The Exchange: After The Firm

Mitch thought for a second and said, “Another week. Are your folks okay with that?”

“They’ll manage.”

Tanner was back with the drinks on a proper tray. He served them, yelled at the boys, and shoved off. Sitting close together and facing the stern, Mitch and Abby watched Wicklow fade behind them. The hum of the engine muffled their voices.

“I don’t understand,” she said again.

“They’re cowards, Abby. More concerned with protecting their assets than rescuing Giovanna. Put each one of them in her place, and they’d say hell yeah, borrow the money, get me outta here. The firm can absorb the loss, over time. But sitting in their nice offices in Manhattan they feel threatened and want to protect their money.”

“The firm grossed how much last year?”

“Two billion plus.”

“And more this year?”

“Yes, always more.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You know, we’ve had eleven good years with Scully and never thought about leaving.”

Tanner inched the throttle up a notch and the wake grew wider. They were nearing a cove with the Atlantic not far away. The water was deep blue and flat, but an occasional wave sent mist over the boat and refreshed everyone. With his left hand, Mitch reached over and took hers. With his right hand, he took a sip of bourbon and savored it as it wet his mouth and seeped down his throat. He rarely touched the hard stuff, but it was soothing at the moment.

“I’m sure you have a plan,” she said.

“Oh, lots of them, and none are working. There’s no playbook here. We’re all guessing.”

“Do you really think they’ll do something awful to Giovanna?”

“Oh yes. Definitely. They’re savages and they obviously crave attention. Look at all the videos. If they harm her, we’ll get to see it.”

Abby shook her head in frustration. “I think of her all the time. I’m living in a safe world with family and friends all around. I go anywhere, do anything I want, while Giovanna’s buried in a cave praying that we’ll come get her.”

“I’m still blaming myself, Abby. The trip to the bridge would probably have been productive at some level, but it wasn’t crucial. I couldn’t wait to go, another adventure.”

“But Luca insisted.”

“He pushed hard, but I could’ve said no, or not at this time. Actually seeing the bridge would not have affected our representation of Lannak.”

“You can’t beat yourself up, Mitch. Blaming yourself is wasted energy and you have more pressing matters at hand.”

“You don’t say.”

Barry skipped dinner with his house guests. Seemed as if a fancier party was underway at another mansion down the road, old friends from Boston were on the island and rounding up their pals for a long night. Tanner chauffeured him, dropped him off, and would collect him hours later when the last cigars and brandies were finished. Tanner worked long days, but, according to Hoppy, who was never shy about prying, the winter and spring months were slow and the staff caught up on their rest. When the big houses were open, usually from May to October, the owners and their guests came in waves, and eighteen-hour shifts were common.

Miss Emma, too, seemed to be in the kitchen around the clock. For dinner, she suggested they dine outside on the deck and watch the sunset. She and Miss Angie served lobster mac and cheese with fresh greens from the garden.

Fortunately, Hoppy was in a talkative mood and carried the conversation. Maxie chimed in when she could, and Abby worked hard to keep the mood light for the boys. Mitch was off his game and obviously distracted. The entire family was out of place and had been for a week. The boys were missing school. Mitch was living on airplanes and visibly stressed. Abby was ignoring her job. Hoppy and Maxie were supposed to be in Utah with friends and they were tired of Islesboro. And no one really knew when their secret little detour to Maine would be over.

One side benefit of it, though, was Mitch’s kindness to his in-laws. They were pinch-hitting in a big way and he was truly appreciative.

After dinner, the Sutherlands hastily retired to their suite and locked the door. They wanted a quiet night, away from the kids. The McDeeres gathered in one of the dens to watch television on a big screen. A small fire crackled in the fireplace. Clark immediately found a spot between his parents on the deep sofa and curled up with his mother. The first movie was Shrek, but because they had seen it so many times they were soon bored with it. They couldn’t decide on the next one until Abby mentioned an old classic, E.T. She and Mitch had seen it when it was released in 1982 on their second date. The twins objected for a few minutes, primarily because it was an old-fashioned movie, but within ten minutes were completely hooked. Carter said he was cold and joined them under the covers. Mitch soon dozed off, and when he woke from his nap he glanced at Abby.

She was drifting away too.