Knight of the Tigress: chapter 16

Tuesday 4:15p.m. on August 20, 19851

Jamie walked out of the garage and headed towards the east wing of the Foundation. Michael stopped the door from slamming in his face, he ran to catch up with her. She walked at a fast pace with her high heel shoes clicking on the white tile. Chloe stood in the hallway as she stopped in front of her. 2

Jamie set her briefcase on the small maple table. “Chloe what did Thomas say on the phone?”3

“It wasn’t Thomas but Mr. Brown who told me.” Chloe wiped her tears from her blue eyes.4

Jamie heard Devon, Thomas, and Mr. Brown talking to each other in the living room.5

“Jamie, Mr. Brown saying he didn’t call but he did! Thomas wants my head.”6

Michael caught his breath and walked over to them. “Maybe Bonnie can run a trace on the phone system.”7

“She’s doing that now.” Chloe gripped the edge of the small table. “You don’t understand they want to press charges because they think, I set you up!”8

Jamie put her hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “Pull yourself together and show them that tough London Street Kid. It’s going to get very ugly in there.”9

Chloe nodded as she took a deep breath. Jamie turned and looked in the mirror, fixed her clothes, and pulled back some lose strands of her hair that was in her face. She grabbed her briefcase, marched into the living room; Michael and Chloe followed her. 10

The living room was very large; on the south end of the wall, were a row of windows and two glass doors that led to the patio and the pool. The walls were painted light blue as paintings of beach scenes hung on the other two walls. Sandy color leather recliners and an extra long leather sofa set in the center of the room. Four crystal knickknacks of FLAG’s emblem set on the cherry coffee table, which sat in front of the sofa and the matching end tables by the recliners. Michael and Chloe stood; behind them was the dining room.11

Jamie entered and walked over to Devon. He rose from the recliner as Mr. Brown and Thomas stood.12

He hugged her and let her go. “Jamie, I see that you are here. Are you all right?” Devon asked.13

“I’m fine,” Jamie said as she turned and shook Mr. Brown’s hand and then Thomas’s hand.14

Mr. Brown was average height and slowly going bald. He wore a blue three-piece suit from Sears but he was very neat. Thomas dressed in another three thousand dollar light gray suit and trying to keep his temper under control. 15

“Jamie, I don’t think it’s proper to have Chloe here.” Mr. Brown said.16

“I see. It’s not proper to talk about someone behind their back.”17

Devon extended his arm. “Shall we have a seat?” he asked.18

Mr. Brown and Thomas took their seats on the sofa. Michael and Chloe sat on the other end of the sofa. Jamie sat in the recliner across from Devon.19

Mr. Brown looked around in the room. “Jamie, I didn’t call Chloe this afternoon, I agree with your plan and most of the members do as well.”20

Jamie placed her briefcase by her feet and leaned back in the recliner. “I’m glad that the plan is getting this positive feed back.”21

“I’m not trying to double cross you,” Thomas said.22

Jamie looked at Chloe. “That leaves us with a problem, gentlemen.” 23

Thomas tugged on his jacket. “My resources say that Chloe set you up today.”24

Mr. Brown glanced over to Chloe. “Devon, are you taking the side of this homeless woman from London, who chose to live on the streets instead of living with her family?” 25

Jamie sat up straighter. “Mr. Brown!” She paused and looked at Devon as he nodded. “Chloe is a loyal and trusted employee. Most importantly, she’s my friend.”26

Mr. Brown lifted his hand in the air. “Your emotions are getting the better off you.”27

Jamie raised her eyebrow. “Really, Mr. Brown, I spent two years working…”28

“We all know that you were an operative in Europe and you got to see the sights as well,” Mr. Brown said.29

Michael’s hands gripped his jeans. “That’s a cheat shot!”30

Devon sat on the edge of the recliner. “I agree…”31

Jamie raised her hands. “Gentlemen, please. I did get to see the sights. Mr. Brown, let me tell you something. I work for PAC for two years in there security department. My job was to analyze, locate, intercept, and nullify all threats.”32

“Jamie, you’re a young woman,” Thomas laughed.33

She crossed her legs. “What are you saying a young woman can’t do security work? A woman’s emotions might get in the way, that’s rubbish.” She stared into his eyes. “Yesterday, you said there would be six guards on the level. I counted only four guards. You didn’t have the two floors closed. Why was that? Didn’t want to spend the money? With such important people and dealing a fragile region of the world.”34

He glared at Jamie. “Two of my guards had the flu,” Thomas paused. “There was no reason to close the bottom and the top floors, and it met the building requirements for the meetings.”35

“Fine,” Jamie said as she leaned back in the recliner. “Chloe received a phone call from Mr. Brown and said Thomas lied about my plan. Both of you said that didn’t happened.”36

“Devon, I want Chloe arrested today! This aid package can’t go down the drain,” Mr. Brown said.37

“I understand your feeling about the aid package. It’s Jamie’s call about Chloe.”38

All eyes went on Jamie. “Devon, let Michael get to the bottom of this mess.”39

Mr. Brown looked around at the others. “Michael is a fair man and whatever he finds out I can live with. Until then, I want Chloe off this aid package.”40

Jamie turned to her friend. “Chloe, what do you say?”41

Chloe gathered up her thoughts and sat straighter. “I didn’t set Jamie up and I know what I heard on the phone.” She sighed. “I won’t handle any more things about the aid package until my name is clear.” She stared at Mr. Brown and Thomas. “You have my word.42

Thomas snorted at her and Mr. Brown turned away from her. Michael placed his hand on Chloe’s shoulder.43

Devon smiled. “The problem is solved for now,” he said and stood.44

Mr. Brown and Thomas rose from the sofa. 45

“We’ve the situation under control for now,” Thomas said.46

Mr. Brown shook Devon’s hand. “I agree too.”47

Mr. Brown and Thomas shook Jamie’s hand and walked over to Michael as both men shook his hand but left Chloe alone. Devon walked both of them to the door.48

Michael stared at Jamie. “Say what’s on your mind,” she said.49

“Jamie, I will find the truth but are you willing to deal with the truth and not shoot the messenger.” He put his hands in his pockets.50

“You’re the best person for this situation. I believed that Chloe was frame today. Once you start digging around and you will find the proof.”51

Chloe stepped forward. “Michael, I’ve seen Jamie’s wrath and I don’t want to be on the other end!”52

Devon walked back into the room. “Well, my dear, you were quite tame in this meeting. Any reason why?”53

Jamie turned to face him. “Claw left a small trail.”54

“You too discuss what Chloe will be doing in the mean time. While Michael and I talk in my office,” Devon said.55

Jamie and Chloe stayed in the living room and talked.56

~57

Michael and Devon entered the office as Bonnie worked on the computer.58

“Devon, I think that we should restrict Chloe’s movements while, she staying here.”59

Devon sat in his chair and opened the file that lay on his desk. “Jamie won’t have any part until you have proof of Chloe’s involvement. She has her uncle’s loyalty and his wrath, and the good sense from her mother not to act until the facts have been proven.”60

Michael’s hands grasped the edge of the desk. “Can she handle it if Chloe is involved?”61

Devon’s face had the look of confidence. “Yes. She trusts you.”62

Michael removed his hands from the desk and rubbed them together. “Bonnie, what did you find?”63

“I’ve trace the incoming call back to the Grand Hotel and KITT is breaking down the last of the details. I also have reviewed security tapes and it showed Chloe working.”64

“That was?” Michael asked.65

Bonnie turned her chair to face them. “Editing Jamie’s novel and making phone calls that Jamie requested.”66

He folded his arms across his chest. “What kind of phone calls?”67

“Some were about old books, newspapers, and tracking down a man named Fredrick. Chloe asked for help trying to find him.”68

“Why would Jamie be looking for him?”69

“Simple because I worked with him.” Jamie stood in the doorway as Michael turned around.70

“How long have you been standing there?”71

“A minute,” she said.72

Devon lifted his head from the file. “My dear, who’s Fredrick?” he asked.73

“He’s an operative that I worked with. He has some contacts in Africa as well. I wanted to talk to him with to get a better idea what’s going on there.”74

Bonnie pushed her chair and stretched her arms. “I have nothing so far.”75

Michael sat on the back of the loveseat. “How well do you know Chloe?”76

“Is this where you rattle my cage? Please, I’m supposed to get all emotional so you can see I’m on the level.”77

Michael unfolded his arms and placed his hands on the loveseat. “Yes.”78

She waved her hand in the air. “All right, about two years, I found myself in London with a case that turned sour. I had lost all contact with my unit. A poison was doing a number on me as well and men were trying to kill me. I took a wrong turn and found myself in a part of London where you don’t want to be.”79

“You met Chloe.”80

She nodded. “We had a rocky beginning and we stuck it out for four days. We gave everyone a run for their money, after that I offered her a job.”81

“Jamie, she doesn’t have a clean past,” Devon said.82

“I know that. We all have black spots on our records, some more, than others. But when you’re in life and death situations it reveals a person’s character.”83

Michael sighed. “I will solve this puzzle as you can handle the pieces, Jamie.”84

“I understand that you don’t know Chloe that well and those pieces hold the truth.”85

He walked by Devon’s desk towards the outer door. “Then I’m going to find some more pieces, I’m out of here.” He waved.86

Michael left Devon’s office and returned to KITT.87