“I have a callout to Jeremy.” Jeremy was a talented and gifted wizard when it came to anything regarding market irregularities. “He’s watching Marlin Butler for me. If his private stocks go into the sale mode, I’ll know. Jeremy knows that I want them.”

“If you have a want list for Jeremy, you should answer my calls.”

If the world were divided up into the people on my side and those on Lena’s side, Jeremy was hers. She’d found him first. Lena had helped make Jeremy a very wealthy man. His talents have done the same for her. Of course, she has other assets and abilities that have also added to her bottom line.

Lena and Jeremy also shared other mutual interests.

Lena and I had explored those interests too.

We were better as allies with a common enemy than we were in other roles.

“You know how cell service can be up here,” I said in the way of an excuse.

Lena’s voice sweetened. “Of course you can use Jeremy, just be open with me.”

“I am.”

“Shall we discuss Madison…?”

She had my attention. “Let me call you back from my cell.”

“Yes, Van, let’s chat.”

I wasn’t certain how much I’d disclose. Lena knew my secrets better than anyone. I knew hers too. Now I needed to at least make her think she was in on my plan.

16. Julia

Julia

Walking down the stairs, I heard the sound of a vacuum before I came to the bottom step and face-to-face with a woman I assumed was Margaret, the lady who Van had mentioned. Wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt, she was moving about the tile and wood floors with a pull-behind vacuum. Although she had some signs of age, such as a few wrinkles, with her short blond hair, fit figure, and abounding energy, I didn’t think she was the mother in this duo.

As soon as she saw me, a large smile blossomed across the woman’s face. “Hello, Donovan said he had a guest.”

I offered her my hand. “That would be me. I’m Julia.”

“Hi, Julia. I’m Margaret, and my mother, Paula, is in the kitchen. If you’re hungry she can make you something.”

Her friendly greeting left me with a smile. “Oh, that’s not necessary. I can find something.”

Margaret lowered her voice. “I don’t know how long you’re visiting, Julia, but here’s a bit of advice from me to you. When it comes to my mother, it’s her mission in life to feed everyone. She bakes cookies for the mailman, takes cakes to doctors’ offices, donates to animal shelters, volunteers at homeless food kitchens—”

“And supplies a week’s meals to Donovan,” I interrupted, using the name Margaret had used for Van.

“I know it may not seem like he’s as helpless as the dogs, cats, and homeless, but he is.”