Blood Is Thicker...
By
Christine
Part Three
Chapter 24
After landing in Pretoria, they rented a vehicle and drove to Broederstroom where they took out a hotel suite. It had been over ten years since Pik had been in his homeland, and although there had been a great deal of growth, he knew his way around well. He tracked his brother home from the plant offices, and decided he would confront him the next day when he came home for the day from work.
Pik kept himself inconspicuous, but Maddie delighted in shopping and visiting the public library to learn about this town and South Africa in general. She poured over advertisements for doctors and medical clinics, wondering which one they should choose. Pik assured her that his mother would be able to give them some direction, once they were able to get in touch with her and his father. The thought of meeting his parents agitated her, imagining another long-lost child returning to the fold. It was too similar to her own recent situation. He told her his situation would be much different. He hadn't always had the best relationship with his father, but admitted he had also quite frequently caused him great distress with the mischief he had caused growing up. He had missed them, and his brother as well.
"I'm coming with you," she insisted.
"No, you're not," he said.
"This pertains to me too, you know. Your life affects my life. I want to be there. Besides, my presence might convince him he should come clean."
Pik clenched his teeth at her strong tenacity. But it had been that particular trait that had brought them together in the first place.
"Okay, but let me do the talking."
"Yes!" she chirped.
Early the next morning, Pik and Madeleine watched Owen leave his home. But instead of heading to the plant, he headed into town and entered a building housing law offices. Puzzled, they looked at each other, and decided to wait to see how long he would be inside. The time stretched into three hours. Madeleine grew uncomfortable and Pik restless, and they drove the nearby streets and actually parked and walked around for a while to break the monotony, giving them a chance to quickly eat in a nearby café. At last, Owen exited the building, walking hastily to his car while wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. Back on the move, they followed him as he drove back out of town to his home. It appeared he wouldn't be going to the offices that day.
"What do you think's going on?" she asked Pik as they stared at the house from across the street.
"I have no idea. I hope he didn't just lose the plant…Well, let's do what we came here for," he said as he exited the car and opened Madeleine's door for her.
Pik boldly walked to the front door, pulled out a pocket-knife type tool and used a slender rod from it to expediently pick the lock, and he just as boldly walked in, with Madeleine at his heels.
Owen looked up suddenly at the pair and froze when he recognized the face of his brother, a face very much like his own, only younger, and harder. He'd been holding a glass half full of Scotch, and all at once finished it.
"Pik.." he stammered.
"Hello, Owen," Pik smiled evilly at him. He wanted him to squirm under his glare for a while.
The emotions on Owen's face changed rapidly. Surprise, relief, guilt, confusion…He looked back and forth between Pik and Madeleine several times, then stood and approached them.
"Pik," he began, struggling for words, "I…I'm so glad you're here! You won't believe what's just happened!"
Pik turned his glare to his wife, perturbed that Owen appeared relieved and almost happy to see him. She shrugged and turned to Owen, "Well, let's hear it."
"Wh-who are you," he turned to Pik, "Who's this?"
"This is my wife, Madeleine. Madeleine, my brother Owen," sarcasm belied the polite introduction. "Owen," he continued, "I came here to settle an important matter of which I am sure you are familiar."
Owen was staring wide-eyed at Madeleine, but he directed his voice to his brother, "That's what I have to talk to you about."
Pik was getting impatient. His brother was excited about something, but Pik's and Madeleine's presence were distracting him. He grabbed him by the lapel of his suit and pulled his face inches from his own. Owen in turn grabbed onto Pik's coat and pleaded, "Pik, listen to me. It's all over, the charges have been dropped!"
Pik released his grasp with a shove, and Madeleine cleared her throat, "Gentlemen," she cast a warning glance at Pik, "I will fix you some drinks so that you can sit and discuss this." Owen wasted no time handing her his glass and resuming his previous seat. The men accepted the drinks she made from the corner bar and swallowed heartily from their glasses. "Start from the beginning, Owen," she urged.
He did…he told them he had been instructed to meet that morning at the law offices concerning the matter of his brother. There were representatives there from the judicial office, as well as their insurance company. A solicitor informed them all that on behalf of his anonymous client, he would repay the claim, plus interest, to the insurance company for what they paid out those many years ago after the "theft," under the condition that the charges against Pik would be dropped. The insurance company balked, but the solicitor showed them several documents explaining that his client could own their company by the end of business that day, and they could soon be unemployed. The men had looked over the papers, mumbled a bit, then agreed to the deal. The company accepted the payment, and the charges officially dropped. Owen took several papers from his briefcase and handed them to Pik for his perusal.
Pik was stunned. "Who was the 'client?'"
"You've got to believe me when I tell you I practically begged the solicitor to tell me. Nobody knows, nobody. Whoever it was, they don't want to be found out. But does that matter? It's over!"
"Not completely, Owen, and you know it."
"But when we show these papers to Pa, he'll put it all to rest."
"Owen, it may be over legally, but there never should have been a legal issue against me in the first place. Let's bring this matter to a proper close."
Owen squirmed, "Damn it! Okay. Let's go. Pa's retired now, he and Ma are at home. He's going to kill me."
"I'll protect you," Pik smirked. But his eyes turned serious as they loaded into Owen's car. He wondered who had arranged this deal. It could have been his father, trying to put the matter to rest. But although the plant was well established and had kept the family well enough off for decades, he knew his father wouldn't be able to come up with that kind of capital. He supposed he would simply have to ask him.
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