Chapter Three
Perry
I checked my message from Nate and felt my heart sink. While I understood that Nat needed him, I’d been looking forward to seeing Nate again before he left. It was silly, really. I’d see him again in a few hours when he came and picked me up.
“Why so sad?” Delia asked. She was ready to go home, her messenger bag with her laptop slung over one shoulder, purse and takeaway lunch containers dangling from her opposite arm. Delia’s blush pink heels whispered softly across the carpet as she walked toward me.
“Sorry.” I held up my phone. “I just got a text from Nate. He needed to speak with Malcom regarding something about the retreat, and then he was going to stop by on his way out to say goodbye.”
“Was?” Delia asked, a perfectly manicured eyebrow arching high.
“Yeah, it looks like Nat needs him for something, so he had to hurry off.”
“Ah, the never-ending work of a homicide detective.” Delia’s lips lifted in a smile. I had no idea how she kept the lipstick off her shimmering white teeth. Gayle told me it was a beauty secret, but that was about as far as I’d gotten. Considering I didn’t plan on wearing lipstick anytime soon, I hadn’t delved into it a lot further.
Placing my phone back on my cleaning cart, I agreed. “What he does is important.”
“What you do is important too.”
“Oh, I know.” I waved off Delia’s concern. “I wasn’t putting myself down, it’s just that when it comes to homicide…”
“I suppose that’s true. Odd how the dead can’t seem to wait politely until your fiancé has time to attend them.” Delia’s manicured fingernails tapped along the engagement ring I never took off. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Detective Harmon has excellent taste. I don’t think I could have picked a better ring or a better fiancé.” Delia winked and withdrew her hand.
My cheeks heated. “He did a great job on the ring part. I’m not sure about the rest.”
Delia rolled her eyes, but her smile was kind. “I’m headed out. I’ve got a few loose ends to tie up before driving south tomorrow. Please tell me you’re both still coming.”
“We are. I’m really looking forward to it. I used to go hiking around local parks and walking around campus before…before I really couldn’t any longer. My orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jamison, says I’m healed enough to give it a go. She just said I need to take it easy and listen to my body to know when I’ve had enough. Most likely, I won’t know until the next day if I’ve overdone it.”
“Sound advice,” Delia agreed.
I glanced to my left at Brian’s old desk, which Gabe now occasionally occupied. “Have you heard if Gabe can make it?”
“I’m not sure if he’ll be there for all the retreat, but I imagine he’ll get to pop in now and again. He’s got a rather difficult client he’s working on.” Delia’s smile turned a little brittle. “Stubbornly irritating, really.”
“That’s too bad. Gabe’s a good insurance agent.” I considered my words and realized I didn’t know if that was true or not. “At least, he seems congenial. I’ll bet people like him, and you told me when he was hired that he was good.”
“Oh, he’s very good. I’m sure he’ll figure something out and snag his difficult customer.” Propping her hip on a nearby desk, Delia settled in. “I asked Malcom to place our cabins next to each other. I offered to share mine with Gabe when he does show up. Malcom will be on the other side of you and Nate. I can’t wait to see the place. A tornado went through the park a couple of years ago and did a lot of damage to the cabins. They’ve recently been rebuilt or refurbished, as the case might be. It’s still a park, and I’m not expecting luxury accommodations, but I don’t mind roughing it a bit now and again.”
Delia didn’t dress like the roughing it type. However, I never put anything past her.
“I’m looking forward to it too.” I couldn’t hide my excitement, nor did I want to. “It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to go anywhere or do anything. Nate’s supposed to start packing for us tonight. I’m not sure how far he’ll get if he’s been called into work.”
“I’m sure it will be fine. Gayle told me she’s taking care of the cats.”
It was still odd sometimes, thinking about how often Gayle and Delia spoke and saw each other. I still wasn’t sure if there was more than friendship between them. If there was, Gayle would tell me when she was ready.
“She is. Gayle’s taken care of them before.” Nearly every one of those times had been while I was in the hospital. At least this time, I was going away for a good reason—one that I’d be awake enough to enjoy.
Pushing off the desk, Delia readjusted her purse and said, “I better get going. Have a good evening, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodbye, Perry.”
“Bye, Delia.”
I didn’t watch her get on the elevator. I’d stopped doing that since Willie quit, was fired, gone on the run…I wasn’t sure what string of words to wrap around Willie Slater. The guy was a creep. I’d never liked the way he looked at Delia. I’d never liked his demeaning words, either. The way he treated Delia bothered me a lot more than the way he went after me. Now that he was gone, I didn’t feel the need to monitor Delia’s exit.
It was silly. Delia was one of the most capable people I knew. She’d always handled Willie’s snide remarks with grace and tactical verbal barbs. There were even times I thought Willie feared Delia.
Well, if that was the case, all the better.
Grabbing my phone, I pulled up my latest audiobook and hit play. I’d only listen with half an ear, but it was good background noise and filled in the empty, quiet spaces around me. Delia was the last one off the floor. That was more typical than not. Malcom was most likely still working upstairs on the fourth floor. He typically stopped by to let me know when he was on his way home. The man worked far too many hours.
Thirty minutes later, I heard the ding of the elevator and turned in time to see Malcom walk out. I was glad he didn’t look as tired as usual.
“Having a good evening, Perry?” Malcom asked, his voice casually calm.
“So far. It looks like the staff had a good time today.” I’d noticed a lot of cupcake packaging in trash bins. One of them had wrapping paper too.
Malcom chuckled. “Graham’s wife is due in about a month. The staff wanted to throw him a baby shower. It was a sedate affair, but cupcakes abounded. Cookies too. There might be some left in the break room if you’re lucky.”
“Sadly, no. I checked, and they’re all gone.”
“Heathens,” Malcom accused but laughed as he said it. “I believe there was an overall sense of jovialness because of the upcoming retreat.”
It was hard not to bounce on my toes. I could do that again now. My left knee still twinged now and again, but it wasn’t the constant pain I’d lived with for four years. I’d lived with the possibility of collapse for so long that it was difficult to trust my knee now. I was cautious and wasn’t sure if I’d ever have complete faith in it. Dr. Jamison said that was okay and expected.
“I’m glad you’re excited.” Malcom’s laughter boomed again.
“I’d be a horrible poker player.” Since I didn’t know how to play, I didn’t have to worry about it.
“It’s fine. I enjoy knowing what you’re feeling, and that the expressions you show are true. There are no guessing games when it comes to you, Perry. That is very refreshing.”
Malcom made comments like that now and again, making me wonder at the clientele he had to deal with. I got the feeling the other executives could be prickly too.
I nodded toward Gabe’s designated desk and said, “Delia thinks Gabe will be able to participate in some of the retreat.” I really hoped that was true. Gabe was a bit quirky, and I never quite knew what he was going to say, but I liked him. His face always lit up in a smile when he saw me. I couldn’t help but grin in return.
“I suspect you’ll be seeing a fair amount of him.” Malcom’s facial features eased. “It sounds like you like our latest employee.”
“I do. Gabe’s gone out of his way to be friendly.”
“I’m exceedingly happy to hear that. Between you and me, it was quite the coup, getting Gabriel on Maverick Insurance’s payroll. I had to pull a few strings and offer a couple of favors, but I believe all of it will be worth it in the end.”
“That’s good to hear.” I was glad Malcom had gotten what he wanted, or maybe, who he wanted. After what happened with Brian, and now Willie, Maverick Insurance could do with some reliably sane employees.
Glancing around the second-floor office space, Malcom gave a low whistle. “It does appear that you’ve got your work cut out for you tonight, Perry. It seems there was a bit more festive atmosphere than even I was aware of. I’m sorry the staff left the place in such a mess. I’ll have a chat with them when the retreat ends.”
I waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Don’t do that. It’s fine. In fact, it’s kind of enjoyable, or at least rewarding. Sometimes the place is so clean I don’t think I’m needed at all. I consider it job security.”
Malcom laid his hand on my shoulder and his smile gentled. “You are always needed and welcome. You can ask any employee, and they will all tell you that the month you were gone on medical leave was the worst. We’re all happy to have you here. Never doubt that.”
My chest warmed. Feeling needed and wanted were essential human emotions. “Thank you, Malcom.”
“Always,” he said with a final squeeze of my shoulder. “I hope you don’t have to stay too late. I’ll see you tomorrow. Drive carefully.”
“I’ll pass that on to Nate since he’ll be the one behind the wheel.”
Malcom’s grin grew. “Ah, yes. It will be so nice getting to know your detective better. I’m very much looking forward to the next few days.”
I wasn’t sure the feeling was mutual on Nate’s end, but I agreed anyway. “We are too.”
“Did you know I’m staying in a cabin next to you and Detective Harmon?”
With a nod, I answered, “Delia just told me.”
“I see. Well, on that note, I suppose I should get going. I’ve still got some packing to do, and unlike you, I’m afraid I must drive myself to the park.”
Malcom’s words didn’t hold an ounce of maliciousness, and I chuckled. “I’m very lucky.”
“Yes, you are, Perry. Very lucky indeed. I’m counting on that luck. Have a good evening.”
“Bye, Malcom,” I said while offering a sad little wave. Some would doubt my “luck.” I’d lost my parents when I was a teenager. I’d been shot and nearly beaten to death in a dark, dank alley, and Brian VanHorn had tried to kill me on this very floor. Yeah, luck and I were on shaky ground. Then again, I was still alive. I could look at my life’s cup as half empty or half full. With Nate by my side, the decision was easy.