Catalyst (24 page)

"Congratulations, Courtney," Dorothy said. "When you
leave the stage, please go into the backstage area."

Courtney's heart thumped. That meant she was due a
special award but for what she had no idea.

"Thank you, Doctor Infield," she replied and amidst
the applause from the gallery, received her diploma.

Fifteen minutes later Linda joined her in the dim
back room. "Linda," Courtney whispered. "My God, you're here, too.
Do you know what you won?"

"No idea but I knew you were here when you didn't
come back off the stage. God, I'm nervous."

They waited and more students appeared until there
were close to twenty standing or sitting in the room. Most appeared
excited but a few attempted to hide their feelings and remained
remote or serious.

A hush crossed the room when one of the professors
walked in. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said and a ripple of laughter
went through the group. "The front row of the auditorium has been
cleared for your use. From there you will be called to the stage.
After you receive your new award you move to the rear of the stage
where seats are provided."

Courtney grinned at Linda and made sure they sat
together for the remaining part of the ceremony.

"Our first Merit Certificate is for our oldest
graduate, Mrs. Mary Jensen," Dorothy announced. "We will not give
you Mary's age but suffice it to say she is over eighteen."

The audience clapped and chuckled as a silver-haired
grandmother walked onto the stage and received her certificate.

"And our youngest graduate, sixteen-year-old Linda
Wycherley."

Linda smiled at Courtney and followed Mary up.

More certificates were awarded before the dean moved
to a side table with several trophies and cups sitting on it.

"The judges of the English Department essay on a
current issue stated the final five selections were of extremely
high quality but the winner stood out for her persuasive style,
excellent structural skills and overall presentation. The winning
essay is entitled, Being Lonely in a Crowd by Courtney Howlet. Step
forward please, Courtney."

Courtney's heart raced as she made her way forward,
received her award and found herself beside Linda. Their eyes met
and Linda gave a nervous smile as the seats around them filled and
the auditorium broke into thunderous applause.

"Finally," Doctor Infield announced. "The Robert
Peching Memorial Trophy for the top student of the Northside
Community College's high school graduation class goes to our
youngest student. Miss Linda Wycherley has topped the school with
an 'A' in every subject and a top mark of ninety-two percent in
chemistry."

"Oh hell," Linda whispered as Courtney squeezed her
arm.

She received a huge silver cup and a massive bunch of
flowers while the auditorium erupted into claps, hoots and cheers.
It was obvious she was a popular winner.

"Would a member of Linda's family please come forward
to be with her?" the announcer said over the address system.

****

When the announcement asked for a family member to
come forward, Linda glanced back and saw Courtney nod.

"Look," her friend mouthed.

The spotlight focused on one man who stood. He walked
with a distinct limp but held his head high. Linda strained her
eyes and recognized the gaunt figure. Jack was making his way
forward, took the stairs one step at a time and was there beside
her.

"Hello Sweetheart," he said in his gruff voice. "Can
I be your grandad?"

"Oh Jack," Linda replied. She placed her arm through
his and turned to face the dean. "This is my chosen grandfather,
Jack Bonnett. I need nobody else with me today."

"I understand," Dorothy replied and shook the man's
hand. "It must be a proud moment for you, Jack."

"Aye, it is. I have two grand friends with me here on
stage," the elderly man replied as he tucked an arm around the
sniffing youngster and turned to wink at Courtney. Then, with
old-fashioned dignity, he extracted a crisp, white handkerchief
from his top pocket and handed it to Linda. "Here, Sweetheart. Wipe
those tears from your beautiful face. This is a time for our top
student to rejoice. You make an old man so proud."

"Thank you, Jack." Linda sniffed. She wiped away the
tears. The smile returned to her face as lights flooded the
auditorium and she waved at the cheering crowd.

****

"We now invite family members of our other graduates
on the stage to come forward," the public address system
blared.

Courtney could see Lem and Renee but someone was with
them. As the trio walked closer she shook and tears sprung to her
eyes.

The three arrived and a grey-haired man appeared on
stage with a broad smile.

"Daddy. What are you doing here?"

Hank Howlett took his daughter in his arms. "I've
come to see my daughter graduate, Pumpkin."

Tears flowed from Courtney's eyes. Pumpkin. Daddy
called her that at grade school. "But how?"

"Lem contacted me about your graduation. I flew in
from London."

"London, England?"

"That's right, Pumpkin."

"And you came across the world just for my
graduation?"

"Lem contacted me and told everything about you,
Courtney. So here I am."

"Oh Daddy," Courtney said and burst into tears again.
"Thank you for coming."

She turned to Lem and Renee standing beside her and
hugged them. "Thank you."

"That completes the formal graduation service, ladies
and gentlemen." The public address speaker interrupted. "If the
graduates and guests would like to move through to the student
cafeteria…"

Shouts, screams and cheers drowned out the message as
the graduates stood in unison and mortarboards were thrown
traditionally into the air. Students embraced one another in
celebration and tears of joy flowed freely throughout the
auditorium.

Courtney turned, found Ken, kissed him passionately
and dragged him to meet her father. Linda hugged Jack and Diane and
the group moved off the stage to follow the crowd into the
cafeteria.

****

Renee, who tried to maintain a professional neutral
view, studied the reactions of her friends to Hank Howlett's
arrival. Courtney was enraptured and spent all of Tuesday showing
her father around Seattle. Ken withdrew into himself but said the
proper things while Lem and Linda were suspicious of the man's
appearance.

"Oh, he's pleasant enough," Lem confided when they
were in bed that night. "But why now?"

"Why not, Sweetheart?"

"When I contacted him a few weeks back, I received a
formal and curt reply. So much so, I didn't tell anyone. Then we
get this phone call and here he is. Now, if he's the loving father
he wants us to believe, why didn't he help Courtney earlier? You
can't say he didn't know where she was all this time."

"He'd just separated and was probably stressed
out."

"Enough to ignore your only daughter for almost two
years? He never sent her birthday or Christmas cards. At least her
mother did that."

"I agree," Renee responded. "But Courtney is so
excited, let her enjoy having him around. When he goes home, she'll
carry on with her life."

"We'll see," Lem replied. "I hope she doesn't get
carried away in her enthusiasm and do something she may regret
later."

He kissed Renee warmly on the lips, turned off the
light and dropped off to sleep. She lay in the darkness thinking.
There was something not right about the situation. Perhaps she
could get their firm's investigator to probe. Cameron Lowe had that
knack of turning up things an average person would never find.

****

Renee arrived at work on Thursday morning to see
Cameron sitting with his feet on her desk, blowing cigarette smoke
below the
We're a smoke free office
sign.

"I tried to keep him in the reception area and stop
him from smoking," their red-faced receptionist apologized.

"Don't worry, Anne," Renee replied. "You'll see a lot
of Cameron. He doesn't believe in protocol but he's one of the best
investigators in the state. Just let him have his way."

"Hi, Renee," the man being discussed called out. "I
was in Seattle on another job and thought I'd drop in. I like the
flashy office."

"Yes, it is nice." Renee took off her coat and sat in
the client's chair. "Did you find out anything?"

"Plenty. Your Hank Howlett has ulterior motives, all
right. He came back to the United States to apply for a British
work permit. British immigration laws state applications must be
made from outside the United Kingdom. His permit expired and he is
reapplying."

"Okay but how does that affect Courtney?"

"Howlett's a resourceful guy," Cameron continued. "He
obtained her high school graduation results and had them recognized
by the British. She is enrolled at Cambridge University, one of the
most prestigious universities in the country."

"How did he get the university to accept her without
her knowledge?"

Cameron shrugged. "Forged her signature, I
guess."

Renee grimaced. "But why? "

The detective leaned back in the swivel chair and
grinned. "Prestige, Renee. The Brits are class conscious and regard
Americans as brass foreigners. Now imagine if you have a daughter
in one of the icons of 'Old Money'…Cambridge University. It will
enhance your social standing considerably. The girlfriend too."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Renee retorted.
"Who's the damn woman?"

"Lady Jane Hunter-Browne. Browne with an 'e'. She's
divorced from her husband, Sir Jonathan Hunter-Browne but naturally
wants to keep her title and standing in the aristocratic society."
Cameron's sarcasm was heavy-handed.

"So this uncouth Yank has no show with her unless he
can aspire to society's expectations?"

"That's about it. Having a daughter at Cambridge gets
him on the first foot of the ladder," Cameron replied. "It will
help his work permit application and standing in the firm that
employs him. He's a high paid regional manager for a British
electronics firm."

"Thanks for all that, Cameron. What do I owe
you?"

The detective grinned, stood and ground out his
cigarette in a potted plant water container. "It's on the house.
Just toss me more of your court work over the next few weeks."

"Done," Renee replied and reached for his hand. "I do
want more on Linda Wycherley's father."

"Yes. A sad situation. There are a couple of leads
I'm following on that gentleman."

Renee studied her colleague. When Cameron got his
teeth in somebody there was no letting go. She almost felt sorry
for Linda's father. Almost, but not really. The bastard deserved
everything that he was going to get.

****

CHAPTER
22

The argument that evening after Hank dropped his
daughter off and returned to his hotel was the most serious Renee
could remember since she knew Courtney. The girl came into the
house on an emotional high after her father had told her of the
plans to take her back to England and enroll her at Cambridge
University. However, she must have read Renee or Lem's subdued body
language, for she immediately flew on the defensive.

"What's wrong?" she shouted. "I thought you'd be
thrilled for me and look at you both. You'd think I'd committed a
mass murder or something."

"Going home with your father is one option you can
take, Courtney," Lem said in a quiet voice. "But there are
others."

"Like what?" Courtney retorted. Her eyes looked wild
and hurt.

"You may get accepted for Washington State and we
know you can study for a degree at Northside College."

"You'll be leaving your friends here," Renee added.
"Have you talked about this with Ken?"

"Not yet," Courtney said in a quieter voice. "I
wanted to tell you first but I was wrong, wasn't I?" She glared at
Renee. "I thought you were my friends but I was damn wrong. You
don't care about me."

"Oh Courtney," Renee replied.

"Well, you don't. You only care about what is keeping
me here in Seattle." She flung her arms out in exasperation.
"There's a whole world out there. This is a chance of a lifetime.
Do you know Cambridge is one of the top universities in the
world?"

The biting comments cut deep and Renee flushed. She
bit her lower lip and stared at Lem for support.

"Okay, Courtney," he said in a whisper. "Tell us what
will happen if you go to England."

"I'll be with Daddy and attend Cambridge
University."

"But you can't do law," Lem continued.

"Why?" Courtney screamed. "Why the hell not?"

"It's a different country. British laws are different
than ours. Anything you learn there won't be recognized here."

Courtney glared at a serious Lem and Renee with her
downcast eyes. "Well, I'll do something else," she replied but a
quiver of doubt showed for the first time.

"Do you remember Selwyn?" Lem pressed.

"Of course." Courtney regained her momentum and spat
the words out. "What the hell has he got to do with anything?"

"He paid for most of last year's education."

"I didn't ask him to."

"No but he did it just the same."

"He had a guilty conscience because of the way his
little monsters treated me."

Renee stared at Lem and realized what he was trying
to do. "You said it was his children that drove you out?"

"Yeah. So?"

"What about Lady Jane Hunter-Browne's children?" She
had no idea whether the woman had children and was counting on the
fact that Hank had never told Courtney about her, or if he had,
mentioned nothing about a family.

"How did you know about her?" Courtney whispered with
the confidence in her voice dissipating. "Daddy said it was a
secret and not to mention her to you."