Cat On The Scent

42

Earlier that same night Sarah, in a rage, had slapped her husband in the face. He slapped her back.

“You forget your station, madam.” He coldly turned his back on her.

“You can't go out alone. You hire a bodyguard or I will!”

“Don't tell me what I can do. And don't worry that I'll be killed. Whoever tried was a damned poor shot.”

“You can be insufferably smug.”

“And you can be a bloody nag.”

With some effort, she composed herself. “What happened at the meeting today?”

“Surprisingly, Archie thought your joining us was a good idea, once he had time to adjust to it.”

“And?”

“Blair wants to consult his lawyer. It would give you and me overwhelming control of the corporation and there is the small matter that you haven't invested your share of capital.”

“Ass.”

“He's a better businessman than I assumed he would be. I thought he was just a pretty face and an empty head.”

“What does he care what I put in or what percent of the stock we own? He'll still make a boatload of money.”

“Give him time.”

“You'll persuade him?”

“Actually, I think you will.”

The telephone rang.

Sarah picked it up. “Hello. What are you doing calling here?”

Archie replied on the other end, “I'd like to speak to your husband.”

She handed the phone to H. “Archie.”

“Hello, Arch. Forgive Sarah. She still believes you shot me.” He listened a bit, chewed his lip, nodding in agreement with Archie's ideas. Finally, he turned to Sarah, who had flopped down on the sofa and pointedly picked up a magazine. “He'd like to speak to you.”

“No.”

He put his hand over the receiver. “Sarah, I insist. You must get over this absurd notion that Arch tried to kill me.”

Furiously, she stood; her magazine slithered to the floor. She took the offered phone. “Yes.”

“I'm sure H. filled you in on our meeting today.”

“Yes.”

“I think it would be beneficial to all parties if we sat down and talked.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” She glared at H., who made appeasing gestures.

“Well, I have a great deal to say to you.” He hurried his words before she could cut him off. “We need to talk, especially if we're going to be in business together.”

“That's up to Blair Bainbridge.”

“Sarah . . .”

“Hold on.” She covered the mouthpiece. “He wants to talk to me privately. Do I have to do this?”

“I think it would be best for all concerned.”

She removed her hand from the mouthpiece. “All right.”

“How about my office tomorrow afternoon?”

“Make it Friday. I have a dentist's appointment tomorrow.”

“Fine. Friday. My office.”

She hung up the phone. “Friday. His office. Are you happy now?”

“Yes, the sooner we get this behind us, the better.” His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, then just as quickly as the tension showed on his face, he erased it.

“It would be helpful if we knew who killed Tommy Van Allen and why.” She flopped back down on the sofa, bending over to retrieve her magazine. “You don't think it was Archie?”

Vane-Tempest lowered his bulk next to her. “Much as I trust my instincts in business, I have learned not to jump to conclusions. We both know Archie Ingram doesn't have the guts to kill anyone in cold blood. You're using these events to express other, repressed emotions such as anger at the fact that I have kept you from my business. I've shut you out of a large part of my life. I've treated you like a child.”

“Yes, you have.” She lowered her eyes, then looked into his eyes again.

“I'm turning over a new leaf. If Blair obstructs your inclusion in Teotan, I'll start another corporation and you can be president.” He put his arm around her. “But, I think he'll see the light of reason just as you will when Archie speaks to you. We were all such good friends once. Let's go back to the way things were.”

She put her head on his shoulder. “I'd like that.”