Page 106 of Always Us

My dad sighs. “That’s a shame. Another funeral to go to. That’s two in one week.”

“Dad, did you—” I can’t accuse him of that. It was a car crash. Roth was speeding. It had nothing to do with my dad.

He flips to a weather channel. “You see? A winter storm is on the way. I hope it doesn’t affect your flight home.”

His phone rings and he answers it. “Yes, William. I saw the news.” He listens. “Let me know how it goes.” He sets the phone down.

“Was that William Sinclair?”

“Yes. He’s been asked to attend a meeting tomorrow.”

“A meeting about what? Do you think they’re going to offer him the promotion?”

“Perhaps, although it has to be voted on by the members and that won’t happen until the meeting at the end of this month.”

“With Roth gone and Grandfather gone, there are two spots open. Who will get the other one?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. We really shouldn’t talk about it.”

I sit there, my mind coming up with all kinds of scenarios that probably aren’t true. Or maybe they are.

“Doesn’t William live near there?” I ask.

“Near where?”

“Near the crash site. Westchester County.”

My dad turns on his computer. “I’m so behind at the office, I’ll never even begin to catch up. This past week, with planning the funeral and the memorial, I’ve barely had time to return phone calls.”

He’s avoiding my questions. But why? Did he do that to Roth? We own a chemical company and chemicals cause explosions. So did he rig Roth’s car? Was William in on it? He had just as much motivation to get rid of Roth as my dad did. Maybe more. William wants Jade and me to be safe, but he also wants to be promoted. Having two open spots gives him an even better chance of getting that promotion. So maybe my dad provided the chemicals and William rigged the car.

My dad’s typing something into the computer.

“Where were you last night?” I ask him.

“I told you, I had to go into the office. There was an issue with one of the plants and it couldn’t wait until morning.”

I examine his face, his expression, his tone. But there’s nothing there. No emotion. No expression. No change in body language. His voice is even. He’s completely calm.

“What would you like for dinner tonight?” He sips his coffee. “We could go out if you’d like.”

I sit back in my chair. “So you’re really going to Roth’s funeral? I thought you hated the guy.”

“He was a friend of my father’s, therefore I must set aside my personal feelings for the man and pay my respects.”

“What did Roth say to you last night that made you so angry?”

“I was angry because he showed up here uninvited.”

“It was more than that. You wouldn’t normally show your anger to someone like Roth. It’s disrespectful for someone at his level.” The organization is all about hierarchy, and the members must honor that hierarchy, and last night, my dad didn’t do that. “Just tell me what he said. It was about me, wasn’t it?”

“Charles makes excellent coffee.” He drinks the last of it and sets the cup down. “Your grandfather said he never liked Charles’ coffee. He said it tasted like tar. And yet one day I saw him in the kitchen pouring himself a cup of it. He never knew I saw him do it.”

“Dad, I need to know the truth. Was Roth trying to get me back in the organization?”

“Yes,” he says casually.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

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