Chapter 15
Birmingham
The Tramont
Annette stepped from the private elevator to the fifteenth floor. Her floor. The entire floor belonged to her. Her private rooms were separated from her offices by a vast entry hall and lobby.
Not classic like the Fleming mansion but every bit as lavish. Annette preferred modern to classic, austere to warm and cozy. Lots of white, glass, and metal; fluid, sparsely furnished spaces.
She was glad to be home and have this day behind her.
“Good evening, Ms. Baxter.”
She placed her purse and keys in the hands of her assistant, Daniel Ledger. “I’m not taking any calls or returning any this evening.” She was tired. She wanted a glass of wine, maybe two, and a long, hot soak in the tub.
Another unexpected element had cropped up.
She now had someone else following her besides the feds.
She hadn’t recognized the dark sedan, but it didn’t take any serious powers of deduction to know what was going on.
Someone had decided to end this. Not really surprising.
She’d actually wondered why they hadn’t chosen that route in the first place.
Killing her would certainly be a lot simpler. But then, knowing those behind this scheme, they would prefer the public humiliation route.
“You have a client standing by via Zoom in your office, ma’am.” Daniel looked less than pleased to have to make this announcement.
“A client?” She glanced at the delicate platinum watch on her wrist. Irritation furrowed her brow.
She needed to think. The Dane Drake situation was nowhere near under control.
And she needed to plan her next move with Carson Tanner.
Time was not on her side. “I don’t recall having any appointments this evening. ”
“Dr. Holderfield insisted on standing by until you returned.”
Holderfield. Perfect. She rubbed at the ache forming behind her brow. This moment had been inevitable.
“Tea,” she instructed Daniel as she headed for her office. She needed tea and then perhaps a martini instead of wine. She cleared her mind, opened the door, and breezed into the room. “Dr. Holderfield.”
He glared at her from the large screen mounted above her conference table. The empathetic expression she pulled off did nothing to diminish the fury pulsing behind that hard expression.
“I want the truth. Where is my son?”
Annette ushered sympathy into her tone as she prepared to respond.
Considering her knowledge of Zac Holderfield’s exploits, doing so didn’t come naturally.
“I heard the news, Dr. Holderfield. I know this must be a difficult time for you and your family, but I’m sure Zac will turn up or the police will find him. ”
That simmering fury detonated. “I want you to find him!” He grappled to regain his composure.
“This has something to do with Dane Drake. Zac mentioned him the last time we spoke. Something about a meeting or business of some sort.” His nostrils flared with a harsh intake of air.
“I can only imagine what kind of business.”
Hospital administrator Dr. Dwight Holderfield would, of course, never utter aloud the exact nature of his son’s dealings with Dane Drake or almost anyone else.
The sale of illegal drugs was not exactly what he’d had in mind when he’d sent Zac to Auburn to become a pharmacist. Life often went awry in the best of families.
“If Dane and Zac had any business dealings, I’m sure they were carried out with the same finesse as with all Zac’s customers.” Usually involving covert rendezvous and handguns.
“Fuck you,” Holderfield snarled. “I know—”
Daniel arrived with the tea, interrupting whatever he would have said next.
Annette settled into a lush white chair, the delicate china cup and saucer in her hands. As long as she appeared in control, her client would believe she was. At moments like this, the outward show of being collected was crucial.
“Why don’t we wait to see what the police discover?” Annette suggested. “You have friends in high places, and I’m certain they’re pushing for the speedy resolution of the investigation into Zac’s disappearance.”
“You know what’ll happen,” Holderfield charged. “They’ll cover up the truth. I”—he banged his chest—“have had enough. This is my son we’re talking about. My only son. They’ve gone too far this time.”
“Dr. Holderfield, Dwight,” she reiterated coolly, “you’re overwrought. I’m not sure you realize what you’re saying.” He needed to get a hold of himself before he went too far.
“I know exactly what I’m saying,” he fired back. “I want you to find my son. I want you,” he commanded, “to get to the truth. And if I find out that bastard . . .” He choked on the rest of the words. “I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Annette sat her tea aside. Time to defuse this ticking bomb. “I would proceed with extreme caution, Doctor.” She met his murderous gaze with lead in her own. “I’m certain you don’t want to go there.”
Red scaled Holderfield’s neck and raced across his cheeks. “Don’t you dare threaten me! Whatever they’ve done—”
“I would suggest,” Annette interjected firmly, “that you get things back into perspective and cooperate with the efforts of the police.”
Holderfield closed his eyes and heaved a labored breath, visibly struggling with his emotions. “Please.” Defeat weighted the lone word. “I just want to find my son.”
Annette hesitated. Though history had taught her the prudence in being so, she wasn’t completely heartless. “All right. I’ll look into the situation.”
His gaze flew open and fury abruptly resurrected despite her generous assurance. Holderfield stabbed a finger at her. “And then we’re done. I’m pulling my retainer fee and I never want to hear your name again.”
Annette didn’t flinch. But she did bury the foolish empathy she had allowed to surface.
She took a cautious sip of her steaming tea, then just as carefully settled the cup and saucer back on the table.
“One step at a time, Dr. Holderfield. I’ll see what I can do about learning the circumstances surrounding your son’s disappearance, and then we’ll talk about our future business relationship. ”
Holderfield glowered at her. “There will be no future business relationship, Ms. Baxter. Don’t doubt my decision. When this is done, we’re finished. I’m finished with all of it!”
Annette stood, straightened her jacket, and leveled her most chilling stare in his direction. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten the conversation we had this time last year.”
The color of rage leached from his face, leaving it pale and slack. “I paid you in full for your services.”
She executed a firm shake of her head. “The monetary compensation was only half our bargain, Dr. Holderfield. I’m certain you remember our terms. You have an outstanding marker. Until I decide to call it in, you remain in my debt.”
“And if I renege on that portion of our agreement?”
The tension thickened in the air. Annette let his insolence go yet again. He was worried about his son. She’d cut him some slack this time.
But business was business. “Then you will suffer the consequences.”
The color of rage began its steady creep back up his throat. “You think you’re so untouchable. You’ll get yours one of these days.” He stared at her long and hard. “Maybe sooner than you think.”
Annette allowed him to revel in his temporary revolt for a moment, but when he would have ended the meeting, she intervened. “Dr. Holderfield.”
He hesitated, his gaze locking with hers. “I have nothing more to say.”
“You think you know who I am.” She laughed softly, but there was nothing soft or gentle in her manner.
“You have no idea. Your concern for your son has you emotional just now. Be that as it may, you threaten me again and you will quickly learn exactly how far I can go to turn that prestigious career of yours into a shambles.” She paused so that he might absorb the full implications of her statement.
“You have no secrets from me, Dr. Holderfield. Don’t forget that. ”
He opened his mouth, no doubt to debate her decree.
She stood. “This conversation is over. Have a nice evening.”
Annette tapped the necessary button to end the Zoom connection, and the large screen went black. She walked out, relaxing marginally in the change of setting. She was accustomed to threats. Most were groundless attempts to intimidate. Her position was always covered.
At least until recently.
She’d learned something they did not want her to know.
Tension coiled inside her. Of all the powerful players on her client list, those unhappy with her right now were the most powerful.
And with the darkest secrets. It had taken one glitch, one ripple, to start the tide against her.
They had banded together overnight. Now everything was falling apart.
If she could stop the momentum in time, she might be able to salvage things.
But that might just be impossible.
At the door to her private rooms, her personal assistant waited patiently for further instructions.
“A martini with two olives,” she said as she walked past him. She was too tired for polite conversation.
“Right away.”
Lost in her analysis of Holderfield’s unexpected defiance, she drifted down the hall leading to her master suite. She needed a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow was another day. She would find a way to turn this around.
Shrugging off her jacket, Annette kicked off her shoes, then peeled the camisole from her torso and wiggled out of her narrow skirt.
This day had been far too long without nearly enough accomplished.
She padded to the en suite bath and adjusted the spigots in the tub. As the water flowed and swirled, she freed her hair and let it tumble down her shoulders. She shook it, then massaged her aching scalp. Despite all that had happened, sleep would come easy tonight. She was exhausted.
A tap on the open door drew her attention to Daniel, who had arrived with her drink. Good. Her faithful assistant placed the drink on the rim of the tub.