Page 40 of Behind These Four Walls
Isla nodded, slipping the key in her back pocket and hoping no one would come looking for it anytime soon.
Lawrence led Isla down a gravel path while pointing out where the maze of curved pathways would lead her. “I have a map of the property that I’ve drawn up that I can make a copy of for you if you like. It’s nothing official. Just helped me when I got here and throughout the years as the estate has expanded out. What I mean is that you have the main property that’s been developed, and then we have what’s beyond the gates and back fencing of land that belongs to the Corrigans but has yet to be built upon. You likely won’t need anything out there. Can be dangerous.”
Isla nodded and walked, taking everything in, glad Lawrence felt comfortable enough to chat with her, let alone be her tour guide. Ahead of them loomed a large glass structure nestled among the thatch of live oaks, pines, and cedar trees. Its steepled glass roof stood higher than anything around, and Isla couldn’t help, for the second time since being at the estate, staring in awe. As they neared and she was able to see through the large panes of glass inside, she glimpsed how vibrant plants and flowers bloomed and loomed and gave off a heady mix of sweet and spiced fragrances. Breathtaking, just from out here.
“The current Mrs. Corrigan likes to take credit for it, but it was the first Mrs. Corrigan’s brainchild. But when she became ill and eventually passed, a former employee named Elise worked on it and made it what you see today. Before my time, though. I heard about it, since I often need to tend to it. Mrs. Corrigan likes to bring guests around to admire it.”
Isla mumbled, “Like another piece of her jewelry.”
Lawrence coughed, and she realized she’d spoken out loud. She had to watch out for that.
Isla redirected from her embarrassment. “Former employee? Elise?”
Lawrence glanced at her as they slowed to a stop at the solarium. “Mm-hmm. But like I said. Before my time.”
“And how long have you been working for the Corrigans?”
Lawrence studied her, taking time to answer. He was doing the same thing she was doing. Figuring her out. Her angle. “Little over ten years. Maybe eleven. Elise had already been gone for a long time prior to that, but her daughter Edie was here when I started.”
Isla ignored the tightness in her chest and forced herself to keep her tone light and casually curious. “Edie. I heard brief mention of her, but I don’t see anything about her anywhere. And it seems like the family doesn’t want to discuss her. Was she some kind of black sheep or something?” Isla held her breath, hoping she didn’t look too eager for just a little bit of information that might hold the key.
Again Lawrence scrutinized her. “Edie left to live with her mother about a year after I got here. That’s all I know.”
Isla made aGotchagesture. “You said gossip spreads like an epidemic. You should know all the details.”
Lawrence mimicked her, breaking into a grin. “Touché. But unfortunately I was too new to the grounds and determined to keep my job to pay much mind to gossip and rumors.”
Isla looked at the solarium, now with even more respect. Things she knew of the mother and daughter connecting little by little. Of course Elise would have something to do with this greenhouse. It explained the care she had taken tending the small garden she’d had in her modest backyard. And it explained Eden’s name. Isla wondered if anyone knew the meaning of Eden’s name. She wondered if Victor knew. She’d have to find out.
“Sounds like she was very talented,” Isla said.
“She was. I didn’t have to do much when I got in there, it was that well kept. She cared about this place the most.”
Isla believed it. She’d witnessed the type of care Elise was capable of herself.
Lawrence started walking farther down the pathway while Isla lingered for a moment, taking in the building’s beauty and its significance. She finally made herself move, walking fast to catch up to him and half listen while he pointed out some other landmarks and the quickest way to get to the main house from staff housing. Isla tried to remember it all, but she would be glad to get that copy of the map when Lawrence had the chance.
They parted ways where they’d started, having made a large loop. Lawrence hefted up his bag of mulch and adjusted it to a comfortable position while Isla watched him.
“Thanks again for taking me around and speaking with me.”
He smiled. It was genuine, warm, even protective. “Of course. Staff look out for each other here. There’s staff, the company employees, and them.”
“Them?” Isla frowned, trying to keep up.
“The Corrigans. Each faction always looks out for themselves first, especially the Corrigans. Remember that, and you should be okay.”
It was the best piece of advice that Isla could have received.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Victor Corrigan’s rich mahogany shelves were filled with neatly arranged books of every kind, many of them well worn. He sat introspectively in his high-backed leather chair as she set down her bag and equipment and made no pretenses about looking around his room. She remembered herself, pausing momentarily.
“Do you mind?” She glanced over at him, asking sincerely.
He steepled his hands under his chin and nodded that it was okay, his eyes kind before he returned his attention to the several wall-mounted TV screens around the room, each on a national news channel, Bloomberg displaying the fluctuating Nasdaq stock prices. He watched them like they were football games, commenting when it seemed a particular stock was going to go down or maybe up by the end of the day. He instructed Dixon to check in with Myles in Special Projects and Research, see if it was a good company to buy into, or entirely.
Meanwhile, Isla finished taking in his study. She was surprised to find classics mixed in with his mounds of books about business and large binders labeled with the names of the various branches under the Corrigan Group, the departments and subsidiaries beneath. Similar to the family tree Isla had hidden in the motel closet, but where branches of family members would be, businesses were instead. The entire mapof the Corrigan empire in its full glory. Isla couldn’t hide how impressed she was at what this family had amassed and all it was into.