The Vampire (THE VAMPIRE Book 1) (61 page)

He had a shrimp po’boy for dinner after almost convincing himself to sample fried alligator—but couldn’t quite do it.

He finished up the day’s pleasures with bar hopping, forgoing alcohol mostly, to enjoy the varied music and the ambience of different establishments. He stopped at a club featuring Zydeco and spent some time enjoying the live music of Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys. He enjoyed watching the sexy dance moves of the various couples and promised himself he would make an effort to learn those dance steps; he loved the joyful energy of Cajun music.

He finally got back to his hotel by 11:30 p.m. and tried to watch TV. He had a late morning flight to catch but couldn’t seem to get to sleep. His thoughts now wandered back over the past several days.

He surmised Augere must have been close by, unnoticed, on at least several occasions during the past week. How else would he have known what he seemed to know? But why would he have done so? Why would he bother to be present but not let himself be seen? Jason began to doubt that.
If he was around he had to have seen how miserable I was, from the beginning, and how I had only gotten worse as the week went by. Unless maybe he wanted to enjoy my misery
.

But why, then, would he even approach me finally, when he was obviously so cold and unfriendly to me when he did show up?
All of his questions only raised more questions. He turned off the bedside lamp and lowered the TV volume, intending to try to occupy his mind with a movie, but he soon drifted off to sleep.

He brought his luggage to the lobby to wait for the taxi to the airport the next morning as he prepared to check out. He had reclaimed New Orleans again as the place that held such joy for him, in contrast to a mere twenty-four hours ago when he would have left with heavy sadness and a sense of defeat to face a bleak future. This really was the outcome he had wanted all along. The one he hadn’t dared to think could happen. He was blissfully happy.

It was time to check out. He had used a credit card, but now he wanted to pay some of his bill with the cash Augere had provided him.

He explained to the desk clerk what he wished to do. The clerk pulled up his record. “You’re all set, sir,” he said and handed him a printed receipt.

“Yes, but I want to pay some of the bill in cash now instead of leaving it all on the card.”

The clerk looked puzzled. “Your card was not charged. You are already paid in full, sir. In cash.”

“What? No, I haven’t paid any of the bill yet.”

The clerk showed him the transaction on the receipt: $1,023.51, paid in full in cash, showing yesterday’s date, with a copy of the receipt provided to James Genier.

“This was paid against your room number, according to our records. Has there been some mistake, sir?”

“No, I guess not.” Jason smiled.

It really was good to be back.

Chapter 25

The Telephone Call

He entered the house through the main entrance, unsure of what he would find regarding his belongings. He had forgotten to ask Genier about that; it had not even come up in the conversation.

He hesitantly opened the door to his quarters. Everything was still here; everything just the way he had left it. He felt an almost tearful relief.
Home
.

He could call his family now to tell them. He could say he was home now and mean it, and no one would know how close he had come to losing all of it.

He called Zavi next and was almost grateful to get her voice mail. He suddenly felt shy about speaking to her. He told her he was home and how much he missed her and how sorry he was he hadn’t called sooner. Had it only been three weeks? It seemed like another lifetime. Which, in a sense, it was.

Then he walked around the house, to the kitchen; the common areas. When he got to the sumptuous library his emotions nearly overwhelmed him; he took in the grandeur and familiar comfort of his favorite room. He walked around touching the beautiful things, gazing at books that had become companions to him. The force of his emotions surprised him. He had thought never to see any of this again, and all of it was here, just waiting for his return. And soon, the most important thing in the house would return here also.

He went back into the kitchen and removed a container he had placed in the freezer during the summer: fresh strawberries and raspberries, sprinkled lightly with raw brown sugar crystals. He and Augere had picked these late one afternoon after one of their seaside excursions. Now, on a grey December afternoon, Jason savored a spoonful of the frozen berries, the incomparably sweet experience of the past preserved and now fully enjoyed in the present. He was truly home; he had been able to reclaim all of this, as his own, again.

He busied himself with mundane tasks: laundry; making out a grocery list, checking on mail that had arrived in his absence.

Then he came back to the library. His thoughts wandered to Augere, as he boldly sat in Augere’s chair behind the desk. He was feeling a little apprehensive now at the thought of seeing him again. It might be a little like starting over. There was a lot he did not know. He could bombard Augere with questions, but supposed that was not the way to go about it. Maybe he should take his cue from Augere. Genier seemed to think there would be some awkwardness between them; that their relationship would have to be rebuilt; that Augere would be distrustful of him. Jason doubted it. Augere hadn’t left him with that impression and Genier hadn’t seen how Augere had responded at the Maspero that day. No. Things would be fine. They would be closer now than ever.

He absently opened several of the drawers, curious to see what things Augere kept in them. Augere’s chair was positioned in such a way he had a clear view of the foyer beyond, and he kept a watchful eye in that direction as he surveyed the contents of the drawers as if fearful Augere would suddenly appear.

Some sheets of paper; a fountain pen, but not the preferred one. In the bottom of one of the drawers there was a faded leather-bound journal. Jason recognized it as one Augere often wrote in. Normally not given to prying, Jason was suddenly curious to have a look. It was a rare opportunity. He knew it would be terribly intrusive, but it was also very tempting. He knew this drawer was usually kept locked. He wanted to know more, wanted to know all about him… He was about to reach for the journal, maybe just pick it up and hold it, perhaps take just one quick look—

His personal phone, which sat on the desk in front of him, began ringing, startling him. He quickly closed the drawer of the desk, and stared at the phone for a moment.

“Hello?” he answered hesitantly.

“Hello? Is this Jason?”

“Yes.” It was a man’s voice; an English accent.

“Is this a secure line? Your private mobile? Are you at home or out in public?”

“Uhm…if this is about the keys, they have already been found.” The missing house keys had been reported to the hotel in London.

“Keys? No.”

“Isn’t that why you are calling?”

“I’m calling because we have mutual acquaintances, though we have not met. I used to work for your employer. I was his most recent assistant.”

“Yes…yes! I’ve heard mention of you.”

“He is not there, is he?”

Jason paused. “No. I don’t expect to see him until Monday.”

“You are in the house?”

Jason hesitated. “Yes.”

“Can you leave and go somewhere private? A good distance, several kilometers at least.”

“Well—I’m pretty sure I’m alone here; I haven’t seen him yet—and what is—”

“Not good enough, if you are not absolutely certain he is not in the house. Better, always, to take precautions. I would like to speak with you, and you may have questions for me. My contact number should be in your mobile now. Call that number and deliver the message: ‘Bob, your tea is ready.’ Make sure you are well away from him first. And then I will call you back. Today if you wish. Or another time if it is more convenient. But it should be soon. Take care.” And the caller hung up.

Jason sat for several minutes thinking about the strange and intriguing call. The most recent assistant…the one who had lasted twenty-five years. Yes, Jason was very curious about him. He would love a chance to speak with him. But why all the secrecy, the precautions? It made Jason uneasy. Maybe he should call today. Or not.

He had to go out to get groceries anyway. And he had access to the car. He decided he would do as requested and make the call.

A woman answered and he delivered the arranged message. It all seemed rather clandestine to him. She said to hang on a second. He heard noisy commotion in the background. Then a male voice answered and he delivered the same message again, feeling a little foolish now. Was this all some big put on? The man told him to hang up and wait by the phone. Jason sat in the car in the parking lot of a restaurant several miles from home. He waited for ten minutes; and then another ten. Finally he went into the restaurant and ordered coffee. He was having a second cup when his phone finally rang.

“Jason?”

“I did as you asked. And all of this precaution and secrecy is making me nervous.”

“It is necessary, I’m afraid. Technically speaking, he does not approve of this sort of thing.”

“Oh, okay, look, I’ve got to go then. I am just coming back and I can’t risk him getting angry at me. Or giving him an excuse to fire me.” He was about to hang up.

“Wait, don’t get worried now. There is no risk to you at all, I assure you. I’ve known him a very long time, and I know what I’m doing. I am the one who contacted you, so if there is any fault it is mine. And anyway it is all safe if you have done as I said. The most I would get is a verbal hand slap, and the ‘you know he doesn’t like this’ speech from the Geniers.”

Jason was intrigued to know more. But he was apprehensive.

“How did you get my number?”

“I had lunch with a friend, whose identity I am not at liberty to divulge. Somehow or other your number was on a slip of paper which happened to end up in my pocket.”

“Hmmm…but—why would you take a chance like this? If you know it isn’t allowed?”

“I was very fortunate to make the acquaintance of the assistant who came before me. He provided me with much support and information. I called you with the same thought in mind. I admit to a little curiosity about you, and not just a little concern. There are things the Geniers cannot tell you. And there are things HE won’t tell you. I just think maybe someone should.”

“I see. And would this be violating the confidentiality agreement in some way?”

“That only applies to those who are not privileged to know the truth. Unless he expressly forbids you to communicate in any way with former assistants—?”

“No. No one has ever said that…and why is it not allowed?”

“His insecurities I imagine. He doesn’t like his assistants discussing him. Comparing notes and sharing information. Conspiring against him. Figuring out ways to manipulate him…”

“Oh. I see. Well, I feel like I am doing something wrong just by talking to you. I am insecure myself right now. Like I said I can’t risk angering him or the Geniers.”

“Completely understood. I do have some things to tell you though, about recent events, things that will be of interest to you. As they were to me. I was asked by the Geniers to contact him, since James and myself are the two people who, arguably, have the most influence over him, if anyone could be said to. Though it does seem to be true, sometimes.”

“Hmmm. And you say you were in—frequent contact—with the assistant who came before you?”

“Yes. That would be Charles. He and I are both out of the game, so to speak, and though it is still not allowed, we communicate very often. Not openly and flagrantly. I’m not supposed to be overly chummy with the Geniers either, but there you are. I am certain Augere knows it, and he also knows there is not a lot he can do about it. He knows it will happen.”

“Still, I just—”

“I do understand and listen: I would not put you at risk. Actually I am more interested in keeping you safe, and I don’t even know you. Those of us who have experience with him have learned a few things along the way. Even though each of us forges our own relationship with him and he with us, I don’t see why you, or anyone, should have to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.

“The Geniers are somewhat neglectful of the need for new people, such as yourself, to gain the benefit of others’ past experience. It is not entirely their fault, speaking of the present generation, at least. There has not been a new assistant for more than twenty-five years, which coincides with the current generation’s involvement with him. So they have lost sight of how potentially dangerous the lack of information can be. They are used to him, in a sense. Someone new to all of this is definitely not used to anything remotely like him.”

“Yes…there is nothing remotely like this in any of my experience. I do have a lot of questions too…for one thing, I still don’t really know for sure who my boss is sometimes, him or the Geniers.”

“It is tricky, isn’t it? You always have to follow his orders. They supersede anything else. But in his ‘absence’ you have to follow theirs. And then there are the times he tells them to tell you what to do. That’s when it really gets fun.

“As for the Geniers, one thing to remember is that they are fiercely loyal to him and protective of him. They can be fire breathing dragons—velociraptors also come to mind—when they need to be and you may have as much to fear from them as from him.”

“Are you saying their friendliness is just an act?”

“Absolutely not. They are genuinely the nicest people I have ever encountered. I really do like them. They are unique in their devotion, loyalty and integrity and are completely sincere. Also they are grace under pressure. I’ve never seen a hint of anything other. He can be very trying to them, and they are well up to the challenges.

“But they take their cues from him. When you fall out of favor, no matter how much they may like you—where there was once a warm glow, you can expect to see permafrost. It’s not that they suddenly don’t care and never did, not at all; they may be very conflicted in their actions. But their first loyalty is to him.”