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“Mate, I owe you a lot, and for that, I’m eternally grateful, but I paid back my debt to you years ago. I’ve made you a very rich man.” Xavier’s voice held more than a hint of warning.
“Wow. Okay, buckaroo. I see. Seems you and I will be having a serious discussion soon. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I seem to have the next couple of days to myself at an overpriced beachside flophouse. I’m taking my bar bill out of your commission. I hope you know that.”
“I’d expect nothing less. I’m sorry.”
“So you keep saying. I hope whatever it is you’ve blown this on is worth it.”
“She is. She really is.”
Xavier rung off and steadied himself. He continued his march towards the house. The veranda was larger than his entire apartment back home. Pressing the doorbell, he stood back and waited.
Even though Xavier was no private detective, Jonathan Green hadn’t been too hard to track down. He’d known the last name, that he was a lawyer from Connecticut, and rich. With some fancy Google-fu skills, he’d had an address within half an hour.
The faint sound of footsteps could be heard on the other side of the door. For the first time, Xavier realised how dry his mouth was. He hadn’t prepared what he’d say to Hope when he saw her. He’d only known he had to see her. He prayed words would find their way out, the right words, the words she deserved to hear.
A click of a lock and the large door swung silently open. Behind it was a man in his early sixties, distinguished grey hair, and a superior look on his face.
“Mr. Green?”
The man pursed his lips. “My name is Michael. I am the Green’s household assistant.”
A butler. Of course, she had a butler.
“I want to see, ah, I’m here to see Miss Green, please.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Green is indisposed. May I take a message?”
“Indisposed as in she’s in, or indisposed she’s not in?”
“Indisposed,” he said firmly.
“I’ve come a long way. Please, all I need is a few minutes.”
“I’m sorry. Miss Green will not be seeing you today, nor ever, Mr. West.”
“You know who I am?”
The butler nodded. “That is part of my job, yes. I might also mention I have been advised to tell you if you do not vacate the premises immediately it will be construed as trespass with intent, and I shall be forced to call the police.” He went to close the door. “Good day.”
Xavier flung his arm out and held the door firm. “Wait a minute.”
“What’s going on here?” said a youngish male descending a massive staircase. With suspicion dripping from his voice he said, “Michael, who is this?”
“The gentleman was just leaving.” Michael turned to Xavier. “Weren’t you?”
Xavier’s arm didn’t budge from the door. “I don’t think I gave an indication one way or the other.”
The man rushed down the stairs. “The goddamn Australian!”
The butler placed his hand on Xavier’s arm. It wasn’t forceful. Almost affectionate, its gentleness had an effect that a violent one never could. Xavier released his grip on the door.
Hope’s brother ran across the foyer towards the door. As the butler closed it, in a barely audible whisper, he said, “South entrance, twenty minutes.”
The door clicked closed. Shouting could be heard from the other side. The words weren’t clear, but it seemed the general gist was the brother wanted to smash Xavier’s face until it resembled peanut butter. The butler calmly advised him the situation was in hand and not to exacerbate it.
Xavier walked down the path away from the house wondering what the hell the butler was playing at. The brother’s reaction he understood. The butler’s not so much. Perhaps the mansion had more secrets to discover.
* * *
