“You think it’s rather funny, don’t you, Stefan?” Marie observed.
“Absolutely. Aidan has never understood how you wrapped me around your little finger, but he is soon to find out.” He kissed her gently and patted her shoulder. “I will clean the car and driveway, and we’ll go to bed.” He grinned suggestively.
Marie laughed lovingly and watched him go out into the night.
The sun was high in the sky, burning off the fog coming off the ocean. Marie and Stefan escorted Joshua to his school and lingered for a time outside, making certain no one was watching the boy. The morning paper had speculated that the two men found dead, burned beyond recognition, had most likely fought with one another. It was presumed that one of the men had accidentally drenched himself when he had thrown gasoline on the other. The blackened gas can found near the scene held the fingerprints of one of the victims.
Stefan avoided Marie’s questions, not wanting to remember how he had pressed the hand of Ramon around the can. He wasn’t certain he had covered every detail and was still nervous that the police would come knocking on their door.
When they returned home, however, it wasn’t the police they found, but Thomas Ivan. Dressed in an expensive, tailored Italian suit, he was waiting somewhat impatiently at the front door. He carried an enormous bouquet of white and red roses mixed with ferns and baby’s breath. He gave the couple his most charming smile, even managing a slight bow toward Marie.
“I wanted to stop by and see if Alexandria was feeling any better yet. I thought it might be a good time, too, to apologize for my rude behavior the other day. I was worried about Alexandria, and I took it out on you.”
“She was happy to have her briefcase returned,” Marie returned noncommittally. “She was given your message, and I’m certain she will contact you as soon as she is feeling up to it.”
“I thought the flowers might cheer her up,” Thomas said easily. He could handle servants anytime. As long as the lord of the manor didn’t show up, he might get past the door this time. “Perhaps I could just take a peek in, wish her well. I’ll only stay a moment.”
The housekeeper didn’t budge from her position. Standing directly behind her, looking every inch the Mafia hitman, Stefan remained deadpan. Ivan pushed down his temper. It wouldn’t do any good to alienate these people. He needed to win them over to his side.
Marie shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Ivan, that would be impossible. Mr. Savage left specific instructions that Alexandria should not be disturbed—on doctor’s orders.”
Thomas nodded. “I understand that you have to do what you were told, but you see, I’m really worried about her. I just want to look in on her, see for myself that she’s all right. What do you say? We don’t have to tell Mr. Savage. I won’t stay long, just a quick peek to assure myself that she’s okay.” He pulled several twenty-dollar bills from his pocket, crinkling them expectantly.
Marie’s indrawn breath was indignant. “Mr. Ivan! Are you suggesting I would sell out my employer?”
He swore under his breath. “No, of course not. I just meant to give you something for the extra trouble.”
“Alexandria is no trouble, Mr. Ivan.” Marie deliberately misunderstood. “She is a part of our household. She’s considered family, as is her brother. You do know her brother?” She knew very well he didn’t, and her voice said it all.
Thomas Ivan was furious. This battle-ax was openly defying him. Deliberately taunting him. He wished he could have her deported, preferably to someplace cold and wet and uncomfortable. Instead he smiled again, clenching his teeth as he did so. “I was not implying in any way that Alexandria might be a bother to you. Perhaps your understanding of English is not so good. Where are you from originally?” He tried to inject interest into his voice.
“Romania,” Marie said, “but I have no problem with the English language. I have been here for many years. We consider San Francisco home now.”
“Is Mr. Savage also from Romania?” He was very interested in the answer to that. Maybe he could have the arrogant bastard deported right along with his hired help.
“I cannot discuss my employer with someone not known to me, sir,” Marie said politely, her face expressionless.
Thomas knew the old hag was secretly laughing at him. He took a deep breath. Well, she and the caretaker were making an enemy more powerful than they knew. He had friends in high places, and they were foreigners. “I just wondered, because his accent is different from yours.” He wanted to say more educated, more cultured, just to insult her, but he refrained. He could bide his time and wait for his revenge. He would bring the entire house down, have the police and immigration people swarming over the place in no time.
“Well, I’m sorry you feel you can’t cooperate with me. I’m extremely worried about Alexandria. If you refuse to allow me to see her or to speak with her on the phone, I have no other recourse than to take this matter to the police. As a possible abduction.” He thought he saw alarm in the woman’s face, but the man behind her didn’t flicker an eyelash. Thomas began to wonder if the man carried a gun. Maybe he was the enforcer in the group. The back of his neck began to itch uncomfortably.
“You go ahead and do whatever you think you should, Mr. Ivan. I can’t go against my orders,” Marie said firmly.
“Then perhaps I could speak to Mr. Savage personally,” he suggested tightly.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Ivan, but that isn’t possible at this time. Mr. Savage is not at home, and there is no number where he can be reached.”
“How very convenient for Mr. Savage,” Thomas sniped, his fury at being thwarted beginning to surface. “We’ll just see how much he likes talking to the police!” He swung around, hoping the enforcer wouldn’t shoot him in the back. His eye started to twitch the way it always did when he was upset.
“Mr. Ivan?” Marie’s voice was soft and sweet, almost placating.
He swung around in triumph. At last he’d said something to scare the pair of idiots. “What?” he snapped, making a show of his displeasure with her.
“Did you want to leave the flowers for Alexandria? I’ll see to it that she gets them. I’m certain they’ll cheer her up, knowing they came from you.” Marie was trying not to laugh at the man. He looked so silly, all puffed up with his own importance, so certain he could intimidate them. She was not looking forward to a confrontation with the police, but she could use the flowers.
Ivan shoved the roses at her and stormed off, in no way appeased by her feeble attempt to get into his good graces. These foreigners were going to be sorry they crossed him. They obviously had no clue what kind of power a man like him wielded.
Marie glanced up at Stefan, and they both laughed. “I know what you’re thinking, you wicked woman. You want to use those flowers to drive Aidan crazy with jealousy.”
“How could you think such a thing, Stefan?” Marie demanded innocently. “I simply could not abide such beautiful flowers going to waste. I’ll put them in the refrigerator until Alexandria rises. They’ll brighten up her room or, better yet, the living room.”
Stefan kissed her lightly on the cheek and made to depart. “Aidan is in for some interesting times.”
“Where are you off to? You aren’t going to leave me here alone to deal with the authorities. That man is going straight to the police station, and they’ll likely listen to him.”
“He’s sure to make them angry with his obnoxious demands, and Aidan is well known to the local police. He always donates to their causes, and he’s been careful to maintain a good relationship with them. I don’t think Mr. Ivan is much of a threat, but I want to take a look around and make certain everything is in place for their upcoming official visit,” Stefan reassured her.