I pull out a tin of ointment that Griffin gave me. Apparently it works wonders for bruises, as well as joint and ligament pain. He special-orders it from an elderly pharmacist in Thailand for its non-greasy texture and lack of scent.
I go back to the bed and carefully spread the thick, translucent white cream on Grace’s cheek. My effort pays off—she doesn’t move at all.
With her entire demeanor relaxed, she looks even younger than she is. Her features are so delicate. Nelson’s meaty paw shouldn’t have been anywhere near her.
My phone buzzes from my jacket pocket. Annoyed, I snatch it up and see that I’ve missed ten calls from Mom. Concern pushes away mild exasperation. If she’s calling like that, it’s urgent.
I go into the walk-in closet and close the door to avoid disturbing Grace. “Yes?”
“What have you done?”
“A lot of things. Can you be more specific?” I ask, giving her a break, since she sounds frazzled.
“Nelson is trying to make me take over a case, a shitty one he’s bound to lose.”
“So?”
“The client is guilty as hell, and Nelson shouldn’t have taken the case. But he’s an idiot and the client is apparently a friend from college. Frat brothers.” She sounds like she wants to murder someone.
On a different day, I might be more sympathetic. But right now, I have no patience for the Huxley & Webber drama. Not my circus, not my monkeys. “Just say no. Problem solved.”
“I can’t. He says the reason I have to take it over is because you ‘brutalized’ his face. He has to go to court tomorrow, but he’s saying he can’t go looking like this.”
My phone buzzes and a photo of Nelson pops up. His eye is swollen shut already. Black and red mottle his forehead, cheek and jaw. A corner of one lip looks torn, although it’s difficult to tell.
Should have slammed him harder.Then kicked him until he learned his lesson, so running to my mother would never occur to him.
“It appears that he must have accidently rammed his face into the wall a couple of times,” I say with a hint of regret.
“Was your hand on him at that time?” she demands, her tone all lawyerly and suspicious.
“Not on his face, no. Just his hair.”
“Huxley!”
I tug at my tie, undoing it, then unbutton the vest and shrug out of it.
“You’re going to apologize and smooth his ruffled feathers.”
“If I see him now, I’ll finish what I started. And break his ribs to boot.”
“Hux—”
“Hold on a minute.” I step out quietly and snap a shot of Grace’s face, then send it to Mom.
“What the…?” Mom’s gasp rings in my ear as I return to the closet. “What have you done?”
“Mother!”
“Nelson did this?”
A beat of silence. “You thinkIdid it?”
“You were upset with her. Don’t think you fooled anybody. Even Emma was worried.”
Damn it. Not Emma.“Nelson did it. I don’t hit women unless they physically attack me. And usually not even then.”
Mom sighs. “Are you pressing charges? A civil lawsuit?”
