Vegas Flyer" (Chapter 6)

by aha

The doorbell rang at the Tanner residence. Margaret hadn't slept all night. She had begun to doze off when Jasper started to bark. She had made her way to the door and answered it. There stood Mr. Boardman. Behind him she could see the police officers sitting in a cruiser at the curb. Boardman made an imposing figure. He stood a full two foot taller than her and the breeze stood his gray shock of hair straight up which seemed to make him more towering.

"Where’s your husband Margaret?" He asked sternly.

"I don't know Mr. Boardman, I really don't know, please just go away." She was near tears but firm.

"It's not that bad Margaret, its only fifteen thousand dollars. If there has been an accident or something we'll understand, but we've got to get to the bottom of this. We need to locate him."

"Mr. Boardman, I've told you, he's not here. Your welcome to look through the house." She was crying softly now. He believed her.

"No, we'll wait a little longer, these gentlemen are going to stay in front of the house, and they’re here for your protection as well as James'. They won't bother you, but if you hear anything, anything at all please call me."

"I will." She lied. He turned to leave then stopped, shuffled his feet for a second or two then turned back around.

"Truthfully Margaret I think that James has borrowed some money from the company. If so, all he has to do is return it. I'll not file formal charges if he returns the money."

"Mr. Boardman, if he borrowed it then he will return it right?" She was beginning to get angry and defensive now.

"Well Margaret, I am using the word borrowed loosely. Either way he has it in his possession without my permission and unless he has a good explanation, he is through at Boardman Aviation."

"You could be wrong,” She said thinly.

"Do you think I am?"

"I don't know." She replied.

"I had plans for him at the company Margaret. He and William were going to take my company into the twenty-first century."

"I don't think he is going to take your company anywhere Mr. Boardman and he certainly won't be working with William."

"What do you mean by that Margaret?" The old man asked.

"Would you come in for a minute please? She asked. He stepped inside the door. "Please sit down." Boardman sat down on the edge of the couch. There is something I have been wanting to tell you about Mr. Boardman and I have been putting it off for a long time. But I think now may be the time to tell you."

"I'm listening." He replied and leaned forward on his seat. She told him about the incident on the night of the Christmas party and after she had finished, Boardman was staring at the floor.

"I am sorry Margaret. I told James that William had a lot of growing up to do and I had hopes that he would serve as a model to help him."

"Mr. Boardman" Her voice took on a bitter tone now. "James has too much talent to serve as simply a role model for an unruly rich kid. I would have thought you would have known that by now...or maybe you do and you have just been using him these past few years. Her anger was building now. " Either way Mr. Boardman you and your pervert son can go straight to hell as far as I am concerned. There's the door...you can show yourself out." He rose to leave.

"I hate to see it end this way Margaret."

"Goodbye Mr. Boardman. She looked the other way.

"Good-bye Margaret." His voice had finality to it.