No Good Deed Page 3

  Laura stepped into the room in a stunning evening gown, slit high up the side. He growled at her and she wagged a finger. “Don’t you dare get any ideas, mister. You realize how much time I spent getting my hair and makeup done?”

  He gave her a look. “You sat in a chair and gossiped for two hours with Mai. Don’t act as if there was any effort on your part.”

  She held up three fingers.

  “Am I supposed to read between the lines, or was it three hours?”

  Two fingers dropped.

  He laughed and walked over to her, leaning in for a kiss. Her palm blocked his advance, her fingers splayed out, gripping his entire face as she pushed him back.

  “When we’re back here after the gala, I’m all yours, but until then, this”—she waved a hand indicating her entire body―”is off-limits.”

  Acton gave his best pout. “Did you buy that dress or is it a rental?”

  “I bought it. It’s from a local designer from back home. I thought it’d help give her some exposure.”

  He grinned. “So, I can rip it off you tonight?”

  She looked at him askance. “You’ll do no such thing.”

  He chewed his cheek, tilting his head. “So, I can patiently stand in the corner and watch you undress, fold it, and put it away?”

  She patted his cheek. “Now you’re getting it.”

  He grunted. “Then you better brace yourself. The moment that dress leaves your hands, this coiled snake is springing at you.”

  She eyed his crotch. “Which coiled snake?”

  Another grin. “I like the way you think.”

  She gave the little guy a squeeze.

  “That didn’t help. You’re killing me, woman.”

  There was a knock at the door and Acton stepped into the suite’s living area, peering through the peephole. “It’s Hugh and Spencer.” He opened the door and smiled broadly at his friend and his son in their tuxedos, delighting in the fact Interpol Agent Hugh Reading appeared as uncomfortable as he felt. “Don’t you two look handsome.”

  Reading growled. “Don’t you start. Whoever invented the bow tie should be drawn and quartered.”

  Acton stepped aside, inviting them into the room. “Agreed. How about you, Spencer? What do you think of the penguin suit?”

  The young man shrugged, standing in front of a mirror near the door, checking himself out. “I think if there are any single ladies there tonight, they better watch out.”

  Reading beamed a smile at his son, but still admonished him. “You be on your best behavior tonight.”

  “I always am.”

  “If your Instagram page is any indication, you certainly aren’t if there’s a pub involved.”

  Spencer’s eyes widened slightly. “Are you cyberstalking me?”

  Reading shook his head. “You’d think a generation that has grown up with social media would understand privacy settings and how stupid it is to publish every moronic thing you do on the Internet for future employers to see.”

  “And fathers,” added Acton.

  Reading nodded sharply. “And fathers. Just look what’s happening these days. People’s careers are being destroyed for things they did ten, twenty, thirty years ago. Do you think there’s nothing you’ve posted on there that somebody in ten years from now won’t find offensive and decide you shouldn’t be a police officer anymore? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, clean up your social media and stop posting your entire life on it. Nobody gives a shite what you had for breakfast or how many bicep curls you did today.”

  Spencer shrugged. “My fifteen-thousand followers on Insta would suggest somebody cares.”

  Reading growled. “If I ever get a time machine, I’m going back and making sure Zuckerberg never learns how to turn on a computer.”

  Acton laughed and called over his shoulder toward the bedroom. “Hon, you better get out here. Hugh’s already in a mood, and you always seem to put him in a better one.”

  Laura entered the room and both Reading-family jaws hit the floor. Senior reached over and pushed his son’s up, and Acton did the same for the father. Laura smiled, sending Acton’s heart racing.

  “I take it that means I look good.”

  Three heads bobbed, then Reading finally stepped forward to give her their customary hug. Acton raised a finger to stop him but was shocked when Laura embraced him.

  Acton raised both hands in the air. “Hey, hey, hey, flag on the play here! Why does he get a hug and I don’t?”

  “Because he’s a gentleman and won’t slobber all over me. You’re liable to try and mount me.”

  He tilted his head toward Spencer. “She’s got me there.”

  Spencer snickered and shook Laura’s hand. “You look amazing, ma’am.”

  “Thank you, dear. But call me ma’am again, and I’ll turn you into a soprano.”

  Spencer gulped and Acton and Reading exchanged grins. Another knock at the door had Reading in his customary role of protector waving Acton off. He checked the peephole then opened the door, Tommy Granger and Mai Trinh entering.

  Acton beamed at Mai as any proud father would, and Laura rushed forward, gushing. “Oh my God, Mai, you look so beautiful!”

  Mai’s shoulders rolled inward and her head dropped. “Oh, I don’t know.”

  Tommy patted her on the back. “See, I told you. You’re stunning!”

  “He’s right,” agreed Acton. “You look beautiful.”

  Mai’s head rose slightly and she smiled awkwardly. “You really think so?”

  Reading agreed. “Stunning.”

  He swatted his son on the arm, and all Spencer could manage was, “Uh, yeah,” and Acton could swear there was a little bit of drool in the corner of the young man’s cheek.

  Acton laughed. “Well, if that doesn’t confirm it, I don’t know what would.”

  Reading backhanded his son on the shoulder again as he continued to ogle the Asian beauty. “Manners, young man.”

  Spencer continued to stare then finally tore his eyes away. “Huh?”

  Reading just shook his head at his son.

  Acton glanced at Tommy to see whether he would be jealous, but instead found pride on the young man’s face. Acton pretended to hold a microphone to his mouth. “So, Miss Trinh, who are you wearing tonight?”

  Mai giggled and struck a fifties pin-up pose. “Chantal L’Heureux, a local designer with a promising future from Baltimore.”

  Laura walked up beside her, mimicking the pose. “A very promising future, I would say.” Acton gave two thumbs up and Laura turned to Mai. “Did you give Tommy his instructions?”

  “Yup, no jiggy-jiggy until the dress is back in the box.”

  Tommy flushed and Acton punched him in the arm. “What, you don’t think we know you two bump uglies?” The young man’s cheeks turned a deeper red and Acton laughed. “Don’t worry, I got the same instructions.”

  Reading groaned. “I do not want to hear about all the sex I’m not having.” He tapped his watch. “Shouldn’t we be heading out now?”

  Laura nodded. “Our limo is waiting downstairs. Once we’re through the red carpet, one of Mr. Meitner’s people will meet us and take us backstage to meet our host.”

  “Have you ever met him before?” asked Reading.

  “Only once at my brother’s funeral. A very sweet old man with a kind heart. This final gesture of his is exactly what you’d expect from the life he’s led. He’s a very generous man.”

  “He is that,” agreed Reading. “But why the spectacle?”

  “I suspect he’s doing it to pressure other billionaires to do something similar. He’s certainly not the first to indicate they would be donating the bulk of their wealth before they died, but I do believe he’s the first to actually do it, certainly in this amount.”

  “Do you really think the newspapers are right?” asked Spencer. “That he’s going to donate ten or twenty billion?”

  Laura shrugged. “No idea. That’s part of the exciteme
nt of the night. People around the world will be glued to their TV sets wondering if their favorite charity is going to win the lottery. Hundreds of charities are going to receive money tonight. His donations could improve millions of lives, could save millions of lives. We should all be honored to be a part of it.” She held out her hand and Acton stepped over, taking it. “You should all know that we’re going to be making a donation tonight as well, in all our names.”

  “How much?” asked Spencer.

  Reading swatted him. “Manners, boy!”

  Laura laughed. “Take it easy on the poor boy. He won’t be able to raise his champagne glass.”

  Reading rolled his eyes. “If you saw the photos I did of last weekend, you’d be thanking me.”

  Laura smiled at Spencer. “How much is unimportant. However, it’ll be enough to make a difference, though obviously nothing compared to what Mr. Meitner is doing.”

  “Though maybe when you die…” Spencer ducked the blow this time.

  Laura exchanged a glance with Acton, who answered. “We’ve already had our wills updated. Our friends and family will be taken care of, of course, but the bulk of what we have will go to a charitable foundation that we’re setting up. But”—he smacked his hands together―”that’s a discussion for another time, because I don’t plan on being dead anytime soon, despite the best efforts of whoever I pissed off at some point in a previous life. Now, my understanding is there’s a fully stocked limousine sitting downstairs waiting for us. I say we get inside, test Spencer’s drinking arm, and let the festivities begin.”

  “Hear! Hear!” cried Spencer. Alone. There was a brief silence then everyone erupted in laughter.

  Acton headed for the door. “Let’s go get Spencer’s drink on!”

  6 |

  Vienna, Austria August 3, 1940

  Brakes squealed and tires screeched, then the shouts of dozens of men broke his happy humming as Daniel played with his toy car. There was little left in the house. He wasn’t sure how long it had been since the Nazis arrived, as he had lost track of the days locked inside, unable to go out, unable to see his friends or attend school. Even his parents’ friends didn’t come by anymore, except for Uncle Peter. He would come and take something from the house, some small piece of furniture, some piece of art, something sitting on the mantle for years, and when he’d return, he’d have either money or food.

  From what Daniel understood, his father wasn’t allowed to work, so they had no money coming in to buy the things they needed. He always had enough to eat, though he noticed both his mother and father, especially his father, were much thinner. At mealtime, his plate was always full, while those of his parents were mostly empty.

  And he hadn’t seen either of them genuinely smile since the day of the parade.

  He would spend his days mostly in his bedroom, playing with his toys or reading one of his books. Sometimes he’d be in the dining room, which used to be his favorite place, but now the oval rug with its pattern that he could race his car on was gone, and so was the table that he had played under for so many years. It was an empty room now that echoed every sound made. His bedroom was the only one left mostly untouched.

  The only thing they ever did as a family was listen to the radio in the evening, huddled in his father’s office, the volume so low it was hard to hear. He didn’t understand most of what was being said, not because it was in English, which was a language his parents had taught him from birth, but because it was about places he had never heard about. All he knew was there was a war, and it wasn’t going well for the good guys.

  He enjoyed spending the time with his parents as they all sat on the couch, one of the few pieces of furniture left in his father’s office. His favorite part was racing around the office, finding all the hidden pieces to the radio, then helping his father assemble it. His father had always been a tinkerer. Taking apart and putting back together radios, gramophones, small motors—it was his hobby that he always devoted a couple of hours a week toward. Daniel would always be at his side, handing him the tools, handing him the pieces, sometimes allowed to reassemble the simpler things.

  He loved it. The time spent with his father, always so busy, was precious. Just the two of them, the silence only broken by his father explaining what the various pieces did and quizzing him on everything taught. It was like school, but a fun school. There were no textbooks or chalkboards. Just him and his father, using their hands to make something work that hadn’t before. He always did well in school, and he did enjoy it, but nothing compared to those few hours spent with his father every week.

  And now, with the added aspect of finding the pieces and assembling them, then disassembling and hiding things yet again after what they were listening to was finished, it was the most fun he had.

  Yet while he enjoyed it, he hated the effect it had on his parents, for nothing they heard ever made them happy. When they were sad, he was sad, and sometimes he found he had to leave whatever room they were in, especially when it was just his mother. She cried more now than she didn’t, and she’d cling to him if he were in the room, saying she was sorry over and over, but never answering his question when he would ask her what she was sorry for. His father rarely smiled. He hadn’t seen him cry yet, though he was quite certain he had heard him on several occasions behind his closed office door sobbing and praying.

  So, he had taken to praying as well. Though they didn’t go to Temple anymore, his father would guide them in prayer, and he would study for his Bar Mitzvah. He stopped pushing his car and wondered if he would even have a Bar Mitzvah. He hadn’t seen any of his friends or family in a long time. He frowned. Could the biggest day of his life, when he would finally become a man, be spent with just his mother and father? He couldn’t remember the last time he had had a sweet. Would there even be anything special to eat?

  He growled and headed to the window to peer outside and see what these horrible Nazis were up to now. He didn’t know who they were or what they wanted, but they had ruined everything. They had taken away the life he had known, the life he had taken for granted. His friends were gone, his family was gone, everything he had grown up with was gone. All that was left was a bare apartment and his parents, who weren’t the same people anymore.

  His parents had been happy, but now they were miserable all the time. When his mother had shown him his jacket with the Star of David sewn onto the arm, he had thought it was wonderful. He had always been taught to keep his faith to himself unless he was only with other Jewish people. Yet now, he could proudly display who he was and what he believed in. But his parents weren’t happy about it, yet they refused to tell him why, and it was frustrating. If he would soon be a man, then shouldn’t he know what was going on? They kept shielding him from the truth. He was old enough to know they were protecting him, but he had always heard from his father that strength came through knowledge, and if he needed to be protected, then didn’t he need to be strong?

  He peered out the window and gasped. Dozens of soldiers, if not more, were streaming in and out of a building across the street. Windows were thrown open and clothes and other things were dumped out onto the cobblestone as men, women, and children, many of whom he recognized, were led out and loaded into the back of a truck. His jaw dropped as he realized every single person led outside had the Star of David on their arm or chest.

  He recognized Jacob, his best friend from school that he hadn’t seen in ages. He reached to open the window and shout down to him, so excited to see him, when Jacob’s father grabbed him, running away from the soldiers. Jacob’s mother chased after them and a soldier yelled, “Halt!” But before any of them could stop, gunfire stripped away Daniel’s innocence as he witnessed the murder of Jacob and his family on the streets below. A man in black, who appeared to be in charge, walked over and drew a handgun. He stood over Jacob’s father, aiming the gun at his head, then fired a single shot. Jacob’s father’s body shook once, then was still. The man used his boot to kick the body off Jaco
b. Jacob’s head turned slightly and another bullet was fired.

  Daniel cried out, recoiling from the window. Heavy footfalls rushed toward his bedroom and his mother burst into the room. Her eyes darted toward the window and she gasped at the swaying curtains.

  “I told you to stay away from the windows!”

  But he didn’t hear her words. His best friend was dead, shot by one of these Nazis, and for the first time since this entire ordeal had begun, he understood why his parents were so scared. Everything he had heard up to this point, the hushed conversations, the radio broadcasts, they all referred to battles, to fights between the two sides, but never was there any mention of children being shot in cold blood just because they had a Star of David sewn to the arm of their jacket. He stared up at his mother as tears flowed down his cheeks.

  “Are they going to kill me like they killed Jacob?”

  7 |

  Vienna City Hall, Ground Floor VIP Suites Vienna, Austria Present Day

  Meitner smiled broadly as they were shown into the room backstage of the impressive Vienna City Hall. “Professor Palmer, it’s so good to see you again.”

  Laura Palmer stepped forward and shook the man’s hand. “I was so pleased to receive your invitation. It’s such an honor.”

  “You deserve to be here. I’ve kept my eye on you over the years, especially after your brother passed so tragically and I found out you inherited his entire fortune. I’ve been impressed with what you’ve done with it.”

  “We try.”

  Meitner smiled from his wheelchair and turned his head toward Acton. “I could play dumb and pretend I didn’t know exactly who you were, Professor Acton, but I’ve followed your career as well since you came into Professor Palmer’s life. Archaeology has always been a fascination of mine, as well as history. In fact, I’ve spent many years attempting to track down a family heirloom that I just reacquired. Perhaps you would like to see it?”