The Winner

  good the G.C. is, something this complex, things get out of whack every now and then.”

  “Charlie handled all of that. But I think things went fairly smoothly. I’m certainly pleased with the end product.”

  “I could see that.”

  “Lunch will be ready in a few minutes. Sally is setting it up in the rear verandah. The dining room seats about fifty and I thought it might be a little overwhelming for three. Would you like something to drink beforehand?”

  “I’m okay.” He pointed at the photos. “Is that your daughter? Or younger sister?”

  She blushed and then followed his gesture, but settled herself on the couch before answering. “My daughter, Lisa. She’s ten years old. I can’t believe that, the years go by so quickly.”

  Riggs looked her over in an unassuming manner. “You must have had her very young then.”

  “Younger than I probably should have, but I wouldn’t give her back for anything in the world. Do you have children?”

  Riggs shook his head quickly and looked down at his hands. “Never been that lucky.”

  LuAnn had noted the absence of a wedding ring, although some men never wore them. She assumed a man who worked with his hands all day might not wear it simply for safety reasons.

  “Your wife—”

  “I’m divorced,” he interjected. “Almost four years now.” He put his hands in his pockets and again ran his eyes around the room. He could sense her following the path of his observations. “You?” he asked, settling his eyes back upon her.

  “Widowed.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She shrugged. “It was a long time ago,” she said simply. There was a ring in her voice that told Riggs the years had not managed to diminish the impact of the loss.

  “Ms. Savage—”

  “Please, call me Catherine.” She smiled impishly. “All my close friends do.”

  He smiled back and sat down next to her. “So where’s Charlie?”

  “He’s out running some errands. He’ll be joining us for lunch though.”

  “So he’s your uncle?”

  LuAnn nodded. “His wife passed on years ago. Both my parents are dead. We’re really all the family left.”

  “I take it your late husband did very well for himself. Or maybe you did. I don’t want to sound politically incorrect.” Riggs grinned suddenly. “Either that, or one of you won the lottery.”

  LuAnn’s hand tightened perceptibly on the edge of the couch. “My husband was a brilliant businessman who obviously left me very well-off.” She managed to say this with a casual air.

  “He sure did,” Riggs agreed.

  “And you? Have you lived here all your life?”

  “Gee, after my visit here yesterday I thought you would have checked out my background thoroughly.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t have quite the level of sources you obviously do. I didn’t think builders had such an information network.” Her eyes remained fixed on his.

  “I moved here about five years ago. Apprenticed with a local builder who taught me the trade. He died about three years ago and that’s when I set up my own shop.”

  “Five years. So your wife lived here with you for a year.”

  Riggs shook his head. “The divorce was final four years ago, but we had been separated for about fourteen months. She’s still up in D.C. Probably always will be.”

  “Is she in politics?”

  “Attorney. Big partner, at a big firm. She has some politically connected clients. She’s very successful.”

  “She must be good then. That’s still very much a man’s world. Like a lot of other ones.”

  Riggs shrugged. “She’s smart, a great business-getter. I think that’s why we broke up. The marriage thing got in the way.”

  “I see.”

  “Not what you’d call an original story, but it’s the only one I have. I moved down here and never looked back.”

  “I take it you like what you do.”

  “It can be a hassle sometimes, just like any job. But I like putting things together. It’s therapeutic. And peaceful. I’ve been lucky, got some good word of mouth and the business has been steady. As you probably know, there’s a lot of money in this area. Even before you came.”

  “So I understand. I’m glad your career change has worked out.”

  He sat back while he digested her words, his lips pursed, his hands balled up into fists, but not in a threatening way.

  He chuckled. “Let me guess, you heard that I was either a CIA operative or an international assassin who abruptly decided to chuck all that and take up hammering and sawing in more placid surroundings.”

  “Actually, I hadn’t heard the assassin angle.”

  They exchanged brief smiles.

  “You know if you just told people the truth, they’d stop speculating.” She couldn’t believe she had just made that statement, but there it was. She looked at him with what she hoped was an air of complete innocence.

  “You’re assuming that I care if people speculate about me. I don’t.”

  “That’s beneath you, I take it.”

  “If I’ve learned anything in life, it’s that you don’t worry about what other people think or say. You worry about yourself and that’s good enough. Otherwise you’re setting yourself up to be a basket case. People can be cruel. Especially people who supposedly cared about you. Believe me, I speak from experience.”

  “I take it the divorce wasn’t exactly amicable?”

  He didn’t look at her when he spoke. “I’m not taking anything away from you, but sometimes losing a spouse isn’t as traumatic or painful as going through a divorce. They each have their own degrees of hurt, I guess.”

  He looked down at his hands. There was a definite ring of sincerity in his words and LuAnn felt instant guilt that she in fact had not been widowed, at least not by the falsehood of losing a wealthy husband. It was as though he were baring his wounds in return for LuAnn baring hers. As usual, it was all lies on her part. Could she even speak the truth anymore? In fact how could she? Speaking the truth would destroy her, all the lies would immediately fall to earth like those old buildings demolished by explosives that caused them to implode.

  “I can understand that,” she said.

  Riggs didn’t appear inclined to continue.

  LuAnn finally looked at her watch. “Lunch should be just about ready. I thought after we eat you could look at a site at the rear grounds where I’m thinking of having you build a small studio.” She stood up and Riggs did too. He appeared immeasurably relieved that this particular conversation was over.

  “That sounds good, Catherine. In my business, work is always welcome.”

  As they walked to the rear of the house, Charlie joined them. The two men shook hands. “Glad to see you again, Matt. I hope you’re hungry. Sally usually puts out a good spread.”

  Lunch was devoted to enjoying the food and drink and discussing innocuous subjects of local interest. However, there was an energy between Charlie and Catherine Savage that was unmistakable to Riggs. A strong bond, he concluded. Unbreakable, in fact. They were family, after all.

  “So what’re we looking at timewise on the fence, Matt?” Charlie asked. He and Riggs were on the rear terrace overlooking the grounds. Lunch was over and LuAnn had gone to pick up Lisa. School had ended early because of a scheduled teacher workshop. She had asked Riggs to remain until she returned so they could talk about the studio construction. Riggs wondered if her going to get Lisa had been a deliberate maneuver to leave Charlie behind to pump him for information. Whatever the reason, he remained on guard.

  Before Riggs had a chance to answer him about the fence, Charlie extended a cigar. “You smoke these things?”

  Riggs took it. “After a meal like that, and a gorgeous day like this, even if I didn’t, I’d be tempted.” He snipped off the end with a cutter Charlie handed him and they took a moment to get their respective smokes going.

  “I figure a w
eek to dig all the postholes. Two weeks clearing land, and assembling and installing the fencing. That includes pouring the cement for the posts. Another week to install the gate and security systems. One month total. That’s about what I estimated in the contract.”

  Charlie looked him over. “I know, but sometimes what you put on paper doesn’t work exactly that way in reality.”

  “That pretty much sums up the construction business,” Riggs agreed. He puffed on his cigar. “But we’ll get in before the frost, and the lay of the land isn’t as bad as I originally thought.” He paused and eyed Charlie. “After yesterday, I wish I could have that sucker in today. I’m sure you do too.”

  It was an open invitation for discussion and Charlie didn’t disappoint Riggs. “Have a seat, Matt.” Charlie indicated a pair of white wrought-iron chairs next to the balustrade. Charlie sat down gingerly. “God these suckers are uncomfortable as hell, and for what they cost you’d think they were made out of gold. I’m thinking the interior designer we used must’ve gotten some kind of kickback on them.” He smoked his cigar while he looked over the landscape. “Damn, it’s beautiful here.”

  Riggs followed his gaze. “It’s one reason I came here. A big reason.”

  “What were the other reasons?” Charlie grinned at him. “I’m just kidding. That’s your business.” The emphasis on the word was not lost on Riggs. Charlie wriggled in the seat until he managed to find a semicomfortable position. “Catherine told me about your little discussion yesterday.”

  “I assumed she would. She shouldn’t go sneaking around people’s houses, though. That’s not always a healthy thing to do.”

  “That’s exactly what I told her. I know it might be hard to see, but she’s rather headstrong.”

  The two men exchanged knowing chuckles.

  “I do appreciate your agreeing not to pursue it,” Charlie said.

  “I told her so long as the guy didn’t bother me, I wouldn’t bother him.”

  “Fair enough. I’m sure you can see that with all of Catherine’s wealth, she’s a target for a variety of scams, hustles, or downright threats. We have Lisa to worry about too. We keep a real close eye on her.”

  “You sound like you speak from experience.”

  “I do. This isn’t the first time. And it won’t be the last. But you can’t let it get to you. I mean Catherine could buy a deserted island somewhere and make it impossible for anyone to reach her, but what kind of life would that be? For her or Lisa?”

  “And you. It’s not like you’re tapping on the grave, Charlie. You look like you could suit up for the Redskins on Sunday.”

  Charlie beamed at the compliment. “I actually played some semipro ball way back when. And I take care of myself. And Catherine nags me about my diet. I think she lets me smoke these things out of pity.” He held up the cigar. “Although lately I’m feeling old beyond my years. But yeah, I don’t want to live on a deserted island.”

  “So any luck finding the guy in the Honda?” Riggs asked.

  “I’m working on it. Got some inquiries going.”

  “Don’t take offense at this, but if you find him, what do you plan on doing about it?”

  Charlie looked over at him. “What would you do?”

  “Depends on his intentions.”

  “Exactly. So until I find him and determine what his intentions are, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” There was a slight trace of hostility in Charlie’s tone that Riggs chose to ignore. He looked back over the countryside.

  “Catherine says she wants to put up an outdoor studio. Do you know where?”

  Charlie shook his head. “I really haven’t discussed it with her. I think it was a recent impulse on her part.”

  Riggs again looked over at him. Had that been a conscious slip on his part? It was as though Charlie were telling him point-blank that the potential new piece of business was the payoff for Riggs keeping his mouth shut. Or was there another reason?

  “What would she be using it for, the studio?”

  Charlie glanced at him. “Does it matter?”

  “Actually it does. If it’s an art studio, I’d make sure there was sufficient lighting, maybe put in some skylights, and a ventilation system to carry the paint fumes out. If she just wants to use it to get away, read or sleep, I’d configure it differently.”

  Charlie nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Well, I don’t know what she plans to use it for. But she doesn’t paint, that I know.”

  The men fell silent until that silence was interrupted by the sounds of LuAnn and Lisa approaching. The door to the terrace opened and the pair came out.

  In person, Lisa Savage resembled her mother even more than in the photo. They both walked the same way, easy glides, no wasted energy.

  “This is Mr. Riggs, Lisa.”

  Riggs had not been around many children in his life, but he did what came naturally. He put out his hand. “Call me Matt, Lisa. Pleased to meet you.”

  She smiled and squeezed his hand in return. “Pleased to meet you, Matt.”

  “That’s quite a grip.” He glanced up at LuAnn and then Charlie. “That particular attribute must run in the family. If I keep coming over here I might have to start wearing a steel glove.”

  Lisa smiled.

  “Matthew is going to build a studio for me, Lisa. Out there somewhere.” She pointed toward the rear grounds.

  Lisa looked up at the house in undisguised wonderment. “Isn’t our house big enough?”

  All the adults burst into laughter at that one and finally Lisa joined in too.

  “What’s the studio for?” Lisa asked.

  “Well, maybe it’ll be kind of a surprise. In fact, I might let you use it too, sometimes.”

  Lisa grinned broadly at the news.

  “But only if you keep your grades up,” said Charlie. “By the way, how’d your test go?” Charlie’s tone was gruff, but it clearly was all a facade. It was obvious to Riggs that the old guy loved Lisa as much as he did her mother, if not more.

  Lisa’s mouth dropped into a pout. “I didn’t get an A.”

  “That’s okay, sweetie,” Charlie said kindly. “Probably my fault. I’m not all that good with math.”

  Lisa suddenly broke into a big smile. “I got an A plus.”

  Charlie playfully cuffed her head. “You got your mother’s sense of humor, that’s for sure.”

  LuAnn said, “Miss Sally has some lunch ready for you. I know you didn’t get a chance to eat at school. Run along and I’ll see you after I finish up with Matthew.”

  LuAnn and Riggs walked through the rear grounds. Charlie had begged off. He had some things to do, he had said.

  After Riggs had walked the property he pointed to a clearing that was level, had an unobstructed view of the distant mountains, but still had shade trees on two sides. “That looks like a nice spot. Actually, with this much land, you probably have a number of potential locations. By the way, if I knew what you were going to use the place for I could make a more informed choice for the site.” He looked around. “And you have a number of outbuildings already. Another option would be to convert one of those into a studio.”

  “I’m sorry, I thought I was clear on that. I want it done from scratch. None of the other buildings would really do. I want it set up like yours. Two stories. The first floor could be set up as a workshop for some of my hobbies, that is, when I get around to having some hobbies. Lisa is into drawing and she’s getting pretty good. Maybe I could take up sculpting. That seems like a very relaxing pastime. On the second level I want a woodstove, a telescope, comfortable furniture, built-in bookcases, maybe a small kitchen, bay windows.”

  Riggs nodded and looked around. “I saw the pool area. Are you planning on a poolhouse and maybe tennis courts?”

  “Next spring. Why?”

  “I was just thinking that we might want to tie those and the studio into an overall plan. You know, use the same materials or some combo thereof with the poolhouse and the studio.”

>   LuAnn shook her head. “No, I want it separate. We’ll put in a large gazebo for outdoor entertaining and all that. It’ll be mostly Lisa using the pool and tennis courts. I want those facilities