Beads of Doubt by Barbara Burnett Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

shaking his head sadly. “We used to work pretty closely, but when Rebecca got sick Houston wasn’t around much and I ended up running the whole company. Houston was trying, but his attention wasn’t on business, if you know what I mean.”
    “I do.” And I liked Houston better for it.
    “It was a tough time, but what came out of it was good: I started developing some of my own investment strategies. I don’t want to brag, but I’ve put together the best deals we’ve got.”
    “Good for you.”
    He looked around. “I get the impression that you and Houston aren’t tight. Is that right? Seems like you’ve had some, well, shall we say, differences?”
    “You can say it if you want.” Free world, free speech. Doesn’t mean I like it, or him.
    “Like the way he’s working to take over the Manse.” He shook his head. “That’s a damn shame. I hope you can stop it.”
    “Thank you.” In that moment he reminded me of Eddie Haskell from Leave It to Beaver . Maybe not as smarmy, but there was something . . .
    “Can I trust you to keep something confidential?” he asked.
    “If you’re asking me to keep sacred the sanctity of the confessional, I’m not a priest.”
    He blinked, trying to figure out what I’d said. “No, I know that.” He blinked a couple more times and apparently wrongly assumed I’d said yes. He dropped his voice. “Here’s the thing: I’m going out on my own. Not that Houston hasn’t been a great mentor, but he’s not doing everything he could be doing to make money. You know . . .”
    “For his clients?”
    “Right.” Andrew smiled. “I’ve found some ways to increase the income, which in turn increases the capital. People are looking for that. After the downturn in the high-tech market, most people want the maximum return they can get. It only makes sense.”
    I didn’t remind him that most people always want the maximum return. “I see.”
    “And I’ve got some great investments I’d like to talk to you about. I could make you a lot of money.”
    I know people think that money will get them anything, but I don’t like messing with it. I don’t want to have to watch the markets, or real estate, or anything else. I just want to have enough whenever I need it. Like everyone else. “Most of my money is tied up,” I said.
    “Well, whatever is loose could be working for you. Let me give you a call next week, okay? I’ll be looking for new offices. Then it will be official and I can tell Houston.”
    Now that was an interesting piece of news. “And Houston didn’t have you sign a noncompete?”
    He shook his head. “Nope. And why bother? This is a right-to-work state, so any judge would throw a suit like that out of court. I have to make a living. They’re not going to make me work at McDonald’s.”
    I wasn’t too sure about that; however, it seemed Houston wasn’t as smart as I’d thought. A basic noncompete would at least prevent Andrew from taking Houston’s clients. I was thoroughly disgusted at Andrew’s duplicity and annoyed that he was confiding in me. I also didn’t like that I was feeling protective of Houston.
    “Well, I wish you luck,” I said. It’s a favorite phrase of mine because I don’t specify which kind of luck. “I’m going to get something to drink.”
    “I see a couple of my clients—think I’ll go visit with them. Afterward do you mind if I wander around and look at the Manse?”
    Even though he wouldn’t be taking measurements of closets or walls for Houston, I still didn’t like it. Andrew was not the fine, upstanding young man I’d thought. I hoped the caterers would protect the silver. “Sure. Enjoy looking,” I said, with stress on the word looking .
    I watched him awhile then lost him in the milling crowd. That left me with a moral dilemma. Did I tell Houston about Andrew’s intent to defect or did I say to hell with all of them? Except, of course, Rebecca. I don’t like it when life gets complicated.
    I decided to