Walk back inside to find Lloyd, Soji and Sara sitting on stools around the kitchen counter, snacking and talking. Lloyd has on a long tee shirt and shorts. Sara is wearing gold silk shorts, cut loose and brief, and a matching sleeveless top'quite beguiling because it reveals glimpses of breast, butt and crotch with her every move. Her hair is loose now. Thick and dark, her hair falls to her shoulders. Sara has little if any fat on her. Pull up a stool and join them.
"So, what did you find out about this guy who jumped you?" asks Lloyd.
"Remember the fat guy wearing the Hawaiian shirt in the poker game?"
"Yeah," says Lloyd. "Glenn told me the guy's name is Skinny Jon. Said Jon took you for an easy mark but you took him to the cleaners." She turns to Sara and Soji. "Glenn is Director of Table Games at Doc's Place where Jill works. Glenn gave me a running commentary on the game while Jill won over ten grand in a couple hours tonight. Slick, she was."
"Skinny Jon sent that guy after me to get his money back," I say. "Don will follow up with Tony but I think this is over."
Sara says, "So Tony will be security operations chief. Lloyd's your assistant. Soji's your nurse and physical therapist until you recover. Don is a detective with the local police."
"And a friend." Throw an arm over Soji's shoulders. "Both these two are friends. They also do stand up comedy when they're in the mood."
"Only at your expense, boss," says Soji.
"And only when you deserve it," adds Lloyd.
"I see what you mean, Jill," says Sara with a smile.
Soji moves to the sink and washes his hands. "Please excuse me. I'm going to bed. Jill, in the morning?"
"I'll be there," I tell him.
Soji hugs Lloyd and Sara, says good night and walks down the hall.
"Physical therapy," I tell Sara. "Soji and I do it every morning and afternoon, except when I play hooky like I did today."
"Mind if I join you in the morning?" asks Sara. "I'm an early riser."
Lloyd and I exchange a glance. Lloyd says, "She doesn't mean early like six or seven, Sara. They start at four, so she and Soji are up by three-thirty. I don't know about you but to me, that's the middle of the goddamn night."
Sara laughs easily as Lloyd and I look at her. Sara's laugh is musical. The sight and sound evoke pleasure. "Ah, I like it here," she says. "I thought I was the only weird one."
"You're welcome to join us," I tell her.
Sara walks around the counter into the kitchen and begins returning food to containers and putting them in the refrigerator. Lloyd hops down to help. "Okay, now that we have the morning workout scheduled, what am I doing here, Jill?" asks Sara.
Watch her move. The woman is beautiful. She moves as if she hears music all about her. "Aren't you tired from your trip?"
She grins again, which transmits an electrical current down my spine and tickles my fancy enough to make me shift my seat. "Eric and I slept almost the entire trip. Fill me in tonight so I can hit the ground running tomorrow."
We clean up the kitchen, make tea and move to the floor in front of the fireplace. Kick off my jeans. Lloyd lights a fire and we huddle. See Sara glance at my wound but she says nothing.
Explain, "You're here to audit my business and personal finances, security, information systems, the works."
"Did recent events tip you to a problem?"
"I discovered this morning that two of my executives began an intimate relationship five weeks ago. They appear genuinely to have fallen in love. I have no reason to distrust either one but I want to know if they've missed something."
"Missed something."
"Yes, perhaps from glossing over details or inadvertently covering for each other."
"Any other recent behavior that seems, in retrospect, out of line?"
"Yes. How about I start at the beginning?" When she nods, I continue, "I established a foundation that sponsors small loans to women so they can set up a business of their own and become independent. Lloyd will help run this foundation as president."
Sara glances at Lloyd, who nods, listening. "Sounds like Aliversal," says Sara.
"You've heard of it?"
"Oh yes, but please continue."
"This morning, Lloyd mentions that some cultures would threaten these women."
"Or worse," interjects Sara.
"So I call Le and Mei, my two CEOs, about security. When we finish, they begin discussing Mei's idea to buy banks, then turn around and sell them. This plan will produce enough profit that I ask why she doesn't take the deal on her own as she has planned to do for some time."
"A couple questions," says Sara. When I nod, she asks, "Le and Mei, did they appear to be lesbians previously?"
"No."
"Do both come from restrictive, male-dominated cultures or backgrounds?"
"Yes. Why do you ask, Sara?"
"Bear with me for a moment. What are those backgrounds?"
Lloyd says, "Mei is Chinese in a household dominated by her father. Le comes from a Latter-Day Saint home."
"Mm, and are they loyal to you, Jill?"
"Intensely loyal."
"Fascinating. They sought and found refuge in one another's embrace, you see. These are powerful women, driven to succeed, yet they consult closely every day. To bring dominating males into such a close association would violate your trust and their loyalty to you, Jill."
"Hmm, so I have fostered an environment that enabled this situation."
"It may happen again." When she sees my frown, she adds, "Almost all the people whom you have gathered around you are female. They are confident and ambitious women who see independence and power in you, Jill. Your example inspires emulation and loyalty."
Look at Lloyd.
"Hey," she says, "Before I met you, Jill, I was ready to retire and tend grandchildren. Now I want to get a master's degree and help run a billion-dollar, worldwide foundation. And as for loyalty, I consider your interests to be my interests, boss."
Sara looks at me. "See what I mean? However, let's continue the narrative. What does Mei say when you ask why she doesn't take this opportunity to break out on her own?"
"Her parents told her that she is not ready yet. On top of that, when she did look for money to pursue the bank deal, she `woke up a dragon.' Asian gang boys approach her, demanding money to protect the restaurant that the family owns. They're coming back Wednesday night."
"Le probably encouraged Mei to seek your help with the Asian gang," says Lloyd.
Considering that, I nod and say, "So I hire Tony away from federal service to head up operational security. He handled my attempted assassination better than I could have handled it myself. He is decisive, relentless and one of the most ruthless men I've ever met."
Sara chuckles and glances at Lloyd, who smiles.
"What?"
Lloyd asks, "Remind you anyone, Jill?"
"Okay, he reminds me of me."
"Do you like him?" asks Sara.
"Not particularly. Tony's an opinionated smart-ass who questions everything."
"Again, you attract people like Tony, Jill," says Sara. "Even Soji gives you a ration whenever he feels like it. Everyone around you feels free to speak their mind and even dump on you if they feel like it. Do you know why?"
"I insist upon it."
Sara raises her hands in an exaggerated shrug that seems to say, `My point exactly.' She stands up, stretches and says, "Okay, I understand. I have one more question. If you have a business empire to run, why do you work for a dinky Reno casino?"
Standing slowly, I face her. "Why do you think I do?"
"Two reasons. First, you want to fit in somewhere not of your own making and second, you want to protect your anonymity."
As I stare at Sara, Lloyd chuckles. Glance at her and then back at Sara. "Not exactly how I would say it, but essentially, yes."
"I'm going to bed," says Sara. She hugs Lloyd and then me. "Good night. Jill, I'll see you and Soji at oh-dark-thirty."
After cleaning up, I lie in bed thinking about our conversation but not for long.
Pursue a mouse that runs around me to its hole. Catch it, wriggling in my teeth. When I bite it, I taste the blood and feel the hot little life extinguish.
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