Upside Down Read online

  “Oh, yeah,” Harry drawled. “Listen, I really do have to call nine-one-one before this guy freezes. I’ll call you when I get back to the dojo. Hey, do you know the words to the itsy bitsy spider?”

  “Well, yeah, everyone knows that little ditty. Why?”

  “Sing it for me,” Harry said. Jack hung up on Harry Wong.

  Harry helped Suliman to his feet and settled him in his car. He turned the key and hit the HEAT button. “You can call nine-one-one yourself. After they patch you up, come by the dojo. You breathe one word of this to Spritzer or your people, and I will find you and finish the job. You understand that, right?” Suliman nodded weakly. “I’m thinking that four o’clock should see you standing in my doorway. For sure, you don’t want me to come looking for you. Four o’clock, not one minute later. It’s okay to be early. I’m leaving you with all your junk to show you what a nice guy I am.”

  Suliman nodded as he struggled to take a deep breath. He was punching in 911 when Harry roared off on his Ducati, laughing like a lunatic.

  Chapter 11

  As always, when the sisters got together after a long absence, it was bedlam, chaos, laughter, hugs, and kisses, then more laughter as they jostled one another, each of them talking and gesturing, the language of true friendship that only they understood.

  Finally, the hostess managed to get all the women seated and placed menus in front of them. Each menu was a single sheet of heavy parchment paper that was printed fresh each day and covered in designs that Betty Lou, the owner, created herself. Today’s menu carried an evergreen design with tiny Christmas trees loaded on the back of a Santa sleigh that raced across the top of the menu. Trailing down both sides of the menu were miniature gift-wrapped presents. All in all, a cheerful introduction to a festive luncheon. It didn’t hurt that Betty Lou gave Christmas names to each of her one-of-a-kind specials for that day.

  Betty Lou’s was a small mother-daughter restaurant in Georgetown that was absolutely unique. It was small and always full, with a waiting line outside the door during the two-hour lunch period. Inside, it was warm and cheerful, and the owners changed the decor to fit the seasons. In the spring, Betty Lou and her daughter decorated it with spring flowers, watering cans, and a fake waterfall to represent April showers. In the summer, they strung hammocks and painted all manner of seashells on the walls. September brought bales of hay and pumpkins. This being the Christmas season, Betty Lou and her daughter had already put up a real evergreen tree in the window, and it smelled as delicious as the aromas coming from the kitchen. Garlands of fresh evergreens draped the windows, and outside, a monster-sized fresh balsam wreath, custom made by Yoko, hung on the front door. But it was the fireplace burning white birch logs that drew the patrons to the restaurant. On the mantel sat a sleigh with eight prancing reindeer. More than one person had curled up on the chairs by the fire and fallen asleep.

  Because of the limited time that Nikki and Alexis had for anything other than working on the firm’s class-action lawsuits, Maggie took charge and ordered for all of them. “Whatever is the special is what we’ll all have. Your house white wine and just bring the salad dressing whirligig and leave it.” Maggie looked around to see if everyone agreed, but the girls were so busy talking to one another that she just shrugged.

  The door opened at the front, and cold air rushed through the opening as a lone woman, attired in a long, white, leather coat and an ermine hat stood for a moment, looked around, then skirted the tables as she ran across the restaurant.

  “Isabelle!” the women cried as one. Bedlam once again took over as the girls all rose and tried to crush Isabelle to them. “This is soooo great. Now we’re all here,” Kathryn said. “One more!” she shouted to the startled waitress, who was looking for another chair and worrying about the already crowded table.

  The girls all talked at once, but Isabelle’s voice was the loudest. “They were boarding, I was halfway to the plane when I realized I had to come back. I can take a later flight at four. I did it all on my phone on the taxi ride here. Damn, girls, it’s good to see you all again. I missed you. You have no idea how much.”

  “Yes, we do know how much because we all missed you just as much,” Yoko said as she pulled out pictures of Lily and Cooper to show Isabelle, who understandably ooohed and aaahed over the tot and her guardian, Cooper.

  Annie nudged Myra. “Just like old times, eh, Myra.” She lowered her voice, and whispered, “I had a gut feeling Isabelle might switch flights. She’s a sister through and through, and right now I’m thinking she needs them to rally round her. You agree, Myra?”

  Myra nodded as she watched the sheer joy on the faces of her little family. It warmed her heart at how close the girls were and how they’d drop everything if one of them needed the others at her side.

  Myra and Annie were like two sponges as they sat back to allow the girls to play catch-up. They didn’t miss a word, and later, when they were back at the farm, they would dissect each and every one of them to make sure they hadn’t missed a single nuance.

  Kathryn tore off a chunk of dark, warm pumpernickel bread and popped it into her mouth. Even before she was done chewing, she fixed her gaze on Nikki and Alexis, and blurted out, “My God, you two look horrible. Not only do you look anorexic, but you look as if you’re miserable. What is up with the two of you? Don’t look at me like that, I’m just saying what we’re all thinking. C’mon now, what’s the story here?”

  “Work, three class-action lawsuits at the same time,” Nikki muttered, her eyes on her watch.

  “We’re working eighteen hours a day, eating on the fly, and living on black coffee and hard-boiled eggs. Nikki eats yogurt every other day,” Alexis said as she shredded a slice of the warm bread in front of her.

  Annie and Myra wisely refrained from commenting and just listened as the others weighed in on Nikki’s and Alexis’s physical appearance. Both women knew that if Nikki and Alexis would listen to anyone, it would be their sisters.

  Always the brashest and the most outspoken, Kathryn wasn’t finished. She zeroed in on Isabelle, and said, “And what’s up with you? Is it true you and Abner are splitting up? Big mistake, girl!”

  Annie kicked Myra under the table, a silent plea that perhaps they should step in. Myra gave an imperceptible shake of her head, which meant, no, not yet.

  Ten minutes later, Maggie had had enough and offered up a shrill whistle. “Enough, already. If you two”—she pointed to Nikki and Alexis—“want to drive yourself into an early grave for the sake of money, go for it. I, however, thought you were both smarter than that. Jack and Joseph deserve better than they’re getting. As for you, Isabelle, Abner is the best thing that ever happened to you, and you’re driving him away. Right now, you should be with him, trying to make things right, not here with us. There, I said it, and I’m not taking back one word. Oh, wait, I think the three of you are just plain stupid! Okay, there, now I’m done.”

  The silence at the table had suddenly become so ominous that the two waitresses backed up a few steps, their eyes wide at what was going on at table six.

  Nikki, tears glistening in her eyes stood up. Because she was so tall, she now looked skeletal, her suit hanging on her slender frame. “I thought I came here for a pleasant lunch, not to be raked over the coals. And I’ll thank you, Maggie, to stay the hell out of my business.” She grabbed her coat and raced out of the café, Alexis hot on her heels.

  Not to be outdone, Isabelle also stood up, and said, “Well, I certainly know where you’re coming from, Maggie. Weren’t you and Abner a thing at one time? More than a thing if what I heard is correct. Guess you know what you’re talking about since I can see a guilty look on your face. I’ll thank you to stay out of my business unless I ask for your help. And you, Kathryn, you’re a fine one to talk. Who’s been leading Bert around like a dog on a leash? Don’t try to tell me what to do and not to do. I’m sorry I canceled my flight to come here and see you all. Have a nice lunch, girls.” And then she was s
tanding and struggling into her coat, the other diners in the restaurant wondering what was going on at table six.

  “You are so off the mark, Isabelle. That was below the belt and unworthy of you. Abner and I were nothing more than friends, like brother and sister. There was never anything between us, and you know it damn well. How can you say something like that unless you’re guilt ridden? I feel really sorry for you because you’re screwing up your life and are too damn dumb to know it. Go ahead, be a quitter, get on your plane, and go back to Merry Old England and eat your crumpets and drink your tea. Who cares? Not I, anymore,” Maggie sniped in return.

  Isabelle sprinted from the restaurant, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “Well, that didn’t go exactly as I planned it,” Maggie mumbled as she motioned to the two hovering waitresses to set the food on the table.

  “How did you think it was going to go, dear?” Myra asked softly.

  Maggie bit down on her lower lip. “Not like that, that’s for sure. All three of them are feeling guilty because they know that I’m absolutely right. Guilt, as we have all learned the hard way, is a terrible thing. And pride is still worse. I’m sorry if the rest of you are upset, but it all needed to be said. We’re talking about three wonderful, loving relationships going down the tubes if they don’t come to their senses. I also know it’s not all about the money, but money does play a part in their lives right now.” Maggie looked around, not sure what she was seeing on the faces of her friends. “What? Now you’re all going to judge me?”

  “Absolutely not, dear. What we’re going to do is eat this delicious-looking chicken parmesan. That’s what it is, right?” Myra asked in an innocent-sounding voice.

  “We have to do something. We can’t just let it all fade away,” Kathryn said fiercely. “I started it by saying how awful Nikki and Alexis looked. I was so shocked at their appearance, it just came out. As for Isabelle . . . I understand where she’s coming from, what all she had to overcome to get where she is, but to lose the man who made her whole again . . . I cannot comprehend that. I just can’t.”

  “What can we do?” Yoko asked as she played with her food. “Does anyone have any ideas? Why exactly are we here, and what is it we’re supposed to do?”

  “I hope you all decide quickly because I have a bunch of Christmas trees I have to deliver to Delaware. I’ll come back and stay on for a few days, so if you need my help, I’m all yours. Three days is the longest I can stay because I have signed contracts I have to honor,” Kathryn said.

  “I’m available; I hired a bunch of college kids to help at the nursery. I’m assuming this is all about not letting the guys know anything, so that means I will have to have the nanny pick up Lily from play school. It’s all doable for me. Just tell me what you need me to do,” Yoko said.

  “Annie and I are free, too,” Myra said.

  “My time is our time,” Maggie said. “I have to tell you, this is the first time in my career, and a first since I met Ted and Espinosa way back when, that I cannot figure out, much less predict, what they’re up to. Ted called my bluff when he told me to back off or he would resign. If he goes, so does Espinosa, and, for sure, young Dennis will follow his idol. I have to be careful. That’s why I wanted to hire the detective agency to keep tabs on all of the guys. I can’t be visible. I hired the best agency in the area. They are superprofessional.”

  “So you’re saying we’re in good hands?” Annie queried.

  “If you believe their PR, then yes, Annie, I think we are in good hands. All we can do now is sit back and wait for something to happen. I hate that part of it. I want to be in there with both feet and arms swinging.”

  Kathryn looked at her watch. “I gotta go. I came with Yoko, so she has to drop me off at my truck out at her nursery. Call me on my cell if something comes up. I’ll be back by noon tomorrow. I’ll be at my house, so that’s where you can find me. It was nice seeing you all again. I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Nikki, Alexis, and Isabelle. Let’s all hope that, when they take a minute to think seriously, they’ll come to their senses. If not, at least we tried.”

  And then it was just Maggie, Myra, and Annie, and a table of uneaten food.

  Her eyes misty, Maggie looked across at the two women she most admired in the whole world. “Was I wrong? Tell me the truth.”

  “No, dear, you weren’t wrong,” said Myra. In fact, you were so right that the girls themselves knew it, and that’s why they scurried out of here. Right now, I do not know what the answer is. I do have to say I was stunned to see Isabelle, which alone tells me how committed she is to all the sisters.”

  Maggie sniffed. “Did you come to that opinion before or after she pushed us under the bus and left like a scalded cat?”

  “Boxes to go?” the waitress chirped, coming up behind Maggie.

  “One big one. I’ll take it all. Something tells me I am not going to have time to go food shopping. Unless either you or Myra want it?” Maggie said as an afterthought.

  “That’s fine, dear, you can take it all,” Annie said.

  “I feel so shitty. Like I betrayed you all—Nikki, Alexis, and Isabelle in particular. I love those girls. I’d do anything in the world for them, and now it’s come to this.”

  As she struggled into her heavy winter jacket, she turned, looked around, then said, “I hate not being in control. The thing is, I’m not exactly sure when I lost that control. That bothers me more than anything. It’s like I lost my edge, and now I have to rely on private detectives for information when I should be able to gather it myself. It’s what I do, for God’s sake!” A lone tear rolled out of the corner of Maggie’s eye as Myra and Annie gathered her close.

  “Everything happens for a reason, dear,” Myra said. Maggie looked up at her out of bleary eyes as much as to say, and you really believe that?

  And then they were outside, shivering in the gusty wind. “We do understand, Maggie. It’s like Myra and I getting older with each passing day. It would seem that as you age, no one takes you seriously anymore. When you try something, and it doesn’t work, regardless of the circumstances, you chalk it up to senior moments. We were so used to being in the thick of things, taking charge, it’s hard to tell when our own control slipped.”

  “What’s the answer then?” Maggie hiccuped.

  Myra surprised both women when she said, “Then, my dear, you take the bull by the horns and wrestle it to the ground even if your joints creak and groan in the process.”

  “Good Lord, Myra,” Annie said, “that was a profound statement if I ever heard one! Doubly so since it came from you. If we were men, this is where we’d say one of two things: grow a set or balls to the wall, fellas. But since we’re women, ladies, if you will, let’s just go with in the end we’ll be the ones standing in our rhinestone cowgirl boots. You two need to dust yours off. Like today. It’s a subtle message, but sooner or later one of those duds will recognize our message. Sometimes, I am just so smart I can hardly stand myself.”

  The women burst out laughing as they bucked the wind and headed to their cars.

  Chapter 12

  The clock on the wall of the dojo said it was 3:55.

  Harry Wong stood, hands on hips, staring at his new class of recruits straight out of Annapolis. “Listen up, midshipmen! I have been in business for more years than I care to remember, and I can truthfully say you are the sorriest bunch I’ve ever had the misfortune to have enter my hallowed doors. I expected . . . hell, I don’t even know what the word is to describe you miserable human beings. You’re a bunch of wusses. The only thing I can say for you is you sweat like a bunch of girls. Smelly sweat at that. I train women who, in the blink of an eye, could nail your sorry asses to the wall and not break a sweat. You don’t even have the grace to look ashamed or embarrassed. And to think you are going to be the ones possibly running our military someday in the future somehow makes me want to puke.

  “I’m stuck with you because I signed a contract with the powers that be,
the ones who control your lives, at least for now. By the time you get back to Annapolis in that fancy bus you arrived in, my report will be in the hands of your superiors. You need to think about that on the ride back.” A hand shot in the air. Harry ignored it. Another hand went up.

  “Here is my number-one rule: you never speak to me unless I give you permission. Here is rule number two: you never, ever question me. Rule three is you never offer up an excuse. One last thing. When you return here tomorrow, bring a check with you. I’m changing your workout clothes to pink. You have to pay for the privilege of wearing pink. You want to act like girls, then you are going to dress like them. You also get to pay for the photo op that will follow you back to your superiors.”

  Harry looked at the clock on the wall. He had one minute left. “I am giving permission now for one question if anyone wishes to pose one.” No one did. Harry smiled his special evil smile when he heard someone in the back row say, “I hate your fucking guts, Master whatever the hell your name is. And I’d like to see you deck me out in one of your shitty pink outfits.”

  The door opened at the front of the dojo. Ah, private investigator Mike Suliman. Right on time. Harry smiled again. He did so love punctuality, especially punctuality brought on by fear.

  “You’re dismissed, midshipmen.” It was all Harry could do to keep a straight face as the midshipmen scrambled to form straight lines and bow to Master Wong. At least they’d gotten that part right.

  Harry walked out of the training room and up to the front of the dojo, where a nervous-looking Mike Suliman was viewing, with some trepidation, the plaques and pictures on Harry’s four walls. His insides started to curdle when Harry motioned him to take a seat. “Tea?”

  Suliman hated tea. Cold tea, hot tea, herbal tea, he hated it all. He was a coffee drinker. He was an eight-cups-of-coffee-a-day man. “I’d love a cup of tea, Mr. Wong.”

  Harry putzed and puttered with the little pot of tea behind a bamboo partition. His object was to have Suliman nervous and twitchy to the point he would do whatever Harry wanted. Fear was such a strong motivator. He leaned up against the wall as he contemplated his next move, which was to call Jack to see if he had any ideas on how he wanted Suliman handled. But he’d have to go somewhere else to make the call. More stall time for Suliman.