Page 30

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Perry

“Damn, that looks painful,” Gayle said as she stared at Nate’s radiographs. He’d broken his kneecap. It was one of those injuries that made your own body ache when you saw it.

“Don’t worry, it feels as bad as it looks,” Nate answered sarcastically, earning him a swat on the shoulder.

“Ha, ha. You’re a funny guy today.” Gayle stood, arms crossed over her chest, staring down her nose at Nate as he sat in the hospital bed.

It was strange being the person on the other side of the hospital bed. Nate came through surgery fine, not that there’d been nearly the concern with his anesthesia as mine. However, surgery was surgery, and only a fool assumed everyone came through fine. Despite the advances of modern medicine, the human body seemed determined to throw up its middle finger now and again just to remind us that we didn’t know everything, and that we couldn’t control life and death as well as we liked to pretend.

Regardless, Nate was in recovery and on the very early path to healing. It was going to be a long haul. Thankfully, he’d fractured his left kneecap, not the right, which meant Nate could drive sooner rather than later. The overall expected recovery time was around six weeks. Nate hoped to be back to work sooner than that, but on desk duty. Nate wasn’t happy about that, but, unlike me, at least he still had a job.

“I’m always a funny guy,” Nate bantered back with Gayle. I was happy seeing her smile. I was still trying to figure out how Gayle felt about the whole Delia’s a murderer and has disappeared into the ether bombshell. She’d made little comment and given me even less visual expression. Normally, I could read Gayle, but she was playing her feelings close to the vest. I’d push her eventually, but I didn’t think now was the right time. Gayle needed time to process. Hell, I was still trying to figure it all out.

“Funny looking, maybe.” Gayle’s grin was wicked, and Nate chuckled. My man was currently doped up on the good meds. I was glad he was chipper and seemed comfortable. I was also well aware that he’d be feeling like shit again in two to three days.

“Definitely funny looking,” Nat agreed as she walked into Nate’s hospital room. She had a bag of something that smelled delicious, and when I leaned closer, sniffing, Nat laughed and said, “Russ sends his best. He also claims there’s no way you’re getting better if left to the devices of hospital food.” Holding up the bag, Nat said, “He made a special batch of chili just for you.”

Nate made grabby fingers, pulling his IV. “Gimme.”

“Not a chance, Harmon. This is for later. And stop reaching, or you’re going to pull out your IV.” Nat’s tone changed to what I considered her mom voice . It was possibly more effective on the adults in the room.

Squeezing Nate’s hand, I leaned in and kissed him on the temple. “I’m going to give you and Nat some private time to catch up.” I figured there were cases they needed to discuss. Maybe even information about Maverick Insurance. While I was curious, I was also weary. My chest felt too tight, and my heart ached when I thought of Delia, Gabe, and Malcom. Was it wrong to miss them? I wasn’t sure, but wrong or right, it’s how I felt. What I also felt was rudderless.

Gayle joined me as I walked out of the room and down the hall. I wasn’t sure where I was headed but soon found myself on the elevator heading down to the lobby. Gayle’s shoulder rested against mine in the elevator, our descent quiet beyond the light chatter of the other passengers. When we got to the lobby, we kept walking until we found ourselves in a visitor’s garden.

The weather was beautiful. The humidity was low, and the temperatures were in the low eighties. It felt good getting outside after being in the cold, air-conditioned spaces in the hospital.

We found an empty bench and sat. Gayle was still close, her arm resting against mine before she found my hand and entwined our fingers. “He’s going to be okay,” Gayle said. “You’re both going to be okay.”

I released a shaky breath. “I know.” Or, at least I knew Nate was going to be fine. Nate was strong. He’d have to go through a shit-ton of physical therapy, but he’d get there. As for me…

“How are the cats adjusting?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t been with them enough to know.” My apartment was on the second floor. Nate needed someone to help him out, and he couldn’t climb stairs. Given that I no longer had a job and didn’t need to ride the bus to work, it was a simple decision to move in with Nate. We’d had to set up a bed in the living room, but it would work for now. Of course, I was a package deal. Starbuck and Apollo went where I did.

“Maybe they’ll lose some weight now. Nate’s place is a lot bigger than yours,” Gayle teased.

“Maybe.” I gave a half-assed chuckled.

Locusts sounded in the background, but Gayle and I remained silent. Low murmurs of other families, concerned about their loved ones, could be heard humming in the background.

I put on my sunglasses and lifted my face to the sun, taking in its warmth.

“You’re going to be fine, Perry. I promise.” Gayle leaned her head on my shoulder. Her strawberry blond curls tumbled across my T-shirt. I didn’t mind. Gayle’s hair was soft and smelled warmly familiar.

Leaning back against her, I said, “I don’t know what to do. I mean, I’m not sure what to do with myself now. I know it was just a custodial job, but—”

“But you liked it,” Gayle cut me off. “And stop saying things like, it was just . Work is work, Perry, and you did your job well. Every job is important. Don’t sell yourself short.”

I sighed. “I know.” And I did know. I wasn’t ashamed of being a janitor. Places needed to be cleaned so other work could get done. It was a necessary position and one I enjoyed. I felt like I was helping, like I was contributing to a better work environment for everyone else. It gave me purpose. Now I just felt…lost. While my knee was better, my brain wasn’t. I still couldn’t stare at a computer screen for long. Bright lights would always be a problem, and reading for lengthy periods gave me a headache.

“I’ll start looking for another job soon,” I said finally. “There have got to be other custodial jobs or something like that out there.” I doubted any would pay me anywhere close to the ridiculously generous salary Maverick Insurance had. The pro would be that I wouldn’t be working for a bunch of assassins. At least, I hoped not.

“I think the job hunting will need to wait until Nate’s mobile again.” That would be a few weeks.

“Yeah, I think nursemaid will be a full-time position for at least a couple of weeks. Knowing Nate, he’ll push things and be up and about before recommended.”

I didn’t disagree. “You’re right. I’ll probably have to forcibly keep him down.”

Gayle winked and knocked her body into mine. “Oh, that sounds like a hardship.” She waggled her eyebrows, forcing a laugh from me.

“God, you’re a nut. Tell me again why I hang out with you.”

“Pssht, you’re lucky I let you hang on my coattails.”

My smile hurt my cheeks. Gayle was right. I was very lucky.

“Come on. While Nate’s got company, I’ll take you back to your apartment so you can grab more of your stuff.” Gayle stood, stretching her long, lean arms above her head and exposing a patch of flat belly.

“Can you text Nate for me?” I asked while standing also.

“Already on it.”

I was thankful I didn’t have to stare at my phone screen, especially while out in the sunlight.

“Come on, we’ll make it quick, and you can be back by dinnertime.”

My stomach liked that idea. I’d seen the container of chili Nat had brought. It was definitely large enough for two meals.

W alking up the stairs to my apartment was strange. I’d spent so many months looking over my shoulder, waiting for Willie to leap out of the shadows. Only it hadn’t only been Willie we’d needed to worry about. Thinking about what Dr. Schroder had done was still a mindfuck I couldn’t completely wrap my brain around. Nate said that was a good thing. Understanding Dr. Schroder’s mind would mean I had similar inclinations, something he was eternally grateful wasn’t true.

Gayle casually walked behind me, waiting for me to dig out my key and open the door. I’d already taken a lot of my personal effects to Nate’s, but I’d mostly concentrated on getting the kitties settled, not me.

I took a step into the apartment, reaching for the light switch. My foot landed on something that made a crinkling sound. Yanking my foot back, I nearly slammed into Gayle.

“Perry, what’s—”

“Something’s on the floor.”

“Did you drop something on your way out the last time?”

Gayle’s question was reasonable. It was also wrong. Skirting around what I thought was on the floor, I found the light switch, and soon the apartment was aglow. There, on the floor, was a large manilla envelope, my name scrawled simply across the front.

With a groan that matched my own, Gayle said, “Not again. Please tell me this isn’t happening again.”

We both stared at the envelope. The apartment felt tomblike and sterile without the kitties around. There was no mewing. No rustling of sound as they scurried to the door to see who’d arrived. No wails demanding food. Only the buzz of the overhead light and the air-conditioning kicking off filled the air. The refrigerator kicking on added to that symphony a second later.

“Are you going to pick it up?” Gayle asked as she nudged it with the tip of her sandaled shoe.

I considered it. If Nate weren’t in the hospital, I might leave it until he came over. Nate would use gloves and proper police procedures. Then again, we’d checked all the other deliveries and found nothing but my fingerprints strewn across them. Gayle’s, too, on a couple of items when she’d been present when they were found.

Nate might berate me later, but I leaned over and picked up the large envelope. This one was thicker than previous arrivals.

Walking to the kitchen counter, I opened the end and dumped the contents on the cool surface. Just like in the past, polaroid photos scattered. There was a letter and a thick stack of connected papers that spilled forth.

Gayle’s breath caught as she stared at one of the pictures that landed face up. “Oh my God, is that…Delia?” Her fingers shook as she reached for the photo.

Twisting so I could get a better look, I stared at the picture and felt all my earlier anxiety drain away. It was, indeed, Delia Carpenter. And not just Delia, but Gabe also. They were smiling and waving. Three adult black cats added a little four-legged fun to the shot.

There were three more photos, each a variation of the one in Gayle’s shaking fingers. On the back of one, Delia’s neat scrawl said, “I took your advice, Perry. Gwenie, Lance, and Arthur love their new home.”

My eyes prickled with unshed tears. Delia looked so happy. There was no address, no way to track where the photos were taken. The background was nondescript and looked like it could be anywhere and nowhere all at once.

Gayle laid the photo back on the counter while sifting through the others. She stayed silent while I unfolded the tri-folded piece of paper that had fallen out first. The words were brief and simple. Their meaning was anything but.

P erry,

Inside, you will find a bank account number. Consider the funds inside a gift from your father. The Company owed him far more than is present, but I knew you would not take more. Tell your detective that I have successfully cleaned shop and taken care of any concerns.

Wishing you the best future possible,

M.J.

I stared but couldn’t believe what I’d read. Money? Malcom had set up a bank account with money for me? From my father? Or, no, that wasn’t quite right…

“Perry?” Gayle’s soft voice sounded far away. “Are you okay? What does the letter say?”

Instead of verbally answering, I handed Gayle the letter and let her read it. When she was done, Gayle appeared as baffled as I felt. “A bank account?”

“It looks that way, although I don’t know much about how that kind of thing works.”

“Neither do I. I wonder how much is in there?”

“Does it matter?” I asked, voice rising with each word. “I obviously can’t accept it.”

Gayle’s lips twisted before landing on a frown. “Why not?”

“Why…not?” I asked, incredulous. “Because it’s blood money. Literally.”

Gayle shrugged. “If you want to think of it that way, then every paycheck you’ve gotten from Maverick Insurance has been blood money.” She looked at my knee pointedly and said “Your knee replacement was paid for that way too. Do you plan on giving it all back?”

Words got stuck in my throat, fighting for freedom but dying before I fully realized them. Small sounds of distress were all I managed.

Setting the suspicious paper on the counter, along with the pictures, Gayle crossed her arms and settled back on her heels. I knew that look on her face. It was the stubborn one that meant she had no intention of backing down, that said she had a point to make, and I better settle in and listen or there would be consequences.

“Hear me out, Perry.”

I threw up my hands and asked, “Do I have a choice?”

“No.” Gayle’s smile was wicked and stubborn. “If Willie Slater hadn’t beaten the shit out of you, blown a hole in your knee, and essentially torn your life apart, where would you be now?”

I spluttered. “That’s an unfair question.” It was a mean question too.

“Not at all. It’s practical.” Uncrossing her arms, Gayle pointed a finger at my chest. “You’d be an astrophysicist.”

I opened my mouth and slammed it shut. Looking to the side, I hung my head and said “We don’t know that. Anything else might have happened.”

“Bullshit. You loved school. You were a year away from graduating with your undergraduate degree and already researching master’s and PhD programs. Call me crazy, but once that was all said and done, I hardly think finding a job would be difficult.”

I thought of disagreeing but couldn’t come up with a lot. Weakly, I answered, “It depends on what kind of job I wanted to pursue.” Not all positions were created equal and some paid better than others. “I also wouldn’t have met Nate.”

Gayle gave a reluctant nod. “I’ll give you that one, although I think all of us can agree that meeting Nate in another way would have been preferable.”

Yeah, no one was arguing that point.

“So, basically, if you really think about it, Maverick Insurance fucked up your life.” I started to protest, but Gayle waved me off. “You know I’m damn proud of you for getting through that physical and mental shit. You are the strongest person I know, Perry Atherton. I hate what happened to you, but if I’ve learned anything in the time since, it’s that simple fact.”

“I hardly think—”

“And you’re very humble.” Gayle’s tone softened and eased her tense posture. “Listen, I know this isn’t how you wanted to become financially stable, but don’t dismiss it out of hand either. Think of it as restitution for damages done.”

“ Restitution? ” I was understandably doubtful.

Gayle wasn’t done. “If Maverick Insurance were still around, if Nate and Nat had actually been able to prosecute them and hold them responsible for their crimes, one of those crimes would have been the injuries you sustained. You could have sued them for damages.”

“ Sued them ?” I was incredulous. “How do you figure that?”

Gayle shrugged. “I’m not a lawyer, but I’d say you’ve got a pretty solid pain and suffering case. Winning that would land you a ton of money.”

I stared down at the letter. “So, what you’re saying is—”

“It’s the payout without the long legal battle.”

Given that Maverick Insurance had all but flown away like a fart in the wind, I didn’t think there was much chance of any legal action. Still, Gayle gave me food for thought.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I fingered the letter and asked, “You really think I should take the money?”

“I really do.” Gayle closed the distance between us and picked up one of the pictures again. “Delia would want you to take the money. I’m confident of that. She’d want you to be comfortable, to not have to worry about a roof over your head, or all the little things that come with financial strain.”

Lifting the packet of papers, I said, “I wonder how much money is in the account.” Malcom said it wasn’t as much as he wanted, which didn’t really tell me anything. My personal experience with Malcom Johnson was that he was a generous man. I doubted everyone who met him could say the same.

“I’m not sure, but there’s one way to find out.”

I shook my head. “I don’t have a computer.” I was probably one of the only people in the US who could make that statement. I couldn’t stare at the screen for long. The closest thing I had was my phone. We could use that, but I’d need Gayle to do the heavy lifting as I didn’t want to stare at the screen that long.

“Nate’s got one at his house,” Gayle argued. “We’ve got to collect more of your things and head in that direction anyway. I doubt he’d mind.”

Nate . I sighed, long and deep. “I don’t think he’ll want me to keep the money.” While it wasn’t Nate’s decision, we were engaged. Nate and I were a team, and this was a big decision. I needed to discuss it with him before I made any grand decisions.

Gayle’s grin was wry. “Oh, I think he might just surprise you.”

I wasn’t so certain but agreed to keep an open mind.

“Come on. Let’s load up your stuff and head to Nate’s. We’ll check on the computer, and then I’ll drop you off at the hospital. That way, you’ll have more information when you speak with him.”

As usual, Gayle’s powers of verbal persuasion were significant, and I caved. We spent the next fifteen minutes shoving clothes, toiletries, and anything else I thought I might need in the foreseeable future. A few knickknacks made their way into a bag or two. When I shot Gayle a questioning raised eyebrow, she rolled her eyes and said “What? It’s not like you seriously think you’re coming back here to live again. Once Nate’s got you under his roof, he’s not letting you go.”