From The Grave

Chapter 2

April Weston placed the papers in her home office desk drawer and locked it, tucking the key into her suede skirt pocket. The setting sun threw bars of bright light across the room from the French windows and she pulled a face as it landed squarely on the oil painting of Balsam Grove, the home for seniors unable to cope, as well as those mentally challenged who needed constant care. April became the manager after Susan Duncan, her predecessor, was murdered; a grisly affair that also resulted in the near death of Wayne Jenner, the man alleged responsible for the act.

The first thing April discovered in her new position was the file in the locked desk relating to Wayne Jenner, his wife and his company. She was shocked at first, to see that Susan had actually forged powers of attorney for Wayne who was slowly recuperating in hospital after the violent attack on his life by his daughter.

She had stepped into the gap left in his business and with a few deft moves, some illegal, took a firm grip of the company's tiller. April saw an amazing opportunity and with an avarice equal if not greater than her predecessor's, she began a campaign to capitalize on Susan's groundwork.

Her first move was to attend him at the hospital and assert her authority with the medical staff. Next, April Weston confronted the board at Jenner Global Enterprises and cemented her position as Susan's replacement, immediately calling most of the shots in the company. With that under control, she next faced Wayne, in hospital where he was still in a long recovery, with the options she was making available to him.

Wayne was almost sorry he arranged for Susan's termination.

When he was deemed well enough to be released to a private rehabilitation program, April had him moved to Balsam Grove and installed in a private room, insisting it would be good for both of them. Here she was free to assert even more control by prescribing his medicines and dosages so as to keep him healthy but docile.

If he ever fully recovered, he would discover that he was no longer his own master. April reveled in the new version of herself. She spent lavishly on personal items, dined at the most expensive of places and insinuated herself into the clique of corporate leaders, gleaning every scrap of useful information possible. She gained a reputation as a shrewd and manipulative businesswoman and drew the envy of a number of peers over her control of Jenner Global.

The call from Bishop Gravestone to discuss a joint venture rocked her and excited her at the same time. Wayne was out of the picture and the big boys were calling her. Gravestone was well known in the business community for the normal, day to day commerce, but not as well for the darker deals that financed his operations and gave him an aura of danger.

The fact that he was calling her gave April the thrill of having moved into the mover and shaker arena. She remained calm, in spite of knocking knees, and dealt with the call in a cautious, businesslike manner.

Gravestone was interested in procuring a stamp from some remote island in the South pacific and when he mentioned its value she felt her adrenaline bump. There was a small hesitation over dealing with her instead of Wayne but she overrode that, emitting a force Gravestone felt was the kind of personality he wanted to pursue his project. Maybe Wayne did need more time to get better, he thought. A meeting was arranged and a strategy was decided.

"I have several people I use in these situations." Gravestone gestured with his dinner knife. A throw away line. They sat in the centre of a huge dining room where the nearest table was a loud exchange away. Crystal chandeliers, bottle glass windows reflecting the multi-coloured lights of the city night and deep carpeting almost dangerous to walk through.

"By people, you mean—"

"I mean people who know how to get things done, Miss Weston." He set down his knife and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "This is a hard business, there's no room for squeamish moralists. I'm sure you've learned that at Jenner Global."