreviated recap on the status of the Bickford matter in case he was asked for it before, or during, the meeting.

Max rose early from a fitful sleep. He shaved, showered, got dressed, and gulped down a cup of instant coffee. Then, with the dawning sun shining over his shoulder, he drove his runabout into the parking area at USAP Headquarters. He was surprised to find that he was not the first arrival. Mario, fresh from his stay at a medical clinic, was in the flight office with Brad, Danyel, and Ezra. After drawing his second coffee of the day from the coffee urn he took a seat at the cafeteria snack table and joined them in a hushed conversation. The topic was the question as to the reason for this urgent meeting.

Aside from Lamar, whom nobody mentioned, Chip was the only other Partner absent. Twenty minutes of the meandering debate left Max with the feeling that the mood among a majority of the Partners was not trending in favor of Chip Chaplain’s decisions, actions or activities. Max realized that some of the references dated back to dealings prior to his joining USAP, but if the decision to accept him as a USAP Partner was based on Chip’s recommendation, then any dissention among the group might also be directed at him as well.

Max rationalized that, since this discussion was taking place in his presence, it could mean either it was meant for him to pass along to Chip, or the group wanted him as an ally and wanted his input. It could also be meant as a warning, or to intimidate him. Max was not the insecure type so he decided that the prudent approach would be for him to listen, offer no agreement or disagreement, and proceed to the meeting.  Experience had taught Max that when faced with a showdown, being prepared was the best defense. If anything adverse was brought up at the meeting it would be dealt with then and there.

At 7:53 the call came from head secretary Heather for all partners on the premises to assemble in the meeting room below Chip’s office.

Just as the apprehensive five stepped into the meeting room from the elevator, Chip entered from his office stairway. After greeting his fellow Partners he suggested that anyone who wished could help themselves to the coffee and doughnut spread on the credenza and, “Get seated and proceed to the business at hand.”

“We’re glad to see you put back together, Mario,” Chip began, referencing his bruised face. “Welcome back to our safe haven.”  Mario nodded his appreciation and received a round of applause from the group. “How did Maggie make out with her bad hand?” Chip asked of Max. Max responded with the medical details of the bad sprain and bone bruise. “Glad to hear it,” Chip commented. “She’s one tough lady!”

With the obligatory pleasantries out of the way Chip stated his reason for the urgent meeting. He began with what he considered to be a “serious issue” with the missing Partner, Lamar Brooks. Chip’s position on the matter was that Lamar had made a choice to “desert the Partnership investigation contingent under fire, at a time when, for all extent and purposes, we were under an attack.” That stated position fell on a stunned, quiet, audience. Everyone in the room knew that the military definition of desertion was an act of cowardice which, in war time, was a crime punishable by death. The group didn’t know whether Chip was exaggerating the situation to justify some sort of plot to remove Lamar from the USAP Partnership, or if he was preparing to issue an edict.  In either case, there was no outward sign of approval from this audience. Mario and Max, along with Maggie, were most likely to feel anger against Lamar. They felt he used his detachment from the intended tribal atrocities to his own advantage, at their expense, while their very lives were at stake. Mario, severely traumatized and beyond earshot at that time, had not witnessed the attempted defense presented by Lamar against overwhelming odds to save his fellow Partners. Though Max and Maggie were disgusted at the time with his seemingly cold indifference to their fates, they had to admit now that Lamar felt he was faced with a ‘damned-if-you-do, or damned-if-you-don’t’ choice. If he had protested to the elders further he would have been subjected to the same doomed fate.  By accepting the elders’ decision, he would have an eventual opportunity to consolidate the younger generation within the tribe against the elders’ twisted, dogmatic control. Lamar Brooks had apparently made a decision to serve what he saw as the greater cause, although in the face of certain death for three compatriots.

The two physically abused and mentally traumatized Partners at the meeting were justified in viewing the question of Lamar Brook’s future Partnership status as rather doubtful, but they were not a majority.

Having presented his thoughts to the Partners, Chip scanned the group looking for signs of agreement, or at least reaction to his comments. There was only silence.

“Are there any questions on the matter? I think it’s pretty clear that Brooks has priorities higher than our partnership based on his recent actions and we should consider a new Partner to provide his specialty,” he stated firmly. “I’m calling for a voice vote, all in favor say aye…” Brad put up his hand as a stop signal.

“I think we may be acting a little prematurely,” Brad Charles suggested. “Some of us know some of the facts, some of us only know a few of the facts. Not one of us seems to know all of the facts and I, for one, think that voting to boot a fully-vested Partner out of USAP is important enough to warrant the full truth.” There was an uneasy shifting of sitting positions and a few throat clearings among the other Partners at this display of apparent disagreement between a key Partner Specialist and the Senior Partner.

“I told you that Lamar Brooks bailed out of the Cessna Caravan while we were taking off from the Forty Five River,” Chip retorted testily. “These people saw that and will confirm it,” he said, waving his hand at the others.

“You also told me that you were having trouble lifting off,” Brad responded. “Somebody suggested that the plane was over-weighted because of the rocket launchers, correct?”

“Probably, but we were into the wind and starting to lift when Brooks opened the hatch and dived out. That slowed the air speed,” Chip responded. “Dannie was in the right seat. She can attest to that,” he continued, looking to Danyel for supporting verification.

Brad looked at Danyel for any sign of agreement but Danyel, totally composed as always, showed no sign that she even heard Chip referring to her. After an awkward moment she looked at Chip with those icy, intensely blue eyes, and said, “I can’t say I was watching the airspeed that closely but, in a quick sequence, I heard the rear hatch open and then I felt the airplane lift off from the water surface. That’s when I heard the crew in back yelling out that Lamar had jumped,” she stated in an even, matter-of- fact tone. “Looking back now I think that dumping over 200 pounds of cargo is what allowed us to lift off and avoid hitting those canoes,” she finished coldly. Chip, with his face turning red progressively, was obviously blind-sided by Danyel’s contradiction.

It took a few moments for Chip Chaplain to compose himself while he checked off something on the sheet of paper he was referencing on the table, and shuffled it to the bottom.

“The Brooks question is tabled pending further information on his whereabouts and his intentions for the future,” he stated in a muted manner. “The main issue at this meeting is a review of the investigation regarding the acquisition of Bickford Laboratory. Max Hargrove headed up the investigation and I’ll turn the meeting over to Max at this point,” Chip segued, having not briefed Max beforehand.  Max was, as was his custom, prepared for this possibility. If this was an attempt by Chip to embarrass him, or to bolster a plot to discredit him, he was in for his second set-back of the day as far as Max was concerned.

“I will need more time to prepare a comprehensive report to the Partnership regarding the potential acquisition of the Bickford Laboratory real estate, and the Bickford Laboratory business.” I do have some information,” Max stated now, looking down at his notes. “This was gathered on two visits to Nova Scotia, along with my recommendations based on that information. Since our last visit was interrupted by an abduction of me and my co-investigator and dear friend, finance expert Margaret Marshall, I can only report on what we had uncovered up until that time. We were rescued by Chip and Danyel,” he summarized. “We were transported back to tend to our wounds, a concussion for me, and bruised hand bones for her, substantial dehydration of both of us, and Mario with a severely battered face, head and torso. Chip stayed on and led a team of selected staff guards to revisit Bickford Laboratory and get answers to unanswered questions pertinent to the abduction and a potential acquisition. I haven’t heard from Chip as to the result of his revisit to the laboratory and cannot address the result of that inspection. Perhaps he can recap that for us before we adjourn the meeting,” Max said assertively.

“Based on the incomplete expense accounting, the shoddy payroll bookkeeping that was presented, the undocumented source of most of the business income, and the unorthodox building configuration, my conclusion at this point is that an acquisition of the Bickford Laboratory could be an unrecoverable risk. Any evidence to the contrary, which I am willing to consider, could alter that conclusion.”

Max then turned the meeting back to Senior Partner Chip Chaplain.

Chip was totally un-supported and unprepared for the turn of events during this meeting, and his insensitive, self-motivated reason for the meeting was obvious. Yet, unable to generate an awareness of that character flaw, he simply stated that he would “get back to the Partners soon with what he found”.and adjourned the meeting.

After gathering his notes, Chip Chaplain rose stiffly, turned on his heel and proceeded up the stairway to the seclusion of his loft.

The attendees of the ‘urgent’ meeting sat in a moment of silence as their senior Partner exited the meeting room and, one by one, they began gathering their belongings and moving to the restricted-access rear hallway leading to their respective offices.