Home Free - Fern Michaels [38]
“We’re staying,” Nikki said. “Annie doesn’t want all those bedrooms to go to waste. She wants to officially christen this wonderful house with all her family, and I say that’s just great. The guys are okay with it. Charles even volunteered to get up early and make breakfast as long as we shovel the snow.”
“Oh, dear, didn’t I tell you I have snowblowers? And I also have snowmobiles. Isabelle said I absolutely needed those so I could visit with Myra and Nellie. That young woman did not forget a thing. I am just so happy, I am giddy,” Annie trilled.
“We can see that, Annie,” Myra sniped.
“I’m going to ignore that comment, Myra, because you are just upset that you broke those damn pearls of yours.”
Myra grimaced. “Now, let’s get down to business before the men come trooping in here.”
“That’s not going to happen, Myra,” Kathryn said. “Their eyes are glued to the game. You couldn’t pry them away even if you tried. So, what are we discussing?”
“This!” Annie said, waving a piece of paper she’d taken out of the kitchen drawer. “Fergus wrote this up for me this morning. It’s a list of all the guests who are at Camp David. Along with Maggie. Notice the explanation next to each name. All big-time moneymen. Secret moneymen. You know, for all those government funds the public doesn’t know about. Somehow, someway, we are going to be involved in this, so let’s get a head start right now. Having said that, I think we should keep it on the down-low for the time being.”
“Annie, what in the world are you talking about?” Myra demanded.
“The reason Fergus came here in the first place, along with all those other gentlemen who hired us to capture Henry ‘call me Hank’ Jellicoe. That’s one group. The other group of guests at Camp David is the money people I just mentioned. And then there is Maggie. And that person she took with her, who also just happens to be a moneyman.”
“And this means what, Annie? I think you need to be more precise. What are you driving at?” Alexis asked.
Annie sighed. “Am I the only one who thinks it’s strange that Maggie went to Camp David? If I recall, Alexis, it was you and Nikki who first thought it was strange and had misgivings.”
“But that was about Jason Parker, not Camp David. It was just a . . . I don’t want to say coincidence that she took him with her, because she could have taken anyone as her guest. Just because he’s some kind of financial wizard, and that’s a term I understand he gave himself, doesn’t mean anything to me.”
“I own the Post,” Annie said.
“But, dear, no one knows that. Back when you bought it, you assured us all that ownership was buried so deep that no one would ever find out. Are you saying someone knows you are the owner?” Myra asked fretfully.
“Not just someone, Myra, the president. And someone in her administration. I don’t see her digging through the maze we set up. It’s my opinion, and I’m sticking with it. I do have intuition, and my paper is all-powerful, as we all know. Everyone in Washington knows Maggie has carte blanche,” Annie sniffed.
“It makes sense,” Kathryn said thoughtfully.
“It does now, doesn’t it?” Nikki added, just as thoughtfully.
Jack appeared in the doorway. He held up both hands, indicating he didn’t mean to interrupt. “Got beer, Annie?”
She nodded.
The girls flocked to the kitchen windows and door to watch the falling snow while Jack loaded up a tray with beer. Jack watched them out of the corner of his eye, knowing full well they were up to something. He felt a flicker of alarm, but it was gone almost as soon as it appeared. The girls would handle whatever it was they were trying to keep secret. He shouldered his way through the swinging door, holding the tray high in waiter mode.
The girls scurried back to the table. “Where were we?” Myra demanded.
“I was saying Maggie has carte blanche, and the paper is one to be reckoned with. Martine Connor knows that. We just have to figure out what she wants Maggie to do. Is she going to give her hints? Is she hoping Maggie will figure it out on her own and absolve