SO SWEET AS MAGIC, PART SIX

"Find out everything about a man called 'Sanpaku Akageno'." Stark told Zack. As his flunky hesitated, he barked, "Do you know him?"

"No." said Zack, "But I speak Japanese - a bit. 'Akageno' means 'red hair'."

"His hair is red," said Stark, "Red as fire. Does 'sanpaku' mean anything?"

"I'll find out." said Zack.

*****

The Corys had decided to have Jasmine christened right away. When Sofia arrived at the Cory Mansion , she found Matthew and Lila , as usual, cooing over their daughter.

"I didn't know it was possible to love anyone as much as I love Jasmine." said Matthew.

"Ah know how you feel," said Lila, "Ah cain't imagine how Ah evuh got along without mah little angel girl."

Neither of them had noticed Sofia. She cleared her throat.

"Hi Matt." she said, "We need to talk. Privately. If you don't mind, Lila."

Lila raised her eyebrows at Sofia's abruptness, but merely said, "Ah bettuh put Jasmine down fo' a nap befo' her big day." and headed upstairs with the baby.

"There's no need to be rude to Lila." said Matthew.

"Isn't there?" said Sofia, "Every time I see you, Lila and you have your faces about two inches apart."

"Lila and I have a daughter." Matthew pointed out, "A baby we both love very much. That makes a bond between us. But that's all it is."

"Are you sure?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" he said, "Do you think there's something going on between Lila and me?"

"It wouldn't be the first time!" said Sofia.

"I can't believe you just said that," said Matthew, "Lila doesn't mean a thing to me, except as Jasmine's mother."

"Prove it! Get her out of our lives, like you said you would!"

Lila had come back downstairs in time to hear this. She walked into the living room, picked up the telephone, and dialled.

"Hello? Ah'd laik two tickets - mothah and chile - on the next flight to Norlans ... Norlans! N -e-w O-r-l-e-a-"

Matthew took the phone away from her and hung it up. "What are you doing, Lila?"

"Whut yo' fiancee wawnts." said Lila, "Ah'm leavin' town."

"Let her go, Matt." said Sofia.

"No!" he said, "You can't take Jasmine to New Orleans!"

"It's mah home." Lila pointed out, "Ah have friends there."

"Can't you see how she's usin' Jasmine to manipulate you, Matt?" said Sofia.

"You can't take Jasmine away, Lila!" said Matthew, "I'll get an injunction if I have to!"

"Well, whut do you suggest?" said Lila, "We cain't go on livin' heah, not aftuh you marry yo' Sofia."

"You got that right!" said Sofia, "After we get married, me and Matt can raise Jasmine together!"

"Ah you plannin' to kill me fuhst?" said Lila, "'Cause y'all will raise mah baby ovuh mah dead body!"

"We can work something out!" said Matthew trying to soothe both women before they came to blows, "Can we please just postpone this discussion until after the christening?"

****

Claudia, the housekeeper, answered the door. "Can I help you, Sir?"

at home today."

"I'll tell Ms Cory you're here, Sir."

When Amanda entered the room, she found him contemplating a painting - the painting he had been willing to buy the entire Cory art collection to obtain. Superficially, there was nothing to justify his interest: it was a landscape, showing a high brick wall, with two tiny human figures at the corners, one male, one female. Each had a hand raised.

"Hello David." she said.

" Amalie, er, Amanda! This is - a fascinating work of art."

"You think so?"said Amanda, "I always thought Daddy just kept it around because it's a family heirloom."

"But it's so - enigmatic." said Stark, "The two figures - are they greeting each other - or waving goodbye?"

"Maybe they're swatting flies." said Amanda, with a shrug. "What can I do for you, David?"

"The question is, what can I do for you?" said Stark, "I'm serious about wanting to invest in Cory Publishing."

"My brother's baby is being christened today, but if you can wait until after the ceremony, we can get down to specifics." said Amanda. "In fact, why don't you be our guest?"

"For the christening?" said Stark, "It will be a new experience for me."

****

"I don't know what's gotten into Jake lately." said Vicky, "He accuses me of playing games. I'm not playing games!"

"Well, Darling," said Donna, "Teasing a man can add spice to a relationship, but you have to know where to draw the line. For instance, at Rachel's party, you were practically sitting in Jake's lap while he was standing up, on the dance floor, then five minutes later it was 'I have a headache'. I don't blame Jake for feeling frustrated."

"What do you mean, 'on the dance floor'?" said Vicky, "We didn't dance."

"No, I wouldn't call what you were doing 'dancing'." Donna agreed.

****

"I baptise you, Jasmine Rachel Cory." said the minister, "Receive God's grace and goodness!"

"Amen!" said everybody (except Stark).

"Now, about that investment -" said Amanda, taking him aside.

"Thank you fo' agreein' to be Jasmine's godfather, Cass." said Lila, "Isn't she jist the prettiest thang you evuh saw, in the Cory christenin' gown?"

"Well, she comes a close second." said Cass."You're the prettiest 'thang' I ever saw."

"Flatteruh!" said Lila, "Ah jist wish Jasmine could have everythang!"

"She does." said Cass.

"No. She doesn't have parents who love each othuh, and live togethuh, in a real home."

"She can have all of that." said Cass.

"How? Matt is gonna marry Sofia."

"Forget Matt!" said Cass, "Marry me, and the two of us will raise Jasmine! You and me and Jasmine and Charlie - we can be a family!"

"Take your time thinking it over." said Cass, "The offer is open."

****

"Next time you see Amanda, mention that David Halliday is an art expert." he said.

"Just like that?"

"I'm sure you'll find a way." Just then, Zack entered Stark's office. "Zack! What have you found out about the mysterious Mr Akageno?"

"Akageno?" said Marly, "I can tell you something about him."

"What is it?"

Stark gritted his teeth, counted to ten , and said, "What do you want?"

"Giving me my face back for an hour isn't enough." said Marly, "I need enough time to get Jake alone. The way it is, I'm like Cinderella - I'm just getting down to cases with Jake when the clock strikes midnight and my coach turns back into a pumpkin!"

"I'm sure we can work something out." said Stark, "Now tell me what you know about Akageno!"

"Oh, that! He was kissing Rachel at the party, so I guess they're having an affair." she replied.

"That is - interesting." said Stark.

"When will you help me?'

"Tomorrow." said Stark, and hung up. "What have you found out?"

"Not much." Zack admitted, "There's no record of a 'Sanpaku Akageno' anywhere. Oh, by the way, 'sanpaku' means ' eyes of death'. It's what the Japanese call yellow-green eyes."

"Eyes like his." said Stark.