Price of a Bounty

-Keira-

April, Be Careful



The day before we were to leave on holiday, I arranged to meet April for lunch at a classy restaurant near the Beckett estate. I wanted to let her know where I would be and how she could reach me. I also wanted to talk about the men in our lives.

“This is a nice place,” April said. “Did you pull another job?”

I shook my head. “No, the money was a gift, and here’s a gift for you.” I pushed over an envelope with some money I’d set aside for her.

“Wow! Is this from Rick? Or do you call him Richard?”

“Rick.” I didn’t plan to tell her about the Resistance, not when her life was going so well.

“This is a lot of money. And he’s giving it to me? Why?”

“Well, I’m giving it to you. It’s what’s left over after my purchases for our holiday. He said I should keep it.”

“You’re going on holiday? Where?”

“To a cabin by the lake. We’ll be there for five days. You’ll be able to reach me at this number.” I handed her one of Richard Burke’s business cards.

“Burke Investments? I knew it!” She grinned. “I knew he was rich, and he is into you, isn’t he?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“You think so? He must be! He’s giving you presents and taking you on holiday, and he already knows what you do for a living, so it’s not like he doesn’t know what he’s getting with you. You’re so lucky to have found someone, someone perfect.”

“Well, what about you? Tell me about the new groundskeeper.”

“His name is Ashton.” She had a dreamy look in her eyes. “He’s handsome and a hard worker and…I think he cares about me.”

“Well who wouldn’t?” I smiled. “How long have you two been together?”

“Oh, we’re just starting to know each other. What are you going to order?”

“What? Chicken, I think.” I studied her a moment, then asked, “Why are you trying to change the subject? What’s up?”

“Well, Ashton mentioned a new job prospect. For me,” she said.

“Really? I thought you liked working for the Becketts.”

“Well, I shouldn’t let that prevent me from looking for something better, should I?”

“No, of course not! What is this other job? Would you be working with Ashton? I don’t think gardeners get paid much more than you do, and it’s seasonal work.”

“No, not gardening. Ashton said it would require training. He said I’d have to be trained first, and then I would be able to support myself.”

“That’s all you know?”

She nodded.

“It doesn’t sound like he’s telling you much. April, be careful. This could be some kind of scam. Tell you what, I’ll check into his background when I get back, okay? Don’t make any decisions until then. If Ashton tries to hurry you into making a decision…well, that’s a bad sign. Back out if he tries to pressure you.”

“No, you’ve got it all wrong. Ashton’s not pressuring me. That’s not like him.”

“April, you haven’t known him long enough to know for sure.” She avoided my gaze. It was time to back off. “I’m just trying to look out for you, okay?” I took her hand in mine. “You’re my sister, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Now, what are you planning to order? Choose whatever you’d like. It’s my treat.”





-Ashton-

Taking Time Off



The next morning, most of the family and staff were absent again. I was surprised at how easy it had been to gain access to the house over the past few weeks. People were often gone or were exactly where I expected them to be, so I could easily avoid them. I had taken quite a lot. My work here was almost done. I’d even thought of an excuse for leaving, so that Mr. Beckett would have little reason to suspect me, even after I’d gone. If I could convince April to leave too, I could count this job as a complete success. I went to Beckett’s study and knocked twice.

“Enter!”

“Hello, sir. There’s an urgent matter I need to discuss with you.” He nodded to an empty chair, and I sat. “My father has become ill. I just received word last night. He doesn’t live in Tkaron, so I’ll need to take a few days off to assess his situation.”

“How many days?”

“Four days, give or take. I’ll work late tonight and finish what I can so that the yard will be presentable until my return. If I discover that I’ll need more time, I’m prepared to call you with my resignation.”

Mr. Beckett pondered this for a few minutes. He rubbed his chin while he thought, then said, “I’ll post the position tomorrow, and begin interviews in four days if I don’t hear from you. I can’t hold your position longer than that, especially at this time of year.”

“I understand, sir. Thank you.”

I was on my way outside when I ran into April. I’d been hoping I would see her before I had to leave. I gently took her arm and guided her into the kitchen. No one else was present. We sat at a small oak table and spoke quietly.

“Have you thought about my offer?”

“Can you tell me a little more about it?”

I had to be careful. I couldn’t afford to blow my cover, but I wanted to help her very much. “Only if you accept the position. I urge you to take this opportunity.”

She was quiet, and then said, “I’ll need some time to think about it. Would that be all right?”

“Opportunities like this don’t last. Can you let me know by the end of today?”

“No, I’m afraid that’s not enough time.”

I stood, reached into my pocket and withdrew one of my anonymous business cards. All it listed was a contact number. I picked up a pen from the counter, wrote my name above the number and handed her the card. “If you change your mind, call this number.”

She nodded.

I walked out the back door and headed around the manor toward the front garden. As I turned the corner, I saw a familiar figure at the main entrance. I pulled back just in time. What is she doing here?





-April-

Taking the Blame



That morning, I saw Ashton again. Funny, I thought I’d have to go out of my way to find him. Maybe he’d been looking for me? He pulled me into the kitchen. The chef was at the butcher’s, so we were alone. We sat at a small table by the back window. Sunlight splashed across the table and onto the floor, making patterns. I traced some of the lines with my index finger.

“Have you thought about my offer?” he asked.

“Can you tell me a little more about it?”

“Only if you accept the position. I urge you to take this opportunity.”

I had thought about Keira’s advice, and Ashton wasn’t telling me much. Since I really didn’t know him, it would be a good idea for her to check into his background first.

“I’ll need some time to think about it. Would that be all right?”

“Opportunities like this don’t last. Can you let me know by the end of today?”

That certainly was high pressure. I was right to wait.

Ashton stood and reached into his pocket. He withdrew a business card, wrote something on it and handed it to me. Then he was gone.

There was a contact number with a very light imprint in the background, a snake striking at a coin. I didn’t recognize the logo. What did it mean? And who carried around business cards with no name or title on them? If Ashton knew about a legit job, he should have been able to tell me at least some of the details. I looked at the contact number again. It seemed familiar somehow.



***



The next day, Ashton didn’t return to work, or the day after that. I asked around to see if anyone knew what had happened to him.

“Mr. Beckett placed an ad for a new groundskeeper and plans to begin interviews in two days if he doesn’t return,” the butler informed me.

“Was Ashton fired?”

“No, his father is sick. Why are you so interested?”

“No reason.”

Had I made a mistake? Maybe Ashton had only been pressing me to make a decision because he knew he would have to leave for a while. Hopefully, he would return.

The butler said, “The Becketts are expecting guests for dinner. Prepare the formal dining room for six. Use the best china and silverware.”

I began by spreading out a pretty white silk tablecloth. Then I looked for the silver candlesticks but was unable to find them. Instead, I grabbed a pair of crystal candlesticks. I took them into the kitchen and washed them in warm sudsy water. I held them up and smiled as they sparkled in the sunlight. I returned to the dining room, inserted some pale green candles into the holders and placed them in the center of the table.

Next, I took a crystal vase and pair of garden sheers out back and prepared a pretty tulip centerpiece. As I passed through the kitchen on my way to the formal dining room, I saw that Lewis was already preparing the salad. I removed the china dishes from the display case in the far corner of the room and set out the dinner plates first, with salad plates placed neatly on top and coffee cups on saucers placed in the upper right. I carried the dessert plates to the kitchen so Lewis could prepare them for later. He joined me in the dining room and dished up the salad while I pulled open the top drawer of the buffet table and removed some pale green silk napkins that matched the candles perfectly. I folded them in a pretty design and placed one next to each plate.

I returned to the buffet table and pulled open the bottom drawer. The best silverware was missing. I pulled open the side cabinets. The silverware was nowhere to be found.

“Lewis, have you seen the silverware?”

“No, but you best get a move on.” He returned to the kitchen.

I stood and looked around the room carefully. Was anything else missing? I noticed an empty pedestal in a corner. What had been there? It was a small statue, the head of a man. It was gone too. Also there was an empty nail on the wall where a small painting had once hung.

I checked the time. Lewis was right, the guests would arrive shortly, but I had enough time to inform Mrs. Beckett. I walked up to the master bedroom and knocked lightly on the door.

“Enter!” boomed Mr. Beckett’s voice.

Oh no! I pushed the door ajar and saw Mrs. Beckett finishing the knot on Mr. Beckett’s tie. They both looked at me.

“Is the dining room ready, dear?” asked Mrs. Beckett.

“That’s what I came to talk with you about.”

“My dear,” said Mr. Beckett. “Our guests will be here any minute. If there’s a problem, you’d best remedy it quickly.”

“Yes, sir.” I fled downstairs and retrieved the second best silverware from the kitchen. Then I finished preparing the dining table and returned to the kitchen to await further instructions.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened during the meal. However, later that night, after their guests were gone, Mr. Beckett requested my presence in his study. I felt sick.

“You wanted to talk with me and my wife earlier. I think I know what about. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“What? I just wanted to report that the silverware was missing. That’s why I set out the second best set.”

“That’s not all that has gone missing.” He paused. “I see that doesn’t surprise you.”

I hung my head. “No, sir. I noticed a few other items were missing when I set up for dinner today.”

“I expect you knew they were gone long before that, and I’ll expect you to return everything by tomorrow morning.”

I looked directly at him and said, “But, I don’t have them! I don’t know where they are!”

Lance Beckett strode toward me. He gripped me by the neck and pulled me forward so my face was mere centimeters from his.

“Then you will find them.” Violently, he threw me to the ground.

I turned and tried to brace myself but cried out as the corner of my right eye glanced off the wooden arm of a chair. I hit the floor hard. Snap! What was that? The belt slapped across my back. I screamed in agony, but he didn’t stop. He struck again and again. Tears streamed down my face and soaked the carpet beneath me.

Then Lance Beckett grabbed my upper arms and spun me around. His eyes bore into me. I had never seen him so irate, yet he seemed to be studying me. Was he deciding how to kill me?

Quietly and slowly he spoke. I felt his breath brush over my face. “She must be mistaken. There’s nothing special about you,” he sneered, “and now that you owe me for all that was stolen, she will never have you. I don’t care how high and mighty she is. Until your debt is paid, I…own…you.”

What’s he talking about? Who is SHE?

But I had no more time to wonder about it. He took me then and all rational thought flew from my mind. Never before had he been so brutal. When it was over, I couldn’t walk. It was painful just to stand.

Mr. Beckett grabbed me by the arm, lifted me and escorted me to my room. The door clicked shut, and the outer lock slid into place. I turned to the corner and threw up.