Wings of Deception (17 page)

“I suppose you do know my wife well enough to know she is an early riser.
” His words were slow and deliberate and
Jacks saw no reason to respond. “
I am afraid I’m not though and she likes to keep me company.
”

He chuckled in amusement.

“
S
he will be down shortly
,
as I have arranged to have
dresses
delivered for her
to
try on
before lunch
. The governor’s ball is next week and I want her to look as spectacular as it has become expected. She is a beautiful woman
,
don’t you think Jacks
?
But of course you do, after all
you meant to one another.”

“Well...”

“
Now Jacks, y
ou do not have to pretend with me, Sheila told me all about the two of you and
its
okay
.
A
fter all
,
you were ending things
and
moving
away
.
I am curious as to
why
you would leave such a treasure
behind
.
”
Again
,
there was no response
so he continued.
“
But of course
,
if it makes you uncomfortable to talk about my wife with me
,
I totally understand.
”

Jacks was
slow to answer, not sure what the hell Sheila
had
told him. The two of them an item was news to him.
If Morgan was going to be slick then he would just
have to
be slicker.

“
Ah
, you know how it is
.
S
ome people are destined to be just friends.” He
added
indifferently
,
“
To be honest she would not give up her religion
a
nd the fact she is a Christian turned me off.
I just could not get past
that,
if you get my drift.
I cannot see how you could either but, to each his own I suppose.
She is a
good friend
though and I hope you are treating her well.”

Jacks
could see the displeasure in
Morgan’s eyes
and hoped he had said the right thing
,
showing a little concern but not too much.

“I will admit to you that it would be better
between
us if she
was
not still in love with you, but in time, in good time I will erase you
and her God
from her mind and then she will belong
to me
completely
.”

He
laughed
. T
he displeasure
in his eyes
turning to one
of mad
ness
and
Jacks
feared for Sheila’s safety the more. Whatever she had told this freak he needed to know, but how? He had to find a way before he left, to talk to her.

In reply to Morgan he said simply, “You know women Morgan, they always want what they do
n’t
have. I am sure Sheila’s feelings for me are not as strong as you think. We never got
so
far you know, to the point of getting serious or at least
,
I did
not
think so.” He added the last quickly for he had no idea how far Sheila pretended their relationship
went
.
Were they supposedly engaged maybe?
Relief filled him when Morgan frowned, “I know you did
n
’
t actually bed her Jacks
,
but
I am sure
you
had your
intimate moments.
As for
Sheila’s
virtue, it
was…” He smiled as if
the thought brought back memories and Jacks wanted at that moment to strangle him but gave no indication of his feelings as Morgan finished. “Let’s just say it was a big plus to have all that innocence to indulge in.”

Swallowing hard to keep his mouth shut
,
Jacks
managed a
grin as if
Morgan’s
talk was not offensive to him
.

“Look Morgan, let’s get something straight right now. What you do or do not do with your wife is no concern of mine. The fact that you are blackmailing me into doing dirty work for
you
,
however
is my
concern
. I do
not
like
you
.
I do not like what you are trying to do. But I am interested in where you get your orders from because
if I am going to take orders
,
I want to get them from the top, not from some flunky like you.
”

Morgan laughed, “Touché! So you do have some temper. I was beginning to wonder
if all the stories I have heard were true.
”

“Look Morgan, my flight leaves
early this after
noon
and we still have not completed our discussion from last night.
I know what you want me to do
,
but
not
who?
”

He couldn’t wait to get
away from
the man, his house or his creepy
servants
. Having to leave Sheila though was not going to be easy. He
understood
now why she had been acting so weird.

Morgan motioned for the man standing just inside the door and instructed him to bring coffee before he agreed, “You are right, we have not.
Come, let’s
go
sit.
”

Jacks followed him to where a grouping of sofas and chairs covered in red leather
were arranged in front of a large fireplace with a circular table in between. Before they could
even
sit down
there was a large tray with a silver coffee pot and pastries
put on
the
table
,
obviously meant for more than one person.
He was sure Morgan was aware that he had already eaten
and figured it was to share with Sheila.
As if he knew what Jacks was thinking, Morgan confirmed this, “Sheila should be down. She adores the pastries the cook makes for her
. See? She is spoil
ed
by all.
Here, at least have some coffee.”

The server poured him a cup and he accepted it, silently sipping the hot liquid waiting for Morgan to eat a muffin of some sort. He desperately needed to
communicate with
Sheila somehow
before he left. He was so deep in his thoughts that it surprised him when Morgan spoke.

“The
first
name you need is Crenshaw.
I will have other information delivered verbally by a contact there in Mississippi.
There
is never
a paper trail Jacks, never. Oh, and there will be rewards but first
,
we have to know you can be trusted. After that
,
who knows Jacks, we may become great friends you and I.”

Chuckling, he proceeded to eat another of the pastries and Jacks was thinking,
not in this life time buddy
!
The name Crenshaw was surely not the Crenshaw as in Tom Crenshaw the Lt Governor
,
there in Mississippi? To make sure he said, “Tom Crenshaw?” When Morgan nodded h
is head yes, he wondered what that poor bastard had done
to them
but it was not something to think about just yet.

Before he finished his coffee
,
Sheila entered the room. Jacks put his cup down and stood. Morgan frowned and said, “Sit back down Jacks
….
darling come join us, Jacks has been waiting for you and our business is all done
so
w
e
have a
good long
while
before
we have to leave. Baggett will drop me and take Jacks here back to the airport.
”

The conversation was casual and Sheila spoke only when Jacks directed a question to her.
To her
which
was superficial and
distant
. Morgan watched very closely for any sign of Jacks having lied to him about
his feelings for Sheila
.
Not finding any he relaxed.
When his phone rang
,
he stood and walked across the room to answer it
.
Jacks took the opportunity to hiss
through a smile
, “Wh
y
have you told him that we were in love? It was the worst thing you could have done.
”
Sheila’s
back was to her husband and her voice
was
a  whisper
.

“
I know that now,
I only told him that to get rid of him after th
e dinner that night
. Now
,
he
refuses to
believe that we weren’t. Jacks please
,
you have to
be careful.” Louder she said, “You must come back and let Morgan show you his new car collection, it is his latest ‘toy.’
Behaving like the perfect hostess she refilled his empty cup. Morgan finished his call and
standing in back of Sheila’s chair
, join
ed
in. “Absolutely, 
b
ut
right
now I am going to have to leave you two to entertain
one
other. I’m afraid there is a crisis Abe needs my help with. You do
n’t
mind do you Jacks? No, of course you don’t.” He laughed. “Sheila your gowns will be here
soon
, pick whatever you like or keep them all and Jacks, I will have my car sent back
here
to take you to the airport. We will be talking soon.”

Was it some kind of test?

“That’s good Morgan, I am sure we will be talking, soon.”

The man nodded, deliberately
planting
a kiss on top of Sheila’s head
. L
eaving them
alone he
spoke with the employee still hovering at the door.

“Sheila?”

“Wait Jacks, don’t say anything yet.”
She whispered softly and stood
and Jacks stood also
,
acting as normal as possible.

“Carman, you may take the tray now.”

The young man nodded and came over and picked it up
.
Sheila was sure he had orders not to leave them alone
,
but
after hesitating for a minute
he did as she asked. Knowing that he would return quickly she
spoke rapidly
, 
“
He will be back
in just a minute.
It is not safe to talk here. Keep
the conversation casual
and listen to everything I say and read between the lines
when he gets back
, okay
?
”

“Okay, but I am worried about leaving you with that creep!”

“I know.
I think I must have died and went to hell! Thank God you came!
”

“Don’t go thanking Him, you can thank me instead, it will do you more
good
.” He grinned.

“
This is
not funny
,
Jacks!”

The man returned quickly
,
as
she
predicted and posted himself just inside the doorway. He
was
openly watch
ing
them and Sheila started talking about the books,
steadily
moving to the farthest part of the room from the door explaining,
“This is Morgan’s favorite room Jacks. He has many private meetings in here. Most any Monday evening you can be sure to find him here with several of his friends. It is a good thing that the servants like to have Mondays off.” She laughed
,
glancing at the door. Carman gave no indication that he was hearing what she was saying but she took no chances. She spoke of the house and everyday things before he sensed a change in her voice. He
inserted
an “I see
,
”
e
very once in a while but
mostly
let her talk.