James (Teumessian Trilogy Book 2) (11 page)

Chapter

20

They all rode the elevator down to the lobby and exited the building. An embassy car was waiting for them. They took the ride to Regency Park where Winfield House sat. They pulled through the metal gates the car made its way around the circle drive. Reaching the mansion, they could see the heavy body of security. The door was opened by a man dressed in a black suit. His ear piece gave him away as Secret Service. James smiled and nodded at the man, but was ignored. They made their way to the front entrance and entered the home’s lobby. It had black-and-white marble floors with a white marble staircase to their left. They followed the crowd into the green garden room where James quickly found Huntsman. James walked right over to him as Huntsman was talking with a circle of guests.

“James, dear boy, welcome to the party,” Huntsman said eagerly as he reached out his hand for James to shake.

James shook his hand as he turned to look for Chessy and Greg. He couldn’t find them so he looked back to Huntsman, “Of course, sir, I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” James said with a grin.

“James, this is Pierce Franklin, the prime minister of England.” Huntsman said, gesturing toward the tall blonde man who appeared to be in his early forties and was standing to his left.

James knew who the prime minister was, but never thought he would actually meet him. “Sir, it is a real honor to meet you.” James reached out his hand to shake Franklin’s.

Franklin scanned James from head to toe before extending his hand to shake “Gold’s son, is that correct?”

James took a deep breath, “Yes, sir, did you know my father?”

Franklin smirked. “We met,” he replied, as he took a drink of his scotch.

James half smiled, ‘we met?’ he thought to himself. That doesn’t sound like it was a positive encounter. James stood silently, not knowing how to respond.

Huntsman broke the silence. “Must have been when you were young. He passed before your career took off. Did your family know his?”

“Yes, my family was close to him. A real tragedy what happened to him,” Franklin said, though unconvincingly.

James half smiled again. He did not understand how to engage in this conversation. This man, the prime minister of the country he was in, was not a big fan of his father.

“Did you get to meet my Uncle Finnegan as well?” James asked, hoping to bring up a better family member to Franklin.

Franklin chuckled, “I didn’t know you had any other family. I was wondering what had happened to you after his death.”

James could feel his gaze dropping, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking. “Did you know my mother?” he asked, looking up. The look on Franklin’s face was that of shock. He looked like he had been punched in the stomach.

“No,” he replied, as his voice cracked. Franklin composed himself, “I must mingle. I will speak with you again Martin,” he said, patting Huntsman on the shoulder before swiftly walking away with his beautiful brunette companion by his side.

James watched them walk away. The woman with Huntsman was chastising him.

Huntsman laughed as he was watching as well, “He has quite a pistol for a girlfriend. I mean, she is hot, but she has him on a very short leash. Not for me. Speaking of which, where is the adorable little blonde from your group?”

James looked back at Huntsman, “I am not sure, sir. I am sure she is just mingling as well.”

“Well, do me a favor and find her and your buddy, I would like to at least say hello,” Huntsman said, with a pat on James’s back.

“Of course, sir,” James replied, leaving the group and moving across the room to the dining room which had the table removed and was turned into a dance floor. A band was playing and numerous couples were dancing on the floor. James scanned the room looking for Chessy or Greg. As he moved around the room, he caught sight of Chessy, but Greg was not with her. An older gentleman, however, was. Chessy looked uncomfortable, but appeared to be trying to be nice.

James smiled and walked toward the duo. “Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt, but this lovely lady promised me a dance earlier and I mean to collect.” James reached out his hand toward Chessy as he looked at the man.

“Of course, young man, a promise is a promise,” the elderly man said, wagging his finger at Chessy.

“My pleasure,” she said, placing her wine glass down and taking James’s hand.

James led Chessy out onto the dance floor and spun her into his arms.

Chessy laughed, “Were you saving me?”

“I was trying,” James replied.

“Well, just so you know, I was fine. I was getting information on the prime minister. Apparently, that man is in good with him.”

“Oh, what’s that man’s name?” James questioned.

Chessy laughed, “Okay, I was lying. He was a creeper who was trying to take me on a date.”

James laughed as he gave Chessy another spin.

“I find it odd you can dance,” Chessy flirted.

“Why is that?”

“Just doesn’t seem your style to have any grace.”

“Hey!” James replied offended. “I have mad dance skills.”

Chessy chuckled.

“Uncle Robby taught me. Poor Uncle Finn has two left feet. Robby was a dancer, and he always used to say that a well-rounded young man will have mastered all the arts,” James said proudly.

“Oh so you have mastered all the arts?” Chessy asked slyly.

“Well…. Don’t ask me to paint or play an instrument and I am good,” James said with a grin.

“Good to know,” Chessy replied, as the song finished.

“Okay, we need to find Greg. Huntsman wants to see both of you,” James said, leading Chessy from the dance floor. They found Greg in the adjoining room talking with several members of the security team. James and Chessy approached the group.

“James, Chessy, this is Peter. He is a member of the Diplomatic Protection Group and is one of the men tasked with protecting the prime minister.”

“Nice to meet you,” Chessy reached out her hand for him to shake.

Peter took her hand and kissed it.

James was not impressed, “James, nice to meet you. Greg, we are needed by the ambassador.” James gestured for Greg and Chessy to follow him. They did just that and followed James back to the garden room. There, he swiftly found Huntsman; only now he was not alone. By his side was a beautiful young blonde. She had long straight hair and piercing blue eyes and dressed in a low cut black dress. Both James and Greg were awestruck by her beauty.

“Good of you three to rejoin me,” Huntsman said with a laugh. He was obviously drunk. “This lovely young thing is Blossom. It’s like that old TV show,” Huntsman laughed and almost fell as the woman held him up.

“Oh sir, you know I am not old enough to know anything about that,” she said with a smile and a wink.

“She is a very young beauty isn’t she? My dear, please tell me you’re eighteen.”

Chessy rolled her eyes.

Blossom laughed, “Just barely.”

Chessy was visibly annoyed, but Huntsman was too drunk to notice. Blossom had turned and made eye contact with James and winked.

Greg saw it instantly, “So, Blossom, what brings you to England?”

“I am here to intern with the US Embassy. I am a foreign relations major at Duke University. I am very excited about the opportunity,” she said, beaming at Huntsman.

“So you’re a new intern. Well we are interpreters, so if you need any assistance in that department we will be happy to help,” Greg said graciously.

“Where are you staying, sweetie, we can help you get home,” Chessy chimed in, hoping to get her away from Huntsman.

“I have been put up at the Ambassador Building, the Embassy Gardens.”

“Well, what a coincidence, so have we. You can ride back with us if you would like,” Chessy continued.

Blossom smirked, “No, dear, I can find my own way.”

“Well, we are nearby if you need us,” Chessy persisted.

“I won’t.” Blossom smiled as Huntsman pulled her closer.

James could tell Chessy had had enough. “Well, I hate to be a party pooper, but the jet lag is really getting to me. I hope you don’t mind, sir, if we duck out so we can get a full night’s rest.” James said politely.

“James, it is good thing I like you or I would be sorely disappointed in her lack of ability to party like a champ.” Huntsman slurred. “Get home and get some sleep.” Huntsman looked to Blossom, “I won’t.”

“Very good, sir, we will touch base on Monday. Enjoy your Sunday.” James replied as he looked to Chessy and Greg to signal it was time to go. They followed James out of the home and climbed into their car for the ride back.

They were silent, all three of them, for the whole ride back. James looked to his friends, Chessy was obviously too annoyed to talk and Greg appeared to be in deep thought. James couldn’t find where to begin so he felt it was safer to maintain the silence. However, once they entered the apartment, there was no holding Chessy back.

“See, that was what I was talking about!” she yelled.

James just stood silent. Greg knew something else had to be said, “Our instructions never said we had to like him or respect him, but we have to do our jobs,” Greg said after closing the door.

Chessy plopped down on the couch and held her head in her hands, “That poor girl has no idea what she is dealing with or what is in store for her. He is preying on young innocent girls.”

“She looked like she could handle herself,” James said reassuringly.

Chessy looked up and locked eyes with James. She was not happy. “Handle herself? She looks younger than you. She’s an intern, here to learn, not be used by a powerful man.”

“Chessy, you can’t protect someone who doesn’t want it. She knows where we are staying. If she needs our help, she can come to us,” Greg said calmly.

“I can’t stand that man. I hope we find dirt on him,” Chessy huffed sitting back against the couch.

James laughed. “Well, at least you have part of the mission right,” he said sitting down next to her.

Chessy glared over at him.

“So did either of you learn anything interesting or important?” James questioned, looking to Greg.

“Peter gave me very little. Just mostly bragging about his status within the ranks. He did speak highly of the Prime Minister. He was saying that Franklin has done a lot for improving relations between the parties. Franklin appears to be a unifier, a decent guy.”

James felt uncomfortable. He wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about Franklin.

Greg noticed it. “What did you find out? I know you had to hear something with as much time as you spent with both Huntsman and Franklin.”

James looked down. He felt like the kid called in school who didn’t want to answer, “Franklin knows something about my mother.”

Chessy’s interest was piqued, and she sat up, “Your mother? How did you get on that subject?”

“He said he knew my father, and it just slipped out. I didn’t mean to ask if he knew her but when I did, the look on his face.” James paused. “He looked like he had been punched in the stomach. He denied knowing her, but his face said otherwise.”

“You think he knew your mother. Did he say anything else to indicate that?” Greg questioned, taking the seat across from them.

“He didn’t seem to be a big fan of my father’s, which would match with my thought that my mom and dad had a custody issue over me.”

“So you think he could have been a friend of your mother’s. So why would he deny knowing her?” Chessy asked.

“I don’t know. I am grasping at straws here. I could just tell he knew her, or at least who she was.”

“Do you think he would tell you in another setting?” Greg asked.

“Maybe. I don’t know. But he knows something.”

“Do you think Huntsman knows anything?” Greg probed.

“Please, Huntsman only knows how to chase skirts,” Chessy added.

“No, I don’t think he does. I asked him too, and he didn’t indicate anything. He seemed to have a good impression of my father. Remember at the Embassy,” James replied, leaning forward.

Greg sat back in his chair, “Okay, so we keep an eye on Franklin and Huntsman and we let Ray and John know what is going on first thing in the am.”

Chessy and James both nodded.

“Alright, I am going to bed. Ya’ll have a good night.” Greg said with a smile as he stood up and made his way to his bedroom.

James looked over at Chessy, but she was staring at the ceiling. “Well I guess I will head to bed as well. Good night,” James said sweetly as he stood up.

Chessy just nodded her head.

James could tell she was deep in thought. He made his way to his bedroom and sat down on his bed. Removing his jacket and loosening his tie, he glanced to his left and looked at his duffle bag sitting on his bed next to him. He reached over and opened it up to pull his bear out. Clutching the bear in his hands had become a nightly ritual for him. It was his reminder of what he lost and the pain he overcame to get where he was. It was also his hope of learning the truth, and that he had a mother who loved him.