***

Fenton had made the trip down to Connecticut and spoke to Barney in prison. Isaiah had no idea about the wiles Fenton employed to get Barney to talk but the PI obtained the information that Barney was still in college when he became a pimp, introducing his female college friends in need of quick cash to customers more than willing to pay for their services. Somehow, he became fast friends with Elijah because they were both in the same plight- desperately needing cash because their fingers were burned in the stock market. Barney genuinely liked Elijah and did not want his friend to know about his covert occupation and thus, instead taking Elijah under his wings, he introduced Elijah to work in a beauty salon and spa meant for the rich, knowing that Elijah’s face would earn him a lot of tips. From what Barney knew, Elijah kept his distance from him a couple of weeks after he joined the salon as a shampoo boy and was out frequently in the night such that he hardly even slept in his dormitory.

And Barney proved to be a useful source of information for other things- he told Fenton that when his strange friendship with Elijah was still budding, alcohol loosened the heavy tongue once and Elijah rambled on about harboring a deep hatred for Detroit and some guy called Kevin Lagner who Elijah’s described as his only friend in high school turned nemesis. The term "strange" to describe their friendship was used by Barney himself. When Fenton had quizzed him further, Barney simply said that Elijah was far too cold to get close to but when he was willing to open up, Barney would bet his life that Elijah was speaking the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Isaiah was all prepared for all he had to hear- Elijah had told him before about the kind of part-time employment he was under. Isaiah tried to convince himself that all he wanted to know was if Elijah had offended anyone before in his past. Nonetheless, the small voice in his heart told him honestly that his true motives were that of seeking out the full picture of Elijah’s past.

Peia Studio and Spa was an upper-class beauty house in the classy, first class hotel Meridian located in the city of Hartford. It occupied the highest two levels of the forty-five stories high hotel and had a spectacular view of the city from its full-paneled windows. It was this salon that Barney introduced Elijah to the trade.

Running Peia Fox’s name on the Network’s massive database system proved fruitful. She was suspected of being involved in some illicit businesses dealing with drugs and prostitution but was cleared of all charges owing to the lack of evidence. A profile on her was actually done up and Isaiah learned from it that Peia Fox loved money more than life itself.

The hair styling section of the salon occupied the first floor with individual cubicles. A mix of nature and technology dictated the layout with hanging plants, miniature Japanese gardens and bamboo-wood partitions existing side by side with internet surfing stations- one for each booth and funny-looking machineries no doubt meant to help create those desired, latest hairstyle. When Isaiah entered, the fragrance of aromatherapy oils and money hit his nose. From the information he collected, he knew that plenty of rich people from across states loved to frequent Peia Studio and Spa for a session of pure indulgence.

All eyes were on him the moment he stepped in but for all the wrong reasons. With his trench coat hanging on his right arm and his well-defined torso hugged by a pale blue turtleneck top, he didn’t felt he looked too bad. However, even the shampoo boys and girls were more sharply dressed than him. Everyone in the room seemed to have their wardrobes custom-made in Milan.

Ignoring the condescending stares just because his clothes did not come tagged with Prada, Gucci or Versace, he strode right up to the counter protected by his usual confidence. The gorgeous blond behind the marble counter threw him a casual glance before chatting on the phone again, no doubt to a regular customer informing him or her about available time-slots for their latest roof-top Spa house- her tone was filled with sexual innuendos.

"I’ll like to see Madame Fox." He announced his intentions stridently to catch her attention. She covered the mouthpiece and rolled her eyes.

"You need an appointment. Do you have one?"

"No. But…"

"Then you can’t see her." She was about to go back to her conversation when he leaned forward and gazed into her eyes with a seductive arched brow.

"So, gorgeous, how do I make an appointment?"

That seemed to work for she whispered goodbye to her caller and paid more notice to him. "You’ll have to make one with her PA, Gavin."

Isaiah gave her a crooked smile. "Can I speak to Gavin then?"

She straightened herself up and inclined over the counter-top like a sultry cat about to purr a secret into his ears. "You can’t. Gavin’s on holiday. Goodbye!" She chuckled, giving him an evil look- no doubt pleased by her own disdainful nature.

Isaiah shrugged casually, unaffected by her play. "No problem. I guess Pei… I mean, your Madame, will miss the hot tips on those Foxworth’s shares then since I can’t get her on her mobile the whole day…" he let his last word lingered, making an effort to read her name from the glitzy name-tag. "Casey. Right. I’ll be sure to tell her about how kind you are…"

He turned but before he could even finish walking one step, Casey’s sweet voice rang out from behind.

"Madame’s very interested in those shares. Let me bring you to her."

He spun around and gave her a strained half-smile while she beamed at him. After moving out from behind her station, she linked arms with him and led him to the highest storey of the hotel where the salon’s impressive spa facilities were.

As well as Peia Fox’s extravagant office.

***

"Raily? Never heard of the name." Peia Fox’s eyes never left her LCD screen which was giving her precise updates of share prices, index indices etc. real time. "If you have tips on Foxworth, you better start your tongue rolling or get out."

"All right. If you’ll look at this for a while…" Isaiah drew out the picture of him and Elijah taken on in the early minutes of New Year’s Day. Somehow, Elijah felt that it was his onus to improve the picture by displaying finger-horns on Isaiah’s head at the exact moment Anne pressed the shutter. "Please. I’ll pay for your time by the second, whatever."

"I earn more in one minute than you’ll ever see in a lifetime, young man… but I lose as much as well. You’ll have to offer me something better than that." Peia tapped her well-manicured fingers upon the surface of the glass table in a gesture to hurry him up and stop wasting her time. Isaiah, a little perturbed by the dragon lady in an imposing Chinese cheongsam and wild, big hair, glanced around her office quickly and noted the antiques strategically placed in her office to subtly inform wealth and taste.

"Give me your time and I won’t tell anyone that half the pieces you have are fakes."

That caught Peia Fox’s attention. She finally turned ninety-degrees such that she was facing him from behind her desk. He expected her to be offended but instead, her lips crept up in amusement.

"How do you know? You do remind me of someone who told me the same thing years ago."

"The nails on that nice, Louis XIV Fauteuils? They’re all new, modern nails. And since the wood’s too shiny, could be a sign of thorough refurbishment which is something a true appreciator of antiques would never do, the most logical deduction is that Madame was either duped or I am wrong."

Peia Fox chuckled throatily before she waved around cursorily. "The most logical deduction is I keep the originals in my house. Do you think I’ll display something as precious as the real thing around here so the clumsy oafs I hired can break them? I like you. You’re cute and you know something about antiques though I suspect you simply pulled the information off the internet. But it’s a start. What do you want? A job? You can be a shampoo boy for starters. Yes. Those emerald gems will charm many to…"

Isaiah raised a hand to halt her. "No offense Madame but I’m not here for a job. Please, look at this photo and tell me you recognize the blond man. He used to work for you."

Peia Fox knitted her brows in puzzlement. "Let me take a look…" She took the photo from his hand and immediately, a slight smile crawled up one side of her lips. "Edward. He never gave me a last name but you’ll never forget a face like that. He could be a supermodel if only he had the right stars shining on him and no ugly scars on his body. Turned out to be my most popular shampoo boy."

Isaiah heaved a sigh of relief. "Was that all he was? A shampoo boy?"

"A face like that as a lowly shampoo boy? He was knee-deep in crap- debts from taking huge risks with shares. The tips would not clear them. Came up to my office once and coolly told me my antiques were all fake but he went into more intricate details than you did. Yes… you sounded like him. I was of course, impressed. Gave him my time and he did not waste it. I remember him well… very well indeed." Her eyes turned smoky and Isaiah cringed, not wanting to know what Elijah did to cause such a deep impression on her.

"What did he want?"

"He wanted more money and asked to join my social escort agency- I cater only to the rich and anonymous. I was worried that his scars would scare away my customers but I gave the boy a chance. They loved him and soon, he was my hottest star..."

"As an escort?" Isaiah knew the implications well but there could be a chance all Elijah did was wine and dine with his clients.

"To the best of my knowledge, all that he did was accompany my customers to any functions or dates they wanted to bring him to and make them happy. Anything else more than that, I don’t really care. But you’ll be a fool if you think it’s all innocent. Edward’s anything but innocent…" The same, enigmatic look was in her eyes again. Isaiah had to look at a picture hanging behind her on the wall for a while to avoid looking at any part of her face.

"So, to the best of your knowledge, did Elijah offend anyone during his course of work?"

"Look at me and I’ll tell you. I hate people who can’t look at me in the eyes." Peia commanded him stately. Isaiah obliged, feeling like a student trapped in the headmistress office.

"Edward’s pretty easy- male, female, undecided- he doesn’t care as long as they paid top dollar for his time. I don’t know about the private deals he struck but I do know there must be plenty for he not only cleared his debts; he even had enough to pay his tuition and re-speculate in the shares market. However, Edward, for all his coldness, committed a big no-no in his line. He fell in love for one of his clients, a wife of an influential man. They had an affair but she broke it off. Edward was found out and beaten up by the thugs her husband’s hired. After that, he was out of commission for a while. When he returned under my wings, it was only for a short while before he went private."

Isaiah sucked in a breath. When he asked his next question, his voice was a little shakier. "Who’s the woman?"

Peia laughed softly. "You’re sure curious. If you love your boyfriend, you shouldn’t mind his past."

Now, Isaiah was affronted and, at the same time, dumbfounded by her statement. "No… I’m his brother. That’s the truth."

She waved a dismissive hand at him. "Yah, yah. Uncle, auntie, brother, sister, cousin, friend… that’s what they all say."

"It’s true!" Isaiah hissed.

"It’s true…" She repeated his protest mockingly. "For the sake of ending this pathetic argument, let’s say I believe you, though I don’t. Edward said he’s an orphan… no family."

"Orphan means a child with no parents- not siblings." Isaiah corrected her. Peia scowled at him with hooded eyes.

"Do you want the rest of the story?"

"Yes."

"Then stop interrupting me!" She gestured wildly then sighed exaggeratedly with regret. "Young people like you have no manners and respect anymore."

Isaiah kept his thoughts to himself and put on a contrite mien. "I’m sorry. Please continue."

She smiled, satisfied by his show of obedience. "Good. Let’s see… I do enjoy this little talk. You’re very interesting. You sure you don’t want to work for me? The job market is not very good now."

"Thanks but no thanks. I am one of the lucky few with a career. Please, carry on." Isaiah hurried her along as politely as he could. She caught his drift and leaned over her desk- a juicy gossip dangled at the tip of her tongue.

"Read Forbes?"

"Sometimes…" Isaiah answered vaguely.

"Heard of the billionaire hermit, Gregory Hutchinson?"

"Of course! Wait… His wife’s Natalie Hutchinson-Lyndon right? Sole heiress of the Lyndon’s empire?" Isaiah rounded his eyes in shock. "Li… I mean, Edward, had an affair with her?"

"Don’t sound so incredulous. She’s a friend of mine- a regular customer but I fly my best stylist to tend to her. She doesn’t come down anymore… well, once in a while for tea with me but not as often. Yes. Her. Edward had an affair with her. Gregory flew into a rage and almost hired the mafia to kill him."

Isaiah slumped back in his chair. An heiress of a multi-million worldwide empire married to a self-made billionaire. Elijah had an affair with her- she must be more than twice his age!

"Can I please know how to contact her?"

"You’re in luck. I like you and she’s in town for tea with me. Care to join us? I’ll give you private time with her and you can grill her all you want." Peia raised a brow and cocked her head to one side. Isaiah straightened himself up immediately.

"Of course. Please."

"Minding your Ps and Qs gets you everywhere." She smiled amiably. "Just let me make some calls and leave me your number. I’ll ask one of my employees to message you the time and place to meet us. You can go now."

"One last question, Peia. Do you like what you do?"

"Of course. I make tons of money to buy my antiques." Peia gazed at him as if he was going crazy. "Why do you ask?"

Isaiah shrugged. "Nothing."

"I know what you’re getting at. Like I said, I only own a successful social escort agency and this place of indulgence. But I don’t control my employees. They either choose to stay on the shore or jump into the ocean. My work is legit. Now go before I hate you and you lose whatever you came here to get." Peia waved him off. Not wanting to jeopardize what he had obtained so far, Isaiah stood up and bowed slightly. Peia loved that gesture and stretched out her hand for him to kiss goodbye which he did.

Before he stepped out of the office, Peia called out after him. "Here are the tips which you’re supposed to give me. If you have Foxworth shares, sell them. They’re going bust, like Enron. My stupid uncle has no business sense at all."

***

Thus, with Vivian, he had consulted all three Fates. He had pieced much of the puzzle to curb his obsession at finding all he could about Elijah and yet, as he left for Manhattan, he felt like he had gained nothing at all. Knowledge did not bring him back his brother- Elijah was still out there and he had no means to find him.