Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,31

forward. "Can you sell the charter business if someone shows up asking questions?”

"Damn straight. We've done this before. Don't worry; we won't put your lady in jeopardy. Get her here, and we'll keep both of you off the radar so you can work. Bonus is, we get to float around South Florida, and Guardian pays for our fuel, food and drink. Ain't life sweet?" Smoke elbowed Browning.

The man chuckled and shook his head. "B-better th-than th-e al... al... -tern-native."

Chapter 9

"To what cosmic confluence do I owe this call?" Regina's voice rolled through the connection, modulated in the bored, bothered, and over-it condemnation which always tinged her mother's voice.

"I had a little accident last night."

"Indeed?" From her mother's bored tone, she gathered the butler had already called about her hobbling around the house this morning.

"There was a power outage, and in the dark, before the generator kicked on, I managed to break my little toe, fall over a coffee table, and sprain my wrist."

She could picture her mother rubbing her brow during the ensuing silence. "And why are you calling me?"

No sympathy, no concern, no 'Oh, no! Are you all right?' She hadn't expected an emotional response. But really, the woman hadn't even asked if she'd been to the doctor. She had, first thing this morning. Money and a private doctor made the appointment happen before 9:00 a.m. But still, her mother hadn't cared. Obviously. Well yeah, but does she actually have emotions? Other than an angry outburst one time, she'd never seen any.

"Notification, really. I'm cancelling my appointments for the next two weeks. I'm going to put my foot up and rest. The doctor said no heels for at least two weeks. Regardless, there's no way I can look professional for my upcoming engagements until the swelling goes down. To that end I've rented a yacht to take me out for two weeks. I'll work on those speeches you wanted me to practice and get some sun, so I look like a Floridian."

As she talked, she stared at the desktop in her mother's office, the only place she could call on the secure line her mother insisted upon. She sat down in the white leather chair and tugged open the middle drawer. Pens, paperclips in a small ornate dish, and a stack of sticky notes. She bumped the dish and spilled the paperclips. Damn it.

"I'll need the specifics of the vessel and the crew. I'm not letting you go alone."

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Regina. I don't need a babysitter, and as a matter of fact, I absolutely need some time alone. I haven't had a vacation in years. If you want me to come back refreshed and ready to get on with the plan you've laid out, let me go and relax for god’s sake. I'm exhausted. I want to breathe fresh air, sleep in late, and putz around in the sun before I have a drink and repeat the cycle."

"Hmmm... send me the information for the charter. If it is reputable, I'll allow it."

"Send it? I don't have my computer at home. I left it at work." Which wasn't a lie. She'd left it at work on purpose so she couldn't access the dropbox and beg Luke to come see her. He'd shown up anyway. A smile spread across her face as she waited.

A long sigh came across the line. "Use my desk computer then. I'll allow access this one time."

"I’ll need your password." She wiggled the mouse and watched the screen come to life.

"It is my birthday. Day-month-year and then year-month-day. You have ten minutes."

"Regina, I have a broken toe. It will take me ten minutes to get back to my room to get my phone with the charter information."

"Why do I put up with this?"

"Because I'm going to be the first female President of the United States." She put as much confidence behind the statement as she could muster.

The silence this time wasn't expected. "So, you're interested?"

"In making history? Yes, I believe I am. We'll need to discuss platforms, and I will most definitely have pet projects which you will fund."

There was a low laugh. "You're learning."

"My teacher is very, very good." Her teacher was Luke Wagner. Not Regina. Never Regina.

"You have thirty minutes."

"Thank you."

"And Pilar, I can see what you do on my system."

"Really? How cool is that?" She put the last paperclip into the small dish and shut the desk drawer. "I've got to go. I have to hobble all the way to the other