enter, they quickly find their seats, but the chatter continues.
The looks of anger on their faces are unmistakable.
“We’ve received some distressing news about Mr. Johnson, the director who left earlier this evening.” Van Pelt looks out over the directors with a quivering lower jaw. His eyes sweep past Ryzaard, lingering for just a bit too long, and move through the room as he clears his throat. “His car was run over by a large transport on his way home to New Jersey.” All eyes stare at Van Pelt as he looks down in a display of emotion. “He was fatally injured.”
Ryzaard surveys the directors. Here and there, a hand goes up to a mouth. Color drains from their faces. Their eyes glance at the door.
Good,
Ryzaard thinks.
An old Chinese proverb comes to mind.
Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.
Van Pelt clears his throat. “I just spoke with Mrs. Johnson and expressed our deepest sympathies to her and her young children.” He leaves a suitable pause before moving on. “Let us observe a minute of contemplation to honor our esteemed colleague.”
A deathly quiet follows. As he bows his own head, his eyes glisten with just the right amount of moisture.
Ryzaard works hard to suppress a yawn.
Finally, the silence ends.
“It now falls to us to carry on the important work of the corporation.” Van Pelt’s head rises up. “With the untimely death of Mr. Johnson, we now have 19 remaining directors on the board, of which ten are present tonight. Accordingly, we have a quorum and will proceed with the business that is before us.”
Ryzaard looks down so that the directors can’t see the grin threatening to take over his lips.
CHAPTER 12
“R emind me again why I like Mozart so much.” Matt stretches his body in the direction of Jessica as they nestle together in a window booth of the all-night café across the street from Amazon Hall. The concert has been over for an hour, and they are enjoying pancakes topped with whipped cream and peaches.
The café is empty except for them.
“Mozart was the King of Pop in his day.” Jessica bites into the pancake and looks at Matt with white lips.
“Somehow I missed the part about the concert being a symphony.” Matt slips a succulent peach into his mouth. “I thought we were going to see the Slayers tribute band playing over at the X-Center.”
The truth is, he doesn’t care where they are going or what they are doing, as long as he’s with Jess.
“Didn’t you have something you were going to show me?” Jessica runs her fingers through Matt’s long hair. “I’m guessing it has something to do with those marks on your face and a chance meeting with a boulder up at Powder Puff.”
Matt reaches into his pocket and pulls out the rock he’s been fingering all night. As soon as he sees it, his hand jerks and knocks over a glass of milk, spoiling some perfectly good pancakes.
“What the—”
The rock is eggplant purple with a distinct faint glow in the darkness of the café. Matt turns it over and over in his hands.
“Nice crystal.” Jessica’s hand moves forward. “Let me have a closer look.”
Surprising even himself, Matt’s hand pulls the rock away from Jessica. “Hold on.” He stares down at it. “Is it possible for a rock to change color in a few hours? I swear this was jet black when I picked it up off the snow.”
“Probably just the light.” She raises an eyebrow. “Or maybe magic.” While Matt is staring down, she snatches the rock from his open palm before he can react. “Kind of looks like a large animal claw. Maybe I’ll keep it. It’ll remind me of you while you’re in Japan.” She drops it in her purse.
Matt is speechless.
“Just kidding.” She shoves it back toward him and presses the point into his chest. “Take it with you for good luck.”
His fingers come up and wrap around it. “According to my dad, I’ll need all the luck I can get.”
“He can’t stand the thought of you going, can he?”
The looks of anger on their faces are unmistakable.
“We’ve received some distressing news about Mr. Johnson, the director who left earlier this evening.” Van Pelt looks out over the directors with a quivering lower jaw. His eyes sweep past Ryzaard, lingering for just a bit too long, and move through the room as he clears his throat. “His car was run over by a large transport on his way home to New Jersey.” All eyes stare at Van Pelt as he looks down in a display of emotion. “He was fatally injured.”
Ryzaard surveys the directors. Here and there, a hand goes up to a mouth. Color drains from their faces. Their eyes glance at the door.
Good,
Ryzaard thinks.
An old Chinese proverb comes to mind.
Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.
Van Pelt clears his throat. “I just spoke with Mrs. Johnson and expressed our deepest sympathies to her and her young children.” He leaves a suitable pause before moving on. “Let us observe a minute of contemplation to honor our esteemed colleague.”
A deathly quiet follows. As he bows his own head, his eyes glisten with just the right amount of moisture.
Ryzaard works hard to suppress a yawn.
Finally, the silence ends.
“It now falls to us to carry on the important work of the corporation.” Van Pelt’s head rises up. “With the untimely death of Mr. Johnson, we now have 19 remaining directors on the board, of which ten are present tonight. Accordingly, we have a quorum and will proceed with the business that is before us.”
Ryzaard looks down so that the directors can’t see the grin threatening to take over his lips.
CHAPTER 12
“R emind me again why I like Mozart so much.” Matt stretches his body in the direction of Jessica as they nestle together in a window booth of the all-night café across the street from Amazon Hall. The concert has been over for an hour, and they are enjoying pancakes topped with whipped cream and peaches.
The café is empty except for them.
“Mozart was the King of Pop in his day.” Jessica bites into the pancake and looks at Matt with white lips.
“Somehow I missed the part about the concert being a symphony.” Matt slips a succulent peach into his mouth. “I thought we were going to see the Slayers tribute band playing over at the X-Center.”
The truth is, he doesn’t care where they are going or what they are doing, as long as he’s with Jess.
“Didn’t you have something you were going to show me?” Jessica runs her fingers through Matt’s long hair. “I’m guessing it has something to do with those marks on your face and a chance meeting with a boulder up at Powder Puff.”
Matt reaches into his pocket and pulls out the rock he’s been fingering all night. As soon as he sees it, his hand jerks and knocks over a glass of milk, spoiling some perfectly good pancakes.
“What the—”
The rock is eggplant purple with a distinct faint glow in the darkness of the café. Matt turns it over and over in his hands.
“Nice crystal.” Jessica’s hand moves forward. “Let me have a closer look.”
Surprising even himself, Matt’s hand pulls the rock away from Jessica. “Hold on.” He stares down at it. “Is it possible for a rock to change color in a few hours? I swear this was jet black when I picked it up off the snow.”
“Probably just the light.” She raises an eyebrow. “Or maybe magic.” While Matt is staring down, she snatches the rock from his open palm before he can react. “Kind of looks like a large animal claw. Maybe I’ll keep it. It’ll remind me of you while you’re in Japan.” She drops it in her purse.
Matt is speechless.
“Just kidding.” She shoves it back toward him and presses the point into his chest. “Take it with you for good luck.”
His fingers come up and wrap around it. “According to my dad, I’ll need all the luck I can get.”
“He can’t stand the thought of you going, can he?”
Similar Books
