Billy drove towards Stanley Federer’s house while Reggie, Dylan, and Theresa sat in the back of the van. Reggie had never seen anything like it. Except in the movies. And that was how it felt, because things like this didn’t happen to real people.
It seemed like an ordinary green utility van, but the inside had as much computer and surveillance equipment as what she imagined the FBI would have on a stakeout.
Maybe he really was a spy. Reggie kept the thought to herself.
Everyone appeared as nervous as she was. No one talked. She grasped Dylan’s hand and every so often, he would squeeze it.
“We’re approaching the house. Everyone knows what to do?” Billy called out from the driver’s seat.
“We know, hon. You be careful in there. I love you,” Theresa said.
After passing inspection at the locked gate, Billy Clyde drove up to the Federer mansion and parked as instructed. After Reggie and Dylan stepped out, Billy locked all the doors with Theresa safely inside.
Reggie walked behind the men as they led the way to the door.
Before they could ring the doorbell, it opened. A tall, painfully thin, woman stared back at them. Auburn curls shot with flames of copper, hung below her shoulders.
Reggie felt even more frumpy next to the impeccably dressed woman, whose expensive dress hung limp on her bony frame. The woman stared, but didn’t smile or speak to them. Her stone face was ghostly pale and pinched.
“I’m William Addams.” Billy stepped forward. “I have an appointment with Mr. Federer.” Billy offered his hand but all he received was another stare.
“Yes, I know.” The woman sniffed as if smelling something foul. “I’m his daughter, Betsy Federer. He has health problems, but insisted on this meeting in spite of my objections. Please do not tire him out.” Her upper lip attempted a smile, but it looked more like a snarl from a rabid dog.
“If it’s a bad time, Betsy, we can—”
Talk about a lack of people skills. Reggie expected the woman to start foaming at the mouth.
Her model-thin frame shook along with her head. “It will always be a bad time. Don’t you understand? He’s sick. And he’ll never get better.” She glared at them as she stepped aside. “He wears out easily.”
“We won’t stay long.” He motioned at Dylan and Reggie. “This is my assistant and my secretary.”
Betsy scanned Dylan and Reggie saw the first hint of a smile. She finally shook hands with Billy Clyde and Dylan, but simply nodded at Reggie. If Billy’s information was right, Reggie was looking at her half-sister.
Did they look alike? Reggie looked at Betsy’s eyes. Green, the same as hers. Her pulse raced. Her sister. The thought boggled her mind, but it was important to stay focused on the task at hand. She forced herself to remain objective.
“At least you agreed to meet Father here at the house.” Her voice was void of any emotion and her eyes fluttered from Dylan to Billy.
Reggie dropped her gaze to the floor and swallowed hard. This was going to be more difficult than she realized.
Betsy motioned them into the house. A tasteful, but exquisite chandelier lit up the foyer, revealing a grand spiral staircase. Her mind flashed to the barren dorms she’d lived in as a child.
“Follow me.” Betsy’s heels clicked on tiled floor. They walked down the hall in silence. Betsy stopped, knocked, and then opened the door.
A man sat on the sofa but stood when the group entered the room. He was a small slender man. He looked as if he’d been ill for an extended time. Gray patches of hair mixed with shiny baldness. Unlike them, he was wearing jeans and a sweater with tennis shoes.
In spite of obvious signs of illness, his eyes were bright and friendly. He didn’t look like a monster. He stepped forward with hand extended and smiled at them. “Good morning, Mr. Addams. I’m Stan. I’ve been following your company for some time. I’ve been looking forward to this meeting.”
Billy shook hands. “Call me Bill. Good to meet you, Mr. Federer. This is my assistant, Dylan. He’s just here to keep an eye on me. My secretary. She’s going to be taking notes during the meeting if that’s all right with you.”
“Call me Stan. My father was Mr. Federer.” He stepped forward and shook Dylan’s hand, then moved towards Reggie with an outstretched hand.
She panicked at the thought of touching him. She moved back several steps. Realizing her mistake, she looked around and held the computer in front of her as if it were a shield. “Where would you like me to set this up, Mr. Federer?”
His eyes narrowed as he stared at her.
Her heart felt as if it might burst out of her chest. Good thing she had on such a shapeless dress. Otherwise, he’d see the rise and fall of her chest as she tried to gain control of her breathing.
Finally, he pointed to the conference table behind Reggie. “Right there’s fine.”
Rushing over to the table, she tripped, but caught herself before she or the computer landed on the floor. “I’m sorry. I’m just…”
“Are you all right?” Stan’s voice was soft and gentle.
No, she wasn’t all right. She should have stayed in the van. Dylan and Billy had warned her it might be difficult, but she thought she could handle it. She’d been wrong.
“I’m s…s…so s...s…sorry.” Her face felt hot and her stomach queasy. There was nothing she could do now. She would have to get through this somehow.
“Nothing to apologize for.” Her father’s green eyes twinkled and then he turned back to Billy Clyde.
Dylan walked over to Reggie. As he helped her plug in the computer, he whispered, “Just take a few deep breaths. You’re doing fine. Don’t worry about it.”
She nodded, but said nothing. Biting at her lip, she sat at the conference table and booted up as the men chatted. Turning on the webcam, she typed in a hello to Theresa, who responded back.
Reggie wanted to cheer. At least, the equipment worked, even if she couldn’t stand on her own two feet. She looked up to find Stanley Federer staring at her. She forced a smile, then lowered her gaze back to the monitor.
When she looked back up, Stanley had turned his attention to Billy. “Would you like something to drink, Bill?”
“Sure, anything cold will be fine.”
“What about you, Dylan?”
“No thank you, sir.”
“And for you?” Stanley stared at Reggie. His words were soft and gentle, but his eyes probed her. She shook her head, not trusting her voice. She berated herself for being an emotional basket case. How was she ever going to be a litigator if she couldn’t control her emotions better than this?
Stanley chose a seat facing Reggie. Billy and Dylan sat side by side on the sofa. A knock on the door drew the men’s attention. Betsy walked in without waiting for an invitation.
“Can I help you, Betsy?” Her father asked.
“I thought you’d want me to sit in on the meeting.”
“It’s not necessary, but thanks. You go have a good day. I’ll see you later.”
Betsy looked at the men and then at Reggie. She seemed hesitant to leave. She turned towards the door, but turned back to her father. “Are you sure? Maybe I should just—”
“I’m sure. We aren’t making a deal today.” Stan laughed. His eyes twinkled. “At least, I don’t think so.”
Betsy left with a last glance at Dylan. So, that was it, thought Reggie. Betsy found Dylan attractive. Not surprising. He was handsome, and even more so in the suit he was wearing.
Realizing she was staring at the closed door, Reggie turned back to the men. Again, Stanley’s eyes were focused on her, but when she met his gaze, he turned back to Billy.
Billy talked about his reasons for considering selling his software company. He sounded convincing. Maybe he really was thinking about selling. Playing her role, she typed. Every now and then, Theresa would IM her.
Billy stopped talking. The room turned quiet. Finally, Reggie looked up. After several long moments, Stanley stood.
“I’m confused, Bill.” Stanley Federer stood.
“About what?” Billy asked.
“About a great many things.” He crossed the room to where Reggie sat.
Her pulse raced. Why was he walking towards her?
“What did you say your name was?”
Caught off guard, she looked at Billy, then at Dylan, and then at Stanley. “You can call me Susan.”
“How about I call you Regina? That is your name, isn’t it? “The man’s voice was cultured, but Reggie could hear the steel in it. “I don’t know what game you people are playing, but I don’t like it.”
Silence filled the room. A sharp pain shot through her heart as Reggie heard her father say her name for the first time in her life. Dylan rushed to Reggie. He stood between her and Stanley Federer as if to shield her from any harm.
Billy stood and faced the man. “I can assure you this is no game, Mr. Federer.”
“Why come here pretending to want to sell me your company? Why not just call and tell me that my daughter wants to meet me?”
“Because someone’s trying to kill your daughter, and we thought it might be you,” Billy said.
Stanley turned more pale than Reggie would have thought possible. He grabbed for the table. His breathing turned ragged and his knees buckled. Billy grabbed hold of the man before he collapsed to the floor.
He guided Stanley to the chair at the table.
Jumping up, Reggie rushed to grab a glass of water off the tray sitting on a side table. She reached towards him with shaking hands.
His hand shook as he reached towards her but instead of taking the glass. He touched her hand.
The glass slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.