Kelly raised an eyebrow.
"Why can't you talk to me now?"
"I'll explain everything when I see you. Can you be at my office at eight o'clock?"
Kelly thought of the eight hours of sleep she so desperately needed. Now she'd have to settle for just a couple. "Yes, of course."
"I'll see you then."
At exactly eight o'clock that same morning, Kelly was ushered into Cecily's office, high above the
Ben Franklin Parkway
. Looking elegant and businesslike, Cecily pointed at a chair across from her desk.
"Forgive me for asking you to come here so early, Kelly. I know you were up all night with
Victoria
, but this is important."
The phone rang, interrupting their conversation. With an impatient sigh, Cecily picked it up. "Debra, I thought I told you I didn't want to be-Oh. All right. Put him through." She covered the mouthpiece with her hand. "I have to take this. It's the mayor. I'll only be a moment."
"Do you want me to leave?" Kelly asked, half rising from her chair.
Cecily shook her head no, and removed her hand. "Mr. Mayor. What a pleasant surprise."
Tuning out the conversation, Kelly looked around her at the spacious, tastefully appointed office, so much a reflection of its occupant. A rosewood desk stood in the center of the room, and in front of a large window, overlooking the Parkway, deep chairs and antique tables formed an attractive, informal grouping. Expensive reproductions of old masters paintings dotted the walls, mingling beautifully with the polished wood and the deeply carved molding.
Kelly's gaze drifted back to Cecily, who was still on the phone, laughing at something the mayor had said and rolling her eyes at the same time.
What a diplomat, Kelly thought with a fond smile. And what an extraordinary woman. She had come from nothing, fought for everything and got where she was through sheer guts and hard work. Ambitious and driven, she had been the first in her family to finish college, earning a B.A. in business management from
Penn
State
and an M. B.A. in finance from Whar ton. Two weeks after graduating from the famous business school, Cecily had landed a job at a prestigious investment banking firm where the owner, a philanthropist by the name of H.B. Norton, had taken her under his wing and taught her everything he knew.
In 1985, thanks to her mentor, Cecily became the first woman to be offered a seat on the board of the Norton Charitable Trust, the foundation H. B.'s father had established four decades earlier. It wasn't long until Cecily's intelligence, fairness and impeccable work ethic singled her out from the rest of the board. But when H.B. retired as CEO and president of the Norton Trust twelve years later and named Cecily as his successor, the decision had taken everyone, including Cecily, by surprise. Cecily herself had told Kelly about the outcry of protest from several board members, many of whom were related to H.B.
One member, a nephew, had even claimed that a woman CEO would undermine the foundation. At that remark, H.B. had laughed and told him to grow up.
At last Cecily's conversation was over. "I'm sorry about that," she said as she hung up. "We won't be bothered again." She propped her elbows on the gleaming desk surface and steepled her fingers into a pyramid. "You must wonder why I asked you to come here at such an ungodly hour."
"Quite frankly," Kelly replied, "I'm more concerned about the secrecy of this meeting than the early hour. I don't like to keep things from
Victoria
."
Cecily's gaze, though direct, seemed a little tentative. "I'm sorry if I've put you in a delicate situation, Kelly. It's just that I didn't want to upset
Victoria
any more than she already is."
"What could upset her more than to have her husband missing?"
" Touche ." Her eyes met Kelly's head-on. "Let me come straight to the point, then. I think the search for Jonathan should be left to the
Miami
police." So that was it. Cecily wanted her to back off. Though surprised at the conviction in Cecily's