Chapter 15
D
ays later, Annie looked at Fergus across the breakfast table. She knew she had a sappy expression on her face, but then, so did he. She wondered if fate would somehow throw a monkey wrench into her newfound happiness.
Don't go there, Annie,
she cautioned herself.
Don't make yourself your own worst enemy. You have something good, really good, going on here. Try for once to enjoy it, and stop worrying about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, because those days may never come.
She took her own advice and smiled.
Fergus smiled back.
“You sure you'll be all right here by yourself today?” Annie asked.
“Of course. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. With that honey-to-do list, I'll probably still be working when you get back. Just in case you're running late, do you want me to start dinner?”
Annie almost swooned. “I would dearly love that, Fergus.”
“Consider it done, then. Let me make sure I have all this straight in my head,” he said, peering down at an actual list that Annie had written out. It had tickled him to no end when he read his honey-to-do list: “Set up Christmas tree. String lights on Christmas tree. Do not decorate till I get back. Hang wreath on front door. Hang wreath over fireplace in the kitchen. Attach the balsam swags to the mantel. Wash the towels. Empty the dishwasher. And, of course, prepare dinner.” Then he asked, with a chuckle in his voice, “Did I get it all right?”
“You did. It sounds like a lot, doesn't it? If you think I'm taking advantage of you, tell me now. I can ask Isabelle to find someone to do it for me.”
“Absolutely you are not taking advantage of me, dear lady. For more years than I care to remember, I longed to do these things over the holidays, but I always worked after my wife died so the younger men could be home with their families. I will get great pleasure doing this, and I can't tell you how I look forward to spending Christmas with you and all your friends.”
Annie beamed from ear to ear. She'd hit the jackpot, no doubt about it. Fergus Duffy was one of a kind. “Okay, then. I'm going to pick up Myra. We're meeting the girls at Nikki's office. Then we're . . . Well, we have business to take care of.”
Fergus's eyes twinkled. “And that business is not my business is what you're saying. Is that right?”
“That's right, Fergus. Just like your little meeting with the president wasn't my business. Imagine what we could do if we pooled our information. No, no, too late. You had your chance. Trust me, the girls and I will ferret it out, at which time you might wish you had confided in me. You think about that while I'm gone, my Scottish friend. See ya when I see you,” Annie said as she slipped into her coat and left by the kitchen door.
She was smiling from ear to ear as she climbed into her warm car, thanks to Fergus's turning on the engine and the heater earlier. There was a lot to be said for consideration. She was still smiling when she barreled through Myra's electronic gates, which opened the moment she was a hundred feet away.
Myra was waiting on the steps of the back porch. She was dressed like a lumberjack, in a red and black plaid jacket, corduroy trousers, and stout walking boots. “We already have our Christmas trees, Myra. Or are you planning on chopping down some trees for fireplace wood?” Annie giggled.
“Go ahead and laugh at me, Annie. I don't really care. It's twelve degrees outside. This is the Christmas season, when all those nasty flu and cold germs abound. I do not want to get chilled. You look . . . bundled up yourself.”
“I'm layered. Lord, Myra, I don't know what to think about all of this. Do we have a mission or not? What is it the president is counting on us to do? No one has a clue. And here we are going to see Maggie's . . . ah . . . snitch. I wish I knew what our game plan was. Or if we even have a game plan, which I don't think we do. We talked it to death the past three days at the nursery, but not one of us came up with anything that makes sense.”
“I know, dear, it is perplexing. Nikki seems to think that visiting Mr. Tookus will help us. We do have names. We just have to find out what they mean. Like Maggie said, there has to be a common denominator somewhere. Isn't it wonderful that Maggie has fallen in love? I've never seen her so happy.”
“Yes, it is. Myra, did you think Yoko looked . . . under the weather? I know she's under a lot of stress with the nursery and Harry's training and all that money they lost to those awful people Harry hired to train him. I hope we alleviated some of that stress by helping out these past three days. This week, she has some college kids from Georgetown helping out after class. To me Yoko just looked . . . Remember how our mothers used to say we looked peaked when we were coming down with something or other? Usually a good bellyache. To me, Yoko looked peaked.”
“I do remember, and yes, I agree the little dear looked peaked, but I think it's something else entirely. I can't be sure about this, Annie, but I think our little lotus flower is pregnant. When I was in the storage room yesterday morning, getting those balls of wire, I heard her in the restroom, and she was throwing up. I didn't let on I was even in the storage room and left after she did. She was also nibbling on saltine crackers most of the morning. One only does that when one is pregnant. I know this for a fact, and not only because Lizzie told me about her own case of morning sickness.”
“But . . . why didn't she tell us?” Annie asked fretfully.
“I don't know, Annie. Maybe she wants to be sure. She's probably scared to death that she might have another miscarriage, and she might think that by talking about it, she'll jinx herself. I'm just guessing here, Annie.”
“Well, it all makes sense. What can we do for her, Myra?”
“Nothing, Annie. When she needs us, I am sure she won't have any trouble asking for our help or our support. She does need more help at the nursery. The college students, according to Yoko, work a few hours here or there, between classes or after class. At best it's iffy. Plus, most of them will be leaving to go to their homes for the holiday break just when her business will need them the most. If there's a way for you to find some people and pay them on the side without offending her, that might take off some of the pressure. Maybe some youth group from one of the churches. We could make a secret donation, something along those lines.”
“I can do that. I'll get on it as soon as I get back home. You are a fearless leader, Myra, and the best part is you aren't tugging on those damn pearls. By the way, when do you get them back?”
“The jeweler said this coming Friday. I miss them. Stainless-steel chains don't work for me, and I don't care if they are in fashion or not. A person could choke on those horrible things, and they
clank,
Annie. Fashion or not, those chains are for young, hip people. Pearls are for people like me.”
The rest of the conversation into Georgetown was about the weather and whether or not they would have a white Christmas. Annie even proposed having a pool on when any of the Sisters would first hear Bing Crosby's version of “White Christmas” on the radio.
Just as they were pulling into the parking lot at Nikki's law firm, Myra reared back and said, “Annie, I have an idea. Charles told me last week that the head of security at my candy company is retiring at the end of January. We're going to have to find someone to replace Mr. Unger. Do you think Fergus might like the job? It's not a demanding one, and he can delegate and make his own hours. The pay is good, with a year-end bonus plus really good benefits. I'm not sure how that would work legally since Fergus isn't a U.S. citizen, but I'm sure Charles would know. Or,” she said slyly, “you could marry him and stop living in sin.”
“You mean like you did with Charles?” Annie quipped.
“Exactly!” Myra laughed.
“It would solve a lot of problems. I'll think about it. Fergus is kind of touchy about finances.”
“Feels like snow again,” Myra said, stepping out of the car. “Good thing this lot was plowed, or we'd be knee-deep in the white stuff.” She looked around. “Looks like all the girls are here, and we're the last to arrive.”
Inside, where it was warm and toasty, the Sisters were waiting in the lobby, their coats over their arms. Conversation consisted, again, of the snow this early in the year and the traffic snarls everywhere.
“Two cars,” Nikki said. “Maggie gave me directions, and just so you know, she is not at all keen on our talking to Abner. I want that clear right up front. She's okay with it, but she is feeling guilty, which is understandable. She also asked that we not . . . not come down too heavy on Abner. Just so you all know, I did not promise anything where Mr. Tookus is concerned. If you're all ready, we should leave before Abner gets his day under way. I'll take the lead. Follow me, but here is a set of directions in case we get separated. Kathryn will drive the second car.” She handed Kathryn the routing instructions and wrapped herself in her long white cashmere coat.
Annie felt excitement ringing in her ears as she held the door for the others. She sniffed at the huge evergreen wreath with its gigantic red bow hanging on the door. “And the Christmas season is upon us,” she muttered to no one in particular.
Forty-five minutes later, with a light tap to her horn, Nikki slowed and pulled into a scraggly parking area that was barely plowed of snow. Kathryn parked alongside of her.
“Abner Tookus lives here, in a warehouse?” Alexis said.
“Well, dear, it's my understanding that Mr. Tookus
owns
the warehouse. And the warehouse next door. According to Maggie, he's become a real-estate mogul,” Myra said. “She also said we shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't answer the buzzer.”
“Well, that certainly doesn't sound encouraging,” Annie sniffed as she jabbed at the bright red buzzer on a keypad intercom. The sound emanating outward was like the sound of a swarm of bees circling overhead.
Annie kept her finger on the buzzer until she heard a soft, cultured voice say, “I can't release the lock until you take your thumb off the buzzer.”
Annie looked like she'd been stung by one of the bees in the swarm. She jerked her hand away and stepped back. The sound of the lock releasing was so loud, it was almost deafening. Isabelle stepped forward and opened the door.
The inside first floor served as a garage and storage. Two high-end cars, along with a Range Rover, were parked side by side. Inside a steel wire cage secured with a series of monster locks were wooden crates, which were stacked to the top of the cage. To the left was an elevator with a steel door so heavy that it took both Nikki and Kathryn to open it. They all stepped in, and Nikki pressed the button for the second floor. The elevator moved sluggishly until it slid gracefully into its perch. This time, Isabelle and Alexis moved the heavy iron grille.
Abner Tookus, dressed in creased khakis and a Polo sweater the color of moonbeams, stood waiting for them. He motioned toward his pristine living room, where he again motioned for the women to take a seat. He himself perched on one of the stools in the bar area. He waited.
Annie licked at her dry lips as she looked around. What she was seeing was not what she had expected. The truth was, she didn't know what she had expected. Certainly not this clean-cut, preppy young man. Well, maybe he wasn't that young and just looked boyish. The loft was decorated simply, all clean, sharp lines; comfortable furniture; pricey, colorful artwork on the walls; tongue-and-groove wood floor. But it was the fieldstone fireplace with a blazing fire that drew everyone's eye. On the raised hearth, a Yorkshire terrier watched them without making a sound. Next to the small dog was a huge cat, whose fur was whiter than the snow outside. It had eyes greener than emeralds.
Annie, for some reason, felt incredibly nervous and wasn't sure why. She made the introductions. When she was finished with the introductions, she wound down by saying, “We need your help.”
“Did Maggie send you here?”
“Lord, no!” Annie blurted. “She did her best to talk us out of coming, but she did give up your address.” At Abner Tookus's disbelieving expression, Annie's own features turned sour. “It's the truth. She did do her best to talk us out of coming here.”
“What do you want?” Abner asked coldly.
“To hire you. Why else do you think we would be here, and why else would we be at odds with Maggie over this visit?” Myra demanded.
“I am no longer in that line of work. I retired. I work for IBM, and I was just about to leave for work.” He rose and headed toward the elevator. When he didn't hear footsteps following him on the polished floor, he turned around and motioned to the elevator. He shrugged. “You can sit there all day if you want, but I'm going to work, and as I said, I can't help you.”
“Why not?” Nikki demanded. “Annie made you rich, and just because you and Maggie have a hate on for each other is no reason to turn your backs on the very people who made you rich enough that you could
really
retire at your age. We need your help, and we're not budging.”