Priceless : A Novel Part 3

"Goodness, child, you're as white as a sheet. Let's get you some whiskey."

Charlotte silently shook her head.

"A cup of tea, then?"

Another shake.

Janet snapped her fingers in Charlotte's face. "Charlotte, wake up." Charlotte jumped. "Your father is innocent, and there has been some mistake. You need to pull yourself together so you can help him."

There was a knock at the door, and suddenly, Davis was there.

"Miss Charlotte? Are you ready to come home?" He coughed, which was about as distressed as Davis ever got. "I'm afraid there are journalists and photographers at the building. We will be unable to avoid them."

Charlotte shook herself. She was young, but she was tough. She turned to Janet. "I will take that whiskey, thanks. Davis?"

"I'm driving, Miss."

"Of course." She thought for a moment. "Did you already contact Mr. Bedford?" Mr. Bedford was her father's lawyer.

"He was the one who alerted us first, Miss. He is with your father downtown."

"What about Marshall?" Michael Marshall was her father's partner. He'd been with Jacob a while, although he played a less public role than her father did.

Davis looked pained. "I haven't been able to reach Mr. Marshall."

"Maybe he's also been arrested?"

Davis shrugged, something she'd never seen him do before. For some reason, that small gesture of hopelessness on his part worried her deeply.

Charlotte looked around Janet's kitchen, cluttered and small yet as beloved to her as the stately kitchen in her own apartment. She'd had many of her happiest times in this place, singing with Janet, learning what her voice could do. She guessed those times were over for a while. If not forever.

"I'm sorry, Janet. I guess I need to go home."

Janet gave her a quick hug. "Oh, for goodness sake, you've nothing to be sorry for. I'm sure it's all an error somewhere or just someone jealous over some money. It usually is. You'll be back to see me next week, I expect, and we shall laugh about it."

Charlotte got up and walked through the living room to reach the door. The faded sofa, the enormous Steinway grand that dominated the room, the rich ruby and blue of the Oriental carpet, all precious sights she'd missed in Paris. She felt as if she were sleepwalking. Brutus regarded her balefully from the top of the piano, but his sister, Cleopatra, purred at Charlotte's feet. She bent to stroke the soft black fur, and it was as if someone else's hand was doing it. Somehow, the gentle purring of the cat reminded her that the world wasn't over; there was just a problem to be dealt with, and it would all be all right. The cat looked up and slowly blinked her big amber eyes affectionately. Charlotte straightened and turned to Davis, feeling the blood returning to her fingers and toes, her mind clearing.

"OK, Davis, let's go face the hordes. The apartment first and then downtown."

Davis smiled briefly, relieved to see that she was taking charge. "Yes, Miss."

But when they got home, they found downtown already waiting for them.

CHARLOTTE STAYED VERY calm as she pushed through the photographers and reporters at her building entrance and paused in the lobby to talk to the building manager. Jacob Williams was not the first resident to provoke media interest, and the manager was sanguine. calm as she pushed through the photographers and reporters at her building entrance and paused in the lobby to talk to the building manager. Jacob Williams was not the first resident to provoke media interest, and the manager was sanguine.

"Miss Williams, rest a.s.sured that no member of the press will be allowed into the building without your prior permission and that no photographers whatsoever will be given access. You've known Davy and Felipe since you were a child; you know their discretion can be relied upon."

Charlotte did know. The two doormen had seen many a drunken return to the apartment and had never so much as made a peep, not to her and certainly not to her father. Their discretion wasn't because of the Christmas bonuses each resident gave them, either; it was pride and honor. Or it could be a total lack of interest in the goings on of their spoiled tenants, but she preferred to think it was honor.

She smiled at the building manager. "I know, Mr. Rockwell. I am very grateful to all the staff. We will, of course, cover any additional expenses you incur ..." She let her voice trail off politely, but her message was clear. Spare no expense. Keep them out. Spare no expense. Keep them out.

Mr. Rockwell nodded. "This is your home, Miss Williams. You will be secure here, and when Mr. Williams returns, we will all be glad to see his reputation restored."

All of this made Charlotte feel much better, at least until the elevator opened onto the triplex foyer and Greta was waiting for her.

"There are gentlemen in the library, Miss. They wanted to enter your father's study, but I locked the door and told them they had to wait for you."

Charlotte took a deep breath and tried to fight down her rising sense of panic. "OK. Please tell them I have returned and will be with them shortly. Have you offered them coffee?"

Greta looked scandalized. "No. They are the police. They think your father is a criminal."

"All the more reason to treat them with civility, don't you think?" Charlotte headed up to her room. "Please serve them coffee." She paused. "On the Sevres china, please."

Charlotte walked into her room, closing the double doors behind her with a click. Leaning back, she waited until her head cleared. What. The. f.u.c.k. When she'd burned that building down at Yale, her dad had sent a lawyer to meet her at the police station, and he hadn't been far behind himself. Every time she'd gotten into trouble in her teens, Davis had shown up, whisking her away. She had never, ever had to face anything difficult alone, or at least not for very long. She felt totally lost and terrified, but she knew she had to pull herself together. She looked around her room and realized that everything she needed was right there. "If you walk into a nest of vipers," her father had told her, "walk in looking like a million bucks. It'll confuse the snakes." A Chanel suit seemed like appropriate armor, with gorgeous shoes for a little "f.u.c.k you." Full makeup but not s.l.u.tty. Smooth, tight hair in a diamond clip. Everything very under control. Yes, she was a twenty-two-year-old girl, but she was going to act as if she dealt with the authorities every day of her life. Secretly, she wanted her mommy, but dressing up in Mommy's clothes was the best she could do. It was small comfort, but it was comfort.

As she came down the stairs her knees were trembling, and at one point she stumbled, grabbing the banister for support. She saw Greta waiting below, her face drawn. Charlotte straightened, swallowing her own fear in the hope that she would alleviate Greta's. Like a swan, she told herself. Calm and serene above the water, paddling like mad underneath.

She made it down the rest of the stairs without falling.

WHEN CHARLOTTE ENTERED the library, she looked like the cover of a magazine, and all three men in the room instinctively got to their feet. The dark suit made her hair glow, and her smooth skin and unusual features were stunning. the library, she looked like the cover of a magazine, and all three men in the room instinctively got to their feet. The dark suit made her hair glow, and her smooth skin and unusual features were stunning.

"Gentlemen." Charlotte extended her hand. "I'm Charlotte Williams. I understand there has been some mistake about my father."

The first man, who was short and somewhat round, introduced himself.

"Miss Williams, I'm Philip Mallory, NYPD. I'm acting as the liaison between the NYPD and the two other agencies involved in the investigation." His tone was bland, calm. He could probably see her hand was shaking, but he just seemed to file that away.

"The SEC and the FBI?" Charlotte was equally cool. "I a.s.sume you gentlemen represent one each?" She smiled, getting them to smile back at her, unable to stop themselves. OK, Charlotte, they're just men OK, Charlotte, they're just men, she told herself, just men. Men love you. just men. Men love you.

"I'm Jim Scarsford from the SEC." Taller than the cop, handsomer, and dressed in what Charlotte immediately saw was an Armani suit. She guessed you had to dress like a banker to catch a banker. She smiled briefly at Scarsford and turned to the last man.

"Sam Dale, FBI." He could have come from anywhere, been anything. Sandy hair, pale eyes, small mouth. His extreme normalness was probably an advantage in his work. Your eye would just slide right over him. His suit was Men's Warehouse, all the way.

"Can any of you gentlemen tell me where my father is?"

Scarsford cleared his throat. It was unfortunate for him, but the SEC agent found Charlotte attractive and appeared to be struggling a bit to remain focused on the fact that she was a subject in an investigation. "Uh, yes, Miss Williams. Your father is being held at an FBI facility downtown. He is safe, of course."

"Of course. Why FBI, may I ask? Is he being charged with a federal offense?" Charlotte was impressed with how calm she sounded. She didn't feel it, but she sounded it. All those deportment lessons finally paying off.

Mr. Dale answered. "Yes, he is. Securities fraud is a crime with far-reaching implications and victims in multiple states. In fact, your father is accused of defrauding investors from more than fourteen different countries."

Charlotte smiled again, although she feared she might throw up at any minute. "Really? That sounds very energetic of him." She paused, crossing her legs and settling herself more comfortably, the red soles of her shoes seeming to distract them. Jim Scarsford started to go scarlet, the color climbing his neck. "My father's lawyer has been present throughout, I a.s.sume?"

The FBI agent nodded. "Yes. Your father hasn't actually answered any questions or spoken to agents from any of the agencies involved yet, although we hope he will. If he wishes to prove his innocence, he's going to need to talk to us."

Charlotte's expression remained calm. "I imagine he'll do whatever he deems most sensible." She stood. "Now, gentlemen, I a.s.sume you need something from me, or you wouldn't be here. How can I help you?"

The cop pulled out a piece of paper. "We have a warrant to search your father's study. The warrant allows us to remove his computers, his files, and any other materials we consider pertinent to our investigation."

Charlotte took the piece of paper and folded it without looking. "I'll need to consult with my attorney, of course. Will you gentlemen excuse me while I call him?"

Once outside the door, Charlotte ran for the bathroom and made it just in time. Resting her clammy forehead on the sink, she unfolded the paper and looked at it. It was, as they had said, a search warrant for her dad's study. It was signed by a judge she knew, one who'd eaten in their home several times. Traitor. Traitor. It was probably only a matter of time before they searched the whole place. Her room. Her closet. She retched again and waited there a while until she felt composed. It was probably only a matter of time before they searched the whole place. Her room. Her closet. She retched again and waited there a while until she felt composed.

Wiping her mouth, she looked at herself in the mirror. A little pale. She pinched her cheeks and opened her eyes wide. Pull yourself together, Charlotte. Pull yourself together, Charlotte. She entered her father's study and called the lawyer. She entered her father's study and called the lawyer.

"Arthur?" The line wasn't very good, and it sounded as if he wasn't alone.

"Charlotte? Are you at the apartment?"

"There are police here, Arthur, with a warrant for Dad's study."

The lawyer sighed. She'd known Arthur Bedford all her life, and she'd never heard him sound stressed before. "Your father has been accused of some very serious crimes, Charlotte, and the FBI and the SEC are totally within their rights to search the apartment."

Charlotte looked out the window. Everyone was carrying on as normal. Tourists were climbing into horse-drawn carriages. Children were playing. Did no one realize the world had ended?

"The warrant only covers the study. I'm in it right now. No smoking guns. No piles of cash."

Arthur had lost his sense of humor. "Don't touch anything, Charlotte. Don't take anything out."

She frowned. "Why would I, Arthur? The sooner they clear this all up, the sooner we can sue them for defamation of character."

Another sigh. This was beginning to make her feel anxious.

"Dad is innocent, right, Arthur?"

"Charlotte, I wish I knew." She heard the sound of louder voices. "Let's talk in an hour or so, OK?"

She stood there a moment, lightly touching the things on her father's desk. His laptop was there. A detachable flash drive. Keys to his files. Nothing was hidden, no secrets there. Fine. Let them come. Fine. Let them come.

She collected the key to her father's study from Greta and went back into the library. She decided to address Dale, the FBI agent.

"My lawyer advises me that my father wants to see me. Will that be allowed?"

Surprisingly, Dale turned to Scarsford.

Charlotte raised one eyebrow. "I thought the FBI was holding my father?"

Scarsford looked annoyed at Dale, briefly. "They are, but the SEC began the investigation. I'm the lead investigator."

Charlotte started to feel the tiniest flicker of anger, deep within her fear. "Gentlemen, let me be crystal-clear. You think my father is guilty of something. You think he is a criminal. But I a.s.sume your suspicions don't extend to me?"

A short pause, each waiting for the other to catch the ball.

"Or do they?"

The cop caught it. "Not at this time, Miss Williams. The investigation is just beginning."

"I thought your case was watertight? That's what you've told the media. You've hung my father before you've even begun? That's not very sporting of you, is it?"

She walked to the window and looked out for a moment, composing herself and pulling together every ounce of inner strength she possessed. She wanted her father to walk through the door, laughing, telling everyone what a good joke this had been. But when she turned back to the investigators, she looked as if she were serving tea rather than an ultimatum.

"If at any time during this investigation I feel I am not being treated with the utmost respect or that I am being deliberately misled in any way, I will cause problems for each and every one of you that will make you wish you had not been born. My father and my family are connected at the highest levels of government, of society, and internationally. Please remember that you have been welcomed into my home and treated with civility. Do me the courtesy of extending the same civility."

She took a deep breath.

"Now, will whoever's in charge please answer my simple question: May I see my father?"

Scarsford smiled. "Of course, Charlotte."

"Miss Williams."

The smile didn't wobble. "Miss Williams, sorry. Once our people have begun to search your father's study, I will take you to him myself."

"Very well." She extended the key to him. "Here is what you need. Nothing has been disturbed or removed since my father left for work this morning. We have nothing to hide." She looked Scarsford in the eye. "Can you say the same, Mr. Scarsford?"

He flushed.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

It was actually an hour before they could leave the apartment, and during that time, Charlotte was able to talk to Emily on the phone. Emily seemed more amused than anything.

"It's just ridiculous, Charlotte! There are photos of your dad on CNN, for crying out loud. And not very flattering ones, either."

Charlotte made a face. "That's hardly a problem right now, Emily. When this is all cleared up, I'll make sure to update their file photo, ok?"

Emily was unchastened. "Well, he looks heavy, is all I'm saying." She giggled. "Maybe he'll be like Martha Stewart and get in shape in jail."

"Emily." Charlotte's tone was sharp. "Don't even joke about it. It's not funny."

She could hear her friend pouting. "It is a little bit funny, Charlotte. It's silly. Why on earth would your dad steal money when he's so wealthy? The po-po are so stupid."

Charlotte happened to be looking at Detective Mallory as Emily said this, and she thought she'd rarely seen a man who looked less stupid, but there you go.

"Shall I come and visit you?" Emily sounded giddy. "I can wear dark gla.s.ses and cover my head with a shawl and creep in."

"Don't you dare, Emily. Stay away so you don't get dragged in the mud, too. Besides, I'm going to see Dad soon, so I won't be here much longer."

"OK, Charlotte. I'll call you later, ok?" Emily hung up, presumably to call all of her other friends and revel in schadenfreude.