Page 26 of A Pawn for Malice
Bryan nodded and replied, “It could be, insome warped way.”
“Or, think of it as a compliment to me,”Jessica chided in with a snicker, “You know,” she shrugged, “toemulate herself in my image.” She smiled tritely.
Florence made a face that had Jessicachuckling.
“I don’t find that humorous, dear. Imbalancedand unstable, maybe. What if Angela is in cahoots with this madman?Have you thought about that?”
“It’s crossed my mind, and certainlysomething being considered. I’ve instructed the Capitol Police topull the feeds from the security cameras and run a face recognitionagainst state and federal records to see, if we can come up with amatch and go from there. Plus, we’re trying to track down Angela’swhereabouts. She’s incognito right now and all I’m getting from herfamily is she’s abroad somewhere on the French Riviera.”
Florence harrumphed. “Highly unlikely. Istill say her fingerprint is all over this.”
Jessica held her head briefly and sighed.
“I just can’t believe she would do somethinglike this. I mean think about it. She’s a socialite. She loves theattention, being in the limelight, having the freedom to come andgo as she pleases. Do you really think she would jeopardize all ofthat, because she thought we had a tryst?”
Florence raised her eyes to the ceiling andscoffed.
“She’s vain enough, culpable enough, andstupid enough to hire someone to do her dirty workandthink she can get away with it.”
Jessica scrunched her lips to the side andreplied in a deflated tone.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Bryan reached for her hand and held ittenderly between his own. What he really, wanted, was to crawl inbeside her, and hold her in his arms. He never felt that stronglyfor someone he briefly knew. But, there was something about thiswoman that made him want to protect and take care of her. Somethinghad happened to her, something so traumatic, it left a deep scarand created a barrier, an impenetrable one. He wanted nothing more,than to be the one to break down that wall and have her view him ina different light.
This whole incident didn’t help. He could seethe fear in her eyes and it bothered him deeply, that he was thecause. He was determined to get to the bottom of this, one way orthe other, and the minute he left this hospital, he vowed tohimself, he would do just that.
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CHAPTER TEN
“Levitt, where the hell is Corbat?” PeterTallon, owner of Howe Caverns, bellowed loudly.
His place was a public attraction andelaborate series of caverns two-hundred feet underground with ariver, lake, and wondrous rock formations.
“Gee, boss, I think he’s in the bridalchamber checking on the lights,” answered Morris Levitt, anespecially nervous and lanky co-worker.
Peter Tallon was hard core all the way anddidn’t care for any horseplay, notably so, if it meant he waslosing money, or looking the fool. He wasn’t very happy with SylasCorbat right now.
“Get your boney ass down there and tell thatson of a bitch I want him up here. Now, move it!” He roared, as hestuffed a half-chewed stogy between his yellowed teeth.
In May of 1842, a farmer by the name ofLester Howe noticed his cattle always kept to the far corner of hisproperty during the heat of the summer months. When he went toinvestigate why and cut away an overgrowth of bushes, he noticed asmall entrance from where a blowout of cool, moist air draftedoutward.
Little did he know then, that it would benoted as the largest cavern in New York State and the means ofmaking him quite a fortune. Now, the caverns had been closed, underthe new ownership of Peter Tallon.
The bridal chamber was a pretty,extraordinary crypt, a grotto of luminous rock shaped in the formof a heart, where many romantics loved to exchange their marriagevows.
Sylas was restringing a new formation ofintricate lighting down there, when his coworker approached.
“I don’t know what the hell you’ve done topiss off Tallon, Sy, but you better move your ass and quick. Hewants you topside, and now.” He flustered, as his brow dotted withnervous sweat.
“Jerk off, Levitt! I’ve got this system toinstall before dark. I ain’t got time!” Sylas remarkedirritably.
“Come on, man. I ain’t shitting you! Tallonsent me after ya, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll burnthe soles off your shoes and get up there quick.” He retaliated indefense, as he climbed the scaling ladder that hugged the walls ofthe chamber.
Sylas threw his screwdriver across thechamber, chipping a section of rose-tinted rock from its bed in theprocess, missing the lanky kid by an inch.
“What the frig is eating at his craw? Hewanted this god-damned job finished before dark!” He wailed,scaring Morris to the point, he cowered out of his reach.
