Upside Down (7 page)

Harry watched the cars behind him as he listened to his daughter, Lily, babble nonstop about her exciting morning at play school. He grunted from time to time to show that he was listening to her delicious, little-girl chatter. He was right: he had a tail, and it didn't have four legs. This tail was the same black Honda Civic that had followed him to the BOLO Building and again when he'd driven home to switch vehicles to pick up Lily. The guy was good, he had to give him that. He wound in and out of traffic, pulled ahead, then pulled back, all the while following Harry, no easy feat when Harry had been riding the Ducati. Even now, he was showing his expertise, which surprised Harry. A pro, that was for sure. He realized there was nothing he could do while he had Lily in the car with him. But the moment he dropped her off at home with the nanny, it was going to be a whole new ball game.

“Sing it, Daddy. I have to know all the words by tomorrow. It's my homework,” Lily squealed from the backseat. “Sing it, Daddy! Sing loud!”

Harry racked his brain, but all he could come up with was,
The itsy bitsy spider . . .

Lily sighed. “Does Mommy know the words?”

“Yeah, yeah, Mommy knows the words,” Harry said, believing he was off the hook.

“Okay, Daddy, I'll tell Miss Charles you didn't know the words. Miss Charles said that all mommies and daddies know the words. How come you don't know the words? You have to write me a note saying you don't know the words.”

“Because I'm Chinese, that's why,” Harry barked, and was instantly sorry at his tone. “Mommy will write the note, okay?”

One eye on the road in front of him, the other eye on his side mirror, Harry mumbled something under his breath that sounded like, “Oh, shit!”

“Oh goodie, we're home. I can hear Cooper,” Lily said, unbuckling her safety harness and hopping down out of her seat. “Are you coming in, Daddy?”

“For a minute. I have to switch up and go back to work. Maybe Cassie knows the words to the song. Did your teacher give you a paper?”

“Two papers. You have to sign one.”

“Okay, let's go! First one in wins a marshmallow!” Harry lagged behind, so his daughter could win. Flushed from the cold air, her cheeks rosy pink, Lily screamed her victory just as the nanny opened the door. Cooper barreled out, all but knocking Lily to the ground, where he proceeded to try to lick her to death. He loved the sound of his daughter's infectious laughter and Cooper's excitement at being reunited with his playmate. He knew in that instant that he wouldn't trade one second of his wonderful life for anything in the world. He made a mental note to learn the words to the spider song. If there was one thing he never wanted to do, it was to disappoint his beloved little daughter.

Ten minutes later, assured that Cassie did indeed know the words to the itsy bitsy spider song, Harry started up his Ducati. He knew that the black Honda would pick him up once he rounded the corner to the next street. The jerk probably thought he was going back to the dojo, but instead he was going to head for the park where Lily and Cooper romped in nice weather. There wouldn't be anyone there today, he was almost sure of it. He would set a trap, and the spider would fall right into it. Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts. He must have spiders on the brain. But if it worked, it worked. He knew he had the advantage with his two-wheeled vehicle.

Sure enough, the black Honda picked him up just as he hit the long, narrow street. Harry goosed the Ducati and roared his way to the park, where he had open road all around him. He lucked out when he didn't see any other vehicles, with the exception of the black Honda, anywhere near the park. And it was far enough back that the tail didn't pose an immediate threat. He knew he had the advantage since he visited the park on a regular basis and knew every road and footpath. He checked his side mirror to see what his tail was doing, which was nothing but following him. “Fool!”

Harry rounded a dogleg and came up on a side road that was little more than a path but still wide enough for one car. In the blink of an eye, he went off road, whizzed past a lush grouping of thick, hedgelike boxwood, and disappeared from the road's view. He waited until he saw the black Honda slow, then speed up. From his position behind the boxwood, Harry waited, counting slowly under his breath until he got to the number ten. He roared out of his cover, raced alongside the Honda, then skidded to a stop with inches to spare. The Honda's brakes screeched, and Harry sniffed at the scent of burning rubber. He was off the Ducati, his hand on the door in a nanosecond. He reached in and literally pulled the driver out of the door and onto the ground, where he stomped on his neck. “Move, and I'll break your neck. You know I will. Do we understand each other?”

The driver tried to nod but thought better of the idea. “Yeah,” he mumbled.

“Here's the deal. I'm going to remove my foot from your neck, and you are going to get up nice and slow. Then you are going to lean against the car and spread your legs and arms. We good so far?”

“Yeah.”

Harry sized up the driver. Six feet, looked to be in good shape, probably in his midthirties.

“You married?”

“What the hell! Who are you? What business is it of yours if I'm married or not? I'm calling the police! I don't have much money on me, sixty bucks or so. Take it, and I'll forget about this.”

Harry laughed. It was an evil sound. “My name is Harry. The reason I asked if you were married is because I'll need to notify your next of kin after I kill you. Let's cut to the chase here right now. You've been following me all day. And you followed me when I had my child in the car. That's something you never do, put my child in jeopardy. So we're clear on that point. I know you're some kind of private dick, so spit it out right now. Who hired you? Who do you report to? You go all shy on me, then I'm going to have to get creative and shove your dick up your ass; and then I'm going to pull your ears off your head and stuff them down your throat. You'll probably choke to death, but if you don't, then I'm going to shove your tongue up your nose to cut off your air supply. Talk to me.”

“You need to get a life, mister. You watch too many kung fu movies. I don't know what the hell you're talking about.”

“Well, I did ask nicely,” Harry singsonged as he advanced on the driver, reached out with both hands, lifted the giant off the ground, and heaved him over the top of the black Honda, and he landed on the ground with a thump. Harry ran around the car and stepped on the driver's chest.

The driver groaned in pain, knowing he had cracked ribs. He wished now he hadn't been so verbal, not to mention stupid, especially since Spritzer had warned him about his subject. He also wished he had believed Maggie Spritzer when she extolled the martial virtues of one Harry Wong.

“If you move, you could push those broken ribs up into your lungs. Where's your ID?”

“In the car,” the driver groaned. “Aren't you going to call an ambulance?”

“Why would I do a stupid thing like that?” Harry called over his shoulder as he rifled through the Honda. He helped himself to all the equipment, including the man's cell phone, which was ringing as he picked it up. He carried it over to the driver and smiled the same evil smile. “Answer this, and if I hear one word I don't like, you will be eating your ears.”

“Suliman here,” the driver said. He listened, and said, “I'm following Wong. He just dropped off his kid. I don't know where he's going, maybe back to his dojo. He was at the BOLO Building but didn't stay long. Yeah, yeah, they were all there.” He listened again, thought about choking on his ears, and said, “I said I'd call if there was something to report. There is nothing to report, Miss Spritzer. Listen, I have to pay attention to the road.” He broke the connection but held on to the phone.

Harry reached down and snatched it. “I like a man who follows orders. Who hired you?”

Mike Suliman thought about his dick, his ears, and his tongue. He wanted to keep them all intact on his body. “I think, and I say I think, some woman at the
Post
but not the Spritzer chick. You think my boss tells me? This is a job, a tail job. I get paid by the hour to tail and surveil you. That's the beginning and end of it.”

“How many of you are assigned to my little group of friends?”

“Hey, man, I'm dying here. It's cold as hell. Call an ambulance, okay?”

“I never ask a question twice,” Harry said.

Mike Suliman bit down on his lip. “All you guys have a tail, and they're twenty-four/seven. That translates to big bucks for my boss. That's all I know. He warned us not to screw up and said this was an important case. And he promised bonuses. Now, are you going to call an ambulance for me or not? I could die out here, it's freezing.”

“Yeah, I know,” Harry said thoughtfully. “So Maggie Spritzer is your contact?”

“Yeah, the one with that wild bush of red hair. Damn, she's almost as scary as you are. She warned us not to mess up. She said you guys are slick. Especially you and Jack Emery.”

“Guess you'll be getting into another line of work, huh?” Harry said, pleased that his and Jack's expertise did not go unrecognized.

“If I don't die first.” Suliman groaned. “C'mon, man, help me out here. You don't want me on your conscience, do you?”

Harry shrugged as he looked around to make sure they were still alone in the park. Seeing nothing to alarm him, he dropped to his haunches and stared into the private investigator's eyes. Then he smiled. Mike Suliman wanted to cry.

“I'm going to ask you a few questions, and depending on your answers, I will know whether or not I should call nine-one-one for you. Okay?”

“I told you everything I know. You can peel off my skin, and I can't tell you anything else.”

“So you say. How well do you know the other dicks assigned to this case?”

Suliman tried to rear up, but the pain in his side was so intense, he fell back to the ground. He clenched his teeth. “I'm a licensed private investigator, not a dick. It's a job. An honest job. So do whatever the hell you're going to do or leave me here to die.”

Harry was not moved. “I didn't ask you for a dissertation. I also told you I wouldn't ask you twice. Talk.”

“I know them, that's it. They do their job, I do mine. ‘Hey, how are you?' That kind of thing. Will you call nine-one-one already?”

“You want to make a deal?”

“I'll do whatever you want if you call nine-one-one.
Anything.
”

“Stay right here. I have to make a phone call.”

Harry moved off, called Jack, and explained what was going on. “I'm thinking, Jack, we can turn this guy. How much money can I offer him to spy for us while in the employ of the
Post
?”

“You're the man, Harry. As much as it takes. Can you trust him?”

“Oh, yeah,” Harry drawled. “Listen, I really do have to call nine-one-one before this guy freezes. I'll call you when I get back to the dojo. Hey, do you know the words to the itsy bitsy spider?”

“Well, yeah, everyone knows that little ditty. Why?”

“Sing it for me,” Harry said. Jack hung up on Harry Wong.

Harry helped Suliman to his feet and settled him in his car. He turned the key and hit the HEAT button. “You can call nine-one-one yourself. After they patch you up, come by the dojo. You breathe one word of this to Spritzer or your people, and I
will
find you and finish the job. You understand that, right?” Suliman nodded weakly. “I'm thinking that four o'clock should see you standing in my doorway. For sure, you don't want me to come looking for you. Four o'clock, not one minute later. It's okay to be early. I'm leaving you with all your junk to show you what a nice guy I am.”

Suliman nodded as he struggled to take a deep breath. He was punching in 911 when Harry roared off on his Ducati, laughing like a lunatic.

As always, when the sisters got together after a long absence, it was bedlam, chaos, laughter, hugs, and kisses, then more laughter as they jostled one another, each of them talking and gesturing, the language of true friendship that only they understood.

Finally, the hostess managed to get all the women seated and placed menus in front of them. Each menu was a single sheet of heavy parchment paper that was printed fresh each day and covered in designs that Betty Lou, the owner, created herself. Today's menu carried an evergreen design with tiny Christmas trees loaded on the back of a Santa sleigh that raced across the top of the menu. Trailing down both sides of the menu were miniature gift-wrapped presents. All in all, a cheerful introduction to a festive luncheon. It didn't hurt that Betty Lou gave Christmas names to each of her one-of-a-kind specials for that day.

Betty Lou's was a small mother-daughter restaurant in Georgetown that was absolutely unique. It was small and always full, with a waiting line outside the door during the two-hour lunch period. Inside, it was warm and cheerful, and the owners changed the decor to fit the seasons. In the spring, Betty Lou and her daughter decorated it with spring flowers, watering cans, and a fake waterfall to represent April showers. In the summer, they strung hammocks and painted all manner of seashells on the walls. September brought bales of hay and pumpkins. This being the Christmas season, Betty Lou and her daughter had already put up a real evergreen tree in the window, and it smelled as delicious as the aromas coming from the kitchen. Garlands of fresh evergreens draped the windows, and outside, a monster-sized fresh balsam wreath, custom made by Yoko, hung on the front door. But it was the fireplace burning white birch logs that drew the patrons to the restaurant. On the mantel sat a sleigh with eight prancing reindeer. More than one person had curled up on the chairs by the fire and fallen asleep.

Because of the limited time that Nikki and Alexis had for anything other than working on the firm's class-action lawsuits, Maggie took charge and ordered for all of them. “Whatever is the special is what we'll all have. Your house white wine and just bring the salad dressing whirligig and leave it.” Maggie looked around to see if everyone agreed, but the girls were so busy talking to one another that she just shrugged.

The door opened at the front, and cold air rushed through the opening as a lone woman, attired in a long, white, leather coat and an ermine hat stood for a moment, looked around, then skirted the tables as she ran across the restaurant.

“Isabelle!” the women cried as one. Bedlam once again took over as the girls all rose and tried to crush Isabelle to them. “This is soooo great. Now we're all here,” Kathryn said. “One more!” she shouted to the startled waitress, who was looking for another chair and worrying about the already crowded table.

The girls all talked at once, but Isabelle's voice was the loudest. “They were boarding, I was halfway to the plane when I realized I had to come back. I can take a later flight at four. I did it all on my phone on the taxi ride here. Damn, girls, it's good to see you all again. I missed you. You have no idea how much.”

“Yes, we do know how much because we all missed you just as much,” Yoko said as she pulled out pictures of Lily and Cooper to show Isabelle, who understandably ooohed and aaahed over the tot and her guardian, Cooper.

Annie nudged Myra. “Just like old times, eh, Myra.” She lowered her voice, and whispered, “I had a gut feeling Isabelle might switch flights. She's a sister through and through, and right now I'm thinking she needs them to rally round her. You agree, Myra?”

Myra nodded as she watched the sheer joy on the faces of her little family. It warmed her heart at how close the girls were and how they'd drop everything if one of them needed the others at her side.

Myra and Annie were like two sponges as they sat back to allow the girls to play catch-up. They didn't miss a word, and later, when they were back at the farm, they would dissect each and every one of them to make sure they hadn't missed a single nuance.

Kathryn tore off a chunk of dark, warm pumpernickel bread and popped it into her mouth. Even before she was done chewing, she fixed her gaze on Nikki and Alexis, and blurted out, “My God, you two look horrible. Not only do you look anorexic, but you look as if you're miserable. What is up with the two of you? Don't look at me like that, I'm just saying what we're all thinking. C'mon now, what's the story here?”

“Work, three class-action lawsuits at the same time,” Nikki muttered, her eyes on her watch.

“We're working eighteen hours a day, eating on the fly, and living on black coffee and hard-boiled eggs. Nikki eats yogurt every other day,” Alexis said as she shredded a slice of the warm bread in front of her.

Annie and Myra wisely refrained from commenting and just listened as the others weighed in on Nikki's and Alexis's physical appearance. Both women knew that if Nikki and Alexis would listen to anyone, it would be their sisters.

Always the brashest and the most outspoken, Kathryn wasn't finished. She zeroed in on Isabelle, and said, “And what's up with
you
? Is it true you and Abner are splitting up? Big mistake, girl!”

Annie kicked Myra under the table, a silent plea that perhaps they should step in. Myra gave an imperceptible shake of her head, which meant, no, not yet.

Ten minutes later, Maggie had had enough and offered up a shrill whistle. “Enough, already. If you two”—she pointed to Nikki and Alexis—“want to drive yourself into an early grave for the sake of money, go for it. I, however, thought you were both smarter than that. Jack and Joseph deserve better than they're getting. As for you, Isabelle, Abner is the best thing that ever happened to you, and you're driving him away. Right now, you should be with him, trying to make things right, not here with us. There, I said it, and I'm not taking back one word. Oh, wait, I think the three of you are just plain stupid! Okay, there, now I'm done.”

The silence at the table had suddenly become so ominous that the two waitresses backed up a few steps, their eyes wide at what was going on at table six.

Nikki, tears glistening in her eyes stood up. Because she was so tall, she now looked skeletal, her suit hanging on her slender frame. “I thought I came here for a pleasant lunch, not to be raked over the coals. And I'll thank you, Maggie, to stay the hell out of my business.” She grabbed her coat and raced out of the café, Alexis hot on her heels.

Not to be outdone, Isabelle also stood up, and said, “Well, I certainly know where you're coming from, Maggie. Weren't you and Abner a thing at one time? More than a thing if what I heard is correct. Guess you know what you're talking about since I can see a guilty look on your face. I'll thank you to stay out of my business unless I ask for your help. And you, Kathryn, you're a fine one to talk. Who's been leading Bert around like a dog on a leash? Don't try to tell me what to do and not to do. I'm sorry I canceled my flight to come here and see you all. Have a nice lunch, girls.” And then she was standing and struggling into her coat, the other diners in the restaurant wondering what was going on at table six.

“You are so off the mark, Isabelle. That was below the belt and unworthy of you. Abner and I were nothing more than friends, like brother and sister. There was never anything between us, and you know it damn well. How can you say something like that unless you're guilt ridden? I feel really sorry for you because you're screwing up your life and are too damn dumb to know it. Go ahead, be a quitter, get on your plane, and go back to Merry Old England and eat your crumpets and drink your tea. Who cares? Not I, anymore,” Maggie sniped in return.

Isabelle sprinted from the restaurant, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Well, that didn't go exactly as I planned it,” Maggie mumbled as she motioned to the two hovering waitresses to set the food on the table.

“How did you think it was going to go, dear?” Myra asked softly.

Maggie bit down on her lower lip. “Not like that, that's for sure. All three of them are feeling guilty because they know that I'm absolutely right. Guilt, as we have all learned the hard way, is a terrible thing. And pride is still worse. I'm sorry if the rest of you are upset, but it all needed to be said. We're talking about three wonderful, loving relationships going down the tubes if they don't come to their senses. I also know it's not all about the money, but money does play a part in their lives right now.” Maggie looked around, not sure what she was seeing on the faces of her friends. “What? Now you're all going to judge
me
?”

“Absolutely not, dear. What we're going to do is eat this delicious-looking chicken parmesan. That's what it is, right?” Myra asked in an innocent-sounding voice.

“We have to do something. We can't just let it all fade away,” Kathryn said fiercely. “I started it by saying how awful Nikki and Alexis looked. I was so shocked at their appearance, it just came out. As for Isabelle . . . I understand where she's coming from, what all she had to overcome to get where she is, but to lose the man who made her whole again . . . I cannot comprehend that. I just can't.”

“What can we do?” Yoko asked as she played with her food. “Does anyone have any ideas? Why exactly are we here, and what is it we're supposed to do?”

“I hope you all decide quickly because I have a bunch of Christmas trees I have to deliver to Delaware. I'll come back and stay on for a few days, so if you need my help, I'm all yours. Three days is the longest I can stay because I have signed contracts I have to honor,” Kathryn said.

“I'm available; I hired a bunch of college kids to help at the nursery. I'm assuming this is all about not letting the guys know anything, so that means I will have to have the nanny pick up Lily from play school. It's all doable for me. Just tell me what you need me to do,” Yoko said.

“Annie and I are free, too,” Myra said.

“My time is our time,” Maggie said. “I have to tell you, this is the first time in my career, and a first since I met Ted and Espinosa way back when, that I cannot figure out, much less predict, what they're up to. Ted called my bluff when he told me to back off or he would resign. If he goes, so does Espinosa, and, for sure, young Dennis will follow his idol. I have to be careful. That's why I wanted to hire the detective agency to keep tabs on all of the guys. I can't be visible. I hired the best agency in the area. They are superprofessional.”

“So you're saying we're in good hands?” Annie queried.

“If you believe their PR, then yes, Annie, I think we are in good hands. All we can do now is sit back and wait for something to happen. I hate that part of it. I want to be in there with both feet and arms swinging.”

Kathryn looked at her watch. “I gotta go. I came with Yoko, so she has to drop me off at my truck out at her nursery. Call me on my cell if something comes up. I'll be back by noon tomorrow. I'll be at my house, so that's where you can find me. It was nice seeing you all again. I'm sorry it didn't work out with Nikki, Alexis, and Isabelle. Let's all hope that, when they take a minute to think seriously, they'll come to their senses. If not, at least we tried.”

And then it was just Maggie, Myra, and Annie, and a table of uneaten food.

Her eyes misty, Maggie looked across at the two women she most admired in the whole world. “Was I wrong? Tell me the truth.”

“No, dear, you weren't wrong,” said Myra. In fact, you were so right that the girls themselves knew it, and that's why they scurried out of here. Right now, I do not know what the answer is. I do have to say I was stunned to see Isabelle, which alone tells me how committed she is to all the sisters.”

Maggie sniffed. “Did you come to that opinion before or after she pushed us under the bus and left like a scalded cat?”

“Boxes to go?” the waitress chirped, coming up behind Maggie.

“One big one. I'll take it all. Something tells me I am not going to have time to go food shopping. Unless either you or Myra want it?” Maggie said as an afterthought.

“That's fine, dear, you can take it all,” Annie said.

“I feel so shitty. Like I betrayed you all—Nikki, Alexis, and Isabelle in particular. I love those girls. I'd do anything in the world for them, and now it's come to this.”

As she struggled into her heavy winter jacket, she turned, looked around, then said, “I hate not being in control. The thing is, I'm not exactly sure when I lost that control. That bothers me more than anything. It's like I lost my edge, and now I have to rely on private detectives for information when I should be able to gather it myself. It's what I do, for God's sake!” A lone tear rolled out of the corner of Maggie's eye as Myra and Annie gathered her close.

“Everything happens for a reason, dear,” Myra said. Maggie looked up at her out of bleary eyes as much as to say,
and you really believe that
?

And then they were outside, shivering in the gusty wind. “We do understand, Maggie. It's like Myra and I getting older with each passing day. It would seem that as you age, no one takes you seriously anymore. When you try something, and it doesn't work, regardless of the circumstances, you chalk it up to senior moments. We were so used to being in the thick of things, taking charge, it's hard to tell when our own control slipped.”

“What's the answer then?” Maggie hiccuped.

Myra surprised both women when she said, “Then, my dear, you take the bull by the horns and wrestle it to the ground even if your joints creak and groan in the process.”

“Good Lord, Myra,” Annie said, “that was a profound statement if I ever heard one! Doubly so since it came from you. If we were men, this is where we'd say one of two things: grow a set or balls to the wall, fellas. But since we're women, ladies, if you will, let's just go with in the end we'll be the ones standing in our rhinestone cowgirl boots. You two need to dust yours off. Like today. It's a subtle message, but sooner or later one of those duds will recognize our message. Sometimes, I am just so smart I can hardly stand myself.”