Lies And Consequences Collection

Chapter 15-1

Banks and Boutiques

Having already experienced so many surprises, I chose the bank that Richard had selected for my newly acquired wealth as my next port of call, hoping for the best. Back home I was never used to having more than a couple of hundred pound or so in the bank at any one time. My expectations never exceeded the equivalent. My luck was in! His generosity exceeded my wildest dreams. Whilst I was there I rented a safe deposit box, placing all the written instructions I had from Jack, along with my passport and the jade ring of Fianna"s hoping that the luck she had experienced would spill over onto me.

As I left, following the map that Salvatore had drawn on a restaurant order slip depicting my new apartment in relation to both the bank and Leeba Stockford"s boutique law firm, I mused over how to spend Stockford"s largesse. Would it be on a car? I had never learned to drive in England and driving on the wrong side of the road here in America did not seem appealing enough to squander money on learning that craft. A bed might be needed, but perhaps new clothes? Now that was something worth considering as I had very few with me. All the eagerness of an extravagant lifestyle disappeared as I turned the corner into Baxter Street where an ugly, tall block of greying concrete apartments was staring straight at me as if in reprimand to my desires of pleasure. Eighteen storeys of grime with a minimum of windows and only a tiny number of apartments having a balcony. It was in this building that my life in New York was to be lived. My solitary remaining hope was that it overlooked the park in front of the block, and not the endless buildings behind.

Jack had said that it was furnished, but his idea of furnishing was a long way from mine. I decided not to make my day any worse by looking inside and finding out. Saving any more disappointments for later, I made my way towards Leeba, silently praying that visit would go sufficiently well to lift my now downhearted mood.

Her offices were opposite the US Centre of Citizenship and Immigration in a small intimate building resembling more of an English one than anything I"d seen since arriving in New York. It was brick-built with sash windows and what"s more, consisted of a mere two floors with a basement area, all of which were part of the Stockford & Crawford, Attorneys at Law. Inside the ground floor glass door I was immediately greeted by two smiling, well-dressed women seated behind a rich, curving wheat coloured marble desk, bedecked with a battery of telephones and two bulky computer screens that almost filled the whole of the contemporary, stylish reception area.

“Good afternoon, Mr Redden! We were told to expect you sometime today. Welcome on board the S & C. I"m Christa. Jennifer has the honour of accompanying you to Miss Leeba"s office. It"s very good to see you,” she added on answering a ringing telephone.

“How did you know my name?” completely surprised, I asked of the standing attractive Jennifer who, although holding my fascination could not wholly divert it from the title of Miss attributed to Leeba.

Miss“By the description we were given, Mr Redden. Height, weight, looks and hair colouring. Plus there"s nobody else expected today, sir. Monday is set aside for in-house case appraisals and reconciliation,” she explained.

I was beginning to think that being blond along with everything else in my life was predetermined by Jack. For the first time since my remonstration at the hairdressers I wondered what Fianna would think of my new persona.

The previous animosity I"d experience was replaced by Leeba"s sincerity and consideration, balanced by a degree of understandable suspicion. After she greeted me with a warm and friendly handshake, I took my place in the chair in front of her desk, trying hard not to stare at the well-stocked drinks cabinet standing beside one of the four windows that looked out onto the street, but my diffidence brought no reward. My thirsty anticipation of alcohol went unanswered; instead I soberly drank the coffee I was offered.

“Let"s dispense with the formalities first. Richard has informed me that you are aware of our full family"s history. My brother trusts the man who told you our story so it follows that I must trust you, Shaun. I find it odd that a complete stranger knows more about us than we know and even more strange that my brother accepts that situation. However, all that"s out of my control. I"m left with nothing but to comply with the arrangements.” She glared at me, trying to search inside my soul for hidden secrets, but her glare was tinged with compassion not anger. The title of Miss was confirmed by the lack of a wedding ring on her finger, neither did she wear any other jewellery.

Miss“Richard has explained part of why you"re here. He left most of that explanation shrouded in mystery. I assume your work will be more investigatory than simple everyday research. As I understand things your main interest, for the time being at least, will be the pending merger of my brother"s company with KGA where Karl Weilham is an undisclosed, but legitimate stock holder. I"m guessing that your expertise will not necessarily be aimed at the legitimate side of business.” There was a hint of depravity in her voice and mirrored on her face.

“I hope I haven"t given you the impression that you"re not wanted here, or unappreciated. That is not the case at all. And to show how much we welcome you I"ve had the office next to this one prepared for your sole use. There"s an interconnecting door which will make things more convenient, as I assume that you and I will be meeting many times before you"ve finished whatever it is Richard wants from you. I"ve had a list prepared of the company"s employees. There are not many, but too many to confine to one"s memory in a short time. You may find it useful while you settle in. Is there anything my firm can do for you now to help smooth your way into the life here in New York City?”

She was of medium height with a trim, well-proportioned figure. Shapely legs and a small behind. The conventional lemon yellow business suit of a lightweight material and low cut cream blouse hung snugly to her body, holding my gaze the longer I looked. A sharp featured rounded face with a sloping nose, bronzed complexion with deep, narrowly set brown eyes. She wore little makeup, just eye shadow and mascara; both of which were brown. Her long raven black hair swayed as she moved around the room and the scent of a crisp, sharp, exotic perfume served as the finishing touch to her appeal. She may have been at forty-eight more than twice my age, but time could not dull how seductive she was. By her confident bearing and perfunctory welcome speech I had no doubt that if this woman wanted privacy then the transgressor would be dismissed in a flash. Pushing those corporeal instincts I had just experienced to the back of my mind for another day, I tackled the austere possibility of living a restrained life in a bleak home.

“There is one thing that"s occurred me, Leeba. Your brother has rented an apartment for me, a few blocks away on Baxter Street. I haven"t looked inside yet, but I doubt if there"s much in the way of furniture. Could you point me in the right direction to buy some cheap stuff, such as a bed and a couple of chairs etc.”

“There"s no need for that, Shaun. That property is one of several that my sister Penina, owns. I know it looks a little rundown from the outside, but I can assure you that it would have been furnished to a very high specification. That whole area is on the up with a facial refurbishment due on the building in the not so far off future. We"re Jewish, remember, Shaun. With that comes a reputation of wise and shrewd investments.” A heavenly smile accompanied that comment, which only served to arouse my interest to new heights.

“I"m not sure what reputation the Irish have brought upon themselves in this city, but I"m becoming aware that it"s not a good one judging by the hairdressers I"ve just come from. Are they all so obnoxious in this part of town?”

“You must have picked the wrong one, but the change of hair colouring added to the mystique that surrounded you. Richard said that you would be having your red hair dyed blond. He didn"t say why that was, but I presumed it was done with anonymity in mind.” I was right about Jack then.

“Yes, it was suggested that it might be more prudent. Red does tend to stick out a bit,” I answered politely.

“Also indicative of a temper, so I"m told.” I never answered that implied question and instead I asked my own.

“I take it your sister Penina is a rich woman in her own right then?” I figured that although she was aware of my knowledge, discretion was more favourable than stark disclosure. That was not my only reason. I hoped that a principled approach would add to the mystique she attributed to me.

sister

With her cheeks puffed out in pride and pleasure she smilingly answered.

“Very much so! She"s a classical musician by training, on both the violin and the cello. Unfortunately she seldom plays nowadays, preferring to concentrate on musical scores for the movie business. Penina is extremely successful in that regard. She"s written for many of the top grossing modern-day movies that have originated in Hollywood. She does stage productions, as well as owning her own recording studio in Beverly Hills. I have a collection of some of the highest profile modern singing artists who have recorded there. It"s a prized possession of mine. I"ll show it to you one day. When your clandestine work for Richard allows for it.”

“That would be extremely nice of you, Leeba. I"ll look forward to the day, but my work is not that secretive. I think sensitive would be a more correct definition.”

“Is there a difference?” she asked with that smiling laugh again lighting up her face. This time I too laughed, bowing my head towards her in recognition of her humour and her understated awareness of my role.

“You take your time in moving into the office, Shaun. Everything Richard and I thought you might need is in there. I understand that you don"t drive. Is that right?” she asked, to which I replied that I didn"t.

“In that case you will need our driver with one of the company"s cars. Might I suggest that tomorrow you take a drive out to Hartford, Connecticut. It"s a couple of hours through pleasant countryside. You"ll enjoy the scenery!”

Was that last remark made because she had noticed just how much I was enjoying it already? Was I being presumptuous to assume that she may have noticed, or cared? Her tone of voice had not changed nor had her expression. A misinterpretation perhaps? If it was, then I had relished the thought. She was still speaking.

“Backing on to a golf club, just outside the town, you"ll find a very grand house belonging to a man named Haynes Baxter-Clifford. The driver knows where it is. Haynes is a powerful man and one to watch out for. Now would be an opportune time to know who your enemies may be.” All remains of that smile had disappeared from her face, replaced by a solemn frown in my direction.