The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-13

Susan tapped on the door of Walter's office. "Good morning!"

"Hey! What's up?"

"Is tomorrow good for lunch?"

"Yeah, sure!" Walter responded. "Did you have a place in mind?"

"There's a new French-Vietnamese place downtown," Susan suggested. "It's supposed to be good." 

"Yeah, let's try that!" Walter agreed. "So far, I'm free from 12 to 2; I'll try to keep it open."

"Great! Should I meet you here?"

"I'll stop by your office," Walter offered. "We can drive together."

"Okay, sure!"

"See you then!"

"Thanks!"

-

Terri was at her desk when Francisco's number appeared on her phone. She decided to answer, but she kept her voice in a neutral tone in an attempt to disguise what she was feeling. "Hello?"

"Hello there!"

"Thank you for the flowers," Terri said. Her voice betrayed then grin on her face.

"You're welcome!" Francisco said. "Are they nice?"

"Yes, they are VERY nice. There's just a LOT of them!"

"Too many?" Francisco joked.

"Uh, maybe! My desk looks like a jungle!"

Francisco laughed. "Well, I hope that you tipped the nice man."

"Yes," Terri confirmed. "He did well. And, thank you again. It really was a nice gesture."

"Anything for you! Do you have a minute to talk?"

"I'm pretty busy today," Terri said. It was the truth. He calendar was packed.

"How about tomorrow?" Francisco suggested. "I could take you to lunch."

Terri thought for a moment. "Looking at my schedule ... yes, that should be okay. I'll have to let you know if anything comes up."

"We can be flexible," he offered.

"Yeah," she said. "We can."

"¡Bueno! ¡Hasta mañana!"

"¡Hasta mañana!" Terri replied. "And thanks again!"

Terri sat for a moment and then dialed Louise.

"Hey, it's me!"

"Hey! How are you doing?" Louise asked with empathy pouring from her voice.

"I'm okay."

"Did he call again?"

"Douglas? No."

"Well that's good," Louise said.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Terri countered. "Douglas doesn't give up easily."

"Okay, well, just be careful."

"I'm trying," Terri said with a hint of fatalist humor in her tone. "Anyway, are you busy tonight?"

"No, I'm free," Louise answered. "Did you want to do something?"

"I thought maybe we could chat a bit," Terri suggested, "either at your place, or we could meet somewhere."

"Okay," Louise said. "I just have this ... there's a cocktail party after work. I can leave early, but I have to put in an appearance."

"Oh, well, we don't have to..."

"No-no-no!" Louise insisted. "I want to see you."

"Okay," Terri agreed. "What time are you going to be done?"

"I think I can leave by 6:30. 6:45, maybe..."

"Is it close by?"

"Oh, you know what? It's just down the road from Stu's. You want to meet there?"

"Sure!" Terri agreed. "What time? Seven-thirty?"

"Seven-fifteen," Louise suggested. "Unless you want to crash my office party..."

"Uh, is Antonio going to be there?"

"Probably."

"Then that's a definite no," Terri said. "I have enough problems. I don't need to punch somebody."

Louise laughed. "Okay, 7:15 at Stu's, then!"

"I'll see you there."

Terri gave herself a moment to sit and relax and not think about anything. She took a deep breath and let it out without effort. A powerful thought came into her mind. She would need to tell Louise the truth even if it made her uncomfortable. There was too much going on now, too much to handle alone.

 
  
  
 
 

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved

The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-12

A receptionist answered the phone: "State Department."

"Yes, could you please connect me with Assistant Director Marston?"

"Your name, please?"

"Douglas Fenn-Creighley."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Fenn...?"

"Fenn-Creighley. Rhymes with daily. He'll know who I am."

"Just a moment, please."

A man's voice came onto the line. "Why are you calling me at the office?"

"Gee, it's nice to chat with you, too, Brad!" Douglas replied dryly. "It's been a long time."

"What do you want, Doug?"

"I just wanted to say 'hello', Brad!"

"You didn't call me to say 'hello'. What is it?"

"Well," Douglas admitted, "I could use help with a small favor."

"I don't owe you any favors."

"Geez, Brad! You won't help out an old friend? After all we've been through together?"

"Alright, I've got a meeting in a few minutes," Marston said. "Can we make this quick?"

"I'm looking into a guy named Francisco Mela." 

"Never heard of him."

"The family's in the oil business."

"Lots of people are in the oil business," Marston argued.

"Yeah, but they're from Texas, not Venezuela," Douglas countered. "This guy also raises race horses, which could suggest links to organized crime."

"What are you trying to do, Doug? Shake this guy down?"

"Come on, Brad! I'm just researching a potential business partner. I don't want any surprises after we sign a contract."

"Then use Google. Are we through, here?"

"No, Brad, we're NOT thorough. You might remember that some critical files went missing during my trial. If that evidence were to turn up suddenly..."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that it could be embarrassing for people in high places if certain papers were leaked to the press."

The line was silent for a moment. Assistant Director Marston assessed the likelihood that Fenn-Creighley was bluffing - or whether he had information that could be damaging. "Look, if you're saying what I think you're saying, you'd better be very careful. Threatening someone is a felony."

"I've already been to prison, Brad. My record is shot. I have nothing to lose."

"Oh, you do have something to lose, Doug! Including the few friends that you have left, plus any chance of ever getting back into the game!"

"And what do you have to lose, Brad? A nice house? Lovely wife?"

Marston thought for another moment before replying. "Okay, I'll look into this Francisco Mela character."

"And if he has connections with the mob or the Venezuelan government?"

"I'll make sure that the appropriate agencies are informed."

"Excellent!" Douglas Fenn-Creighley now exuded the charm that had made him an effective political operator before his conviction on felony fraud charges. 

"Don't call me again!"

 
  
  
 
 

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved

The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-11

Terri held her keys firmly in hand as she raced toward the parking area. It was dark, now. She wanted to be able to slip into the car quickly in case of trouble. She started the engine, placed her purse on the passenger seat, and set her phone on the center console. 

Terri couldn't think about anything except Francisco. She wanted to look him in the eyes when she asked him about the blonde woman at the hotel. A phone call would not suffice. She decided to drive out to the farm and give him a chance to explain. 

Terri guided the car out of the busy parking area and onto Veteran's Memorial Drive. She crossed over to the left turn lanes and followed Broad Avenue westbound toward the highway. She didn't realize that another car was following her. It was too far back to seem suspicious.

Terri left the highway at Granite Spring Road. The local roads seemed familiar to her now. She no longer had to think about where to turn. As she pulled into the farm's long private drive, the car that had been following her slowed for a moment and then continued down the main road.

Francisco's home seemed even more impressive at night, a stately country manor floodlit on its perch at the end of the ascending driveway. The barn and the stables were situated off to the right a thousand feet or so and featured more minimal lighting.

Terri parked the car, grabbed her things, and took several nervous paces through the cool evening air. She rang the doorbell. A statuesque woman with blond hair and chiseled features opened the door.

"You must be the new girl," said the blonde in an accent that Terri didn't recognize. "Come in. He's in his study."

Francisco appeared as Terri stepped through the doorway. "Terri! I did not know that you were coming!"

"Obviously!" Terri thought to herself.

"I am so sorry," Francisco said. He motioned toward the blonde. "This is Ilsa."

"So nice to meet you!" said the blonde as she extended a straight arm with an open hand. The woman sparkled. She was wearing diamonds everywhere - diamond rings, diamond bracelets, a diamond necklace, diamond earrings - even diamonds in the clip that held her tightly pulled hair back.

"Nice to meet you," Terri said coldly as she shook the blonde's hand. The blonde was a few years older than Terri, but not enough to make her feel comfortable.

"Ilsa is Francisco's mother," the elder Francisco said, referring to his teenage son.

"Oh!" exclaimed Terri, as she grappled with the implications of this revelation. "It's so nice of you to be here!"

"So nice of you to be here?" she thought to herself. "I sound like an idiot."

"I'll ask Mr. Simmons to bring some tea," Ilsa said pleasantly as she walked out of the room. 

"I am so happy to see you!" Francisco said smiling, "Please, come in." He motioned toward the study. Terri followed him instinctively but said nothing.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah, it's fine."

"I'm surprised that you drove all the way out here on a week night."

"I... I wanted to talk to you."

"Sure!"

"Why is your ex-wife here?" Terri demanded abruptly.

Francisco paused for a moment. He realized now what Terri must have been feeling. "We are making plans for Francisco's education."

"Isn't that something that you could have discussed over the phone?"

"We have discussed it over the phone, yes." Francisco wasn't understanding Terri's concern, or he was avoiding the truth.

"I mean, why did she have to come all the way out here?"

"She is here to see Francisco."

"And that's all?"

Francisco paused for a moment. "The situation a little bit complicated."

"How is it complicated?" Terri demanded.

Francisco smiled, "Terri, I'm sorry, but this is a family matter."

"Do you discuss your family matters at the Grande Parisienne Hotel?"

"Ilsa is staying at the hotel," Francisco admitted. "We had lunch there yesterday - in the restaurant. And, yes, we did discuss the matter. What difference does it make?"

"Did you think to tell me that she was going to come out here?"

"She is here to see her son," Francisco insisted. "And, no, I did not think to tell you that she was coming. I don't know why any of this would be important to you."

Terri closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I've just had a really bad couple of days."

"What happened?" Francisco asked.

"I think I should go."

"Terri?"

"I think I should go."

Francisco realized that Terri was upset and that there was nothing that he could say to change that. He stood silently as she gathered her things and walked out of the study.

Ilsa was standing near the front door. "It was nice to meet you," she said as Terri raced past.

"Nice to meet you, too," Terri said in a neutral tone that masked the turmoil that she was feeling. The door closed behind her.

"Such a pretty girl to feel so threatened!" Ilsa exclaimed flashing a wink toward Francisco. He didn't respond.

"Don't worry, Darling!" she assured him. "She'll be back."

"Do you think so?"

"I know so, Darling! No woman can resist your charms. - Unless of course she has been married to you."

"Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better!" Francisco said with a smile.

"Pleased to be of service, Darling!"

"That comment wasn't much of a service, 'Darling'!"

"Oh, yes it was!" Ilsa insisted. "Someone has to keep you from getting too cocky. That poor young thing doesn't stand a chance."

"She's no push-over," Francisco noted.

"Call her tomorrow, Darling," Ilsa suggested. "But first, send flowers to her office. A lot of flowers. She'll talk to you."

 
  
  
 
 

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved

The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-10

"Terri?" 

Terri continued to look down at the table. Louise tried again in a more demanding tone. "Terri!"

"What?" Terri seemed dazed.

"Are you okay?" Jo asked gently.

"I ... yeah ... sorry!"

"Terr, what's going on?" Louise demanded.

"I'm ... sorry ... I was just thinking about something at the office."

"Are you sure?" Louise persisted. "It's not like you to fade out like that."

"You didn't hit your head, did you?" asked Jo.

"No, I ...  I'm sorry, guys. I just..." Terri looked at Louise and Jo alternately. She felt a surge of momentum pushing her toward an inevitable admission. 

"Okay, I have to tell you something," she continued, "but I don't want you to be upset."

"What is it?" Louise coaxed her.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you earlier."

"It's okay, Terr," Louise assured her. "Just say it."

"We're here for you," added Jo.

"Douglas called me."

"Oh, shit!" Jo gasped.

"When?" Louise demanded. 

"Sunday," Terri replied. "I was in my car."

"So, how is the senator?" Jo asked impishly.

"Congressional aide," Louise corrected her.

"EX-congressional aide," Terri said crossly. "And I don't know how he's doing or what he wanted. I hung up on him."

"I thought he wasn't supposed to contact you," Louise recalled.

"He's not."

"Didn't you recognize his number?" Jo asked.

"I think he must have a new phone," Terri said.

"Well, that kind of make sense," Jo observed as she thought about it.

"Yeah," Louise agreed. "I guess maybe they won't let you keep your old phone while you're serving twenty-two months in federal prison."

"Yeah, probably," Terri said.

They sat silently for a moment weighing the gravity of the situation. Then, Louise pressed Terri for details. "Tell me exactly what he said. Don't leave anything out."

"Okay, well, I didn't recognize the number, so I thought it might be a client."

"Understandable," said Jo.

"He started out by calling me 'Peaches'!" 

"Oh God, that's so creepy!" Jo exclaimed.

"I was so frightened; I probably wasn't thinking straight."

Louise understood that Terri was upset, but she sensed that talking about it might help. "What else did he say?"

"He asked me if I was okay," Terri continued. "I told him that he didn't have to worry about me. And then, he said something really strange."

"What?" Louise demanded.

"Somehow, he knew that I hadn't been home."

"Oh my God!" Jo shrieked.

Louise came out and said it. "He is stalking you, Terri!"

"Oh, Holy Christ!" Jo exclaimed.

"What am I going to do?" Terri was desperate for reassurance.

"Is that when you hung up on him?" Jo asked.

"Yes! Absolutely!"

"That's good, Terr," Louise said. "You did the right thing."

"I didn't feel safe going back home," Terri continued. "So, I went back to my parents' place. I stayed there until this morning when I needed clothes."

"This is bad, Terr!" Louise said passionately.

"I know," Terri said as she looked at her watch. "Hey, guys, I'm sorry, but I don't think I should stay out too late."

"Do you want to stay with us?" Louise offered.

"I think I should be okay," Terri said. "I think I'll go back to my parents' place tonight."

"Are you sure? We have room?"

"I'll be okay. I'll call you if I run into any trouble."

Terri stood and gathered her things. "Thanks, guys!"

"Call me tomorrow!" Louise commanded.

"I shall!" Terri agreed. She pulled her keys out of her bag and walked quickly out of the restaurant.

"I'm worried about her," Jo confessed.

"I have never seen her like this," Louise observed.

"That lying asshole is bad news."

"Totally!"

"And there's something that you should know," Jo said. 

"What?" Louise asked.

"She's not telling you everything."

"You think?"

"It's in her body language," Jo said. "She was holding something back, something that she wanted to tell you."

"Really?"

"Look," Jo said, "I can understand if she doesn't want to say these things around me. I get it. But you're her best friend. You guys need to talk."

"Okay," Louise agreed. "I'll call her when I get home."

 

 
  
  
 
 

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved

The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-9

"I don't know what to say, Lou!" Terri had a hint of desperation in her voice.

"It's kind of hopeless," Louise admitted.

"You're gonna be okay, Louise." Jo was trying to sound positive. "You'll get through this somehow."

"I'll try."

"Just avoid him as much as you can," Jo suggested. She realized that it would be difficult to avoid Antonio while he was working in the same office, but she wanted Louise to feel encouraged.

"Thanks, guys!" Louise said softly.

"So, did anything GOOD happen while I was away?" Terri asked.

"Walter got a promotion," Louise volunteered with a hint of enthusiasm in her voice.

"Well, that's good!" Terri observed.

Jo smiled but said nothing. She didn't feel comfortable discussing Walter. Their affair had been brief, but it nearly destroyed her friendship with Louise. Somehow, Louise had found the strength to forgive her and even to patch things back up with Walter. But Terri would never forgive Jo. She protected Louise like a sister, and that wound was never going to heal.

"Well, maybe not so good," Louise admitted as she forced a smile.

"Okay?" Terri was confused and wanted to hear more details.

"Well, it's a good promotion," Louise clarified. "But it means that he's going to be traveling a lot more."

"Oh!" Terri reacted. "Maybe that's not so good."

"I mean, it should be okay," Louise continued. "But there's this chick in his office who, well, she kind of has a thing for Walter."

"Really?" Terri was curious. "You never mentioned this before."

"It wasn't an issue before."
"So, you're afraid that they'll fly off to some conference together and..." Terri stopped herself before she said the words.

"I don't know," Louise admitted. She struggled to find the words to express what she was feeling. 

Terri wanted to assure her that Walter wouldn't be unfaithful - again - but she decided not to say anything.

"He says that they don't work together," Louise continued, "but I just have a bad feeling."

"Have you met this chick?" Jo asked reluctantly.

"Last summer, at his company picnic," Louise confirmed.

"What did you think?" Terri asked.

"I thought that she was flirting with him," Louise said.

"Even with you there?"

"Well, not really flirting," Louise clarified. "I mean, she wasn't in his face. But she just seemed to be a little too comfortable with him, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I hate that!" Terri agreed.

"Oh, and get this - she wore this totally trashy outfit."

"To a company picnic?" Terri asked.
"What did she wear?" Jo asked. 

"She came in hot pants!" 

"Oh my goodness!" Jo exclaimed. "How tacky!" 
"She also had on a blazer - which I guess is nice, but not really something that you wear to a park."

"Right..." Terri interjected.

"But picture this," Louise continued. "She was wearing ankle boots."

"To a picnic?" Terri asked.

"Yeah," Louise confirmed. "She looked like some chick from one of those websites about nasty schoolgirls."

"So, you've been checking out websites with nasty schoolgirls lately?" Terri asked in jest.

"You know what I mean!" Louise said.

"I'm sorry, Lou. I was just trying to lighten the mood."

"That's okay," Louise assured her. "I'm like Miss Grim today."

"Hey, it's okay!" Terri insisted.

"Yeah!" Jo added. "You've got a lot going on. Don't feel bad."

"Why do I always have to deal with ridiculous people?" Louise asked.

"I don't know, hon, but you're gonna be okay," Terri assured her.

"Oh my God! We have something else to tell you!" Jo blurted out. "And, it really is fun."

Louise gave Jo a puzzled look. Jo replied with some hints: "Yesterday? Lunch?"

"Oh! Yes!" Louise became quite animated. "Oh my goodness! And this is so funny! Seriously!"

"What?" Terri asked with cautious hesitation.

"We saw Francisco yesterday, downtown," Louise said.

"With a blonde," Jo added.

"Yesterday?" Terri confirmed.

"Yeah, at lunch," Louise clarified. "Oh, and here's the best part!"

"Oh, this is so juicy!" Jo exclaimed.

Louise continued the account. "They were going into a hotel!" 

Terri felt a jolt run through her chest and face. She struggled to believe what she was hearing. "Francisco, the..."

"The horse farm guy!" Jo said.

"Yeah," Louise reasoned. "Now we totally know what type is."

"No wonder he hit on you, Lou!" Jo observed. "You're a blonde, too!"

"He didn't hit on me," Louise argued. "He had his chance, and, zippo..."

Terri was too stunned to speak. Could it be true? Maybe there was an explanation, but she was too flustered to think of one. 

The others kept talking and laughing loudly, but Terri had tuned them out. She was hurting. She felt like a fool for trusting Francisco. She sensed that it was too good to be true. It didn't take long for him to reveal his true colors.

"Oh, how could I be so stupid?" she thought to herself over and over again. "How could I be so stupid?"

 
 

 

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved

The Horse Farm - Chapter 2-8

Jo and Louise were seated at a table when Terri arrived. Terri noticed that Louise looked distraught.

"Why does it seem like we've been down this road before before?" Terri asked. She wore a dark pinstriped suit with an azure dress shirt and dangling gold earrings. Men throughout the restaurant turned to get a better look at her. Terri didn't notice.

"Yeah," Jo quipped, "it's like déjà vu all over again." Jo was wearing white jeans and a loose black sweater over a spaghetti-strap top. The sweater matched the tone and luster of her thick curls.

"Listen to you with the sports references!" Terri was genuinely impressed. 

Jo smiled. "My dad's a Yankees fan."

"Are you guys through?" Louise asked with annoyance.

"Ouch! What's up with you?" Terri asked. "Bad day?"

"You could say that," Louise said coldly. She was dressed in a jade satin blouse with tight black pants. Her blond hair fell to her shoulders in a single graceful wave.

"An old friend just walked back into her life," Jo said.

"Who?"

Louise gave Terri an aggravated look through the corner of her eye."

"No!" Terri gasped.

"Latin lover," Jo confirmed.

"Oh, my God!" Terri exclaimed. "When?"

"Remember when we talked on the phone this morning?" Louise asked.

"Yeah?"

"Well, when I hung up, he was standing right behind me."

"No way!" Terri blurted out as she sat down. "Did you know that he was going to be there?"

"I found out yesterday," Louise said. "I tried to call you."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lou!" Terri felt badly now that she hadn't returned Louise's calls earlier.

"It's okay."

"Where have you been?" Jo prodded.

"I visited my folks for a couple of days," Terri said. "Sorry! It was bad timing."

"Okay, well, we're here now," Louise observed. "So, let's drink something."

"That sounds like a good idea," Terri agreed. 

Jo interrupted. "You need a plan, Lou!" 

"Yeah, what are you going to do?"

"Resign," Louise deadpanned.

"Yeah, that might just be your best option," Terri said.

"Thanks!" said Louise.

"I'm kidding!"

"I know."

"Do you have to work with him," Jo asked, "or is he just kind of floating around the office."

"I'm not sure yet," Louise replied. "Whatever he's doing, I'm not involved. Not yet, anyway. But that could change."

Terri cut to the heart of the matter. "How did you feel when you saw him?"

"I felt ... shocked ... confused. I mean, I knew that he was coming back sometime. But actually seeing him ... it felt like a kick in the gut."

"I imagine!" Terri empathized.

"How long is he going to be here?" Jo asked.

"A couple of months, I think."

"Holy crap! That's a long time!" Terri observed.

"Yeah, it is." Louise was staring at the ice in her empty glass.

Terri signaled to the waiter. "Could I have a white wine, and..." she motioned around the table, "...whatever they're having?"

"Sure, Miss!" The waiter raced off as quickly as he had appeared.

"Okay, so shit-for-brains is here, working in your office again," Terri said summarizing what they had discussed. "And he's going to be here for a while it sounds like. - What did he say to you?"

"Well, first, he asked me if it was you on the phone."

"Oh, my God! So, he was totally spying on you!" Jo said.

"That's really bad!" Terri said. "Really bad!"

"Yeah, totally low-class!" Jo observed.

"Then what happened?"

"He said that he wanted to say 'hello'," Louise recounted.

"And you said 'hello'?" Terri asked.

"No! I snapped. I told him that he should have called me."

"Oh, good move!"

"Yeah," Jo said. "That works on so many levels."

"What was his response?"

"I think I caught him off guard," Louise said.

"Good!" Jo said.

"Yeah, definitely good!" Terri added.

"No, it's not good," Louise said. "I'm going to have to put up with this for two more months."

The drinks arrived, but suddenly no one felt like drinking.

 

 

'The Horse Farm'

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved