Wired

Allison and Liam left the reception early and headed for the Four Seasons. The temperature had dropped considerably, but fortunately Liam’s car was parked in the circle drive. She grabbed her coat from the backseat and put it on while Liam reached into the glove compartment to get the envelope. They were soon on their way with the heater blasting.

  Allison suddenly realized how comfortable she was with him now. When she had opened the door for him tonight, her nerves went crazy and her hands actually shook. Her mind raced with questions. Was he going to say anything about last night? Or was he going to pretend having hot, sweaty, mind-blowing sex with her hadn’t happened? Maybe it hadn’t been like that for him. She decided to let all of that go and just enjoy the moment.

  Liam was quiet as they pulled into traffic. He was picturing the look in Keaton’s eyes. Finally he said what was on his mind. “You know what? Keaton’s a piece of . . .” He stopped before he said the crude word he was thinking of.

  “A piece of work?” she suggested.

  He laughed. “Sure. That’s what I was going to say.”

  It took all of five minutes to reach the Four Seasons Hotel. The lobby wasn’t as grand in scale as the Hamilton’s, but it was just as elegant with its gleaming black marble floors divided into huge squares by creamy marble bands. The furnishings, small groupings of upholstered chairs at the perimeter, were understated, yet they fit perfectly into the refined atmosphere of the hotel.

  Since they were early, Allison and Liam went into the bar to wait. The wood-paneled room was softly lit, and candles in tall glass cylinders on each table added to the warm ambience. Most of the tables were occupied. Liam led her to one at the back of the room and pulled out the plush leather club chair for her before he took his seat. Within seconds a waiter appeared. Allison ordered a Diet Coke, and when Liam asked for a club soda with lime, she was surprised. She had a beer on a rare occasion, but nothing else because she’d seen over and over again how it impaired judgment. She wouldn’t have known what to order anyway. The last time she had gone to dinner with Charlotte and Oliver, the waiter handed her a wine menu, and after staring at it for five minutes or so, she told Charlotte it might as well have been written in gibberish. She didn’t know what wine went with what food, and she didn’t really care. Liam, however, was a man of the world. He obviously had no objection to worldly pleasures. She finally concluded that he wasn’t drinking alcohol because he was on duty . . . or was he?

  Liam opened the envelope and pulled out two sheets of paper. “I had thought to send this contract to your laptop but changed my mind because, as you’ll see, I’ve written notes all over it. It’s still readable.”

  He handed the first sheet of paper to Allison and sat back while she read through it.

  “What it boils down to—,” he began.

  “He’d like to own me for six months, and he has the option to add another month or two or three, should he feel I’m needed.”

  “That’s about right.”

  “I’m not signing this.”

  She’d sounded so outraged he couldn’t help smiling. “I’m not suggesting that you do. Let’s go through it line by line and change what you want changed. I’ll have the new one typed up tomorrow and you can sign it.”

  “Do I need a lawyer?” she asked, and before he could answer her question, she said, “I probably need a lawyer.”

  “I’m a lawyer. I’ll look out for you.”

  “You’re a lawyer?” She sounded suspicious.

  “Yes.”

  He didn’t give her any more information. Frowning, she said, “Okay, you’re a lawyer. But you work for him.”

  “Him?”

  “Phillips.”

  “No, I don’t work for him. Alec and I brought you in, and we won’t let him take advantage of you. Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled her chair closer, handed her a pen, and said, “Let’s get started.”

  Allison held the pages close to the candle as she pored over the document, crossing out a phrase here, changing a word there. The candlelight cast a beautiful glow on her perfect features, and Liam was finding it difficult to focus. He tried not to be distracted, but damn, it was difficult. Her scent, a blend of flowers and sunshine, was messing with his concentration.

  “What did you say?” His voice was gruff.

  She looked up at him. “I didn’t say anything.”

  Liam’s mouth was just inches from hers, and he thought it might be a good idea to kiss her.

  She had the same idea. Her gaze never left his mouth as she inched closer and closed her eyes. She could feel his breath on her lips, and she parted her own in anticipation. Her heart pounded in her chest, just as—

  “A Diet Coke and a club soda.”

  Allison’s eyes snapped open to see the waiter set the tall glasses on cocktail napkins. His eyes were downcast as though he had just witnessed something he shouldn’t have. She gave him a weak smile before he pivoted and hurried back to the bar. Feeling the blood rush to her face, she picked up her glass and downed every bit of her drink.

  “You’re kind of flustered, aren’t you?” Liam asked with an impish grin. He was obviously enjoying her mortification.

  “No, I’m not. Not at all.”

  “You just drank my club soda.”

  She looked at the empty glass in front of her. She didn’t think her face could have felt any hotter, and she put her hand to her cheek to see if it was burning. Liam’s smile wasn’t helping any. After a deep breath, she said, “Shall we get back to this?”

  She finished making changes to the first page and, after setting it aside, began on the second. Liam’s arm was on the back of her chair, and as he examined the contract with her, he stroked her neck. She couldn’t tell if it was a sign of affection or an absentminded gesture. All she was sure of was that he was making her task extremely difficult, but it felt too good to make him stop.

  She finally handed him the pen and the pages. “Did Phillips really think I would sign this?”

  “I’m sure he knew it was a long shot.” He put the contract back in the envelope. “I’ll have this retyped and you can sign it when you start Monday.”

  “No, that would give Phillips time to sneak in a few surprises I might not notice. It will only take a few minutes to revise it on my laptop and print it out. I’d like you to give him a signed contract so it’s a done deal before I start.”

  “Are we interrupting?”

  Allison jumped when she heard her sister’s voice and then immediately felt guilty. She hadn’t done anything wrong, and she was being foolish acting as though she had. She was simply sitting in a bar with a man, a very attractive man. Okay, she had had sex with him the night before . . . lots of sex . . . but Charlotte didn’t know that. Allison hugged her sister and kissed Oliver on his cheek, then quickly introduced Liam.

  When he stood to shake Oliver’s hand, he towered over him. Oliver was stocky but solid in build, and his sturdy handshake was accompanied by a genuine smile. Behind his wire-rimmed glasses were eyes that revealed a keen intelligence and an affable nature.

  “They’ll come get us when our table is ready,” Oliver said. “We’re early.” He pulled out a chair for his wife.

  Liam could see the resemblance between the sisters. They had the same high cheekbones and blue eyes. Their smiles were almost identical, too. But there were a couple of distinct differences. Charlotte had light brown hair and Allison’s was a deep, lush sable. Charlotte was the scrubbed girl next door, pretty, with freckles on her cheeks, while Allison was a stunning beauty with flawless skin. There was only one other big difference. Charlotte didn’t turn him on the way Allison did.

  Charlotte hadn’t said anything yet. When she finally stopped staring at Liam, she turned toward Allison with wide, questioning eyes. Obviously astonished to see her sister with a man, she interrogated he
r with one look. Allison read the signals loud and clear. She knew Charlotte was dying to find out about him. There was little that Allison had ever done in her life that surprised her sister, and she loved watching the expressions that were skipping across Charlotte’s face now.

  Oliver drew his wife’s attention. While they discussed what they wanted to drink, Allison picked up the glass she’d emptied and frowned. Then she looked at Liam.

  “What happened to the ice?” she whispered.

  “You swallowed it.”

  He didn’t look as though he was joking. Okay, so she was flustered and hadn’t been paying attention to what she was doing. “I was thirsty,” she rationalized in a flimsy excuse to hide her embarrassment.

  Charlotte couldn’t hold her curiosity any longer. She looked at Liam, then back at Allison. “How did you two meet?”

  “I did some computer work for him.”

  “And you’ve known each other long?” Charlotte asked.

  “Not long,” Allison answered. The sisters had never had any secrets between them, and Allison sensed Charlotte’s irritation at not being told about Liam.

  There was one other secret that Allison was keeping. Charlotte persisted with one question after another, but Allison was evasive with her answers because she didn’t want her sister to know about the deal she had struck to keep their cousin out of prison. If Charlotte knew, she’d have thrown a fit. Unlike Allison, she had absolutely no sympathy for Will. Her attitude was set. He had made his bed and he should have to wallow in it.

  Oliver changed the subject. “Allison, when are you moving? Maybe we can fly down and help you get settled.”

  “She’s moving to Santa Clara right after graduation,” Charlotte explained. “Allison, I’m so sorry we can’t be there to see you graduate. If we could change our schedules . . .”

  “It’s all right. It’s no big deal. Honest,” she said. “And, Oliver, I’m putting off the move for another six months. I’m going to do some work for the government.”

  “Do it from California. All you need is your laptop.”

  “No, I have to work here.”

  “Why?” Charlotte asked.

  Allison felt like groaning. Her sister wasn’t going to give up. “Because I gave my word, and I’m going to sign a contract.”

  More questions resulted from that bit of honesty, and Liam watched Allison bob and weave like a pro, sometimes giving only half answers. After five more questions were asked and partially answered, he decided Charlotte could work for the CIA. She was tenacious with her inquisition.

  A break came when the waiter reappeared. While Oliver and Charlotte talked to him, Liam leaned down and whispered, “I’m getting the idea you don’t want your sister to know you helped your cousin.”

  “You promised not to say a word,” Allison whispered back with a warning glance.

  “Promise what?” Charlotte asked.

  She didn’t just have the persistence of a honey badger; she had the hearing of a bat, too. Allison decided she was tired of being the center of attention and was determined to get the upper hand. Liam ordered another club soda, and she said she’d like one, too. Then she sat back, smiled at her sister, and said, “Liam’s from Australia.” She waved her hand in the air. “Discuss.”

  Allison was sure Charlotte would have a hundred questions. She didn’t have a single one. Still determined to find out every detail in Allison’s contract, she persevered.

  “Will you please let it go?” Allison pleaded in exasperation.

  “Just help me understand why you would want to sign a contract. Have you forgotten your plan to move to California?”

  Oliver’s cell phone interrupted. “I’ve got to take this,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

  Allison waited until he’d left the bar, then said, “Oliver looks rested.” She was hoping to turn Charlotte’s attention yet again. “He must like his job.”

  It didn’t work. “I can’t understand why you would waste six months working here when you could start your career and be closer to Oliver and me.”

  The argument ceased while the waiter placed the drinks on the table, but as soon as he stepped away Allison said, “You make me want to bang my head against a wall, Charlotte. How about I put you on the defensive and question your every decision?”

  It was a great plan without a follow-through. She couldn’t think of anything to ask, and while Charlotte dug through her purse looking for only God knew what, Allison whispered to Liam, “Could you put her on the defensive for me?”

  He shook his head and tried not to laugh. He was fascinated by the way the sisters argued with each other. Their squabble was intense but never mean or angry, the way only two siblings who loved each other could fight. They were so comfortable with each other, there was no hint of hurt feelings. Despite their bickering, their deep affection and unbreakable bond were apparent. Oliver hurried back to the table, apologized profusely for having to take the call, and sat.

  “Liam, you work for a computer company or the government?” Oliver asked, trying to understand his relationship to Allison.

  Before Liam could answer, Charlotte blurted, “Maybe Oliver and I should look over the contract.”

  Allison let out a frustrated sigh. “Will you please let it go, you maniac?”

  Liam did laugh then. So did Oliver. “Liam works for the FBI,” Allison said. “Want to discuss that, Charlotte, or do you want to continue to obsess about the contract?”

  Charlotte put her hands up. “Okay, I’ll stop nagging you.”

  Allison couldn’t have been happier. She reached for her drink and saw that it was empty. She held the glass up. “Did I . . . ?”

  Liam nodded. “You didn’t swallow the ice this time,” he said cheerfully.

  Oliver stopped his wife from continuing to grill Liam when he said, “Sweetheart, why don’t you share your news with Allison now before dinner? That way she can think about it, and if she has any questions, there’s still time to discuss it.”

  Charlotte nodded. “I guess I should probably fill Liam in, since he’s here and he’s apparently Allison’s boyfriend . . . which I might add, she didn’t tell us about. . . .”

  “Oh my God, will you stop?” Allison demanded. She glanced over at Liam, who offered no denial. Instead he sat calmly smiling at her sister without comment, and she wondered what was going through his head. Probably wondering if lunacy ran in her family, she thought.

  Ignoring Allison, Charlotte turned to Liam and said, “Our father took out a five-hundred-thousand-dollar life insurance policy, and Allison and I were the beneficiaries. When he and our mother died, our aunt Jane and uncle Russell found out about the money and crawled out of the woodwork like roaches and petitioned the court to become our guardians. The judge agreed but with stipulations.”

  “What stipulations?” Allison asked

  “Once a year they were required to list the expenses and the money they spent on us.”

  “They only sent in one report,” Oliver interjected.

  “And it was bogus,” Charlotte added.

  “How so?” Allison asked.

  “They had a huge expense listed for tuition at Vuillard Academy. It’s the most expensive school in Boston,” Oliver explained.

  “We didn’t go to Vuillard Academy,” Charlotte told Liam.

  “They must have asked around and found the highest tuition,” Oliver said.

  “And no one checked? No one looked. . . .” Allison stopped. It was silly to get upset about something that was far in the past, she thought. Why waste the energy? “That happened years ago. You can’t do anything about it now. Besides, the money’s all gone.”

  “We know that,” Charlotte said. “But Oliver still wanted to look into it.”

  “I can’t believe no one noticed they weren’t sending in reports,” Allison s
aid.

  “Slipped through the cracks,” Oliver said. “I talked to a sympathetic clerk who found the file. That in itself is remarkable, and when he showed it to me, I told him neither of you went to Vuillard Academy. I hope you don’t mind, Allison, but I also told him a little of what your life was like living with those people. I said that—”

  Allison interrupted. In a rush, she blurted, “You don’t need to tell me what you said.” She didn’t want Liam to hear any of the horror from her childhood. He already knew quite enough. She thought about apologizing to him for making him sit through this, then changed her mind. He could always have gotten up and left.

  Seeing that he was entering uncomfortable territory and not wanting to cause Allison further embarrassment, Oliver halted his condemnation of her aunt and uncle. “The clerk I talked to was in foster care, and boy, did he sympathize! He took the folder and all the legal papers to a young, new judge, and the clerk is sure he’ll sign the order.”

  Allison grabbed Liam’s glass and took a drink. “What order?”

  “Our aunt and uncle will have to account for the five hundred thousand dollars,” Charlotte answered. “We know where three hundred thousand went. It took some digging, but we found what we were looking for.”

  “‘We’?” Allison asked.

  Charlotte glanced at her husband before answering, “Okay, I found what I was looking for. I won’t tell you how I found out, because it might not be legal and there’s an FBI agent sitting at the table.”

  “What did you find out?”

  “They didn’t own that house. They rented, and as soon as they got the insurance money, they purchased it. Uncle Russell paid off all their other debts, too. They owed almost a hundred thousand dollars to credit card companies and department stores. They even had a tab running at the neighborhood liquor store. I’m guessing the rest went to whatever Will wanted. And lawyer fees, of course. They sure didn’t spend a penny on either one of us.”

  Allison wasn’t impressed by the threat of a court order. “They won’t tell where the money went. They’ll make up stuff.”

  “With receipts. They have to prove each expense with receipts,” Oliver explained.