“Shit,” he muttered.
“What’s that?”
He looked up at Jenny and shook his head. “I’ll take another whiskey. Neat.”
Disappointment flashed across her face, but she shed it as quickly as it had come. “Coming right up.”
Gus finished the drink just as they began their approach to Ronald Regan airport. He’d arranged for his car service to pick him up, and by six o’clock, he was standing in the foyer of the luxurious condo building he called home.
“Mr. Boone.”
Gus shook the doorman’s hand. Gerry, a veteran, was on the back end of seventy and was beloved by everyone in the building. A tall, thin man with slick white hair and an impressive handlebar mustache, he was always smiling.
“I was wondering when you’d be back.”
“Not sure how long I’m staying but it will be at least for the night.” He hiked up his backpack. “Is my mom here?”
“She stepped out about an hour ago.”
Gus wasn’t sure if he was relieved or not. If she was out, it meant pushing back the inevitable.
“Good to know.” He gave a small wave and headed for the second elevator, the one that rode all the way to the top. There were two penthouses in this building. As far as he knew, the other unit was unoccupied. The owners never seemed to be around. He exited the lift and turned to the left.
He let himself inside, took two steps, and felt exactly nothing. The space was a cool two thousand square feet of gleaming hardwood floors and granite countertops. The kitchen sported the latest appliances, including a fridge that had cost more than his first car, and the furniture, while comfortable, was ultra-modern, which in turn fit the general vibe of the place. With its floor-to-ceiling windows and an impressive view of the city, it was, by anyone’s standards, top-tier. Filled with expensive art he had no attachment to, the place served apurpose. Aside from a generous master bedroom, he had a guest bedroom, an office as well as a gym.
It was his home, but there was nothing homey about it. He had nothing personal except a few items he kept in his office. Photos of his SEAL team and family. That sort of thing.
Most folks would think he was crazy, but as Gus looked around the penthouse, he couldn’t help but feel that he preferred the small apartment in Fire Lake.
Gus grabbed his cell phone and sent his mother a text. It was short and to the point.
I’m home.
Then he tossed the contents of his backpack into the washing machine and grabbed a cold beer from the fridge. It was surprisingly well-stocked. He nursed the beer while wading through hundreds of emails he’d neglected in the last week or so and was about to open a file from a client when he heard his mother.
Gus cleared his head and got to his feet. There was no sense in putting any of it off. He walked into the main room and found her in the kitchen, putting away a doggie bag she’d brought home.
She turned, and he saw the worry. The anxiety.
“Hey, Ma,” he said gruffly, moving forward to envelop her in a hug.
“My boy,” she replied, kissing his cheek before taking a step back. Her eyes moved over him. “You’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors.”
Like always, Clarice Boone didn’t miss a thing. He saw the questions in her eyes and pointed toward the living room. “Let’s sit.”
She followed him over and took the chair opposite him. It wasn’t often he found his mother nervous, but at the moment, she was jumpy.
“Tell me what the hell is going on, August.”
“For the past few months, I’ve been in Fire Lake.”
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened. And all the color drained from her face. She got to her feet. Wrapped her arms around her body and began to pace. For the longest time, there were no words, and all he could do was watch her process a simple sentence that changed everything.
After a while, she sat back down and folded her hands together in her lap.
“You have questions.”
He nodded.
