Nerds Saving the World

A Butler?

“Peter Quincy," Q said, thrusting out his hand.

The hand hung in the air for a moment, then as if only just deciding to shake it, the butler returned his grasp. Despite the man's misgivings about him, Q knew that decorum would make him shake his hand.

What little he remembered of Madison's father, the man was all about class. Or at least pretending he had class.

“This is a detective I've hired, Jenson. He'll be staying with us. Make sure the Forbes bedroom is made up."

The butler gave a curt nod. “As you wish, Miss Madison." Turning on his heel, he left.

Madison smiled at Q and he melted. He didn't want to melt or like Madison. He certainly didn't want to remember how she looked naked, but he saw that every time he looked at her.

He had to remember, she was a case and he must remain objective. That more was at stake here. More than maybe even she knew. He sighed. He'd have to make some phone calls.

He'd wished he'd pay more attention to what Madison's father had said to him at the wedding. The man had been a little drunk and Q did his best to amuse him before extricating himself from the conversation.

What he did remember was starting to make sense. Her father had said that she was marrying the wrong man. Q knew that better than anyone, but why had her father been on his side? He'd shrugged it off at the time and moved on with his life.

One thing the man had predicted was that Madison would search Q out one day and be in trouble. Madison's father had begged him to make sure he took care of her. Q had promised thinking that the day would never come then found a way to leave her father's side.

Oddly, before the wedding, Charlie had made sure that Q understood the role of a best man, and that if he, Charlie, were ever in trouble that Q should help Madison.

As if he ever could have turned her away.

Despite his promises, he hadn't done any training and this was all new territory for him. In fact, he hadn't thought about those promises since he made them.

Give him a circuit board and a soldering iron and he could work magic. People were foreign to him. His attempt at trying to be among people hadn't turned out well.

Madison led him to the kitchen. “Shall we eat that lasagna? I'll heat it up again."

Q was hungry. He'd almost forgotten to eat. As usual. His focus was laser sighted and he forgot to change his clothes when working on an interesting project.

“Beer, wine?"

He could use a drink. Something to calm his unsettled nerves. “I have to call my brother and see how my sister-in-law and the baby are doing."

“You can use the den if you want privacy."

Like he'd find the den in this place.

As if reading his mind, she said, “Across the hall. You won't get lost."

He didn't. But he felt outclasses. Leather wingback chairs and carved wooden table occupied the space. “Matt? How's Sandy?"

“They've stopped her labor. How's the case? I'm sorry we couldn't help you."

“No problem, bro. All's fine, but it is getting more complicated." He hesitated. His brother had a lot on his mind, between his wife and their building burning down. “Would you mind if I called and asked for advice?"

His brother would be there for him.

Matt chuckled. “Not at all. It'll take my mind off things. Would there be any way you could be at the building tomorrow for the insurance inspector?"

“Not a problem. What time?"

“Ten in the morning. Put it in your phone and turn on the reminder."

His brother knew him well. “Here's the number where I'm staying." He gave him the phone number on the telephone sitting on the desk. "Just in case my phone doesn't have a signal."

“This the client's place?" Matt asked.

“Yeah. She's got an extra bedroom or three," Q said.

“Okay. Just be careful. About everything, buddy."

***

The oven dinged. The lasagna was ready and Q wasn't back from his phone call. Madison turned off the timer, leaving the meal to stay warm. This gave her a moment to check in.

She sent a text to her handler, "Made contact with subject. Things r a little complicated, but plan is moving forward."

After she hit send, she found Q still in the den, his gaze transfixed on one of her father's toys.

“Q?"

He jumped putting a hand on his heart.

“I'm sorry to startle you. The food's ready," she said.

His attention went back to what he'd been looking at. “Is this a Japanese Puzzle Box?"

She patted it. “Uh, yes, it is. My father built it."

“He built it?"

His amazed face turned to her. You'd think a pot of gold sat on her father's old desk. “Yes. He dabbled in gadgets."

“Dabbled, huh. This isn't dabbling. This is hardcore."

“Was that hard to build?" she asked.

She knew nothing about what her father built.

“It would be without a workshop."

She shrugged. “He had one of those in the basement. I've never looked at it since he died."

Q's eyes widened. “A workshop? Would you mind if I see it? Where is it?"

Madison laughed. She remembered her father getting that excited about some new thing he was working on. He'd spent hours in his workshop after he retired. “Well, let's eat first."

He straightened as if he'd forgotten about eating. “Right. We should eat."

She served him warm, leftover lasagna and the salad she had in the refrigerator. He ate as if he'd never tasted anything so good. “You like?"

Wiping his mouth, he nodded. “As good as Mom makes."

“Is your mom a good cook?"

“The best. I end up eating with her and Dad at least once a week."

She'd never taken the time in college to get to know him. She felt sad for both of them. Would things have turned out differently if she had taken the time instead of seeing him as an escape from Charlie?

She rested her chin on her hand. “Wow. That's nice that you're so close."

“You weren't close with your parents?"

Shaking her head, she frowned. “Not really. I went to boarding schools when I was younger. Then when I was here, they were traveling. Or at least Mom was. Dad was working. After he retired he spent his time in his workshop."

“Oh, I still have to call the cab company you used that day. Maybe we can get the address of the cabbie."

Madison jumped when the house alarm went off. Q was on his feet ready for action. “It's the wall alarm. Someone's come over it," she said.

“Does the alarm call the police?" Q asked.

“Yes."

“Good. You get to the interior of the house or upstairs. And get anyone in the house with you. I'll go see what the trouble is."

“Will you be okay?"

“I'm just going to look," he said.