Page 82 of The Inquirer

The note was brief, but the fact that it was there was what mattered.

Bradyn, I feel like a bit of an ass for leaving while you’re still sleeping, but I have something to take care of, and it’s on a bit of a timetable. I’ll see you later. - N

I was curious about whether or not the errand had to do with Nyx’s case, but it was a mild curiosity. Her case and my film shared a lot, but that didn’t mean they shared everything. There would be things she needed to find that had nothing to do with me or my family, and I wouldn’t ask her to share them just because we’d collaborated in other areas.

It was strange how quiet it was. Nyx wasn’t exactly talkative, but there was something to be said for the simple presence of another person. I’d never noticed it before, but I had a feeling that no matter how things went with Nyx, I’d never look at being alone the same way again.

I shook my head and settled in to eat my eggs. No more deep thoughts over breakfast. Stick with the plan. Eat. Go see my father. Hope I felt less like punching him than I had when I’d left yesterday.

That was doubtful, but I was trying to be optimistic.

When I stepped outside, I hoped the weather was a good omen. The end of October usually meant low to mid-seventies and today was a perfect example, a balmy seventy-three and sunny. After being in New York, I was definitely appreciative of the ability to walk around without freezing my ass off. Of course, according to Nyx, it had barely been chilly in the Big Apple. I didn’t even want to think about what it would be like in December or January.

Except, I might need to think of it, because I doubted Nyx would want to stay in Savannah.

Thinking that far ahead probably wasn’t something I should be doing, but I couldn’t help it. When I thought about making plans for the future, I wanted her to be in them.

As I pulled up to the house, my thoughts of Nyx moved to the background, and I began to think about what I would say to my dad. By the time I got to the door, I had something perfect in mind.

“If you’re here to see your father, he’s not at home.” The same new housekeeper I’d met earlier this month sounded bored.

“Do you know where he is?”

She folded her arms, and I realized that ‘bored’ wasn’t actually the right description. She looked…annoyed. As if she had far better things to be doing with her time than answering doors.

“Look, I can call him and tell him that I’m here with you and give him some long-winded explanation about how it’s your fault I’m interrupting whatever he’s doing.” I took my phone out of my pocket. “Or you can tell me where he is, and I promise he won’t know that it came from you.”

She glared at me for a few seconds more and then sighed. “Someone called from Check & Sons, said they had important information for him. He left about an hour ago.”

“Thanks.” I smiled, but she didn’t return it. “I didn’t hear it from you.”

She closed the door without another word, and I turned back to my car. Apparently, I had a new destination.

I hoped that Dad going into the firm meant that he’d spent yesterday talking to his lawyers, and they’d called him in to discuss more in person. If that was the case, I’d be polite about my inquiry and then be on my way. If he was trying to figure out a way to get out of what I wanted him to do, I’d have to figure out a new approach.

Since it was almost noon, maybe I’d take him out to lunch, and we could discuss his options.

Then again, my appetite was never the best around him.

I managed to snag a parking space in the back and then walked around to the front. I was coming up the sidewalk when a familiar figure walked out the front door of the firm.

Dark red hair pulled up and back from her face. Fair skin. Curves I knew intimately. She wore a dark green t-shirt and a pair of jeans so new they looked like she’d walked them out of a store.

Apparently, I’d discovered what her errand was. Now, I was even more curious because I didn’t know if she’d come here because of her history with the Check family, or if she’d been the reason my father had been called here. If it was the second one, it probably meant I didn’t need to have lunch with Dad. Except I didn’t know why she wouldn’t have had me go with her if she was meeting my father.

“Nyx!”

She didn’t miss a step. I called her name again, but still nothing. She must’ve been lost in thought because there wasn’t much in the way of noise at the moment. I’d have to ask her later what she was thinking about so hard. Since I didn’t know if she’d talked to my father or why she would’ve talked to him without me, going inside continued to make sense, so that’s what I did.

The receptionist smiled at me as I walked into the building, and I smiled in return, but I didn’t stop at her desk. She must’ve known what family I belonged to because she didn’t tell me to come back or call for security. She’d probably seen my father come in and now assumed that I was here for whatever meeting he’d been called to. I wasn’t about to tell her differently. The last thing I needed was for her to call someone and find out I wasn’t supposed to be here at all.

The short corridor took me to the T where a turn to a right would’ve taken me to the offices, and the left took me to the conference rooms. The first one was empty, and I could hear voices coming from the second one. I couldn’t make out the words, but someone was yelling. Even if that was where my father was, I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to interrupt whatever was going on in there. My questions could wait if that was the case.

I went for the last room to see if Dad was there. If he wasn’t, I’d check the offices. I didn’t hear anything, but the door was only partway open, so I couldn’t see the entire room. I gave the door a push and was already starting to turn away when something at the corner of my eye caught my attention.

Someone was lying on the floor.

No, not someone. My father.

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