Gary had a sales meeting as soon as he got to the office, so it was close to lunch before he could open his briefcase and bring out the incriminating files. His chest tight with apprehension as he opened the bundle, he spread them out on his desk and looked over them one by one.
Each was a packet of documents about a fire, including a copy of the insurance policy and who was paid for the losses. The beneficiaries had been different, and Gary began to wonder if Caroline’s perceived connection had been some sort of game she wanted to play with him. He couldn’t put it past her, based on her previous performance.
Flipping through the pages, he noticed that each also contained an official investigation report from down town. An investigator had signed off on them in turn, declaring them to have been accidents. When he reached the third stack, he did a double take and had to look back at the others to be sure. Yup. All signed by Harvey Waters.
That in itself would not have seemed odd if Harvey had been the only investigator the city had, but as one of three, the fact that his name appeared on all four caused a quiet alarm bell to ring in Gary’s mind. Couple that all four of the victims were clients of Ben Monroe, and all had their buildings burn to the ground in such a close time frame….
A shiver ran up Gary’s spine at the recollection of the fire that had come near taking his mother-in-law and stepson’s lives two years ago. “These were no accident,” he mumbled aloud, flipping the rest of the pages, hoping to find some other clue.
Unable to locate anything else, he decided to start there. But first, he needed to arrange a meeting with the only people he felt he could trust at that exact moment; Caroline Baker and Benjamin Monroe. But how? He couldn’t have Caroline roaming around in public if someone were after her; they would have to be discrete.
Snapping his fingers, he recalled that being Tuesday, it would be late in the evening before Candy arrived home. “If I plan this right, we’ll be done, and Ben will be gone before she gets there.” Of course, Lanelle would know about the meeting, so he would have to work around that, but an excuse would be easy to manufacture.
Deciding he would have to risk it, he made the quick call to Ben’s office, but Diane informed him that he was in court. “Well, shoot. Could you let him know that Gary Ford called?”
Recognizing the name, Diane laughed, “Mr. Ford! Ben was trying to reach you yesterday! I guess the two of you keep missing each other. He even took your address when he left, so I assumed he went to see you at home.”
“No,” Gary hesitated, then had an idea, “I guess he changed his mind. But if you can get a message to him, tell him to come over for dinner tonight. We’ll talk then,” he added with a jovial chuckle for effect.
“I’ll text him exactly that,” the receptionist agreed before hanging up.
Deciding to give Caroline a heads up, Gary next dialed the house, which his target answered on the second ring – “Hello, Ford residence!”
“Caroline, it’s me, Gary. Are you ok? You sound flustered.”
“I’m fine,” she replied breathily, “I’m cleaning. What do you want?”
“I’ve invited someone over for dinner, so make an extra serving,” he informed her crisply, considering for a moment if he should keep their guest’s name to himself. Deciding it might be better if she were prepared, he continued, “It’s Ben.”
“Ben! Are you crazy?” she hissed. “I told you I think he might be involved –“
“He’s not involved,” Gary soothed, cutting her off. “He’s just as scared as you are. He’s the one who came to the house last night, and I think you’re both right about things being questionable with these incidences.”
“Well, I’m glad you agree,” she huffed in his ear.
“Yes, but I really don’t want to drag Candy into this if we can help it, so dinner needs to be ready so we can eat, talk, and get him out of there before she gets home.”
“Ok, I’ll take care of the dinner part,” Caroline reluctantly agreed. “What about Lanelle?” she asked more quietly, in case the older woman was no longer asleep. “Won’t she be suspicious?”
“We’ll think of a good excuse,” Gary agreed, noticing the time. “Right now, I have to go. I have a client to meet for lunch, but I wanted to make sure everything would be set for when I get home.”
“It’ll be set,” Caroline nodded as she agreed. “We’ll see you tonight.” Hanging up the phone, she paused with her hand hanging onto the receiver for a long moment as she considered how easily their plan could come unraveled. After all, this wasn’t a game, and if the men who trashed her apartment found them, innocent people could be hurt or killed.
Looking around the spotless kitchen she had given a good scouring, she sighed. Having spent most of her life looking out for herself, it wasn’t like her to worry about what might happen to someone else. But Dakota was just a kid; a sweet and innocent child, and she would hate to see him pay in any way for her mistakes.
Keeping herself busy with lunch and more cleaning for the afternoon, Caroline tried not think about what her hiding place could cost them. Shortly after four o’clock, she greeted the youngest member of the household at the front door. “How was school today?” she asked as she helped him out of his jacket.
“School,” he repeated, tearing himself away and darting for his stash of toys.
“Hey, now!” she called after him, catching his arm and insisting he stop and speak to her. “You may play after our conversation.” Working to garner his attention, she knelt before him and waited patiently until he had looked her in the eye. Then, she repeated, “How was school today?” in a slow, well enunciated style.
“School,” he repeated, anger sending his voice up a few decibels.
“Yes,” Caroline smiled warmly, “Say ‘school was fine’ and I will let you go.”
“School’s fine,” he managed with a bit of drool.
Catching the trickle of slobber with a napkin from her pocket, Caroline nodded encouragingly. “That’s it, Dakota. Manners are important!” Once he had been cleaned and returned her grin in his crooked fashion, she released his arm and he resumed course for the box in the corner.
“He’s a handful,” Lanelle informed her from the doorway, having taken up the location to watch the exchange.
“Yes,” Caroline agreed. “Candy mentioned she would like to see his social behaviors improve. The impulsiveness I think we can curtail; not sure what we can do about the spitting, though.”
“It’s part of his condition,” the boy’s grandmother explained.
“I know. I looked it up last night, while I was in bed. He’s better off than some, but not as well off as others.” Standing straighter, she announced, “Daks, you have one hour to play. Then dinner will be ready and we will need to eat when Gary gets home.” Eyeing Lanelle as she brushed past her, the blonde made for the kitchen to begin preparing the meal, and to contemplate exactly what Mr. Ford might be thinking with his current course of action.