Frank drove home and parked in front of the mansion. He walked up the marble steps and opened the door.
Henry, who had been hired years ago to oversee the staff assigned to the house and grounds, was standing about a foot away. “Frank, I saw you coming up the steps. I was about to open the door for you, but you beat me to it.”
Frank gently patted the older man on the back and said, “That’s okay, Henry. How are you?”
“Fine. Thanks for asking. Your mother is in the dining room.”
“Thanks.”
Frank entered the dining room and noticed that his mother was leaning away from the table.
“Have you been waiting long?” he asked.
She smiled and glanced at her watch. “Not too long.”
He went to where she was seated and kissed her on the forehead. Then he sat in the nearest chair that was to her right. He smiled, and she looked at him for several minutes before picking up the sterling silver fork. Neither said a word as they ate what Francine had cooked.
When he finished he put his fork on the plate and looked at his mother. “Mother, I’ve noticed the glances all through dinner. Something’s bothering you and I want to know what it is.”
“I need to ask you something.”
“Okay.” He leaned back in the chair.
“Frank, what do you think we should do about your father’s secretary?”
“What do you mean?” he asked curiously.
“Do you think she should remain at the oil company?”
He reached for the glass that was behind his plate and drank the rest of the water. Then he put the glass down. “Well, that’s a very good question,” he said. He realized that his mother was waiting for an answer. “She may not enjoy working for me.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I saw her today.”
“You went to your father’s office?”
He nodded.
“What did you do?”
“I introduced myself to her. Then I checked out father’s office. Did you know that he had moved to a different office?”
“No. I don’t remember him telling me. What’s it like?”
“According to Ms. Cooper, father had the building renovated and several offices enlarged. He moved to a large office toward the back. Although he had several photographs hanging on the walls in his old office, I noticed he had numerous photographs on the walls in his new office. Anyway, after looking around a few minutes, I asked Ms. Cooper to come to the office. I asked her a few questions.”
Mary leaned toward him. “What did you ask?”
Frank noticed that her eyebrows had arched. He replied, “I asked about the evening father was shot.”
“What did she say?”
Frank told her. His mother looked away and even winced when he provided certain details.
“Did you ask her about anything else?”
Frank nodded. “I asked if she and my father were having an affair.”
His mother sat erect in her chair. “What did she say?”
“She said they weren’t. She said he saw her about once a month, but he was always a gentleman.”
“Really?”
Frank nodded.
“I wonder if she was telling the truth.” Mary looked away from his gaze.
“I wonder that, too,” he said.
For some unknown reason, Mary laughed suddenly, and she had not laughed in a long time.
“What’s so funny?” Frank asked.
“I was thinking about Ms. Cooper. I would like to have seen the expression on her face when you asked about their relationship.”
Frank smiled. “Well, she stared at me with cold eyes, as if she couldn’t believe I had asked such a question.”
His mother’s laughter subsided. She glanced at the table momentarily before she focused on Frank. “Will you fire her if she doesn’t leave on her own?” she finally asked.
Frank noticed that his mother’s mood had changed. “That is a good question. Although that has certainly crossed my mind, I think it would be in our best interest if she remained with the company.”
“Why?”
“It would be easier for me to keep my eyes on her. Who knows, she may let something slip―that is, if she was involved somehow. Besides, in order to fire her, I would need to have a good reason.”
“I’m aware of that, Frank. However, considering the circumstances, I think you have a good reason.”
“Don’t worry, Mother, she won’t have the job long.”
“Well, you let me know when you intend to let her go.”
He nodded. “I will.” Then he changed the subject. “Please excuse me, but I think I’ll go upstairs to my room.”
“Are you going out?”
“I haven’t decided.”
“Well, if you do, please don’t stay out too late.”
“Okay.”
Frank desired to see Maria again, but he didn’t go out that evening. Instead, he stayed in his room and thought about the oil and trucking companies. Although he realized that both would be his and that he should introduce himself to the top executives who worked at each, he thought about his father’s suggestion. Did something happen at the trucking company to cause father to make the suggestion? Frank thought about the question again and wondered what could have happened. Did something happen at the trucking company to cause someone to kill him? Frank shook his head. What could have happened?
Frank thought about his father’s suggestion again. If he sold the Williams Trucking Company, he would not have to fly to Chicago several times a year. In fact, like his father had mentioned, he could concentrate on the oil company. He smiled. He thought about the oil company. He decided he would visit the company again.