Cleaning Can Sometimes Reveal Hidden Snakes
Albert sat with his arm around the back of Jessica's chair as she leaned back listening to Amber talk. He was aware of both Virginia and Samuel's eyes continually moving back to him, but he expertly feigned ignorance.
He took a sip of wine and looked to Dan with a bracing smile. "You and your wife are such a power couple. Do you mind a new investor? And I am part owner in a company called Clarus. We are creating new camera lenses that are pretty revolutionary, if I say so myself."
Dan had been listening politely but became enthused when he heard the name Clarus. "You are AJ Cummings? You're being modest. I already have three of your lenses, they are unbelievable."
Albert smiled. He had always been a man with multiple plans. He had known about Jessica's infatuation with this man a long time ago. He found out about the man and had planned accordingly.
"You are too kind. I will talk to our R&D people and get our two new prototypes out to you." He paused as if he was not sure of something. "You have DJI's new high altitude mini drone right? I have been wanting to see how our new tele lens functions with that model. Can I send it out to you."
Dan frowned. "I think I already have it. I just bought your.." His eyes widened. "Do you mean the new one that your are releasing next year?" He frowned as if he had to be wrong in his assumption.
Albert smiled. "Yes. We are doing our testing now. Thus far we have seen good things but I think we haven't really tested it at high altitude and that is one of our biggest selling points."
Angelica smiled and leaned in and kissed her husband. "It seems our eldest daughter has finally settled down like you wanted."
Damon Sr. nodded and kissed her. He turned his gaze to the two children who consistently gaged the condition of his family. Both Virginia and Samuel were continually sharing cryptic gazes and he knew that all was not what it seemed. He caught Samuel's eye and his son simply nodded and took a sip of wine.
Two days after that family dinner Damon Sr. sat at his desk engrossed in a stack of paperwork. His intercom buzzed and his secretary spoke. "Mr. Lance. Samuel and Virginia are here to see you."
"Very good Rebecca send them in and call up lunch for us. I don't want to be disturbed until they leave."
"Yes sir."
Samuel and Virginia entered the large corner office that seemed to take up two outer walls of the floor by itself. Virginia pulled the fingers of her gloves, taking them off to throw over her coat. She sat down with a silent huff and silently looked out of the window. Samuel had moved directly to the bar and began making drinks for the three of them. Damon Sr. took note of all of it.
They all silently settled into their seats and sipped their drinks. After some time Damon Sr. spoke. "Tell me all you know."
Samuel looked to Virginia surreptitiously, she kept her eyes on the window. He sighed. "We don't know much father. From everything we can see he is legitimate."
Damon Sr. nodded, his eyes sliding to Virginia but she remained silent. "But you do not trust him."
Virginia drained her drink, briskly stood, and moved to pour herself another. "It is just instinct daddy. On paper the man is legitimate. But my instincts are screaming that he is anything but legitimate."
"Your instincts." He nodded as he watched his normally calm and jubilant daughter, as he sipped his drink. She poured herself a second drink, drained it, and poured a third. Damon Sr. raised an eyebrow and looked to Samuel for an explanation.
Samuel sighed. "Anthony Shaw has burned all of his identities, including one that Virginia had been tracking since Marques died. They all lead back to an agency Co director who recently died in a freak car accident."
Both of Damon Sr.'s eyebrows rose this time. The room was still deathly silent when the food arrived. They all sat at the table and looked at the food for a long time. "I think Albert is Anthony Shaw and I think Jessica knows. She is the only one who truly knew Anthony Shaw. I am not saying she knows he killed Marques but I am sure she knows all that Anthony Shaw is capable of."
Samuel nodded. "Agreed. She is the one that hired him in the first place. She had to have an inkling of his capabilities."
Their father looked to them, a business like seriousness creasing his features. "But you can not connect Albert to him."
Virginia slowly chewed a mouthful of food. Her eyes deadly still and again gazing out the window. "I will find the connection. He is good, but no one is that good. He will make a mistake."
Samuel shivered, when she was like this even Damon Sr. was a bit weary of Virginia.
As the three finished their lunch a young disheveled man sat in a first-class train cabin. His clothes were worn but they were of expensive designers and had held up well over the years. His train had just crossed the first stateline – twelve more hours and he would be at his destination. He picked up a small photo of a phone or tablet screenshot that had been loving framed in a unique beaded frame.
He turned it over and revealed a zoomed in shot of Amber Ann, a wide smile of joy on her face, her eyes closed and her arms outstretched as if around someone who had been cut from the scene.
The young man smiled adoring at the photo. "Almost there my darling. I am so glad you finally decided to accept me. I am so glad we will finally be together." He gently kissed the photo and placed it to his side, as if he always needed it near, and slowly turned his gaze out the train window, a soft smile still playing on his lips.