Wings of Deception (15 page)

She wore what
was
to her a hideous red dress
which
Morgan
had
selected
.
It
was too
revealing and tight for comfort
or her taste
. He chose her wardrobe to pleas
ure
him and if she wanted no repercussions
,
she
did only what she knew would please him. Her hair was still long and he liked for her to wear it loose so she obliged. Her makeup was specially designed for her and though now she wore more than she
used to
, she made breaths gasp when she entered the room, much to her husband’s delight.

Morgan loved the fact that every man there and some women would kill to claim her as their own and she was all his. He
both
worshipped her and despised her.

In the beginning
,
he
had fallen
hopelessly in love with the young and inexperienced girl who accompanied Jacks to the dinner
those
months ago. When she refused to have anything to do with him
,
claiming to love another,
it
incensed
him to the point of insanity.
H
is
guess
was
that it was
Jacks she
was hung up on
but
still he pursued her.
He thought of her night and day, causing a loss of appetite and sleepless nights. He sent flowers and showered her with gifts which were all returned. His love turned to hate
but
he still wanted her, had to have her, no matter what.

It
had been
easy to set her father up
for a
crime and falsify evidence against him that would put him in prison for many years. When confronted with the elaborate plan that would trade her father’s freedom for her
own
, Sheila brokenheartedly complied with his desires
,
wondering hopelessly why God seemed to have abandoned her
.

Instead of putting out the passion he had for
Sheila,
it only ignited it the more and thus she became his wife
,
despite
Abe
’s insistence that he rid himself of something that controlled him
to the point of ruin.
He
kept
a tight rein on her
,
causing her to feel imprisoned
as
indeed she was.
She was never alone except in the elaborate
rooms newly
designed for her and Morgan. The rest of the house was overrun with
servants
,
so she spent most of her time away from their watchful eyes. Even then there would be frequent visits from maids or just someone wanting to know if she desired anything. She was sure Morgan had given orders that she be checked on
often,
fearing she
might
go so far as to take her own life
just
to escape him.

The party was in full swing with strong drink flowing freely
, as well as laughter and conversations.
Sheila made the right comments whenever they were
required
and gave the picture of the perfect hostess. But her heart was heavy and her once bright eyes now
housed
a terror that dulled them. The smiles she smiled
were
well practiced ones that went no further than her lips.
But her aloofness only added to her appeal instead of lessening it. Morgan
,
like a guard dog
,
kept her at his side
lest
one of his own
jump
at the slightest chance to drool over
his now most prized possession.

This was the night he waited. H
e was more interested in watching her reaction when Jacks arrived
than anything else
.
His jealousy over Sheila’s feelings when it came to
Jacks
,
ate away at him constantly
and when he would have just eliminated him, his superior wouldn’t allow it. Instead, for some reason, they preferred to recruit him into their circle. He kept looking at his watch
knowing
his wait
should be
getting shorter as t
he car had picked
Jacks
up half an hour earlier and
would arrive
at any moment.

Sheila felt like she was barely breathing,
her dress was so tight but also
her insides were shaking
for she too waited for Jacks
arrival
. S
he forced herself to remain c
alm
and act as
though
it
was
going to be
just
an
other
party
. She looked around the room at small clusters of people talking
,
laughing and
drifting
from one group to the other. Music was playing in the background and a few of the younger guest were dancing
on a dimly lit patio. She listened as Morgan talked to two men who looked vaguely familiar but she could not quite place them.
Most avoided anything more than the briefest greeting with her for Morgan’s jealous temper concerning her was well known among his friends.

She knew Jacks was there by the tightening of Morgan’s hand on her arm
. She turned
slightly
and he was directly in front of her.

His face wore the tired look of a man with little sleep
and
though he was dressed in a suit and tie, it was
more a
causal type as if
trying to make a statement
. Morgan ignored all this and slapp
ed
Jacks shoulder act
ing
as if they were the best of buddies.

“Ah, Jacks there you are! How was your trip my man? Here
,
you do remember your old…secretary…Sheila
?
I
t
’
s
J
acks
,
my dear
.
S
ay hello
.”

He prompted her forward but not too much
, keeping his hand on her arm
.

“Of course I do.
You look fabulous
Sheila, how are you?”
He took her hand and wondered at the stiffness and quick withdrawal. She
did
look wonderful but
very
little kin to the overly simplified young woman he was accustomed to, the one who always wore her hair in a knot and simple fashions. The one who made the statement once that God would send her someone who looked at the inside for
her
beauty and not the outside.
Not that he had a problem with the way she looked now, he didn’t, but he was sure Morgan was behind the makeover and that Sheila was a long way from a dream mate from her God.

His question meant more than the words implied
to
Sheila
. She did not feel so alone because he cared enough to come
to New York to see about her and she knew
it was not just because he felt trapped.
It was because he knew she was in trouble.
S
he
smiled the first real smile of the evening and it tormented Morgan.

She finally responded to her old boss.
“
Thank you
Jacks
,
I am fine. I hope you had a good flight.”

Morgan motioned for drink
s.

“Here,” He said taking two. “I think you can probably use
one
of these.”

Jacks took the drink.
So he wants to play friends. I can do that
too
. But
what I would really like to do is hurt him bad, just like he does to others and if I find out he has hurt Sheila, I will
!

“Thank you
.
I know the party is not for me. Who is your lucky man?”
He was thinking ‘unlucky.’

“Not a man Jack,
a woman. You probably know her or of her anyway, Malory Winton.” Jacks shook his head.
At first t
he name did not sound familiar. “No? Come over here and I will introduce you.”

With his arm touching Sheila’s waist
,
he led Jacks to where several people were gathered around a woman. She was not much over five feet
tall
and Jacks found himself looking down into a pleasant friendly face. Her short black hair was simpl
y
style
d.
S
he
was probably a good fifty years old though she wore her age well.
He
found that he
did remember her but had never actually met her.

She extended her hand and he took it, letting it go after a
short but
firm shake.
He wondered if
she were there
of her
own
choosing or theirs.

“I
am really happy to meet you Jacks. I hear that I owe all this
to you
,
”
She
said with
a wave of her hand
.
He was not sure but thought he glimpsed a flicker of
bitterness
in her dark eyes.
Interesting and something to find out
at
a
nother time.

“Malory, something tells me that you are
by far
the best man or rather woman for the job. Congratulations, I wish you the best of luck.”
His intent was not lost on the woman and she nodded in response. Without words
,
the look they exchanged spoke volumes.

Morgan addressed the man standing next to
her
. “Phillip, you remember Jacks from the last time he was here
at the house
.”

The man
shook Jacks hand.
“I sure do! How are you doing down in Louisiana Jacks?”

“It is Mississippi and things are
good
.”

The
contempt
in his voice
was lost on all but Morgan and Sheila. Morgan laughed when he felt Sheila stiffen.

“Please excuse us while we mingle a bit.”

They strolled through the room, stopping here and there speaking to the guest
s
and ending up just out of anyone’s hearing before Morgan became the man Jacks knew he was.

“Well
Jacks,
y
ou are here
,
does this mean
you
’re
ready to
come on board
?”

“I am not sure why you thought you had to blackmail me Morgan. After all, we are cut from the same piece of cloth, are we not?
I am game for just about anything but
I think you know
I do not like to be
blackmailed
.
”

Sheila frowned
w
hile Morgan
just
laughed.

“Aye, I don’t like the word blackmail Jacks. Let’s say I thought you needed a bit of prodding.
Sheila
,
my princess, you can
say
good
night now. You know how I hate when you don’t get enough sleep and have those
little
bags under your eyes.”

Not looking directly at Jacks she said, “Good night
then
.”

“Good night Sheila.”
He
spoke
casually,
as if she were just any one.

He watched as Morgan walked with her to a back stair way
, leaning toward her intently whispering something in her ear,
and then
motioned an employee to
accompany
her
up the stairs
.

So she was
basically
a
prisoner in her new home. He knew what he had to do and he was prepared to do it.

The
conversation with Morgan was short and direct to the point after Sheila left them. When he
laid
out what would be expected from him
,
Jacks surprised him
by laughing
, “That
’s
it? Morgan, you had me going there. I was
afraid
you wanted me to
really murder someone
. I must say I am relieved. Who is
the poor bastard
?”