CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The next day, after the kids were off to school and Liana was ready to have them for the rest of the day, I headed to the hotel. Rhonda had arranged for us to meet with the investigator and Mike Torson at eleven o’clock. It would allow us time to review exactly what had happened with Claudine.
I went into the hotel kitchen to get a cup of coffee and saw Consuela. I waved and went over to her. “How are you?” I asked, giving her a quick hug.
“Fine. I’ve been extra busy since the kitchen fire. You know Jean-Luc doesn’t like anything to go wrong with his domain.”
“I do,” I said. “Thank heavens there was more alarm than damage.”
“Is everything all right? Rhonda is in a mood this morning,” said Consuela.
“Oh, you’d better give me two sweet rolls then. We have a matter to take care of this morning, and we’re both annoyed by it.”
“Whatever it is, it’ll be fine. You two always manage to handle any situation that arises,” Consuela said in a soothing tone. She handed me a plate with two sweet rolls. “If you need to talk, I’m always here for you.”
“Just knowing that makes me feel better,” I said. “Thanks.”
I took my coffee and treats to the office.
Rhonda was on the phone when I arrived.
She looked up at me and held up a hand. “I’m on the phone with the state trooper who stopped us with Claudine.” She took a sip of coffee. “Yes, I’m here.”
I sat at my desk and opened my computer to find a message from Claudine. I opened it.
“Sorry. The situation is now out of my hands.”
I stared at the words and felt a ripple of unease go down my back. What did this mean?
Rhonda ended the call to me and said, “I’ve asked the state trooper if he’d be willing to testify, if necessary. He said yes, and he has the body cam footage to back up his statement. I’m not sure what is going on, but Clint’s firm is out to get us.”
“I just got an email from Claudine. Listen to this.” I read it to her.
“It’s fuckin’ nonsense. We could’ve accused her of drugging Clint, but all he wanted was the paperwork back. You can’t force someone to sign a legal paper under duress or the influence of drugs, for God’s sake.”
“It’s a good thing Mike has agreed to be present for our meeting,” I said. “After we finish our coffee, let’s head out to the beach and talk it through.”
“Okay by me,” said Rhonda. “Thanks for the sweet roll.”
“Consuela thought you might need it,” I answered.
Chuckling, Rhonda said, “Guess I was in a snit earlier. I’ll apologize to her.”
###
Out on the beach, we said nothing as we faced the water, allowing sea breezes to caress our cheeks and soothe our souls. Running the hotel was more work than we’d ever imagined. But we had an excellent product and outstanding management, and we would overcome this latest obstacle.
Rhonda turned to me. “Mike Torson is aware of the Everett, Shuster, and Donnelly company. They’ve been questioned about a couple of shady real estate deals. Did Clint question them about it before he signed on with them?”
“I don’t know, but it’s something we need to ask him.” I turned my back to the breeze and punched in his cell number.
He answered right away. “Hi, Ann. What’s up?”
“Rhonda and I are meeting with an investigator from your company. They’re questioning our behavior with Claudine.
I received an email from her today, saying she’s sorry, but the situation is beyond her control.
Rhonda and I want to know what investigation you conducted of the company before working with them.
“I’d read about a couple of questionable deals and grilled them on it.
Especially before putting in my share of equity.
Nothing was proven in court, and the matter was dropped.
But that’s why I made my work contract with them specific.
I expressed my concerns about the potential for hurting employees and others when they took over a company, and they assured me they weren’t about to do that with the deals I was working on. That’s why I’m pissed off.”
“Can your friend testify in your favor, if necessary?” I asked.
“Yes, he had the same problem with them. Well, with Claudine mostly,” said Clint. “She’s great at making you feel part of the team and then changing her mind. I just want to end my association with them and recover the money I invested.”
“Did the agreement state what would happen to your money if you left?” I asked.
“Yes. I was to get a major portion of it back, depending on how long I worked for them,” said Clint. “My lawyer is looking over the contract.”
“I’m sorry that it’s come down to this for all of us,” I said.
Beside me, Rhonda said, “Tell Clint we’re not going to let those bastards get away with their bullshit.”
“Did you hear that?” I asked Clint.
“Yes, I did. Both of you have been terrific about helping me, and I’m sorry to have dragged you into my disaster.”
“How are your injuries?” I asked him.
“My right arm is doing great. My left arm will take time, but I’ve continued to follow the doctor’s instructions. He chuckled. “Nell makes sure of it.”
“I’m glad,” I said. “We’ll let you know how the interview goes.”
I ended the call, let out a long breath, and turned to face the soothing motion of the waves once more. Clint was a decent man who’d let his ambition get him off track. It could happen to anyone. But unfortunately, he was dealing with a company that was dishonest at best.
“How is he doing overall?” asked Rhonda.
“His injuries are healing, and Nell is seeing that he follows the doctor’s orders. He’s very sorry to get us involved. But, as you know, all this trauma has brought Nell and Clint closer than ever.”
“Yeah, my grandmother used to say when one day is dim, the next is sunny,” said Rhonda. “Just think of us and the hotel.”
I turned and faced her. “We can’t let Clint’s company ruin what we’ve worked for. It’s a silly thing they’re trying to do. I’m very relieved Mike Torson will do most of the talking for us.”
“You know I’d let too many f-bombs out,” said Rhonda. “Because this is driving me fucking crazy!”
I took hold of her arm. “C’mon, let’s walk for a while.” I looked around. “No sign of Brock. We can relax.”
We were strolling along the sand when my cell phone rang. Tina Marks.
“Hi, Tina! Are you and your family preparing to visit us for Christmas? I asked her.
“Yes, but it’ll be for fewer days than I’d wanted. Nick is preparing to direct a movie right after the New Year, and he needs to stay in L.A. for a bit longer. I agreed to do a couple of social events with him. I’m sorry.”
“Please call Bernie with the change of arrival date. Rhonda and I will spend as many hours as you can give us over the holidays. And we’ve already got one of the guesthouses saved for you.”
“Thanks. Nick has other family, but you and Rhonda are mine,” said Tina. “I can’t wait to see you.”
I filled Rhonda in on the news, and we turned to walk back to the hotel. I liked having these peaceful moments with Rhonda on the beach. We didn’t even have to speak to understand what the other person was feeling. We’d grown that close.
###
Rhonda and I left our office and went to one of the smaller conference rooms to meet with Mike. He wanted a few minutes alone with us before we met with the investigator, a man named Aaron Flagg.
We entered the conference room to find Mike already seated at the head of the table. He stood when he saw us. “Ann, Rhonda, I’m glad we have a few minutes to talk before our meeting. Apparently, this was set up according to hearsay from Claudine. It’s almost as if we’re wasting our money on this.”
Rhonda and I took seats on either side of him.
“We, along with Bernie, feel it’s important to take care of this accusation before it becomes worse,” I explained. “Claudine is implying that we did something illegal and refused to let her meet at the hotel, along with a number of minor complaints that seem innocuous until you add them up.”
Mike listened politely, then nodded. Mike was someone who’d supported Rhonda and me from the beginning. He never disparaged anything we wanted to do and treated us with respect, even when we didn’t agree. Calm, steady, and bright, he was a respected lawyer in town.
“The burden of proof will be on them,” said Mike before we heard a knock on the door.
Mike got up and greeted a middle-aged man of average height and weight who stood staring at us through horned-rim glasses. His bland appearance made him seem perfect for the job.
Mike and Aaron shook hands, and then Mike made the introductions.
“I’m here representing the owners of the hotel,” said Mike, indicating a chair for Aaron and sitting again at the head of the table. “Would you like to tell us why you’re here?”
“My client, the firm of Everett, Shuster, and Donnelly, has asked me to investigate an incident that occurred between Claudine Everett and the owners of the hotel, Ms. Sanders and Ms. Grayson, as well as an employee working with Claudine, Clint Dawson. Apparently against her will, she was made to relinquish legal papers that Mr. Dawson had signed, enabling her to go forward with a project the company was working on.”
“And how did you come by this information?” asked Mike.
“Claudine met with the partners of the company she’s working for and explained the situation to them.”
“Do you have proof of this happening?” asked Mike.
“Obviously, she was unable to produce the paperwork after Mr. Dawson signed it and then stole it back,” said Aaron. “My understanding is that she was accosted on her return to Miami by the three people I’ve mentioned and forced to hand back the signed papers.”
“Are you aware of where this event supposedly took place?” asked Mike.
“Somewhere along Alligator Alley, where she was driving to return to Miami,” he answered.
“Are you aware that a state trooper was also at the scene?” Mike asked.
“I was told he was a friend of Ms. Grayson’s. They knew one another, and he stood by while the papers were removed.”
“Did she resist, refuse to do as was asked?” Mike asked.
“She said she was afraid not to do as Clint wanted because of that trooper.”
Mike turned to me. “Did you sense any wrongdoing on Clint’s part?”
I cleared my throat, telling myself not to let my temper show.
“Claudine willingly opened her briefcase to allow Clint to remove the papers. Probably because Clint told us she had put something in his coffee during their private meeting. Rhonda and I, as well as the trooper, who was wearing his body cam, can verify that he was sick and acting out of character.”
Aaron gave me a thoughtful look. “Claudine mentioned you might bring up that she’d heard from the president of the Neighborhood Association that the owners of The Beach House Hotel were always doing something just within the law to get their way.”
“Are you talking about Brock Goodwin?” Rhonda asked, her voice lower than normal, and I knew she was furious.
Aaron looked at his paperwork. “Yes, that’s the name she gave me.”
Mike handed him a document. “I think you might want to read this. It’s a detailed description of what took place alongside the highway as written by the state trooper who was involved.
You and I both know he’d never perjure himself.
Again, the body cam backs up his report.
As it is, Ms. Sanders and Ms. Grayson could’ve brought charges against Claudine for the drugging incident, which they decided not to pursue as long as Mr. Dawson rightly got those papers returned. ”
Aaron remained quiet.
Mike handed him another sheet of paper. “This is a copy of the original agreement Mr. Dawson signed that day under false pretenses. As you can see, the signature is a weak comparison to the one on another document signed by him. I think you’ve wasted enough of our time.”
“As Ms. Everett is a client, I’m required to do all I can to get to the bottom of this situation,” said Aaron. “In this case, I agree with you. I’ve done what I could to clarify exactly what happened.”
Aaron gathered his papers and stood.
Mike, Rhonda, and I got to our feet. Handshakes were given all around, and Aaron left.
Mike pulled his paperwork together and looked at us. “It seems a frivolous case, but I think it was wise that we made our rebuttal. We don’t want the hotel’s reputation smeared. Great job on getting that report from the trooper, Rhonda.”
“Thanks.” Rhonda winked at me.
“As always, Mike, we appreciate your support,” I said.
“Before you go, tell us, what are we going to do about that jackass, Brock Goodwin?” said Rhonda.
Mike shook his head. “Unfortunately, being a thorn in someone’s side isn’t illegal. But don’t worry. He’s going to get caught for all the grief he causes others.”
We walked Mike out to the lobby.
“Wait here,” I said. “I’ve got the cinnamon rolls you’ve requested for your wife.”
“Though we suspect they’re more for you than for her,” said Rhonda, letting out a roaring laugh that made Mike and me join in.