“Well, yeah,” Sam said. “But someone’s gotta have veto power. For this job, I’m not it. I’m an expert in take-downs. Kicking the door in, rescue ops...You’rethe expert investigator. Also? I’m a cis, straight, white man. It’s your turn to be in charge and fuck things up.”
Jules didn’t bother to respond.
“You’re welcome.” Sam left the elevator and the only thing Jules could do was follow him. Right to the receptionist’s desk.
“Cassidy and Starrett to see Ernest Harper and Milt Devonshire Junior,” Sam told the young man who sat there.
“They’re ready for you in the conference room,” the young man informed them, his gaze settling on Jules as if he’d picked up on Sam’sNot it, and recognized his team leader status. “I’ll walk you in.”
The youngster led the way down the hall and Jules glanced at Sam who seemed really happy about... and there it was: fully distracting Jules. Samhadsucceeded in getting Jules at least alittlebit out of his head as he officially walkedinto this, the first meeting for his first Troubleshooters case, and in doing so, left his old life behind.
Not it.
Sweet baby Jesus. Jules laughed.
“Thanks, SpongeBob,” he murmured to Sam right before he stepped through the door held open by the receptionist.
“Anytime, Squidward,” Sam said. “But still not it.”
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs was great.
It was a little less great today, since Mick had to go back to LA for an important meeting for work.
Although in truth, Emily was happy enough to have a quiet day to just sit and read by the pool. They’d spent a lot of energy the first few days, hiking, shopping, visiting museums in the walkable downtown area near their hotel, and having great meals. They’d even gone to a rock-climbing gym, which shouldn’t have surprised her, but did.
There was a lot she still didn’t know about Mick—he rarely spoke of his childhood or his parents—but he was as great at rock climbing as he was at everything else. And he was careful to make sure she stayed in her comfort zone, never pushing her to climb too high.
It was fun.
Ish.
Because in the back of her mind, she was worrying about Carlotta’s maybe needing her. Although, the few times they’d talked, her aunt had been adamant that Emily stay away. Shewas as absolute as she’d been when her focus had been to keep Emily’s name out of the papers and TV reports.
This morning, before she’d gotten out of bed, after Mick left—he drove back early this morning and would return as soon as he could tonight—Emily had gone onto her social media for the first time in days and searched for #Devonshire.
So far it was a non-story. The old man’s obit was in the LA paper, andVarietyhad done a piece on him, too, but it was small and focused on his hit TV shows, only a few of which remained popular in this new, thankfully more-woke century.
Neither article mentioned her mother’s death.
It was anti-climactic, and at first Emily was mad, but as the morning wore on, she realized it was good. It was a positive thing.
After all, Milton Devonshire Senior hadn’t killed her mother.
His son had.
As tragic and heartbreaking as that had been, that part of Emily’s life was over. She’d moved on. She’d grown up, and thanks to her mother’s care and forethought, she’d had the insurance money to get a great education at a good school, to buy her own home without a mortgage, and to follow her dreams by starting her own photography studio.
And just this past year, she’d met Mick.
Her mother would’ve loved him.
So what if the son was going to inherit his father’s millions. And even though Carlotta wouldn’t be satisfied until the son was dead and gone, too—thatwasgoing to happen eventually. That’s just how life worked. Everyone died—no one lived forever. Not even the people with tens of millions of dollars. Yes, money made life easier, but it couldn’t buyhappiness. The son would probably be just as miserable as the old man had been.
Emily closed her eyes and remembered the day she’d done it. Gone to see him—Milton Devonshire—at his home.
She knew where he lived—everyone in Hollywood did, his estate was legendary—so she just... called an Uber and went to see him.
