Keith didn't hear. He kept seeing Simone, seeing her walk out the door and hearing her dismiss him. It was all out of his control and things were never out of his control. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble to bring her to her senses. But the greedy b.i.t.c.h couldn't be reasoned with. He was sick of this game.

"Keith? Do you know who she is?"

"f.u.c.k! Who? Her? The attorney? Yeah, she's a ball-busting b.i.t.c.h. That's who she is."

"Remember Catherine Mathews? The clerk that worked at your father's firm, after he retired from the bench?"

Keith stopped. That name hadn't been spoken in years. A s.e.xual hara.s.sment suit that his father had to make go away, and quickly. One his mother never knew of. "What about her?"

"Sue's a cleaner, a fixer. Back then your father needed one for Catherine. Firms like Sue Bailey's make things happen for those that can pay. Catherine Mathews just wanted a ransom. Sue was the pitbull that made her and all the evidence disappear. Do you understand what that means? She knows more about your family than you do."

"How could Simone afford her? She has no money and her family has no money, not that kind of money."

"She has some powerful friends. And what do you really know about her family?" James mumbled, looking away.

Keith frowned. "Bulls.h.i.t, Simone isn't smart enough to do this s.h.i.t! It's that cop!"

"What the f.u.c.k difference does it make, Keith? The fact is, you're sunk. We keep going down this road and it could get ugly."

"So what're you saying? Some s.h.i.t with my father that was swept under the rug is now my problem? That b.i.t.c.h won't reveal anything to the judge or she'll lose more of her clients. She's calling our bluff. You should know better!"

"You want to take that risk? Is winning Simone back worth it? Keith, this is about your ego. You yourself said that you were tired of the games. Continue and the courts will investigate, the press will report, all the while you are b.a.l.l.s deep in this Hollingsworth mess. So I ask you again, is she worth it?"

Keith's heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't think. Too much at once made it hard to think or breathe. He dropped in the chair behind him. James set his briefcase back down on the table. He picked up the doc.u.ments. "Get rid of her, Keith. Sign the papers. You walk away clean."

"What if I don't want her to walk away clean?"

"What choice do you have?" James answered. "You don't know everything about your wife, and trust me, you don't want to pursue this."

Keith looked to the paper. "Is the protection order lifted? If I go near her, will I be arrested?" he asked, glaring at the doc.u.ments.

"What does that matter?"

"Find out. Tell them that I'll sign on that condition only. I don't want that shame on my family. Tell her that. Then we have an agreement."

James nodded. He took the papers and walked out. Keith smirked.

Cain sat across from his father in-law on the jet. Even now, Andrew was too self absorbed to realize the truth. They'd both lost Maryanne, possibly for good. He decided to let the a.s.shole learn it on his own. Andrew ended the call. He looked directly at Cain as he sipped his gla.s.s of water. Neither of them spoke and that suited Cain just fine.

"Well?" Andrew asked.

Cain arched his brow.

"Aren't you going to ask?"

"Is it done?" he finally said.

"Yes, son, it is. Your mother will be moved this afternoon to Claxton. In the morning she will have her hearing, and then she'll be transferred to Windivere. It's all done. Rachel will be well cared for there."

Cain's gaze slipped to the clouds outside his window.

Andrew shook his gla.s.s of water. The ice cubes bobbed and clinked. "I'll have you know that I've set up some sessions for Maryanne there as well. My daughter is sick. Together we will make her well."

The pilot's voice cut through. They would be making their descent into La Guardia soon. Cain fixed his seatbelt and dropped his head back in his chair. It would prove to be one of the longest plane rides of his life.

"Are you ready?" Andrew asked.

"Are you, Andrew? Once again you are going to deceive your own partners. Does it bother you at all? The millions of dollars you've siphoned through those phony corporations on the back of your partners?"

"When they finally take the company public and then buy up the controlling shares, my efforts will be rewarded, and you, Cain, will be a very wealthy man."

"But at what cost?"

"At whatever cost I deem. Don't grow a conscious on me now. We've come too far to let Keith or anyone stand in our way."

"You've come too far, Andrew. It was never me. It was always you. Always one step ahead of us all. Right?"

Cain shifted. The tiny microphone taped to his chest ripped a little at his chest hairs but he ignored the discomfort. The agent showed him how to apply it but Cain worried he didn't tape it down correctly. Andrew watched him suspiciously. "Right? Cain, you are with me on this? You do know the consequences if you aren't."

"I'm with you. What other choice do I have?" Cain answered dryly.

"Exactly, you have no choice."

Keith arrived early. He was only blocks away, so he decided the walk would give him a cool head. He was wrong. This meeting was the most important one of his career and yet Simone consumed his thoughts. He needed to focus.

Greeting several members of the board, he chatted up politics, sports, his golf game, the weather, and finally Andrew Hollingsworth. He almost revealed his plot to those he trusted, but he held his tongue. The element of surprise would be far greater. He had Cain Gatlin to thank for that.

His opportunity walked in.

Cain and Andrew stepped further into the meeting room. Keith watched as Hollingsworth gave a grand performance, shaking the hands of men he'd swindled for years. Cain caught his eye. He nodded to him. Cain did the same, and then slipped out. Keith followed.

Andrew stepped in his way.

"Keith, how goes it? I was told you had family trouble?" Andrew asked concerned.

"Yes, my wife's sister has been ill. But things are better now. Cain told me you wanted to meet earlier with the board. I apologize that I wasn't on hand to explain the investment in person."

Andrew chuckled. He patted Keith's arm. "No worries, we understand each other."

Keith sneered. "Yes, we do. Excuse me."

Andrew nodded. Keith could feel his eyes track him as he slipped out, but he chose to ignore it. He followed Cain into a discreet meeting room. "Well, let's see it. d.a.m.n it, why didn't you call and prepare me?" Keith s.n.a.t.c.hed a copy of the presentation from his hands.

"I had no time. Andrew, he sprung this on me. He thinks he's testing us both. Just stick to the plan."

"s.h.i.t. I need time to prepare."

Cain shrugged. "No time. It's now or it's off."

Keith sighed. "f.u.c.k it. Let's do it."

Cain nodded.

Cain's gaze kept drifting to the door. He looked at Andrew then Keith as others were given an update on the company's financials. Reports and spreadsheets of forecasted profit gains and losses were shared amongst them all. It took an hour before they were able to speak on new capital investments.

Keith looked to Cain, who directed the men to the portfolio. All gathered were told of the expanding business in Phoenix, the growth strategy of the company under Andrew's leadership and the deal that would make them the leaders in the industry. The investment was made, a proposal auth.o.r.ed by Keith Livingston and endorsed by Andrew Hollingsworth.

Andrew's eyes dropped to his signature. Cain could see from his peripheral, his shock to see his signature on the first page, one of many to come. Before Andrew could stop the meeting to question the agreement, the door to the conference room was tossed open. Men in dark suits, six, came marching in. Two men flashed badges. Immediately, everyone's voice rose in question. One of the men stepped at Andrew, forcing him to stand. The other agent approached Keith, who looked on baffled, and the third grabbed Cain. He handed over his wrists willingly allowing himself to be led out.

Chaos ensued. The partners demanded explanations. Andrew yelled and barked at the men that it was an outrage. Cain had even seen to it that the press were alerted so reporters and cameras greeted them as they were led outside. Keith fought back against his accusers, but turned his head or bowed it in shame when he saw the lenses of the cameras. Cain watched it all as if it were happening to them and not him. It took considerable work, but it was done.

Two hours later, Cain was left in a room to wait. And wait he did.

"Mr. Gatlin?"

Cain's eyes lifted.

"I'm Agent Henderson, and this is Agent Scholler."

Cain nodded. He stood.

"Let me get these for you," The agent said, coming to remove his handcuffs. Cain rubbed his wrists. He then lifted his shirt from his pants and removed the taped ca.s.sette and wire from his chest. Luckily, he had manipulated the tape enough to capture just the information the agents would need.

"We want to thank you for your cooperation."

"Andrew? Keith?" Cain asked.

"They're being booked. Both asked for attorneys. We plan to delay that as long as necessary. You do know that you will be called upon to testify. That your immunity is contingent upon it."

"Right. Do you have enough?"

"For Hollingsworth, yes. But Keith Livingston claims that he was working with you. The sting was his idea. That you could vouch for him."

The agents observed Cain intensely.

Never let them see you sweat... His mother's words were even more prophetic. He couldn't come this far to blow it now.

Cain shrugged. "I don't know what he's talking about. It's like I told you both. The two of them had funded the Phoenix operation. Today's meeting for instance. It was supposed to be next week, right? I was as surprised as you that they moved it up, but I called you guys. I think they suspected me. Not this but they suspected something. Andrew Hollingsworth set it all in motion. I've given you the financials with both their signatures."

The agents exchanged a look. Cain caught something in that exchange. He held firm. He didn't waiver. He just stood there and waited.

"We have some unfortunate news."

"What? What is it?"

"Your mother," Agent Scholler spoke. "She was being transported to Claxton by her doctor. Somehow she managed to undo her handcuffs. During the drive over Paisley Bridge, the car lost control. It collided with another."

Cain said nothing. He waited for the rest. The agents exchanged looks. Finally Scholler spoke. "We're told that she escaped the car and jumped from the bridge. The likelihood of her surviving that jump is slim. We're searching Claxton River now."

"Was her doctor hurt? Anybody?"

"No. But your mother is missing."

Cain dropped his head. He closed his eyes. "Thanks for telling me."

"Mr. Gatlin," Agent Henderson continued, "Mr. Hollingsworth was arranging for her to be moved to Castle Rock? Were you aware of this?"

"Yes. He told me today. His daughter and I are separated. He thought by bringing my mother closer he could keep me in line. Can I go now?"

The agents stared at him long and hard. Finally, Agent Henderson nodded. "We'll be in touch."

Cain sighed. "Right. I'm sure you will."

Keith jumped when the door to the room he was being held in opened. James walked inside and he let go a deep breath of relief. "Where the f.u.c.k have you been? I've been here for two hours!"

"One of the partners called. Michael Risotti?" James said.

"Yeah, yeah. He can be trusted. h.e.l.l, I've done nothing wrong. The f.u.c.king Feds got their signals crossed. This is the sting I was telling you about."

"Slow down," James said.

"f.u.c.k! f.u.c.k!" Keith paced. "Just get me out."

"I can't."

"What?"

"They're evoking laws under the Patriot Act." James said.

"Huh? I'm not a terrorist."

James sighed. "It's not about terrorism. Not really. It's about embezzlement, corporate fraud, theft by taking. You'd be surprise how far reaching the Patriot Act is when they want it to be."

"What the f.u.c.k are you talking about? I haven't stolen s.h.i.t! They can't hold me like this," Keith shouted.

"The Feds have a warrant that says you did. Keith, until I get before a judge, we can't see it."

"Bulls.h.i.t! That's against my rights! Where's my father?"

"I had to move a mountain with the help of the Mayor to see you. They won't let you see your father," James sighed.

"They can't do that! They can't get away with this s.h.i.t! This is America!"