Two
PRESENT DAY
ASHER
Iswerved into my Park Avenue garage, ready to call it a night, but there was someone—no, something—standing in my spot.
Slamming on the brakes, I squinted to make sure it wasn’t a deranged client waiting on me.
I flashed my headlights, and the salt-and-pepper-haired man threw up his middle finger.
Jesus Christ…He was someone worse than any client.
He was a neighbor.
I rolled down my window and motioned for him to move.
“Get the hell out of my spot unless you have a death wish, Mr. Grisham,” I said.
He crossed his arms, holding his ground.
I reversed and parked in front of two of my other cars instead.
Cutting the engine, I grabbed my briefcase and stepped out.
“Hold on there, Mr. Brooks!” Mr. Grisham screeched. “Don’t you dare walk away from me.”
“Too late.” I headed for the elevator, but he jumped in front of me.
“I’m going to ask you this question one time and one time only,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “Are you a drug dealer?”
“Excuse me?”
“Fentanyl, roxies, or heroin? Which one is it?”
I blinked.
“You didn’t think I would figure it out, did you?”
“I’m thinking about why you’re even asking me this…”
“Because you disappear for days at a time, come and go at all hours of the night, and then you just bought your fifth luxury car this year.” He stepped closer. “Which drug are you pushing?”
“I guess you could call it ‘regret.’”
“I knew it.” He nodded. “Well, even though you’re owning up to it, I’ll be reporting you to the building manager and our HOA about this. The last thing I want to do is live around a dope dealer.”
“Noted,” I said. “I look forward to the next meeting.”
“I’ve never seen you attend.”
“Exactly.” I moved past him and walked fast enough to get to the elevator before he could follow.
Taking it up to the penthouse suite, I swiped my card until the doors opened to a view I’d missed all week.
Pouring myself a glass of scotch, I walked over to the windows and looked out at a misty Manhattan below.
The clearest thing in view was the wedding venue rooftop next door, where a bride was twirling with her groom.
