Chapter 19 – Rules & Revisions

“Good morning Ms. Cavanaugh! I see you’ve once again gotten an early start to the day.”  Henry walked into the office with a smile. 

“Oh just trying to stay ahead of the paperwork, Mr. Aquitaine.  You seem in good spirits this morning?” She handed the man a stack of letters that had come in for him, as we walked up to her desk.

“You know. I think I am.  After a rather chaotic morning and afternoon yesterday.  I had the pleasure of a lovely, quiet evening with my wife. It does wonders to step away from work, even for a moment.“ He shuffled through the mail as he made small talk.

“Well that does sound lovely.  Did you two stay in? I didn’t get her usual afternoon call, letting me know where she had made reservations.”

“Mmm. We did stay in.”  Henry responded, though his attention had become consumed by a letter in his hand..  She didn’t know who it was from, but she could see the waxy green seal on the back of the envelope.  “Would you excuse you a minute Ms. Cavanaugh I have some business to attend to.”

Without another word he walked into his office and shut the door.  The secretary stared at the shut door, taken back by the abrupt turn in the conversation.  Whatever it was, it must have been important.  She sighed, if that were the case, eventually the paperwork for it would land on her desk.  That thought in mind, she returned determinedly to the large stack of papers already cluttering her desk. 

In his office, Henry had locked the door behind him.  Dropping the other mail onto the coffee table as he passed it, he continued to his desk.  All attention on the remaining letter in his hand.  He was more than a little surprised to be seeing one already, particularly after yesterday’s lunch. 

Falling into his chair, he sliced the top of the letter open, extracting its contents.  Throwing the envelope on the desk, he slowly unfolded the letter. Upon doing so a small flash drive fell into his lap.  Looking down, he picked up the object and examined it curiously before setting it on the desk alongside the envelope. 

Returning to the letter in hand, he began to read….

“Dear Mr. Aquitaine,

I’m sure you are more than a little surprised to be receiving a letter so soon, particularly as we just met yesterday.

I will not mince words.  Ms.Caroline Cat is dead.  While I hadn’t expected her demise quite so soon, events occured that ultimately proved her death to be of more use to us, than keeping her alive.  I must tell you I never thought I’d ever get the chance to use the piano wire but, turns out it never hurts to be prepared.     

As to the how of it all, I’ll be quick about it.  Truth be told it started as a straightforward & simple night.  The ending is what I didn’t anticipate.  I had met the woman the night before, you will recall, but unfortunately she’d become too drunk to even stand on her own two feet.  Before sending her off, I had left her with my card and number.  She was quick to respond the morning after. I thought we would have a lovely dinner and some conversation.  As it turns out we did. Mr Ramon did not fail to disappoint, once again. 

Over the course of the evening I thought I could squeeze her for information on you.  You’ve given me more questions than answers.  Surely however, an agent assigned to you would have some juicy tidbits.  Well, unfortunately I never got the chance to ask her.  You see our evening got interrupted by your daughter. Surprised? So was I.  I stepped out of the room momentarily only to return to find Ms. Cat listening to a voicemail from your daughter.  Now why would she be talking to an FBI agent about you? 

Anyways, needless to say, once she discovered who I was, the nightcap I had been promised was out of the question. And well, you can piece together the rest. On which note, I will most certainly be needing a credit deducted and a receipt for it.  The method was a bit unconventional, true, but none the less successful.  

You may recall, in my previous letter I had mentioned your daughter was to be left in the dark regarding my presence here in the city.  That ship has sailed. She knows I’m here.  How you plan to explain my return, I once again leave to you, but I warn you she is most likely suspicious.

One last thing, while I was never able to ask Caroline about your persons.  It turns out the dead can still speak.  She had quite the file on you Mr. Aquitaine. Even I was surprised by what I found.  I knew some of it, but she knew more.  In the continued interest of collaboration and our contract, I thought I’d share my findings with you.  I thought you might find it an interesting read at the very least.

Sincerely and with regard.”     

 Mr. Aquitaine set down the letter and picked up the flash drive instead.  A cold sweat had begun to show on his brow.  Whatever Emerson had seen, the rules of the game had changed.