Matthew moved around the living room straightening the portraits and artwork that adorned the walls. He moved next to the decorative shelves, which held numerous business awards and plaques of achievement. His employer, Lucinda Walsh, was an astute and successful leader of the business community. She was consistently stubborn and headstrong, unwilling to accept the word 'no' for an answer. Such attributes no doubt made her the success she was.

Mrs. Walsh was also very manipulative. Matthew had been a silent observer of many of her schemes. With her business rivals she was ruthless. But with family and friends she was a giving, loving individual. Matthew shook his head ruefully. Unfortunately, Lucinda had her own method of demonstrating that love. And it wasn't always appreciated.

His attention was drawn to the small coffee table near the couch. Atop the table was an elegant black and white chessboard. Matthew bent and examined it closely. It was cool to the touch and appeared to be made of the Italian marble Mrs. Walsh was so fond of. The black and white chess pieces - what there were of them - were of the same material. Finely crafted, they were so exquisite that Matthew imagined he could make out the expression on the face of each small piece.

"They are very beautiful, aren't they, Matthew?"

He straightened up. "Yes, they are, Miss. But I did not think that you cared for the game."

"I don't, really," she replied, entering the room and settling down on the plush sofa. "There are far too many rules, darling. And I don't have the patience for a whole game."

"You've nearly finished this one?" Matthew looked to his employer for confirmation.

"Oh, my darling, no. This match is just beginning." Lucinda stared intently at the board. Alone in the board's center, face-to-face, stood the black queen and the white king. "Some things are best when all the trimmings are stripped away."

After riding in comfortable silence for several minutes, the chauffeur smoothly brought the limousine to a halt. He had been prepared, as instructed, to deflect any questions the beautiful woman in the back seat might ask. None had come.

"We are here," the chauffeur said, and slid out from behind the steering wheel. At the same time another man in black opened the rear door and assisted the attorney from the car.

"Docks?" Jessica asked the second man.

"You must travel by launch in order to reach Wyndemere." He pointed to a large dwelling in the distance. "There - on Spoon Island."

Jessica nodded, and a wry smile flashed across her face. The driver, who had been watching her closely, was curious about the smile. It had disappeared as quickly as it appeared. "Yes, Miss?" he inquired.

"Oh, nothing," Jessica replied.

He waited for elaboration, but was met with silence. Shrugging his shoulders, he directed the attorney toward the launch. "This way, Miss Griffin."

Jessica stepped onto the launch and took a seat on the small bench facing Spoon Island. She crossed her legs and turned her face into the slight breeze created by the progress of the launch.

The chauffeur enjoyed the sight from the corner of his eye. "We will arrive at Wyndemere within minutes," he said.

"Very good," she smiled, and continued to enjoy the scene before her. "Will Mr. Cassadine be meeting us when we arrive?"

BACK | NEXT