Chapter Eight

“No thanks, I had breakfast already. Lexus when can I talk to you?”

“I’m all ears.”
“I mean privately. I don’t want anyone interrupting us.”

“That serious huh! I’ll finish up here and get Gritty to take over. We can go upstairs to one of the rooms. Adam, is everything alright?”

“It’s fine. I need to talk with you, that’s all. I will wait in the lobby. Come and get me when you’re finished.”

“Hon you can wait here. It’s not like you are a complete stranger to the place. I’ll pour you a cuppa and before you know it I will be finished, then I am all yours.”

“Okay, I will wait for you here then!”

“Hey Adam what’s up?” I looked over and saw Gritty coming toward me. He had a new kind of self-assuredness about him. He no longer looked like a street person, rather more the proprietor of a hotel. While passing by Lexus he gently patted her derriere. I wanted to hit him. I found it disrespectful but then again, she was a grown woman.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you. Did Richard start at Invor yet?” His casual manner about the situation was unnerving. It was as if he had nothing to hide or was he just dumb. No one with the secrets that he had would not worry about being found out.

“Yes, he started yesterday. He likes it. It is a bit too soon to give an account of the details. He is going to lie low for the next couple of weeks or so. Then he might be able to find out more.”

“I would suggest that he stay away from Jessica. She is a loud mouth, always causing trouble.”

“Now that’s funny. He mentioned that she was the most helpful.” “Richard says she is really nice. Maybe he will take her out to lunch or something in appreciation of her being responsible for getting him the job.” I immediately looked for a reaction, and was not disappointed. His face got redder as he spoke.

“She did not get him the job,” retorted Gritty with an annoyed glare. “His tight ass got him the job. Anyway I’m busy. Catch up with you soon. Oh and did Lexus tell you that my rent is covered by the amount of work I do here, so you are off the hook my friend.”

“No she didn’t tell me but that’s good to know and you are welcome.” If he doesn’t leave soon I am afraid that I am going to spit in his smug face.

“Are you ready? Gritty please watch the phone and doors. Don’t let anyone in that you don’t know.” With that said she led me up the back stairs to a private room. It must have been one of the parlors the dignitaries used because it was lavishly furnished to perfection. Beautiful silk bedding and antique tapestries adorned its walls which were covered in English etched Damask wallpaper. Mirrors were angled in order to create an erotic setting. A full bar was cleverly cut into the original room’s fireplace. The room set a very seductive mood. It only needed some beautiful woman and a rich horny son-of-a-bitch and the scene would be complete. Lexus knew how to please and meet their every need.

“What would you like to drink?” she asked with an interesting tone. I did not know whether she was annoyed at my abrupt interruption of her day or intrigued by the uncertainty of the moment. She sauntered towards me and if I did not know who she was; I would have been taken aback by her beauty. Perhaps it was the setting but she was in her element and it brought out another side of her, one that I had never seen before.

“I think I will need a drink, maybe a scotch.” I then continued, “Lexus, considering our friendship, I find it hard to be here and have to question you. This meeting is more business than pleasure.” She raised her hand as if the gesture would stop my words. I ceased talking.

“If this is an interrogation regarding Grenville, you might as well leave. I will not talk about him.”

“Don’t you trust me? We have been friends for years. I would never betray or hurt you in any way. You have to believe that!”

“I do trust you but you said this was business and I can only assume it is police business. You are working on a case, aren’t you? And that case does involve Gritty and his dealings with Invor. Adam, I don’t want to get involved.”

“Okay, I just found out that Gritty wasn’t alone in his vagabond days.”

“You saw Bobby! Is he okay? Where is he?” She got up and fell back on to the bed as if I had struck her with a metal object. Her chest was heaving.

“You know Bobby? Did Gritty mention him to you? You have to tell me what you know or I cannot help you. Please Lexus….”

“It’s a long story. I don’t know where to start or if I can trust you. Stay away from Bobby. He is out to get Gritty.”

“Trust me. I give you my word. I give you years of friendship. I promise to listen and not be judgmental.”

“I don’t know where to begin.”

“Come and sit down and just begin at the beginning. You’ll see, once started it will be easier.”

She exhaled and wiped her brow. She called to Gritty to come up. I was more confused than ever but I let her lead. “He has to be here,” was all she said.

The knock came within moments. She opened the door throwing herself in his arms.

Gritty held her tightly and begged her to tell him what happened. He looked at me in an accusing manner. “What the hell did you do?” he shouted.

“Sit down Gritty and listen,” she yelled, getting her composure back. “Adam has seen Bobby. What if he knows where you are?”

“What! Is he alright? Where did you see him?”

I was getting more confused than ever but decided to come clean and tell them for fear that they would clam up and I’d get no information. “I saw him on rue Dalcourt. He was in your box. He said that he lived with you occasionally there. He was very concerned about your whereabouts.”

“I haven’t seen Bobby in quite some time. We did live together but definitely not in a box. We were working together at Invor and we also shared an apartment downtown.”

“Why didn’t you mention this to me before? How can I believe anything that you say?” I felt now was the time to be forthright and let him know what I found out from Marc. It was a gamble but one that I was willing to take. I felt that we had to be on the same page or I could not help him. “Grit, why did you tell me that you had a wife? You were never married and there were also charges against you for assault. The charges were later dropped. What the fuck gives? I don’t have time for games like this.”

Lexus looked directly at me. “The charges were dropped because I dropped them.”

“It was you?”

“Yes. We were having an argument and someone reported us or so the story goes.”

“Wait a minute; you knew each other before?”

“I guess it is time to own up. That is why I called Grenville to join us. It is a story reaching back in time; it is our story. Shall I begin?”

I took a quick swig of my drink and asked for another. I felt like this was going to be a long day and emotionally taxing. I sat down as if I were about to be executed, waiting for the trigger of the gun to fire. I prepared my body. “I’m ready.”

Lexus and Gritty sat on the divan. They were huddled so closely that it was as if they were one. They reached for the other’s hand and at that precise moment I knew that I was about to change my perspective of things.

* * * *

“As you are well aware Grenville and Gerald Forth were lovers. They worked at Invor for years. I do not precisely remember the exact year but it had to be more than 25 or so. Forth had an extremely jealous wife. She was not aware that her husband swung both ways. He’s bisexual and so is Gritty. They started having an affair.”

I interrupted. “What has this got to do with Bobby? I figured that out already!”

“I’m getting there. Please no interruptions!”

“I’m sorry, continue.”

“Mr. Forth, being a community minded person, formed a lasting friendship with the Mayor of Montreal. And as it was, the Mayor was having an affair with his secretary. What else is new in this hypocritical bureaucracy! Well, to make a long story short, they needed a place to carry on their affairs and I provided them rooms. I helped many men in power keep their marriages together. Most of my clients would leave work at city hall and arrive on my doorstep. Yes, Forth rubbed shoulders with not only a wealthy bunch of men but very influential as well. I am sure now that he got granted many favours due to this. The Mayor like the others would definitely cover for him, both in his work related schemes and his professional life. They had a lot on everyone concerned.”

“Yeah, I know but your stating that this was good for all. What! Keep or break up their marriages. Lexus I know all about this. I go back years with you, remember. You weren’t helping their marriages; you were causing deceit in them.”

She looked directly at me and continued. The boys could play and then go home at night as if nothing happened. They were better husbands, and yes it did keep most marriages together. It is a proven fact that men, like in France, that have a mistress will never leave their wife. And most wives turn a blind eye and reap the benefits of a comfortable life that only some can dream of. They know their men play and it saves them a messy divorce. Usually their husbands sow their wild oats and return to the nest. Whereas men in North America are stupid enough to get wrapped up in their affairs. They eventually leave the mistress and lose all in the process, family, wife and financial security. Give me the European way any day!

“When Grenville and Forth wanted a hide out, it was only natural they came to me. I kept their secret. Do you want to continue?” she said looking at Gritty. He did.

“Forth and I had a relationship for years and his wife I am sure knew about it. It was easier than a divorce; that is why Lexus is mentioning this. We started to mix business with pleasure and it got rocky. I naturally had formed a friendship with Lexus and found her to be extremely easy to talk to. I told her about my problems with Forth. She was terribly understanding. We seemed to spend more time together than I did with Forth. We started to form a bond. You must remember that I liked men and women. One night Lexus and I toting a bottle of Scotch ended up in this very room. Whether it be the drink or the mutual attraction, we woke up the next morning in each other’s arms.”

“Wow, did Forth ever find out?” I said with eager curiosity.

“I am sure he suspected something. He tried harder than ever to make his marriage work. All we did was fight. I am sure that he had a lot to do with my being let go. He couldn’t stand to look at me.”

“Did he know about your cure and your lab findings?”

“Of course, I told him everything.”

“So, it is definitely possible that he might be behind this.”

“That is what I think.”

“The one thing that I don’t understand Grit, is why you are hiding out? What could he possibly do to you?”

“I left out something. I made a copy of my lab reports. I have proof of my findings and if it fell into the right hands, Invor would be closed down. It would affect the whole pharmaceutical industry. I know for a fact they are getting money for not revealing what they know.”

“Paybacks from who?”

“The pharmaceutical directors pay them hush money. I have seen it. I had access to one of their cheques. I made a copy of it.”

“Impossible! You mean the cheque was made out to Invor stating hush money paid? I don’t buy it. Nobody is that stupid,” I groaned.

“No, but the amount was three times greater than their usual fee for lab results. All of a sudden it was bigger and this went on for more than a year. Anyone auditing their books would see the discrepancy.”

“Yikes, that is a big one! And that is when you went into hiding?”

“Yes, but before that Gerald and I had personal issues. They were related to Lexus. He knew we were a couple.”

“How did he figure that out? Did you tell him?”

“Lexus got pregnant and I was there for her. I eventually had to tell him.”

I looked at Lexus with shock. “Is Bobby your child?”

“No, Peter is. He is our love child. When he was little he lived with Grenville, who hired a nanny to look after him. I could not have him with me in this environment, it’s no place to raise a kid. I was always in close contact with him though. It was only later in life, when we realized that Peter was mentally challenged I decided to take him under my wings. I let him be my helper. It has been a secret for the longest time. No one questioned his living here and I did not volunteer any information. Hell, they were here to get screwed, they did not care who was in the house.”

“Bobby was our nanny’s son. He was the same age as Peter so they formed a bond when they were younger. They were like brothers. We remained close when the boys were growing up. Martha, the nanny, would babysit for me on many occasions. She was indispensable. Bobby, as he got older, came to work for Invor on Grenville’s recommendation.

“Forth eventually went back to his wife when he found out I was pregnant. Grenville and his affair was behind them and they managed to keep a professional working relationship. Years went by and time eased the pain.”

“Does Peter know he is your son?”

“Yes, most times he recognizes me as his mother. You must remember that with his condition, everything is magnified. He thinks he is on a mission to protect me, therefore his word is gold. I have no doubt he will take this secret to his grave.”

“But what I don’t understand is why Bobby is looking for you?

“When things got out of hand at Invor I left. I felt my life was in danger. I knew that Bobby would be okay. It was me they were after. I am only sorry that I did not contact him sooner. I did not trust anyone, not even him.”

“But he was like a son to you!”

“I know but I thought that they had gotten to him. He started to wear really expensive clothes and bought a car far beyond his resources. Either he was on the take or he was living beyond his means. You have to see my point of view. I was really frightened. That is when I went into hiding.”

“Why did you let me bring you to Lexus’ if you knew that you might be found out?”

“I guess that I was tired running. I knew she would not turn me in. I felt protected and I still do.” He looked at her lovingly and her eyes spoke words to him.

“Okay, let me get this straight. Peter is your son and remains here due to his mental condition. Bobby, no one has heard from for some time now. Why the hell don’t you all get together and straighten this out?”

Gritty looked at me with disbelief at what he had just heard. “Because he might still be working for Invor! What if they sent him to find me? He must be really desperate to live on the streets and be asking questions about me. And how did he know where to find me. I can’t figure it out. Adam I need you to find out his motives. You didn’t tell him where I was, did you?”

“No, I have been in this business long enough to keep information to myself. We have to figure something out without letting on to where you live.”

“Perhaps I could help,” said Lexus with concern. “Bobby trusts me. When his mother died a few years back, I became kind of like a surrogate mother to him. I am sure that when Gritty went missing, he felt terribly betrayed.”

I went into deep thought and then asked, “If Bobby was like a son, he obviously has been here several times. Right?”

“Right.”

“Well why didn’t he come to search for Gritty here in the first place?”

“He did,” answered Lexus. “That would have been too obvious, and Gritty was not here then, only lately. I am sure he must have gotten information and that is why he is hanging around.”

“That is why I am saying you have to fill him in on things. Unless he has given you reason for doubt, I don’t think that he would turn on you now.”

“Money is a funny thing; I can’t chance it,” answered Gritty.

Lexus must have been concerned about my take on things for she said, “If I had it to do over again, I would have done things differently. I feel that I have bestowed a lot of my mothering skills on you. Adam, I can only hope that in some small way I have helped replace the mother that you never had. Peter is always a reminder of the terrible mother that I was. I came to his rescue much too late in life.”

I felt sorry for her and needed in some way to give her reassurance. “You did help me and I will always be eternally grateful. Now let’s stop this sentimental gibberish and solve the case that is before us. We have added another link to it and that is Bobby. First things first; we have to find out his intentions.”

“Grit do you still have copies of the evidence against Invor?”

“Yes, they are in the safe downstairs.”

“Great, keep them there. I suggest we all lay low especially you Gritty. Do not venture outside these walls. Bobby is too close and you could easily blow your cover. I will have to meet with him and see what he knows. This is going to be tricky but that is where Richard just might come into play. He is on the inside and no one suspects anything from him. He can’t be linked to us. He can get information that will be very useful. He can let us know in what capacity Bobby is working there.

“I’ll talk to Richard when I get home and see where he stands with this. He is wanting desperately to become a private investigator and join my firm. This might be his ticket to partnership. Oh, and one more thing. You mentioned that Bobby’s mother died. Who was she? And who was his father?”

“Remember I mentioned that the mayor of Montreal was bedding his secretary? When he dumped her she went to work at Invor. This was what I meant by favours being exchanged. Bobby is the result of that affair. Problem solved! We needed a nanny and she was available.”

I felt this urge to be outside. These people were like animals. Passing around women and exchanging favours. I had to get out; it was time to go. We said our goodbyes and now I needed time to digest all the information presented to me. Poor Richard did not know what he signed up for. I wanted him to be safe; that was my only concern. I was feeling overwhelmed about Lexus. You think you know someone and then bang… a lifelong friendship can be changed within an hour. What really baffled me the most was Peter and how could a mother leave him? This was not the Lexus that I knew, the Lexus that I had grown to love. She was caring and had more maternal instincts than most mothers that I had come across. It just didn’t add up.

I was trying to go over the first time that I met Lexus. It must have been at least twenty years back. I was just starting out and eager to find clients. I had many cases relating to infidelity, not at all what I wanted but paying customers that I felt would hopefully spread my name. And they did. Business started to pick up. I was known as the hidden eye peering into windows and chasing down cheaters through the streets of Montreal. It seemed the regulars ended up at this so called hotel or Lexus’ brothel as I liked to call it. She made it easy for me. I promised her business dealings would remain safe with me and she in turn gave me information. It seemed that she knew a lot of people and the streets of Montreal had no hidden allies that she could not lead me to. Many times I would drop in for coffee while passing the area. She did become the mother that I never had. I do remember though at first we did not get along but her perpetual defense of the underdog made her have empathy for me, realizing my genre preference. It was one time being gay worked for me. The rest of our story is history.

It would make sense if we met up about twenty years ago. I remember Peter being a young boy, say about five years old. He was always there and I never questioned it. The time line was starting to come together. Peter probably stayed with Gritty until four or five and realizing that her son was having problems, she decided to take him in. He was young and probably accepted his fate. And time and age led to his confusion. As I recalled our past, I felt deceived.

Everything that we had was just a bloody lie.