Loud

Chapter 12 - Robert Pirone Versus Cynthia and the Seniors

Over the next few days, Rob mulled over his theory that Cynthia had acted under duress. When Makiko and Margot accompanied him to a television studio for more interviews. Another day when he participated in a strange variety show with thirty women in bikinis on stage and a Japanese actor who spoke English. That evening, when he ate dinner with Margot to discuss business.

His tight schedule made an investigation difficult. His photo exhibition opened in four days, Alan and Anna Lord arrived in two, and they were staying with him. He still had guest beds to purchase. Lounging on a display mattress in a furniture store with crossed ankles, Rachel asked him Alan's age.

"He's happily married. Sorry."

"Happily? I don't believe that."

"Happily."

"I'm picking out his bed and can't roll on it with him?"

"Afraid not."

Rachel shimmied off the mattress. She banged the mattress with one of her hands. "Then this one will do."

At the beginning of the shopping spree, she had asked for Rob's opinions. After a few huffs, she abandoned that, and they quickly found other items, including a lamp and bureau. She even arranged shipping.

Rachel handed back his credit card. "You're a horrible homemaker."

"So sad. That's all I've ever wanted to be." As they strolled to the elevators, Rob imagined Makiko realizing that she should demand he have nothing to do with teenagers. When that happened, he planned to wow her with the truth. "I'm sure Cynthia did it for money, a lot of money," he said.

The elevator doors opened, and Rachel entered first. "Many teenage girls are mean." She closed the elevator doors with a push of a button. "Maybe it had nothing to do with Keating or money. Who knows what was going through Cynthia's mind?"

***

After lunch with Rachel, Rob met Margot in her office. He doubted she was aligned with Brian Keating, but his request to reschedule Keating's visit into a pre-opening visit of the exhibition would almost be a test. "Suggest it with a heavy-hand," he said to her. "I don't want him at the opening." He watched for signs of duplicity.

"A private tour?" Margot rolled her chair closer to her computer and popped open a window. Without looking up, she navigated windows on her screen. "Are you afraid he'll overshadow you?" She clicked the mouse and stared at the computer screen.

"No!"

She smirked.

"Ah, taunting the talent, are you?"

"Talent?"

"I'm quoting others."

Margot typed. Her fingers rattled over the keyboard. "I'll follow up with a phone call later."

"When does Keating arrive in Tokyo?"

"He's here."

After going over more details about the next couple of weeks, Rob grabbed Margot's umbrella and passed it to her. "Let's go. Bill the hours to me and pretend we're shopping. You can spend time with your son before things get busy."

"Okay." She shut down the computer and organized the contents of her briefcase. They shared a taxi. At a red light, the driver glanced into his rearview mirror and exchanged a few words with Margot before grunting understanding. "Directions to my son's daycare," she explained. "Even taxi drivers can't memorize all of Tokyo's winding roads."