Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
In stunned silence, Ronald and Martha watched the drone’s movements. “Should we be calling someone?” Martha wondered aloud, her palm pressed against the window.
Ronald shook his head. Of the two of them, Martha was more inclined to get involved in the family’s business. She was just naturally chatty and friendly. He had to constantly remind her of the plan to stockpile money for their imminent retirement. Soon they’d be vacationing in Italy and spending time with their son and his wife and their kids. If only they played their cards right, everything would go smoothly. “Remember my motto?”
Martha recited, “We don’t get involved. We’re paid to do the job and that’s it.” She sighed. “It just seems like someone should know about this. The police?”
“The police? Not on your life!” Ronald felt a cold chill at the thought. Having the police poke around in their business was the last thing he wanted.
The dynamics between the family members wasn’t any of their concern. He and Martha knew everything about the Broderick family, of course. The specifics of Brayden’s latest grades. How much Kristy spent on self-care. Antonio’s real identity. They knew everyone’s activities, because they’d become background characters in the household. Ronald found that if they worked quietly, the Brodericks forgot they were there. He and Martha routinely overheard phone calls, arguments, and business conversations.
He’d discovered that while much of these people’s lives appeared boring on the outside, their movements and schemes were actually worthy of a daytime drama.
Still, he’d stayed out of it until he became aware of a major case of fraud. An accordion-style folder of documents had been delivered to the house by private courier. Martha had placed it on the table in the entryway, where it sat for a few hours along with the other delivered packages of the day. When no one in the family came to claim it, he personally delivered it to Mr. Broderick’s office.
He didn’t notice that the flap to the folder hadn’t been sealed correctly until he went to hand it to Mr. Broderick and papers spilled out. Ronald had crouched down and frantically began picking them up, and in doing so saw more than he should have. It didn’t take much to deduce that Ian was skimming off the top in a big way and had been for years.
The next day, he discreetly let Mr. Broderick know he knew about his misdeeds. “I will keep it to myself, of course,” he’d said. “Unless Miss Dana asks if I’ve seen anything inappropriate in the household. I couldn’t hold back in good conscience if that happens. I thought I should let you know.”
After that, Ian Broderick had given him a series of secret bonuses to keep his mouth shut. Ronald had been quietly investing the money and watching it grow. If no one interfered with that revenue stream, they’d soon be free of this life of service. Just a few more months. Retiring at age fifty-five would feel so good.
Martha tended to get attached to everyone and anyone who crossed her path, but even she had been offended one time when Dana suggested that they should be grateful for all she’d given them. Martha had politely reminded her that both she and Ronald worked hard to make the household run smoothly, and Dana had condescendingly said, “Of course you do, but my point is that you’re compensated well for your efforts.”
Another time, Dana commented on how Martha had decorated the cottage. The usual backhanded compliment. She’d called it charming and quaint and elaborated in a way that insinuated they were common folk. Peasants. She’d said their style was passé, but comfortable enough for them.
Another time they’d overheard Dana tell Courtney, “They’ve really made that house their own. It’ll take a crowbar to pry them out of there!” Martha had bristled at the assumption that they’d live in the guest cottage until their dying day. As if they deserved nothing better than being at the beck and call of an entitled diva and her bloated, arrogant brother.
Little did they know that Martha and Ronald had other plans.
Martha stood with her mouth agape as the drone unhooked the bag and circled the yard. “Will you look at that!” She turned to her husband. “They seem pretty skilled. Do you think this might be an actual kidnapping?”
“I guess we’ll find out soon.”
After the drone disappeared from sight, they saw Courtney with a garden hoe in hand, taking off in the same direction. A minute later, they watched as Brayden sprinted across the yard. Martha craned her neck to get a better view. “Think we should go out and see what’s going on?”
“Are we paid to go out and see what’s going on?”
“No, we are not.” Her voice was resigned.
He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Then we do nothing. We have a plan and we’re sticking to it.”
As Brayden got close to the back of the lot line, the outdoor lights came on, making the property as bright as a landing strip at night. “I know we have a plan and we need to stick to it,” Martha said. “But for the record, I’m dying to know what’s happening out there.”