Trust Me

the truck in gear. “She’s going to hire someone to look into the situation.”
    Stark stared at him. “She’s going to do what?”
    “Hire someone. You know, like a private eye.”
    “A private eye. Is she nuts?”
    “It’ll probably cost her an arm and a leg, and we both know Tony’s the one who should pay for it, but he can’t. No money. So Desdemona is going to handle it. We’ll all chip in whatever we can, of course.” Macbeth smiled again. “Good thing I’ve got this great day job.”
    Stark stepped back when the Jeep’s engine thundered. Kyle and Jason waved to him as Macbeth eased the vehicle back out of the drive.
    Stark stood absolutely still for what seemed a very long time. Then he turned and went back up the steps. He strode into the kitchen and grabbed the phone.

    “Desdemona, it’s for you,” Juliet yelled above the din of early-morning activity.
    “I’ll take it in my office.” Desdemona put down a pan full of freshly shelled hardboiled eggs and stripped off her plastic gloves. “Finish these stuffed eggs for me, will you, Aunt Bess?”
    “Of course, dear.” Bess took charge of the eggs. “Roasted red pepper filling?”
    “Right.” Desdemona hurried into her office and closed the door. She picked up the phone. “This is Desdemona.”
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Stark asked without any preamble.
    Desdemona caught her breath. He had called. She had been almost certain he would, but she had not been completely positive. There were too many things about Stark that were not yet predictable.
    “At the moment, I’m stuffing hardboiled eggs.” She forced a determined lightness into her tone. “We’re doing an eleven o’clock brunch for a sportswear company’s clients. Do you have any idea of how long it takes to stuff a hundred eggs?”
    “Forget the eggs,” Stark growled. “I’m talking about your insane idea to hire a private investigator.”
    “Oh, that. Macbeth told you about my plan?”
    “Have you gone completely nuts? It’ll cost you a fortune, and it’s a total waste of time.”
    “Not in my opinion,” she said.
    “Just what the hell do you think an investigator is going to find?” Stark demanded.
    “The truth.”
    “He’ll have to interview me first, and I’ll tell him about the toothpicks, Tony’s history of embezzlement, his working knowledge of computers, and his hostility toward me, and that will be the end of the damned investigation.”
    “I believe a good investigator will turn up some other suspects.”
    “Desdemona, I do not want a private investigator involved in my affairs.”
    “Why not? Have you got something to hide?”
    “I do not intend to discuss Stark Security Systems’ proprietary information with anyone,” Stark said grimly.
    “You can’t expect us Wainwrights to take your accusations lying down. We have a right to defend ourselves.”
    “You act as if I’m accusing all Wainwrights of attempted theft. That’s not the case.”
    “You’ve accused Tony of attempted theft, and you’ve as good as accused me of being a trusting, naive, gullible fool for believing in him. Do you deny it?”
    “Desdemona, listen to me – “
    “Do you deny it?”
    “Damn it, I issued a warning to that fool stepbrother of yours, and yes, I do think you’re gullible where he’s concerned. You’re a sucker for his hard-luck stories because he’s family.”
    “So? As it happens, he’s had a lot of hard luck.”
    “Desdemona, he’s used you, and he’s going to continue using you as long as you allow it.”
    “I don’t care what you say, Stark, I’m going ahead with my plan.”
    “You’ll be wasting your time. Your investigator won’t get anywhere without my cooperation, and I don’t intend to give it to him.”
    “Is that so?”
    “What’s more, I’ll have a very long talk with your P.I. I will explain the facts of the situation to him. I will then explain the facts of business life to him. I’ll inform him that if he interferes in my business affairs, I’ll see to it that he never works for me or any of my clients.”
    “You’d issue threats to my investigator?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, it’s going to be a little tricky issuing threats to yourself,” Desdemona murmured. “I wonder if you’ll back off or if you’ll tell yourself to go to hell. I’m betting on the latter.”
    There was a distinct pause from Stark. “What are you talking about?”
    “You’re the investigator I intend to