We last read Chapter 61, in which Beth rests and packs an overnight bag, including the elegant dress from Wheldon, before one of Wheldon’s drivers arrives to take her to the Pegasus Club for the evening’s gala. On the driver, a radio DJ mentions the next morning’s visit by President Andrews to the Edgewood Nuclear Power Plant. Beth had been so engrossed in her investigation, and other tribulations, that she hadn’t been aware that the president of the United States would be visiting the plant to christen StarPrime's acquisition, and to promote his nuclear energy agenda. Beth calls Stanley, but they can’t discern any connection between Wheldon and the President. Beth ends the call by asking Stanley to research what Bud Tanner has been doing since Stanley last knew him several years ago.
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
Thanks for reading!
When the car rolled to a stop in front of the lodge, Dean hurried to open Beth's door. She grabbed her handbag, stepped out, and looked up at the magnificent building. Massive logs dominated the construction, and wide windows adorned the lower level.
"I will get your bags," Dean said. As he headed for the trunk to retrieve her suitcase and dress, an older man in a tuxedo descended the wide stairs in the front of the lodge. He approached and gave a slight bow.
"Ms. Harper, my name is Oliver. I will attend to your needs here."
Beth gave a start, realizing this was the man Raven Tristan had mentioned. He was of average height and build, with gray hair on the sides of an otherwise bald head. His skin was loose on his face, and his deeply set eyes carried a friendly, gentle look.
"Thank you, Oliver. And please, call me Beth."
He nodded and gave a warm smile. "If you will come with me, I can show you to your room."
"Thank you," she said, following him toward the front door. "How long have you worked here?"
"I have a bit of a funny story," he replied. "I oversaw the construction and lived in a trailer while the place was being built. Once the lodge was done, Mr. Wheldon asked me to stay on in my current role."
"Not a bad gig," Beth said.
Oliver smiled. "Not at all."
He led her into the foyer, and to the stairway on the left wall, passing the study she had noticed during her first visit. The door was closed and one of Wheldon's uniformed guards stood in front of it.
She did a double take, spotting the trophy case to the left of the study door. She had glanced at it during her first visit but had paid little attention to it. There was no mistaking the case now, as it was where Wheldon had displayed Sapphire Angel's costume. Someone had draped a black blanket in the center where her costume had been.
Beth's chest tightened. Was her costume still there, under the blanket? Raven had convinced Beth of the necklace's power on people, and that it wouldn't take much to fool Wheldon, but what if she had been wrong? Or what if she had lied? Perhaps her relief after Tristan's call yesterday had been premature.
This could all be a ruse, with Wheldon planning a grand reveal during his gala. He might display Sapphire Angel's costume to the crowd, and then forcibly parade Beth to the front and make her slip into the costume in front of everyone. It would fit his personality, to demonstrate his superiority over the superheroine before his guests.
Beth forced her worries aside. She wouldn't accomplish anything if she let paranoia set in. For now, at least, she had to assume Tristan was correct about the true power of the necklace to affect people's minds.
Her attention was drawn to the sound of the study door opening. She looked over just as a man slipped out, and she caught a brief glimpse of the study's interior, which contained a desk near the far wall and a large table in the corner. Several people stood on the far side of the table, around a large landscape model or diorama. She couldn't make out any details, but she saw miniature trees and a few replica buildings. The door closed behind the man, and he scurried to the front door and left the building.
The guard eyed her as she walked past. She gave him a forced smile before following Oliver up the stairs. Dean walked behind her, carrying her luggage. When she glanced back at him, she saw two people in the sitting room, just off the opposite side of the foyer. One was a middle-aged man she didn't recognize. The other was Conner.
He had come. A mix of giddiness and nervousness welled up inside her. She was tempted to call out to him, since he hadn't seen her, but she bit her lip and held back. What if Wheldon really did mean to reveal her identity and costume in front of everyone? Conner would see it all. Beth again forced those thoughts from her mind. She would approach Conner later. There would be time.
Oliver led her up the stairs and through a door which opened into the middle of a hallway. He turned left, passing two doors on each side of the hall, before stopping at a door on the right. She glanced about, spying at least twenty doors down the length of the hall, spread equally on both sides of the stairway entrance. This place was huge.
Oliver opened the door for her and gestured with a slight bow for her to enter.
"Thank you, Oliver," Beth said as she stepped into the room. Dean followed with her luggage and stepped to the closet. After hanging the dress and lifting the suitcase onto a stand, he exited the room, leaving her alone with Oliver. Beth called out a thanks after him.
The place reminded her of an expensive hotel her family had visited while vacationing in Montana. The furnishings were stylish but rustic, giving the room a wild feel. A large quilt, with squares forming the image of a bear, covered a massive bed. The dark wood of the bed's frame was rough-hewn from logs. A sitting area extended past the bed, with the carpet giving way to wide hardwood planks. Two dark leather chairs faced a solid-looking coffee table, and prints of wild game hung on the walls.
"Not decorated with a woman's taste in mind," Oliver commented, as if reading her mind.
"No, it's not," Beth murmured, still looking around. She thought back to her sparsely furnished apartment, and almost felt guilty for judging Wheldon's tastes. "But it's very nice."
"Beth, please let me know if you need anything," Oliver said. He took Beth's hand, as if to shake it, but slipped a paper into her palm. Beth started to look down at it, but paused. Was Oliver trying to suggest someone might be watching?
"Thank you, Oliver," she said, before lowering her voice to a whisper. "I'll read it shortly. Can you get me into the study?"
Oliver nodded and said, "I'll see what I can do about any requests, Ms. Harper. It may take me a few minutes to get back to you."
"Thank you, Oliver. When do things get started?"
Oliver looked down at his watch. "It is four o'clock now. A cocktail hour starts in the reception hall on the main floor at six. You are free to look around the lodge before then."
"I think I'll do that."
"Very well. Please contact me if I can provide any assistance. Dial 87 on the phone and the lodge operator can contact me."
Oliver gave a quick bow, before turning and leaving the room. Once he exited, Beth moved to the closet and opened her suitcase. Pretending to rummage through her items, Beth glanced at the note in her hand.
I've run into some difficulties in my relationship with Wheldon. By going to bat for you, I hurt his trust in my abilities. He still has me here because of my skills, but has other people working with me now. That could make it harder to help, but I'll still do what I can. - Tristan
Beth muttered to herself. Even the silver linings of this investigation threw up roadblocks. And she couldn't help but worry. Did Wheldon have people working alongside Tristan because he didn't trust her ability to work alone, or because he didn't trust her to be on his side? Did he still think Beth was Sapphire Angel?
After stepping into the bathroom and flushing the note down the toilet, she moved to gaze out the large window at the back of the bedroom. It provided a sweeping view of a small lake behind the building. Two boats floated on the lake, with two men relaxing in each boat, casting fishing lines into the water.
As Beth turned from the window, she noticed a card and a small box on the coffee table. The card had her name on it. She opened the card and read a brief note.
Something else for you to wear tonight - Xavier Wheldon.
Beth stared at the card for a moment, wrinkling her brow, before opening the box. Her eyes bugged out. A beautiful pearl necklace gleamed up at her from inside the box. Beth unfolded a second note sitting in the box. It read, Please accept this token. I would love to see you in it tonight, and perhaps in something else.
Beth's chest tightened yet again. What did he mean by "in something else"? He wanted to see her in her costume? No, he wouldn't have given her the pearl necklace if he thought she was Sapphire Angel. He would let her know she was still under his thumb and leave no room for interpretation. His note had to mean something else. Perhaps he only meant he had another gift for her.
Of course, a third possibility existed. He might be unsure of the truth, straddling the line between belief and doubt, and the pearl necklace was his way of playing with her mind. Maybe he even though he could rattle her and get her to tip her hand. He wasn't the kind of person who would act on a mere suspicion, and expose her in front of his guests if he might be wrong.
She couldn't play into his hands. She needed to project confidence, to reinforce what Tristan hold told him. Beth would wear the pearl necklace tonight, and act as if it didn't bother her. She would play with his mind. Tristan had been certain about the power of Sapphire Angel's necklace over the mind. Even more so than Beth had been. She needed to remember Tristan's certainty and have faith in it.
Beth removed the necklace from the box. Wow. She couldn't imagine what it must have cost. She studied it for a few moments, before returning it to the box and heading for the door, shaking her head the whole way.
After leaving her room, she walked to the stairs and descended to the main floor. The guard remained in front of the study door at the base of the stairs, his hands clasped in front of him. Beth approached him.
"Hi," she said, smiling.
"Hello, ma'am." He showed no emotion and didn't meet her gaze.
"Do you live up here?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I am not permitted to socialize with the guests. Provide assistance, yes. Carry on social discussions, no."
"Well, then maybe you can assist me by educating me about this place. How many rooms are here?"
"Twenty-four on the second-floor, all guest rooms. Seven of various types and sizes on this floor. That doesn't include restrooms."
"And this is a study?" she asked.
"Yes, it is."
"There must be something awfully important in there to have an armed guard here."
The man did not reply.
"Oh, now you're just going to get a girl curious," Beth said with a slight bat of her eyes.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I have no opinion on the matter."
Beth pursed her lips and forced another smile. "Well, perhaps we'll talk again."
She turned from the study door, more curious than ever. She looked across the foyer to the sitting room, but it was empty. Conner was gone.
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
Thanks for reading!
I appreciate any comments or email.
Also, I’m legit flip-flopping back and forth on whether or not the costume is still behind that case or not, and if it is, whether or not it’s the real deal. If it is……then we might be in for some problems.
……I don’t know how to feel about how she tried to play that guard. It was absurdly smart, funny, alluring, and somewhat unsettling all at once. She did make him indirectly reveal that something was being hidden, though, so I guess it was productive.
Oliver seems really helpful; let’s hope he stays that way for the entire night. Also, I know this party basically has evil written all over it, but I’ve always wanted to be part of a large-scale gala like this. The wine glasses, cocktails, rubbing elbows with high-class people, the fountain……all I gotta do is become part of an energy company that hopefully DOESN’T have a corrupt businessman as its CEO! How hard can it be…..?
…….Who am I kidding? It’s gonna be VERY hard.
Anyways, reading on!