Page 98 of The Attraction File

THIRTY-NINE

Edgar

“Not even the broth?” Evaleen’s mom held a spoonful of her amazing soup up toward Evaleen.

She scrunched her entire face and shook her head. “No, ugh, get it away from me.”

Her mom quickly put down the spoon and placed her hand on her daughter’s forehead.

“No temperature. Is there anything wrong, Evaleen?”

“I think I have that stomach bug that’s going around. I know Daniels in Sales had it last week,” Evaleen said after taking a sip of water at my dining room table. Once Evaleen and her mom moved in over a month and half ago I removed the middle section to the mahogany rectangle table, turning it into something more intimate.

“Maybe you should go rest in the bedroom,” her mother said before helping her up.

“I’ll go lay in the other guest room. I don’t want you to get sick, Edgar.”

“I can take that room if you want. Until you feel better,” I offered and felt guilty I wasn’t doing more to help Evaleen, but her mom swatted me away whenever I stepped near.

“I’ll go to the drugstore after dinner and pick up some stomach medicine. Also, some gelatin,” I said as her mom helped Evaleen away.

When I was young my mom used to get me that when I had the stomach flu. It was the only thing I could keep down.

When Ms. Bechmann returned she appeared concerned. She stood in the entrance way of the dining room, folding her arms with the exact same posture as I was used to seeing on her daughter.

“How is she?” I asked.

“Not well. She ran to the bathroom before we even got into the bedroom and threw up. I hope it’s not something she ate?”

“She did have a Chicago Dog for lunch.”

I had made a joke when she ordered it again, as that had turned into a daily ritual, that maybe she try a different tubular meat for lunch. But I wasn’t about to bring the joke up to her mom. Or how I turned into a man-ape and suggested bending her over the table.

I had a feeling Ms. Bechmann wouldn’t find any of those things funny.

We finished up the meal which was delicious as always. I stood and pushed the muted green velvet chair into the table and took everyone’s dishes out to the kitchen.

I told Ms. Bechmann she didn’t have to cook for us all the time but she insisted. She used to work as a maid, cleaning office buildings and even moved up to management, but Evaleen knew she only did it to support them.

Evaleen told me when she made executive at Mimir she told her mom to quit. That she would support both of them from now on. I believe they are a team. They take care of each other, and I couldn’t imagine having Evaleen in my life without her mom being there.

Ms. Bechmann tried to wash the dishes but I refused her help and made her relax on the couch. When I was done I stopped by the living room on my way to the front door. Ms. Bechmann was lounging on the couch reading a magazine. I told her I was heading out to the drugstore.

It was only a short walk from the house and since the sun was still up and the air was warming up, I took a leisurely stroll to the store. Chicago was full of color and everyone had their front yard gardens blooming with flowers.

When I got to the store, I picked up the medicine and a few other things before making my way to the counter. As I stood checking out, I glanced up into the rounded security mirror on the ceiling. What I noticed there shocked me.

There were two men talking one aisle back. One was tall, about my age with brown hair in a black T-shirt. It was the man from the picture Mr. Marks had sent me with Damien and Ashton in it.

He seemed intensely focused on what the other guy was saying. The other one being Damien.

Once I paid, I grabbed the bag and went to stand on the other side of the aisle so I could hear what they were talking about.

“I heard from Jay,” said the distinctly dark voice of Damien.

“Yeah, and?” the other guy asked.

“Plant it on Monday. Did you get the documents?”

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