“Thank you, Mr. Phillips.” My hand lingered for a little longer than normal in his warm embrace. Finally, I removed it, afraid of watchful eyes. A similar greeting two days before had been our perfect secret rendezvous for slipping him Parker’s information. I had scanned the papers, but not to paper form; instead, I placed them on a flash drive. A quick reach into my pocket and a lingering handshake, and magic: the papers were in Brody’s possession. “Thank you for all of your support. We’ve had a wonderful turnout from Craven and Knowles this evening.”
His eyes widened in question. “Well, yes, Mrs. Harrington, your husband meant a lot to each and every one of us at the firm.”
I nodded slightly, answering his unasked question. Parker and Maura Craven had both made their way to me. However, with Maura present, Parker had refrained from mentioning the impending legal documents.
Brody tipped his head. “If we can be of any assistance, please feel free to call.”
“Thank you, I will.”
My insides twisted at the promise of his grin and the shimmer of his smirk.
When the final guest left, I settled into an overstuffed loveseat and retrieved my phone. Before I could look, both Travis and Val were at my side: Val sitting down next to me, leaning in close and offering me her support, while Travis loomed above.
“Mrs. Harrington, would you like me to bring the car around?”
I peered down at the screen.
“I CAN’T STAND SEEING YOU AND NOT TOUCHING YOU. CALL ME.”
Turning off the message, I looked up at Travis’ narrowing glare. Did he see that? Fuck it! I looked over at Val. Her eyes were closed with her head on my shoulder.
“No, Travis. I’m going to stay at Val’s tonight. I’ve had enough of all of this for one day. Why don’t you run along, and you can pick me up in the morning.”
I saw Val’s lips quirk.
“Mrs. Harrington, the funeral—”
I lowered my voice. “I’m well aware that my husband’s funeral is tomorrow, thank you. Tonight I want to spend some time with my sister. Need I remind you..?” I didn’t finish the sentence.
“Thank you, Mrs. Harrington. I’ll be awaiting your call tomorrow morning.”
Val and I giggled at Travis’ clenched jaws.
“You know,” Val began. “If he keeps that up, he could have real TMJ problems. The man needs to learn to loosen up.”
“You have no idea.”
“I’m kind of surprised that he’s still here. I always got the feeling you didn’t like him much.”
I shrugged. “I guess I want to get through all this stuff…” I gestured toward the chairs and the empty funeral home. “…first.”
“So, you’re coming home with me? I like that.”
“Then let’s go.”
I waited until we were in her car before I sprung my news. “Thanks for letting me spend the night. Can I borrow your car?”
Val did a double take. “My car? Where do you want to go? I can take you.”
I tilted my head to the side, opened my eyes wide, and elongated my plea. “Ple-eea-se.”
“Oh, shit! This is horizontal-sleeping-friend, isn’t it? Sis, give Stewart a day or two to get cold.”
“He didn’t need a day or two. He was cold as ice long before he died.”
WHILE VAL DROVE us to her apartment, I couldn’t help my eyes drifting toward the side and rearview mirrors. In the pit of my stomach, I knew that Travis would be watching. It didn’t take long for my suspicions to be confirmed. Nearing the medical center, I spotted his black SUV. Fuck! Isn’t it my SUV? I should have fired him two days ago. Why didn’t I? What did he know? I remembered a long time ago wanting Stewart to fire him, asking Stewart to fire him, and he told me no. He said Travis knew too much. What the fuck was too much?
I pushed my thoughts away and concentrated on Val’s words. As usual, she was in the middle of some soliloquy. “…come in, unless you’re too preoccupied with your friend to spend some more time with your sister.”
I sighed. “I’d love to come in, but only if you have a glass of wine. Spending all night listening to everyone tell me what a wonderful man Stewart was has me ready to jump out of my skin.”
Val’s tone lowered. “You really can’t blame him.”
My head spun toward her. “Excuse me?”
“I’m not sticking up for Stewart, or against you. Please don’t take it that way. I have no idea about the particulars of your life. That’s been your decision not to share.”
And the do-not-disclose clause.
She continued, “But I have been trying to tell you: those drugs he was on—they make people different. I know it was driving you crazy that he wanted you around all the time and wanted to know where you were, but, Vik, the man was dying. He knew he was dying. That’s not something that’s easy to swallow, especially for a man as young as Stewart.”
I stifled a laugh. “I seem to remember your calling him old when I told you we were getting married.”
“Well, hell, I was seventeen years old. You were eighteen. He was old! But for a victim of the rapidly progressing leukemia that he had, he was young. That doesn’t usually happen to people until they’re in their seventies or eighties.”
I took a deep breath, eyeing Travis again in the side mirror. “I know that. I know you think I need counseling. Maybe I do; maybe I will. Right now I just need to get through the next few weeks of shit. My plate is full.”