Trust Me

had agreed to leave Kyle and Jason in Seattle, the boys had undergone a sea change. They had magically transformed themselves from anxious, grateful waifs seeking shelter from life’s storms into blustering little would-be tyrants.
    “As long as you live with me,” Stark said softly, “you will live by my rules. And my rules say that you are not going to spend your days alone.”
    “Aw, come on, Sam, we’re your brothers, not your kids.” Kyle brightened. “We could go to your office with you.”
    “I can’t work and entertain you two at the same time.”
    “But that’s just it, we don’t need to be entertained by anyone.” Jason grinned. “I’ve been looking around. You’ve got a lot of neat stuff in this house. All kinds of computers, a stereo, TV, VCRs, a CD player.”
    “Yeah, this place is really well equipped,” Kyle said. “All we need are some new video games and we’ll be fine.”
    “And if you don’t want to buy us some video games,” Jason added helpfully, “We can look up the addresses of the nearest arcades in the phone book.”
    “Forget it,” Stark said with sudden conviction. “You are not going to spend the summer lost in a video arcade.”
    “But video games teach reasoning and logic skills,” Kyle assured him glibly. “They also develop eye-hand coordination.”
    Stark glanced at him. “Says who?”
    “Dr. Titus, our shrink,” Kyle informed him with relish. “He told Mom there’s no harm in vids. He said they’re better for us than TV because they’re inter… inter…”
    “Interactive?” Stark suggested.
    “Yeah, right. Interactive.” Kyle appeared pleased with Stark’s perception. “And the virtual reality games are the best. It’s like you go into a whole other world.”
    Another world where you’re alone, Stark thought. “I know,” he said quietly. “But I think that it would be best if you stayed in this world this summer.”
    The muted thunder of a heavy engine broke into the discussion. Stark heard a vehicle pull into the drive.
    “What’s that?” Kyle said, distracted from the argument about virtual reality. “Sounds like a monster truck or something.”
    The doorbell sounded. Stark got to his feet. “I’ll see who that is.”
    Kyle and Jason trailed after him as he went down the hall. They all descended the freestanding concrete and steel staircase that formed the spine of the house.
    Stark opened the door at the bottom of the two-story foyer.
    A huge, unsmiling man stood on the front steps. He wore black, mirrored sunglasses, a biker’s head scarf, and a faded denim shirt. He had a wide, stainless steel cuff on one thick wrist. A leather ammo belt slanted across his broad chest. There were no bullets in the belt, but that fact did not lessen the arresting impression it made. His boots were fashioned of pale gray snakeskin. A gleaming black Jeep trimmed with a lot of chrome stood in the drive.
    “I think you’ve got the wrong address,” Stark said.
    “You Stark?”
    “Yes.”
    “Desdemona sent me.” The voice sounded like the jeep’s engine. “I’m Macbeth.”
    “Is that a fact?” Stark smiled slowly. He glanced at his half brothers. “Jason, Kyle, meet your babysitter.”
    Kyle swallowed visibly. His eyes were very round behind his glasses. “Holy shit.”
    Jason just stared, awestruck.
    Macbeth looked at Jason and Kyle. The boys’ opened-mouthed expressions were reflected in his mirrored sunglasses.
    “Understand we’re supposed to have us some fun this summer,” Macbeth said. “Get in the Jeep.”

    Desdemona stood in the doorway of the walk-in freezer and surveyed Vernon Tate’s newest ice sculpture. She never went any farther into the freezer than was absolutely necessary, and she never remained within its cold steel confines any longer than was required to store or remove a container of food. The freezer was the same size as an elevator cab.
    Vernon’s latest masterpiece was a large ice bowl positioned between the wings of a frozen swan. The shape was graceful, even elegant. The ice glittered like rare crystal.
    “It’s perfect, Vernon,” Desdemona enthused. “We’ll heap the gelato in the bowl and place the whole thing in the center of the dessert section.”
    Vernon looked relieved and a little embarrassed as he always did when Desdemona praised his work. “Glad you like it. I’m still working on the dolphins you ordered for Mr. Stark’s next big reception.”
    “Take your time. I’ll look