The Master's Chair (The Chronicles of Terah) (12 page)

“When can we look at it?” Joan’s eyes lit up.

“Let me see what it looks like when they move out. I’ll drop by Monday and let you know when I can show it. Would that be okay?”

“Perfect!” Joan said as she pocketed his ticket. “You just made my day. Breakfast is on me!”

~ ~ ~ ~

When Pallor left the diner, he rushed over to the coffee house for his appointment with Theresa. She was sitting at a small table in the back. Pallor got a cup of coffee and joined her.

“I was beginning to think you’d stood me up,” Theresa said with a grin.

“No, just running a little late this morning. Still engaged?” Pallor asked.

Theresa frowned. “Unfortunately, yes. Mr. Lopez wants us to select an engagement ring this weekend. Did your seminar group come up with anything?”

“Well, there was one interesting idea. A couple of the guys said that they’d run for the hills if the girl started asking them to spend a lot of money on her, especially along the lines of jewelry or clothes, things that would be exclusively for her, things she would be able to keep if they broke up.”

Theresa frowned. “You mean ask him to buy me things before we’re married? I’m not sure I could do that. It seems so … I don’t know.”

Pallor laughed. “Theresa! Do you want to marry this man or not?”

“No!”

“Then you’re going to have to make him break it off, and you can’t do that by being nice. You need to come across as a conniving, money grabbing bitch.”

Theresa took a deep breath. “Okay. How do I do this?”

Pallor offered a few suggestions and then he said, “Treat this like a class assignment. Write a scene between a greedy, manipulating hussy and the older man who wants her. Use a jewelry store for your setting and buying an engagement ring as the focus. Have her pick out an extravagant ring, and then demand all kinds of accessories. You know, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, maybe a brooch. Get outrageous with it. Ask some of your friends for ideas. Then when the time comes, just step into the role and play the scene.”

“That’s a good idea,” Theresa said, her eyes sparkling. “I bet I could do that.”

“I’ve got a friend who owns a jewelry store. Let me talk to him and see what I can arrange. I’ll even play the role of the eager sales clerk who wants to sell you everything in the store. If we set this up for when the store is closed, like a private showing just for the two of you, there won’t be any chance that someone who knows you will walk in and ruin everything.”

“That would be great, but I hate to get you involved in this. You don’t even know me.”

“I hate to admit it, but I’m looking forward to it. I used to do a bit of community theater when I was younger, but I haven’t been on a stage in years. This is going to be loads of fun. Well, for everyone except Mr. Lopez,” Pallor said with a smile. “Do you think you can put him off about the ring until the first of next week?”

“I’m sure I can. I can always have a headache.”

“Okay. Let me talk to my friend over the weekend and see what I can set up. Meanwhile, get that scene written.” Pallor stood up to go. “Can you meet me here Monday?”

Theresa nodded. “10:00?”

Pallor nodded and said, “See you then.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Immediately after leaving the coffee house, Pallor dashed to the little restaurant where Steve Patterson ate lunch. Steve was already seated when Pallor arrived. He walked over towards Steve’s table and asked, “Mind if I join you, Mr. Patterson?”

Steve didn’t recognize the man, but he figured that he was either a former student or the parent of one of his students, so he smiled and nodded towards the empty chair.

“How are you enjoying your retirement?” Pallor asked.

“To be honest, it’s not as much fun as I’d hoped it would be. In fact, sometimes, it’s downright boring,” Steve admitted.

Pallor nodded. “I was sorry to hear about your wife. That was a rough blow, I’m sure.”

Steve nodded and felt the familiar lump form in his throat. “Yes, well …”

“My name’s Paul Stewart, Mr. Patterson. You don’t know me. I’m a writer. I did a piece on your retirement party for one of the local papers.”

“That was quite a while ago. I’m surprised you recognized me.”

“To be honest, I came here today looking for you,” Pallor said. Steve frowned, but he didn’t say anything, so Pallor continued. “I spotted you in here earlier this week, and an idea hit me. I thought I’d mention it to you and get your reaction.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“Like I said, I’m a writer. My area is primarily fantasy, but lately I’ve been thinking about trying a historical novel. Unfortunately, I’m under contract with my publisher, so I have to keep going with the fantasy series. If I’m ever going to get anywhere with the other book, I need someone to help me.”

Steve shook his head and said, “Mr. Stewart, I’m not a writer. I don’t think I could be much help to you.”

“I don’t need help with the writing. I need help with the research. I don’t have time to dig through libraries or search the Internet. That’s what I’d like to hire you to do.”

Steve looked thoughtful. After a few minutes, he nodded. “I might be interested, but I’d need to know more about the book before I could promise anything.”

“Understandable,” Pallor said with a smile and a slight nod. “All of my notes are in my office at the house. Maybe we could get together for dinner sometime next week and go over the outline I’ve written and talk about the specifics a little. Would you be willing to meet with me?”

“Definitely,” Steve said with a little more enthusiasm.

“Great! I’ll call you and we’ll set it up,” Pallor said as he stood up to leave.

~ ~ ~ ~

After lunch, Pallor called Mr. Beasley, the senior partner of Beasley, Dixon, Matherson and Co. PA. Shortly after Kevin had accepted a job with them, Pallor had moved his considerable assets to their care.

When Mr. Beasley came on the line, Pallor said, “This is Paul Stewart. I’m going to need Kevin O’Reilly to handle a couple of things for me next week. I’m not sure when yet, but it may entail time outside of the standard office hours. Will that be a problem?”

“No, of course not. I assure you that he’ll be available whenever you need him, regardless of the hour. You have my word.”

“Thank you, Mr. Beasley. I’ll hold you to that. I’ll be back in touch next week with the details.”

“Very good, Mr. Stewart. We’re at your disposal.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Friday evening, Pallor collapsed in his recliner, shut his eyes, and mentally took stock. He felt pretty sure that he could maneuver Joan, her husband, Theresa, Steve, and Darrell into position. He hoped that by disabling Chris’s car, he could get him into position, too. Another phone call to Mr. Beasley would pretty much guarantee Kevin.

The best way to fake someone’s death without having to produce a body was a storm at sea, but considering Omaha’s location, that was not an option. However, between the Missouri River and the various local lakes and forests, a body sometimes turned up years after a person was reported missing, long after the authorities had given up looking.

The only way Pallor could come up with to explain the disappearance and presumed deaths of Kevin and his companions was to get them all in one place and hit them with a really big tornado, one that would carry the debris for miles. The tricky part was going to be keeping the storm from harming anyone else, and with those thoughts floating around in his head, Pallor fell asleep.

Chapter 9

Pallor’s Plan Comes Together

Saturday morning, Pallor went to a remote wasteland on Terah and spent the day creating tornadoes, controlling their direction, speed, and strength, and then calming them down. When he got back home that evening, he mapped out the city bus routes and selected one that ran out to Mall of the Bluffs in Council Bluffs.

Sunday afternoon he tracked down the man who drove that route during the week and conned the driver into letting him make the last run every night for a few days by pretending to be a private investigator in the middle of a sensitive case. Of course a valid commercial driving license and a fistful of dollars helped his case.

Sunday evening Pallor pored over weather maps to see when the atmospheric conditions would be the most favorable for what he had in mind. After several hours, he came to the conclusion that Tuesday evening was going to be his best shot.

Pallor’s first stop Monday morning was the diner. As soon as he sat down, Joan brought him a cup of coffee and a cheese danish, but she was too busy to stop and talk. He took his time eating and then lingered over several cups of coffee waiting for the crowd to thin out. When she brought his check, he said, “I went by the rental house last night. The people are gone, but their furniture and packing crates are still there. They left a note saying that the movers won’t be able to get to it until tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, I have to go out of town Wednesday morning and I won’t be back until after the weekend.”

Joan’s face fell, but she said, “That’s fine. No rush.”

“Well, I was wondering if you and your husband would like to see it tomorrow night. I know you won’t be able to see much of the yard, but at least you’d get a good look at the inside.”

 “Tomorrow evening would be great!” A grin spread from ear to ear on Joan’s face. “What time do you want us to meet you? Where is it? How do we get there?”

 “It’s sort of hard to find at night if you’re not familiar with the area. Why don’t you take the last bus out to Mall of the Bluffs tomorrow night and meet me at the main entrance? I’ll take you out to the house and then I’ll drop you off at your apartment on my way home.”

“Are you sure?” Joan asked. “I hate for you to go to all that trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” Pallor said as he stood up to go. “Besides, I’d like to get a look at that apartment you’re in. You never know, it might show up in one of my books one day.”

~ ~ ~ ~

His next stop was the coffee shop. Theresa was seated so that she could see the door. She was watching for him and her eyes lit up when he walked in.

Pallor got a cup of coffee and joined her. “So, did you get it written?”

Theresa nodded. “I called some of my friends Friday night and laid out the scene for them over the phone. By the time we got together Saturday morning, they had all kinds of ideas and lines, and we came up with even more once we started talking. It was actually a lot of fun. Then, when I got home, I told my mother that I had a bad headache and didn’t want to be disturbed. I spent the whole day in my room, writing and rewriting.”

“Have you got it with you?”

Theresa pulled a folder out of her bag. Pallor held his hand out, and after a moment’s hesitation, she handed it over. While he read, she played with her hair, bit her lips, and squirmed. Finally he laid the folder down on the table and grinned at her.

“That’s good work, Theresa. If you’re half as demanding as your female lead, he’ll run for the hills. Can you play the part?”

“I’ll be nervous, but I can do it.” Theresa had spent all day Sunday in her room, practicing her lines in front of her mirror, trying out different facial expressions and hand movements, working on it until it felt almost natural.

“As soon as you come into the store, concentrate on me. Play the scene for me. Don’t worry about Mr. Lopez. He has a minor role. We’re the actors.”

Theresa laughed and nodded.

“Now, here’s what I want you to do,” Pallor said. He told her to take the last bus out to Mall of the Bluffs Tuesday evening and have Mr. Lopez meet her at the jewelry store. “My friend and I went through everything he had in stock this weekend and picked out the most exquisite pieces for me to show you. Be sure you pick them up and try them on while you’re telling him that he has to buy them for you, and when he resists, really pour it on. If you play it like you wrote it, it’ll scare him off for sure.”

“I hope this works,” Theresa said. “Well, I’ve got to get to class.” She gathered up her papers and put them back in her book bag. “Thanks, Mr. Stewart. Keep your fingers crossed!”

Pallor nodded and gave her a thumbs-up.

~ ~ ~ ~

After lunch, Pallor called Darrell and told him that he had reserved a recording studio for late Tuesday evening, and asked him to take the last bus out to Mall of the Bluffs and meet him at the entrance. Then he said, “We’ll take my car out to the recording studio and when we finish up there, I thought we’d drop by a new sports bar that I want to check out.”

Darrell hesitated a second and then said, “Okay.”

“Don’t worry. The only thing I drink at a sports bar is coffee. It’s all business for me. Have you tried doing a play-by-play with one of your old games yet?”

Darrell chuckled.

Pallor said, “I’ll take that as a yes. Good. How did it go?”

“I got so tongue-tied the first time I tried to do it that I nearly gave up. I don’t know whether I’m any good or not, but at least I’m not choking on my own words anymore.”

Pallor laughed. “The first time’s always the worst, but that one’s behind you now. I’m sure you’ll do fine. See you tomorrow.”

After Darrell hung up, all the confidence he had built up by practicing over the weekend flew out the window. His hands began to sweat and his stomach began to churn. He felt just like he always did right before a big game.

~ ~ ~ ~

Steve had spent his weekend visiting computer stores, trying out different models, talking to salesmen, and collecting information sheets and prices. Monday morning, he had gone online at the library to check out different Internet service providers and software packets. By the time he got home Monday afternoon, he had decided that unless the subject matter of the book was objectionable, he was going to take the job.

He had just walked in the door when the phone rang.

“Mr. Patterson? This is Paul Stewart. Are you still willing to meet with me and discuss my outline?” Pallor asked.

“Yes I am,” Steve answered. “As a matter of fact, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good! I’m glad to hear it. Would late tomorrow evening be all right with you?”

“Fine. Where should I meet you?”

“Why don’t you take the last bus out to Mall of the Bluffs? I’ve got a late appointment out there, but I’ll be done by 9:00. If you’ll meet me at the entrance, I’ll take you to a small restaurant I know that’s right outside of town for a late dinner. They stay open until 1:00, so we’ll have plenty of time to talk about the research topics. I can drop you off at your house on my way home.”

“Sounds good to me. See you tomorrow night,” Steve said as he disconnected.

~ ~ ~ ~

When Pallor showed up to drive the last bus route Monday evening, he was wearing glasses, a fake mustache, and a beard. His cap was pulled down over his hair and his jacket was zipped up to hide the padding he had used to add weight to his slim figure.

The regular bus driver stared at him for a few minutes and then grinned. “Almost didn’t recognize you. Look, I don’t mind helping you with your investigation, Mr. Carter, but I can’t let you take this bus without checking you out. I’ll ride along with you tonight and if all goes well, you’re on your own tomorrow. Okay?”

Pallor hesitated just long enough to keep the man from getting suspicious and then he nodded. When he parked the bus at the garage two hours later, the regular driver shook his hand and said, “She’s all yours for as long as you need her. Good luck with your case.”

~ ~ ~ ~

Around 3:30 in the morning, Pallor dressed in black, drove out to Chris’s apartment complex, and parked in the shadows. After thirty minutes, he got out of his car and walked over to Chris’s. He opened the door, popped the hood, loosened the wire exactly like his mechanic had told him to, quietly closed the hood, and walked back to his own car. He waited twenty minutes before starting his car and driving home.

When he got home, he changed clothes again and settled in his office to wait until 7:00, when he would drive back over to Chris’s apartment to rescue him.

Pallor pulled into the parking lot just as Chris climbed out of his car. He stood beside it shaking his head and looking totally helpless. Pallor parked beside him and got out. “Car problems?”

“Yeah. It won’t start and I have no idea what to do,” Chris said with a shrug. “Are you headed over to your girlfriend’s at this time of the morning? I hope she’s expecting you.”

“She’s on nights this week. She’ll be getting home in about fifteen minutes. I was going to surprise her and take her out for breakfast, but I can do that another day. Come on. I’ll take you to work,” Pallor said as he got back in his car.

“Are you sure?” Chris asked. “I hate to mess up your plans.”

“No big deal, really. She isn’t expecting me. Do you want me to call my mechanic and have him take a look?”

“Would he be willing to come out here? I mean, I can’t get it started, so I can’t exactly take it to him,” Chris said as he settled into the passenger seat of Pallor’s car.

“No problem. He has a tow truck. If he can’t fix it here, he’ll tow it to the shop. I’ll call him as soon as I drop you off. He’ll probably have it fixed by the time you get home tonight,” Pallor assured him.

“That’d be great. I really appreciate it.”

“I have to see a client out at Mall of the Bluffs this evening, but after that, I don’t have any plans. Like I said, my girlfriend is on nights. Do you want to meet me, go get some dinner, maybe have a few drinks?”

“Okay. Where do you want me to meet you?”

“Why don’t you take the last bus out to the mall and meet me at the main entrance? The bus stop is only about half a block from your office building. I’ll show it to you when we pass it.”

A few minutes later, Pallor pointed out the bus stop and told him what time to be there. “Is that going to be too late for you?”

Chris shook his head no. “I’ve got so much work to do I could stay here until midnight every night and still not get it all done.”

When he stopped in front of Chris’s building, Chris said, “Thanks,” and then as he got out of the car, he added, “See you tonight.”

~ ~ ~ ~

When Pallor got home, he called his accounting firm. Once he had Mr. Beasley on the phone, he said, “I have some instructions for Kevin. Would you please see that they are followed to the letter? It’s important.”

“Certainly, sir. Would you like for me to tape your instructions?”

“No, that’s not necessary. Just be sure to pass them along. A briefcase will be delivered to your firm this evening, probably around 8:00. I want Kevin to sign for it, take the last bus to Mall of the Bluffs, and bring the briefcase to me at the main entrance. Afterwards, I’ll drive him back home. I need to talk to him anyway.”

“Certainly, sir. I’ll see to it.”

After Mr. Beasley hung up, he buzzed Kevin and asked him to come to his office. When Kevin arrived, Mr. Beasley told him about the phone call and that he was to follow the instructions precisely, no variations, or it would be his job.

~ ~ ~ ~

When Pallor sat down behind the wheel of the bus Tuesday evening, he was in the same disguise he had worn the night before. The only passengers he allowed to board the bus were the seven people he wanted to send to Terah. As they traveled through town headed for the expressway that would carry them to the mall, his passengers were too absorbed in their own thoughts to notice how seldom he stopped. The bus company was going to get a few phone calls from some irate customers that evening, but by morning those same people were going to be very glad that the bus had passed them by.

All day long, as Chris had struggled with stacks of surveys and catalogues without any help, thoughts about Paul’s offer of a job with the modeling agency had floated through his head. By the time he left his office, he had made up his mind to talk to Paul about it that night. He was trying to think of a tactful way to bring it up when remnants of a quiet conversation near the front of the bus distracted him.

“Just don’t get your hopes up, honey,” a rugged, outdoors-type man said to the woman beside him. “Wait and see. We don’t have to move tomorrow.” He put his arm around her and gave her a quick hug.

Joan playfully poked him in the ribs with her finger and whispered, “You want out of there every bit as bad as I do, Karl. I’ve got a good feeling about this one. You’ll see. We’ll be out of that place by the end of the week.”

That afternoon, she had put a bottle of wine in the refrigerator to chill. If this house worked out, she was planning to invite Paul in for some wine and cheese to celebrate. She gave Karl’s hand a little squeeze and glanced around the bus. One of the other passengers caught her eye, a young woman who kept wiping her hands on her skirt and fidgeting. The way her head and lips were moving, she was obviously engaged in some kind of conversation, but Joan couldn’t tell if she was mumbling to herself or rehearsing lines for a play.

Theresa had butterflies in her stomach and her hands were damp. She didn’t think she could have been any more nervous if she’d been going on stage and no matter how many times she played through the scene in her head, she couldn’t relax. Finally, in an effort to distract herself, she looked around at the other passengers on the bus, trying to guess where they might be going by the way they were dressed.

One of the passengers was about her age and looked very familiar, but she couldn’t quite place him. At first she thought he might have been in one of her classes, but that didn’t feel right. She had a feeling that she’d seen his picture recently, maybe in the newspaper.

Darrell was almost as nervous as Theresa. He had planned to drive his own car so that he could leave when he wanted to, but around lunchtime, he’d started getting uneasy, and as the afternoon had worn on, he’d become more and more jittery. Finally he’d decided that he was too tense to drive, so he’d taken the bus.