Just as my orgasm claimed my body, he held his phone in front of my face and asked, “Do you recognize this man?”
Light flashed behind my eyes as I contracted, breath hitched, muscles tensed before the flood reverberated through my body, and I gasped in exhilaration. My eyes focused on the screen directly in front of my face, and as I exhaled and relaxed, I saw Peter, my father’s driver, as a young man, wearing football gear.
“That’s Peter,” I told him. “He picked me up from the train station and took me to see my father. He’s been my father’s driver and ally for…”
“Born David Peter Gillespie,” Lev filled me in, “and dated Leslie More.” As I slipped on my clean clothes, he found another pic and held his phone in front of my face, “Leslie More and David Peter Gillespie together at a charity event.” Without a doubt, it was they, Leslie and Peter, dressed in their best clothes that money could buy.
My head spun as I pulled my jeans back up and then stared at the wall, trying to digest this new information.
“Are you alright, Adina?” Lev asked softly, stroking my back awkwardly, trying to be tender, which was unnatural for him.
“Yeah,” I replied. “I just need to think this over. It sounds weird, but it feels like everything had been planned for this very outcome. Everyone was a player in her game, either by choice or inadvertently. Even you, the Warwicks, fell into stride to play your part without realizing.”
“Your father knew,” Ezrah said softly, shoving his big hands into his sweatpants pockets. “I reckon he knew. I reckon hefound out about Peter and Leslie, but needed evidence, and that was where you came in.”
I nodded, “That was why he left a hidden note, so she couldn't find it, but…” I exhaled, “Why would she send me here if I was going to find her little secret?”
“Actually,” Lev started, “you wouldn’t have found out about David Peter unless you looked for it, and that is what your father wanted you to do. It took me most of the day to piece it together, and I happened to stumble across that pic by accident.” He fiddled with the collar of his T-shirt before adding, “It’s like your father’s note was a hidden help signal, or red flag that he hoped you would discover the secret.”
I allowed his words to soak into my brain as everything started to make sense. “Guys, thanks for everything you have done, I really appreciate it, but I need to be alone right now to assimilate all of this information.”
“Sure,” Ezrah said glumly, not wanting to leave, but understanding that I needed some space. “If you need anything, just call…ah, wait, you can’t, you don’t have a phone.” He combed his fingers through his dark blond hair, “When was the last time you ate? I can bring you some food.”
“Huh?” I was a million miles away, “Oh, your brother has been bringing me food.” I pointed to a packet of trail mix. “I’m good, thanks.”
“We’ll come back later on,” Lev promised, but I was barely listening. He stood over me, bent down, and kissed me on the forehead, so sweetly, and it broke me out of my trance.
I watched them walk up the stairs to the door, and just as they were about to leave, I called after them, “Hey,” they turned back, “I don’t suppose you’re in the mood to cause a little trouble?”
Ezrah’s hand pressed against his chest, “I’m always in the mood for trouble.”
Whereas Lev needed more details, “What sort of trouble?”
“Well, we’ve got a funeral to go to in a few days,” I said as memories flashed behind my eyes of my father hanging from the ceiling, “so I was thinking about, you know, maybe taking back what I am owed.”
