“What are you going to do if you see him?” When he didn’t answer Diego’s question, the reporter looked over at Audrey and grimaced, smoothing a hand over his stubbled chin and shaking his head. “Mother of God.Audrey, did this asshole finally tell you what happened yet or not?” He jerked his thumb back at Theo. “Surely he’s not walking you in there blind?”
“I know what I’m getting into.” She put her hand on Theo’s arm. “He’ll be fine.”
“If you say so…” Diego shook his head and ushered them toward the door, yanking it forward and holding it open. “Let’s get on with it, then. I made up enough bullshit about a family emergency to get out of a meeting with my editor, so you’re dead wrong if you think I’m not coming with you as backup.”
Theo’s eyes crinkled above his mask as he patted Diego on the shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved them inside. “You owe me one.”
The entrance was impressive, with spit-shined marble flooring and chic, light-wood paneled walls sweeping up to tall ceilings dotted with mid-century modern globular light fixtures. The woman staffing the front desk paid them no mind, and Theo led her to a hallway lined on both sides with elevators. When the stainless-steel doors of one opened, he pulled her in and punched the button for the forty-seventh floor.
The higher they went, the more his hand shook.
“Hey,” she whispered, tightening her fingers between his. “It’ll be okay.”
Theo closed his eyes and bent to press his forehead against hers.
“Thank you for coming with me,” he whispered.
“Me too, Ted?”
When he slowly turned to scowl at Diego, he shook his head and sighed.
“Yeah. You too, D. You’re a good friend.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
The elevator dinged and the doors swept open to reveal a sweeping walnut-fronted desk, its top formed out of blue-tinged curving glass with sans-serif stainless steel letters spelling outREDMOND, REDMOND & ASSOCIATES. As soon as the woman seated there spotted them, her eyes went wide.
“Teddy?!” she gasped, clamping both hands over her mouth as she stood. “Oh—oh my god, Teddy.” Tears lined her eyes. “Is that you?”
“Hi, Maureen.” He stepped up to her with a wave. “It’s Theo these days. Is my mom busy?”
Maureen stared at him, speechless. She was a middle-aged woman with gray threaded through mousy brown hair and fine wrinkles just beginning to line her kind, round face. “I—I, uh—sh-she—” She glanced down at the phone, and when she reached forit, Theo put his hand over hers and gently set the handset back down onto the receiver.
“I’d rather surprise her. Don’t ping her, please.”
Maureen swallowed and nodded sharply, still trying—and failing—to blink tears away. “She canceled all her meetings today. She’s just been in her office with Nancy all morning. Looked upset when she came in, hasn’t come out, and hasn’t talked to anyone else.”
“Is my uncle around?”
“Yes.” Maureen eyed the hall to her left warily. “He’s here today.”
“Is he in there with her too?”
“No. No, she’s—”
“Good.” Theo leaned an elbow casually on the counter and drew in a deep breath, both of his eyes hardening as he nodded at Diego. He hadn’t arranged his hair over his right eye like he used to, and his scar was barely visible through the thick, dark waves tumbling down his forehead and along his cheeks. “Don’t let him anywhere near me.”
“Yessir.” Diego cracked his knuckles before leaning back on the desk with crossed arms, staring darkly down the hallway to the right.
Maureen stood and reached over the desk to rest a hand on Theo’s arm. “Ted—Theo. You look…you looksomuch better than the last time I saw you.”
The mask partially raised over his cheeks.
But his eyes were sad.
“I’m sure I do, though I’m sorry, I don’t remember you visiting me, Maureen.”
