Page 36 of Lilly

"I'm sorry, but my schedule just won't allow it. But it was good seeing you again. Goodbye, Pearce."

"Ezra, wait." I check the phone. He hung up. I'll have to find another way to talk to him. I need to confirm if my suspicions are correct and Katherine is indeed working with her brother to get her son considered for membership. It makes sense she would do that, but why now? At twelve, he's too young to be considered. He has to be at least eighteen, although twenty is typically when young men find out. Maybe Katherine thinks it will take that long to convince them that her son should be part of it. I just can't believe Phillip would move here for that. Is he going to live here until Katherine's son is officially a member? If so, that's quite a commitment. He's barely spent time with the child.

"Hello, Pearce," William says, greeting me at the door.

"You're looking better," I tell him as I come inside.

"Unfortunately, I'm not feeling that great."

We walk to the couch and sit down.

"Are you having headaches again?"

"Headaches. Nausea. Dizziness. I'm feeling somewhat better today but Friday wasn't good. I had to leave work early."

"You shouldn't have been at the office. It's too soon to go back there full-time."

"I had to go in for some meetings. I felt okay in the morning but by the afternoon, I wasn't feeling well. It comes and goes like that. Sometimes I feel fine and then sometimes I don't."

"Have you told Logan?"

"Yes, and he's made some house calls and even come to the office. He ran some more tests but still can't find any explanation, other than my blood pressure being lower than normal. He said that can cause headaches and dizziness and in some cases nausea. He's advised me to up my salt intake, which I've done, but so far, nothing has changed."

Meredith walks in. "Hello, Pearce. Can I get you something?"

"Not right now, but thank you."

"Let me know if you need anything." She walks up beside William's chair and kneels down, putting her hand over his. "How are you feeling?"

"Meredith, please don't do this in front of company."

She kisses his cheek, then stands up. "Pearce is family. You don't have to be embarrassed. He's just as worried about you as I am."

"I'll be fine," he says, giving her hand a squeeze. "Why don't you give Rachel a call? Tell her Pearce arrived safely."

She smiles at me. "I'm sure he'd rather call her himself."

"Go ahead," I tell her. "I talked to her on the way here. And I know she'd love to hear from you."

"Then I'll give her a call." She looks back at William, then walks away.

"I love her to pieces but she treats me like a child," William says. "She's always this way when I get sick, but now it's even worse because we don't know what's wrong."

"It's not a bad problem to have, you know. A woman who loves you? Takes care of you? Wants you to be healthy?"

He smiles. "Yes, I'm quite aware of how lucky I am to have her. I just wish she wouldn't worry so much. Anyway, tell me about the meeting."

I go over in detail everything that happened from the moment I arrived, sharing my theories about what it all means. I end by telling him how I was followed after the meeting so drove to my mother's house.

"Would you agree?" I ask. "Do you think Katherine and Phillip are working together?"

"Absolutely. But knowing them, they'll keep it so hidden you'll never find out until it comes up for a vote."

"That's not entirely true. Katherine has never been good at keeping secrets, as evidenced by whatever Ezra's wife overheard."

"We don't know what she heard, but yes, I agree that Katherine is the only one who might spill information. But if Phillip is the one coordinating this, he'll do all he can to hide it until the right time."

"He'll be punished if he keeps secrets from us."

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