Thorne in Charge

(Directly continued from Thorne and the Unexpected)

By Atonia Walpole

Part 1

Terry was having breakfast with Dino, Wyatt and Brian Hogeland at Dino’s hotel. It was a working breakfast prior to meetings that would be going on for the next three days. Terry had asked them all to speak plainly about anything. Clearly the time spent over pints the night before had been enlightening to Brian. Dino recounted the concerns and need for a man permanently in South America.

“It’s the kidnap capitol of the world. You need a man on the ground familiar with the territory.”

Terry looked at him. “And who is this man, Dino? Got anybody in mind?”

“I think, my friend, you’re looking at him,” Dino replied.

“That’s what I was afraid of. I thought the whole idea, Dino, was to sit back and direct, keep your feet dry.”

“Hey, that’s what I am proposing. Let me take South America. Who do you know better? There isn’t anybody. I’ll find a safe location and setup. You’ve already got some good agents in the area I can work with and train to work the way I want, a three-tiered setup like you’ve got here, only I’m there.”

Brian looked at Terry. “Finding a safe setup won’t be easy. The whole area is volatile.”

“I’m aware of that,” Terry looked across the dining room. “I like the idea of the setup instead of working everything from London where it gets bogged down. Believe me, I know that route. I’m looking at things from a negotiator’s viewpoint. You want somebody you can count on and trust to put boots on the ground at a moment’s notice if need be. Sometimes you can’t wait for Charlie to finish his fish and chips.”

“Right, when you’ve got a life hanging on a thread, minutes count.”

“I’m not saying it won’t work. We’ve just never done business like this before.” Brian reached for a cigarette, remembered where he was and put the pack back in his pocket.

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not find myself in a jungle hut waiting by the phone.” Wyatt finished up his tea.

“You won’t be.” Terry eyed Wyatt across the table. “I think I want you here. You can take over what I was doing…but what I’m thinking is I want people with extensive experience in certain regions, like Dino in South America, Chrisp in the Mediterranean, somebody for the Baltics, Wyatt…you for the orient.”

“You’re talking about relocating Chrisp?”

“Brian, I think he can work from here. It’s not as busy in that area as it once was.”

“You’re sending me to China?”

Terry smiled, “No, Wyatt, did you want to go? What I do want is each regional manager to have his own team like Dino here plans for his area. That way everybody knows each other, knows the area and knows his job.”

“Sounds like a good plan, Terry, but, um, where does that leave me on the totem pole?”

“The managers go through you to get to me. I would expect you’d be doing pretty much the same thing you are now with a little more responsibility. It’s not going to be a tall totem, Brian. “

“You will find, Brian, that Terry is a hands-on kind of bloke. He won’t be on the golf course when my ass is on the line. You’ll be plenty busy keeping him up on what’s happening minute by minute.”

“I’m not that bad,” Terry grinned. “Okay, we’d better settle up and go. What is it first today…insurance?”

“Yes, Lester’s department,” Brian answered.

Toni was trying to get moving. She thought it was because Terry wasn’t there that she had such a hard time waking up. There was nothing to get up for. She fell back in the bed again and grabbed a pillow. She didn’t like being on her own. When she was at the House of Four Seasons, she’d never been alone except for maybe a night or two between seasons. It was the middle of summer. She would have been with Max. She couldn’t help but remember she’d spent six seasons with him. But Jack had been right, one would rise above the others and it had been Terry. Terry was across the sea right now where she couldn’t touch him or feel him next to her.

She could hear Betty down the hall working in the guest rooms Dino and Wyatt had used. She’d been so happy for Terry when his mates arrived. How had they done it, her seasons? Truly she would never be far away from magic. It was attached to Terry and always would be or for as long as he needed them. She sighed and sat up again, this time feet on the floor. Maybe she’d go down to the stables and get acquainted with the new horses.

“You’re looking a little peaked this morning, Toni, are you not feeling well?” Munchie asked when she came into the kitchen for breakfast.

“I’m just tired, I guess. Missing Terry.”

“He’ll be back by the weekend.” She placed a cup of coffee in front of Toni.

“I know. I’m just not used to being separated from him since we left the House.”

“The one you lived in before you came here?”

“Yes.” Toni sipped her coffee.

“He must have had to go to work?”

“Yes, he did.” She smiled over at Munchie. She felt guilty sometimes but how could she explain where she’d been?

“You know he’s bringing Henry with him and Dino, too, I think when he comes home.”

“That’s right. We’ll have a young man in the house. What would you like for breakfast?”

Toni realized she really didn’t want anything to eat. She was even struggling with her coffee, which was unusual. “I think I’ll wait a bit. I’m not really hungry right now.” She took her cup out onto the patio, tried a few more sips, left it on the table and walked down towards the stables.

Sitting in a room all day with suits was not something Terry enjoyed, but he listened and commented occasionally. He’d kept Dino with him thoughout the meetings with the insurance people. Not that Dino knew anything more than he did about that end of the business, but he was counting on his observations and general people smarts.

His first reaction to Lester was that he didn’t like the man. He was too smooth, too polished, but the more he listened to him and those who worked with him, he realized he was probably very good at his job. He knew how to talk to insurance companies and how to negotiate the best settlement. The other man in the department was responsible for wining and dining prospective clients. It was his job to stay on top of what was going on in the business and to make sure SI didn’t miss out on a bid.

Terry remembered the little champagne parties Ian used to give on Luthan’s boat that had been part of his job as well. LRI did not have a department devoted to courting insurance companies and then working out the best deal for LRI. This arrangement seemed to be working for SI. They retained the highest client base in the K&R business.

At 4:00 Terry called it quits and he and Dino found a pub near where Terry lived and spent a couple of hours dissecting the day. Dino had been impressed with Lester, which furthered Terry’s desire to keep the man at his job. The next day was to be meetings with the financial department and then onto a meeting and dinner with the previous owner of the company. Friday afternoon his ex-wife Liddy would be picking up Henry and bringing him to London. They were to fly out on Saturday morning.

His meeting with the former owner, Timothy Huggins, did not start off well at all.  There were only the two of them in the conference room and the first thing after greetings and congratulations were said was Huggins' remark, “Terrence Thorne, you seem to be conjured up out of thin air. I, of course, have had you investigated, and prior to a move to Virginia, I believe it was, I can find no trace of you whatsoever. Now Brian has filled me in on what you’ve done and suggestions you’ve made since you’ve been here with SI but I find it difficult to understand how a man with your knowledge and obvious talents cannot be found anywhere and that makes me highly suspicious, especially with the way things have changed hands. What can you say to enlighten me, Mr. Thorne?”

Terry was silent for a moment. He wasn’t expecting this, “Perhaps Terrence Thorne is not my real name? Perhaps there is a reason you cannot find me anywhere?”

“Perhaps, perhaps…what is your real name, then?”

“I’d rather not say. In this business once a cover is blown every precaution must be taken to assure a person’s safety. I’m sure you understand that. It’s not unusual for spies to operate inside a company like this. I didn’t know the people here and you didn’t know me.”

“That’s true…very true. We’ll let it pass. After all, I won’t be here. It’s your baby now. You’ve got the knowledge and obvious background, got what it takes I think, but you’re going to need some help, Mr. Thorne. You’re about to make some rather interesting changes here that may not go down well with all concerned.”

“I would appreciate any help you might be willing to offer, Mr. Huggins. I’ve not met any resistance to the changes I proposed.”

He smiled slightly, “No, you won’t meet any, but you may lose some people to the competition. They’re always courting our best people.”

“I understand that. It’s part of the business. I may court their people, too. It’s important to me to have a team that works together. I want nothing but the best.”

“I’m sure you’ll do well and if I can help you in anyway…you must give me the name of your broker, Mr. Thorne.” He put a hand on Terry’s shoulder as they left the conference room. Terry cleared his throat and did not answer him.

Part 2:

Terry picked Henry up from his ex-wife’s house the next morning and they were driven to Heathrow. He made full use of the car and driver while in London and explained to Henry things were a little different in Virginia.

Henry had done his homework and knew more about the state than Terry did. He was recounting Civil War battles and heroes all the way to the airport. “I’m quite impressed, Henry. Maybe we’ll have time to visit some of the sites you’re studying while we’re there.”

Dino made his own way to the airport. Wyatt was visiting relatives and did not see them off, but they’d spent a late night together in a pub. They all boarded the plane, found their first class seats and went about their separate way of traveling. Dino slept, Terry read, Henry had a window seat, but once they were above the clouds he settled down and flipped through magazines.

Tom cleaned up Toni’s jeep in anticipation of driving to the airport. Munchie stocked the pantry and spent the day baking. Betty cleaned the bedrooms and Toni wandered from room to room. She couldn’t wait for Terry to get home. She was still feeling a little lethargic but excitement had taken over now and fueled her throughout the day.

At 6:35 she was waiting at the gate and it wasn’t long until she saw him. She knew Henry was beside him walking out and Dino behind him, but her eyes were only for Terry. He lifted his head and flicked his eyes over the crowd, settling them on Toni. They hardly moved until he was past the ropes and had her in his arms.

“Oh, Terry, you don’t know how I have missed you!”

“Yes, I do. I’ve missed you more.” He kissed her briefly, aware of the crowd around them.

Toni quickly regained her senses and, still holding Terry’s hand, greeted Henry with a one-armed hug, Dino with a smile and a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Tom’s here with the jeep. I had to come. I know it will be crowded going home but I didn’t care,” she told Terry.

“I don’t care either,” he smiled, slipping his arm around her waist.

Tom drove them back to the house and they piled out of the jeep, Dino and Tom handling the luggage and Henry standing in front of the house in awe.

“Wow, Dad! This is where you live?”

“Yes, Toni inherited this place from her grandmother. It’s quite old, I believe, or at least parts of it are.”

“It is, Henry. There’s actually a chapter in a book about this house during the Civil War,” Toni explained.

“I would like to read about it.”

“I’ll find the book for you. Here’s Munchie, Henry, she’ll tell you all about the house and its history.”

“Hello, Henry.” Munchie embraced the startled young man. “Come inside.”

Terry smiled as Henry gave him a look over his shoulder as Munchie ushered him inside. “It looks as though Munchie has Henry in hand.”

“She’s been looking forward to his coming here. Are you okay, Terry?”

“I’m a little tired but, yes, I’m okay now.” He took her hand and went inside the house and down the hall, dropping his laptop off in his office.

“You’ve had a busy week, haven’t you? Did everything go all right?”

“Yes, actually it did. A few bumps here and there but, yes. At least now I know what I have to work with. Dino is going to be here for about a week and then he’s off to South America. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

“Of course not. Don’t feel like you have to ask me, honey. This is your home, too.”

Terry grinned, placing his hands on her waist. “Still trying to find my feet here. I haven’t spent that much time at home, but that is going to change.” He kissed her softly.

“Oops, thought this was the office. My bad.” Dino poked his head in the door.

“Come in, Dino. You may as well get used to this. I do like this little lady.”

“Working here may not be so bad at all. Delve into a little voyeurism on the side. Mind if I fire it up?”

“No, go ahead.” Terry moved aside as Dino went to the bank of computers. “I think I’d like a cup of coffee, something to get me going again.”

Toni led him to the kitchen. “I don’t suppose you slept on the plane?”

“I did for a little while. Smells good in here.”

“Munchie has been baking in anticipation of your arrival.” Toni checked the coffee pot. It was fresh.

“Ah, good and strong!” He took a sip of his coffee and walked out on the patio.

Toni stepped out behind him, grabbing the back of a chair to steady herself. Darn dizziness was back again, and she took a few breaths and sat down. Terry turned, hearing the scrape of the chair.

“Toni, are you okay? You’re pale.” He put his coffee down and knelt by her.

“I’m fine, just a little dizzy. It comes and goes.”

“Have you been to a doctor?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Okay, next question…”

“I know, I’ll call on Monday and make an appointment.”

“How long have you been having these dizzy spells?”

“Ever since you left. I’ll probably be fine now that you’re home. Really other than a little dizziness, I’m fine,” she smiled.

“Maybe you should go lie down.”

“Not by myself.”

“You sure you’re up for that?”

“Are you kidding?” she laughed.

Terry smiled and laid his head in her lap. “I didn’t even get to finish my coffee.”

“Would you rather?”

“No.” He was up, pulling her gently from her chair. “I’d rather have you.” A quick kiss on the top of her head and they were through the house and upstairs.

Henry finished his unpacking and exploration of his room, quietly closed the door, and hearing laughter from his Dad’s room went down the stairs and wandered into the office.

“Hiya, Henry. Want to see what your Dad does in his spare time?”

“Yes, sir.” Henry walked over and sat down beside Dino.

Dino briefly explained what he was seeing on the screen and what was going on with the negotiator. He turned on the speaker so Henry could hear. “You know when your Dad was gone for long periods of time this is what he was doing, Henry. He was on site trying to save somebody’s life.”

“I never knew that. I never knew exactly what he did.”

“Now you do. He’s the best in the business, Henry. He’s never lost a client.”

“What is the business?”

“K and R, kidnap and ransom. Somebody gets kidnapped, usually somebody important with some money behind them, and they hold him for ransom. A negotiator does just that, tries to get the ransom demand down to a reasonable amount. Once that’s done then you go and extract the client.”

“Who are the kidnappers?”

“Bad guys, guerilla operators, political groups, bad guys.”

“It sounds dangerous.”

“Sometimes it is. We do what we have to do to save the innocent victim.”

“Wow, I had no idea.”

“I just thought I’d tell you since he hasn’t. Maybe you’ll understand him a little better now. Oh, don’t tell him I told you all this.”

“Oh, no, sir.” It was beginning to sink in, why his father hadn’t been there, why he’d had to leave unexpectedly so many times. “Thank you, Dino, for telling me all this and showing it to me. It’s good to know.”

“Do you feel better now, no more dizziness?”  Terry said against her neck.

“I feel wonderful. I knew all I needed was you.”

“I love you, Toni. I probably don’t say it enough.”

“You don’t have to, Terry. I know. I think you know, too.”

“I do.”

“We should probably get up and find Henry.”

“He’s not lost. I like it here.” Terry pulled her against him.

“Then let’s stay here. The world can spin without us for a while.”

Munchie stuck her head in the door of the office. “I’ve put a meal out on the sideboard. You can help yourselves when you’re ready. Where are Toni and Terry?”

“Upstairs,” Henry blushed.

Munchie grinned. “Well I’ll reckon they’re workin’ up an appetite,” she chuckled, moving back down the hall.

“Hungry?” asked Dino

“Yeah, I mean, yes, sir.”

Dino gave him a shove on his shoulder. “I speak yeah. Let’s go eat.”

Henry grinned and followed him into the kitchen dining area.

 It was late Sunday when Terry cornered Munchie about Toni. He’d noticed the difference in her over the last two days.

“She said nothing about feeling bad?”

“I knew she wasn’t right this past week because her appetite’s been off but she never said a thing about being dizzy, no she didn’t. She does look a might pale.”

“Hmm, does she have a local doctor?”

“I guess it would be old Doc Walker. He was her doctor when she lived here. He’s still practicing.”

“I’ve asked her to do it but would you call and make an appointment for her first thing in the morning?”

“Yes, sir, I sure will.” Munchie aimed to have a good look at her, too, flitting around like a bird on the wing. Won’t be still for a minute and sleeping all the time, uh huh. She had her own ideas, of course.

Part 3:

After a thorough examination Dr. Walker waited for the results of some tests and then joined Toni and Terry, who had accompanied her in his office.

“Aside from a little anemia, which should be taken care of with the vitamins I have written down here, I find nothing wrong. Everything's moving along as it should be.”

Toni frowned and looked at Terry, who had an odd expression on his face. “How, um, far have we moved so far?” he asked Dr. Walker.

“About nine weeks, I should think.”

“WHAT?” Toni’s voice rose.

Dr. Walker looked over his half moon glasses. “You’re going to have a baby, Mrs. Thorne.”

Toni gasped for air and looked at Terry, who was smiling ear to ear. He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it.

“Now then, we’ll set you up on a schedule to come in once a month…or do you want to switch over to a gynecologist? You know my son has his practice conveniently located across from the county hospital.”

“We’ll switch, Dr. Walker,” Terry answered him, glancing at Toni, who seemed to still be in shock.

“All right then, I’ll get Miss Wells to set you up. It’s been nice meeting you, Mr. Thorne, and Mrs. Thorne,” he chuckled, “you’re going to be all right. It’s all perfectly normal.”

Back outside Terry still held on to her arm as they walked to the parking lot. “Oh, Terry, are you sure it’s okay? I didn’t think it would be so soon.”

“Hey, Toni, have I stopped smiling since he told us? I am happy, luv.” He kissed her, “Very happy.”

“I just can’t believe it. I’m carrying your baby right here.” She placed her hand on her belly.

“Are you going to get in the car, luv?” He was holding the door open for her.

“Yes,” she smiled, blinking back tears of joy.

“I knew it! I just knew it when I had a good look at you this morning!” Munchie was smiling ear to ear, too. “I’m so happy for you both!” She had her ample arms around both of them.

“We’ve got to tell Henry,” Toni reminded Terry.

“Where is he?” he asked Munchie.

“Gone riding with Tom. He’ll be back before suppertime.”

“Well, we have to tell somebody. Where’s Dino? In the office?”

“I believe he is.” Munchie, still smiling, went back to the kitchen and her peach pie.

“Dino, guess what?” Toni burst into the office with Terry behind her.

Dino switched off a speaker. “Okay what?”

“We’re having a baby!”

“No kidding!” he looked to Terry

“Uncle Dino.” Terry slipped around Toni.

“Congratulations, salutations and all that rot! That’s wonderful, Terry. Now I know where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing.”

Terry wiggled his brows. “I must have done it right.” Toni kissed him on the cheek, smiling.

“I’m going to talk to Munchie and leave all the backslapping in here,” she grinned and walked out of the door.

“This is amazing, Terrence. When you think what we were and now…”

“I know. I wasn’t sure I could father a child.”

“If you can get it up there's hope for me. Yes, a whole new vista has just opened up,” Dino grinned.

Terry gave him a side-glance and sat down. “Anything else opening up?”

“A little real estate has been found, described as a safe house. Ever hear of one of those?”

“Nothing is safe.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought but it’s worth investigating. I’ve been in touch with the negotiator and the A-team leader. Nothing else now but for me to go see for myself.”

“Who found the house?”

“Negotiator, who by the way is named Tomas, had a friend who had a friend.”

“Had?”

“Has,” Dino shrugged. “At this point I trust no one until I get there and see.”

“Just keep in mind, Dino, what you think you may know about that area may not be at all real. The people you think you know won’t be there. You’re starting basically from scratch, my friend.”

Dino looked at him a moment. “I can do that. I have a history, too, in my mind I do. I know how it was done in the past. It worked for me then; I’ll make it work for me in real reality.”

“When are you leaving? Have you got a flight?”

“I’ve looked at it; haven’t booked yet. It looks like a hop skip and jump trip that may or may not depending take me into Quito.”

“Ecuador, you know that was Tecala.”

“I figured that out, at least I’ve been there. The house is about thirty miles outside of Quito toward the border with Colombia.”

“That’s right in the thick of it, mate.”

“Hey, I can work from home.”

“Yeah…from home.” Terry looked up at him.

“If I book the flight are you going to sign off on it?”

“I will but I want names, phone contacts, everything you know right now. I want it.”

“You got it.”

“Oh, by the way, I’ve got to get with Brian and Wyatt about Singapore. What exactly did you tell him about bringing him out of a movie?”

“I told him the whole thing over a few pints.”

“What did he say?”

“He needed a drink.”

“Do you think he grasped it at all?”

“Yeah, that’s why he needed the drink.”

Terry looked a bit skeptical and picked up the phone.

It was over dinner that Toni and Terry broke the news to Henry.

“What will it be, do you know yet?” He was smiling.

“No, not for a while, Henry. What do you think?” Toni asked.

“I think it’s cool. Dad is going to be a Dad again.”

“You’re right, Henry, it is cool,” Terry smiled, his eyes sparkling.

While Terry worked, Tom found time to take Henry around the property and down to the James River to do a little fishing. Dino packed up his bags and brought them downstairs for Terry to take him to the airport.

“I’m all set. Got passport, phone, laptop, no money.”

“We’ll stop at the bank and take care of that, travelers checks until you can get an account set up.”

“I’ll contact Brian when I’m there.”

“You’ll contact me first. Fuck it, mate, this is me and you. You deal directly with me, Dino. I won’t have it any other way. Call him but I’m first. I want to know you’re there and safe.”

“Yes, sir, Boss.” Dino raised a brow and made a face.

Somewhere around twenty-four hours later Terry got the call. “I’m on the ground in Quito. Tomas is sending a car for me.”

“Thank God! Okay, keep in touch, and I mean that!”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Dino, who’s driving the car?”

“One of Tomas’s men. He’s got three guys.”

“No, he doesn’t, not on our payroll. He has one.”

“O…kay.” Dino walked out of the airport to the street in front with his bag over his shoulder. “There’s a car coming…oh, fuck!”

“Dino….DINO?”

ON TO THORNE: BEFORE YOU KNOW I'M GONE

BACK TO THORNE AND THE UNEXPECTED

BACK TO THORNE IN MOTION

BACK TO THORNE IN LONDON

BACK TO THE ALPHA AND OMEGA

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