Suspicions

Ben Wade and Miss Peeg

by Atonia and Layne

Wade parked his black Range Rover outside Richie Roberts' office. Shutting off the engine, he simply sat there for a few moments. The Peeg woman who worked for Roberts had acted just a little strangely the last time he'd been here. Almost as though she knew something about him, he thought.

Originally, he'd had no intention of asking her to help with the wedding plans, but he'd thought it would be a good reason to talk with her, maybe have a chance to find out what she knew, if anything. Ben was enjoying this new life with Liana. Not that he didn't miss the old one, but he'd begun to think that maybe he could make an opportunity now and then to keep his hand in at his old life and still enjoy the new. Right now, though, he needed to get on with plans for this wedding.

Getting out of the car, he entered Roberts' office, smiling as Miss Peeg rose from her desk to greet him. He took off his hat and put on his most charming smile. "Good mornin', ma'am," he drawled to her.

"Mr. Wade, good morning to you...I'm afraid Richie is in court this morning. Oh dear, I haven't missed scheduling an appointment have I?", knowing full well she hadn't. Now what was he doing here, Miss Peeg wondered.

Ben turned his full-wattage smile on her. "Now, I just can't imagine you missin' an appointment," he told her. "No, ma'am, I didn't have any appointment with Roberts. I was hopin' I'd be able to talk to you a minute this mornin'."

Miss Peeg smiled broadly. Does he indeed? "Please Mr. Wade, have a seat...would you like coffee?" Well, one couldn't help but respond to that smile.

"Coffee'd be much appreciated." Ben sat down in one of the chairs in front of her desk. Noticed the photo on her desk. "That must be your niece. Beautiful young woman. You must be mighty proud."

"I've just made this pot so it's fresh." Miss Peeg handed him a man-sized mug. "Oh, yes, Amanda. She's very special. We were but vagabonds when we arrived here in The Glen, you know. Yes... Now then, Mr. Wade, what may I help you with?" She leaned across her desk expectantly. The more he talked, the more that voice... Where was it?

Ben leaned forward and placed his hands on her desk, played with the handle of his mug. "Well, Miss Peeg, I don' know if you've met my wife, Liana, yet. She hasn't been in here, but maybe at the New Year's Eve party or the Australia Day celebration?"

Smiling at her, he continued, "It's like this. We been married a few months now, but we still ain't had a real weddin', and I'm plannin' to surprise her with one."

Miss Peeg blinked rapidly a few times. She had it; it had been when she was working for Mr. Scofield, hadn't it? Yes, he'd attended a meeting in Switzerland, and she'd gone with him as his secretary. She remembered now she'd been sitting behind him in the conference room. There had been several high-powered businessmen sitting around the table, and it was the speaker phones they'd placed on the table. His voice...That accent, but the gentleman from Germany had mispronounced his name. Viade, he'd called him, and the other phone... Why, that must have been Mr. Evans. She shook her head slightly. "A wedding... A surprise wedding... Oh, how delightful! I'm afraid I've not been introduced to Mrs. Wade, but I did see her at the Australia Day party. Lovely lady, Mr. Wade." She picked up her cup, inhaled deeply, and then sipped her coffee. Oh, but Mr. Scofield had not been pleased, had he?

Ben's eyes narrowed slightly. Reading people came as naturally to him as reading books, and the look he saw in her eyes told him that Miss Peeg had just spent the last few seconds miles away from here. Remembering what? He knew he'd never met her. Wade never forgot a face or a name. Forgetting people was dangerous in his line of work. Or, at least, in what had been his line of work.

"Did I come at a bad time, ma'am?" he asked smoothly. "You seem to be--distracted--by something."

Miss Peeg carefully placed her cup back on her desk. Looking up, she met his eyes and smiled. "Oh no Mr. Wade, not at all. Have you set a date for the wedding?" Well, there it was. Now, then, what to do? Should she let him know? And then, should she let him know he had nothing to fear from her. Ah, yes, he'd definitely sensed something.

"Yeah, I have," he told her, still watching her face, still suspicious. "March 20th. It'd be the first day of spring back in the States. Oh, I know it's different down here, but Liana and me, we're both from there, and it means somethin' to both of us."

"Preacher Harris has agreed to do the ceremony for us," Ben continued. "But, with it bein' a surprise for Liana, well- I figured I needed to get a coupla you ladies here in the Glen to help me out. I thought a' you right off, Miss Peeg. Said to myself, now there's a lady with taste, an' I can tell from the office that you know how to organize things."

"Oh, my, Mr. Wade, I don't believe I have ever organized a wedding, but I should be happy to assist in any way I can. March 20th..." She flipped her calendar and made a notation. "Yes...I'm afraid weddings have never come under my... You have such a distinct and lovely accent, Mr. Wade."

His quick mind grasped what she was talking about immediately. So, she recognized his voice from somewhere. But where? And why hold that knowledge back from him? Unless she felt it could be used against him in some way.

"Why, thank you, ma'am." He remained charming as always, despite all the thoughts going through his head. "My Southern heritage." He chuckled slightly, disarmingly. "It does seem to stand out a lot down here. Your's is charmin' as well. Where'd you say you were from?"

"Me? Oh, I'm from London, sir. However, I have lived and worked in most parts of the world...never in the States." Well, thought Miss Peeg, I will tell him he will either shoot me where I sit, or perhaps we shall become friends. "Mr. Wade, I must tell you I've heard your voice before. Before coming to Australia, I was temporarily employed by a firm called SS&B. I only took the job to help out an old friend from my days in Her Majesty's service..." She let that sink in for a moment.

"You will understand sir, I spent thirty-three years of my life in Her Majesty's service and I worked for some very distinguished individuals during that time. Names you would no doubt recognize should I divulge them. In that capacity... In that atmosphere of secrecy sir, I should not have lasted a moment if I did not understand my position with regard to sensitive material." She reached over and touched his hand that played with the coffee mug. "I do hope you understand Mr. Wade, what I am trying to say."

Wade decided to be direct. "Not really, Miss Peeg."

Miss Peeg sat back in her chair. "Well, sir, I believe this has been referred to as 'the land of the second chance.' I should hope that applies to all of us. Please forgive me for my ramblings, Mr. Wade. I believe that you came in here to ask for my assistance in planning your wedding." She smiled brightly.

Wade was not entirely happy with Miss Peeg's refusal to tell him more, but he let it go for the time being. Smiled back at her. "Yes, ma'am, I did."

"As this is gonna be surprise for Liana," he went on, "I'm gonna need some help getting her dress and some flowers ready. Dan Evans, my business manager- I believe you met him-" At Miss Peeg's nod, he continued. "He's gonna work on gettin' the caterin' done with Andy and everyone down at the tavern. It's gonna be at the church. Liana likes that place."

"Do you mean the wedding dress is to be a surprise?" Somehow, this seemed a bit strange to Miss Peeg although, she thought, never having been a bride, perhaps not. "I think I should want to enlist Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Braddock as they have recently had weddings, and the church will be perfect." What a contradiction this man was, she mused. Flowers and wedding dresses on the right and money laundering on the left. Oh, well, she'd tried. If he insisted on being obtuse... But he wasn't, was he?

Wade knew she was aware of at least some aspect of his former "business". He'd let it lie right there, as long as she was willing to do the same. Grinning, he answered her. "Guess it ain't somethin' that's usually done, but then I guess you could say Liana an' me ain't your usual couple either."

Continuing, he said, "I got no problems gettin' Liana's size down just right." He gave a little knowing grin. "An' I don' think she'll have any problem at all with me pickin' out her dress. After all, it wouldn't be a surprise if she had to go for fittin's now, would it? I think, though, it would prob'ly go over better with the dress shop if a woman did the orderin'."

"Mr. Wade," Miss Peeg tilted her head and smiled sweetly, "I should be proud to accompany you to the bridal shop. After all, it will be an experience for both of us. I shall play auntie and you, sir, can pick out the dress for your lady."

Giving her a broad smile, Ben drawled, "I knew I could count on you, Miss Peeg. First time I met you, I said, 'there's a true lady'. Would February 28 be all right with you?"

Miss Peeg eyed her calendar. "That being a Saturday, Mr. Wade, will be just fine. I shall look forward to it." Oh, yes, indeed... How absolutely delicious, thought Miss Peeg, as she rose and extended her hand.

Ben rose as well, his smile now self-satisfied. "We'll drive into Coffs Harbour on the 28th then. There's a shop there that says they can make anythin' I pick out. Can't tell you how much I 'preciate this, ma'am. An', after it's all over, I'm sure Liana'll wanna thank you too."

Miss Peeg raised her brows. "I sincerely hope so, Mr. Wade." She smiled a little smile.

"You can count on it," was the last thing Ben said, as he walked out the door. Getting into his car, he smiled to himself once more. This wedding was going to go smooth as silk.

Miss Peeg walked to the door and watched him drive away, her brow wrinkling for a moment. Of course, she didn't mind helping him with a wedding dress. But why in the world would he ask an old spinster, when there were recent brides in the community?