Trigger by Carol Jean Page B

they’re in Shockley’s office. They haven’t had lunch.
DeShaun is ordering it. You can be their friend and take them lunch
until I get there.”
    “Charles, go with Franklin and hang out with
DeShaun. You’ll be able to call me easier than he can. He’s
supposed to be digging into Shockley history, prior to five years
ago.”
    She’s ready for out the door when she stops. “When
we were dancing Simon said I was wrong thinking that he didn’t want
Stalwart to be successful. If he was telling the truth, it’s got to
be Wade and Shockley being sold. Not to Stalwart, but to
anyone.
    “Obviously, Perry has some kind of controlling
interest in Wade and Shockley and wants to keep it. Why? This
family business shooting thing doesn’t make any sense as a reason.
I’m thinking that it has something to do with why Shockley was in
the red five years ago. He was and then he wasn’t. Now his company
is free and clear. Does that actually happen, Franklin? That quick,
just like that?”
    All eyes turn to Franklin. “Investor, selling off
significant assets, a partner dying leaving everything to the
company, lucky at the Black Jack table, yes Judy, it can. But
truthfully it isn’t often.”
    “But a new owner would have access to the records --
all the records.” There’s a lengthy pause.
    She jerks everyone back. “It’s doesn’t matter to us.
All we want to do is to grow Stalwart. There’s no way we can figure
this out. The only thing we need to do is focus on our goals:
complete the buy of Wade and Shockley’s companies. Other than that
we are not concerned.”
    “Stall, Franklin, if it gets scary hit them with the
the five-year thing and tell them we are only interested in their
records for the last five years. Tell them that they owe me the
courtesy of telling me to my face and that I’ll be along
shortly.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “The source.”

Chapter 18. The Agreement
    Twenty minutes later
she’s standing at the front door of the most beautiful house Judy
has ever seen. It’s straight out of pre-civil war plantation glory.
Tall white columns, huge porch, flowers, trees, walkways, it’s
breathtaking. She knocks with the lion’s huge chin. She can hear it
echo inside the house, wondering what it would be like to live in a
place like this. A lot better than her one room flat, she laughs
and can’t help it.
    The door opens and she’s still grinning and now at a
man with Clarence’s body, who’s stuffed into a tux. That’s funnier
yet.
    “Avon calling.” Pops out of her mouth.
    The huge man frowns.
    “I’m sorry. I’m not with Avon; it was just a . . .
private joke.”
    The man still hasn’t changed expression. “I’ve come
to see Mr. Perry. He was supposed to see me at eight-thirty, but I
had to come early,” she lies. If called on it, she can always say
she was confused with which Simon Perry. “Can you please tell him
I’m here now?” He backs up and Judy walks in.
    “Your name.”
    “Judy Mason and please tell him that I’m not wearing
my gun.”
    His eyebrow twitches.
    “Don’t worry, he’ll understand.”
    Judy could see Simon growing up in this house. His
style and swagger would have would have naturally evolved by the
time he could walk living in a place like this.
    She wonders if he ever slid down the long curved
banister, or ran through these enormous high-ceiling rooms
hollering for his mother or playing hide and seek with
siblings.
    She doesn’t remember hearing or reading about
Simon’s brothers or sisters, maybe he’s an only child. It would be
a shame if only one child had access to all this space. It would be
lonely instead of fun.
    “Miss Mason, Mr. Perry said he would rather die than
see you. Follow me please.”
    She needs a distraction to process. “Excuse me, but
do you know Clarence Davis?”
    The hulk of a man turns quickly to face her. She
reactively takes a step back.
    “He’s my twin brother.”
    “Clarence taught me to dance, so I could