Page 37 of Thief of Night
The car stopped and the driver turned around in the seat.
“She’s waiting for you inside, Mr. Carver,” he said, gaze going to Charlie as though bringing her along had to be a mistake. People who looked like Charlie—rumpled, bruised, in boots that smelled vaguely of booze—only came to places like this to rob them, and they didn’t usually do that in broad daylight.
Although, to be fair, Charlie knew a couple of burglars who swore daylight was the best time for larceny.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said, sliding out.
Red walked up the steps fast, the way anyone might in a familiar place. Charlie would have knocked when she came to the massive double doors, but he didn’t, of course. He just walked inside.
Because this was his home.
A shudder went through her as she followed him.
She found Red standing stiffly in the hall, with Adeline’s arms around him. Adeline pulled back only to go up on her toes and kiss both his cheeks in what Charlie supposed was the European manner.
There was something different about Adeline. Her hair was glossier, her highlights more lusciously caramel. She wore dark beige wool trousers and a cream cashmere sweater. A bloodred Birkin rested on the sideboard. Charlie had never seen one in real life before.
She supposed it was very different tobea billionaire, rather than just thedaughterof a billionaire.
Looping her arm through Red’s, Adeline circled his wrist with her hand. “It’s so good to see you,” she said, looking up at him. “Darling, you’re goingto have to loosen up. We’ll practice that now you’re going to be Remy. Do you think you can bear answering to his name?”
“No,” Red said, through what seemed like gritted teeth. “I’m not Remy.”
She gave a long sigh. “I know. It’s awful. But we’ve always made do with less than ideal circumstances. Invent another name. Not Red. Too many of our associates know it. Not Vincent, of course. That doesn’t suit you at all—which is, no doubt, why you chose it.”
He didn’t respond.
“Carver,” Adeline said finally. “Now that might work. Your friends called you than in school.”
“It’s certainly more appropriate,” he admitted.
Charlie bit the inside of her cheek and told herself that she was glad Red was going to get Salt’s money. Adeline clearly thought she wouldn’t be, so Charlie wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of being right.
“So, what? He has to sign some papers and then you give him half the family fortune?” Charlie asked.
Adeline gave a tinkling little laugh. “Isn’t that what I promised back when we were at the Cabal tower? I brought Remy back from the dead so that Red could live his life and receive his inheritance.” She went to the bloodred Birkin and hunted around inside of it until she came up with a folded manila envelope. With a small, secretive smile she handed it to Red.
He ripped it open, accidentally ripping it so wide that the contents fell to the floor.
Charlie instinctively knelt down to help gather them up. Two credit cards—an American Express in a silver metal and a black Mastercard. And paperwork, clipped together with a heavy brass clasp.
“It’s no Palladium,” Adeline said, indicating the card. “But I want you to have it until everything is settled. Look things over, then we can go to Grassl Law offices, where you’ll sign the papers in front of them and get things notarized. The probate judge has agreed to hear us privately. He’s going to honor Salt’s original will, which gave you an equal share to what I got.”
“I assume you’ve paid him,” Red said, his voice empty of emotion.
Adeline laughed. “I’ve paid all of them.”
Charlie flipped through the paperwork. Bank forms, with dizzyingly large numbers on them. And something else. Charlie held it up. “Financial and medical power of attorney? He’s supposed to sign that over to you?”
Adeline’s smile was sly. “Toprotecthim. From people who might try to manipulate him. Or feel entitled to his money.”
“He’s supposed to jump out of the frying pan into the fire?” It felt good to have someone to channel her anger toward, someone who richly deserved it.
“None of that is necessary,” Red said. “I’ll sign whatever gets me a driver’s license and nothing more.”
Adeline frowned. “Darling, don’t be ridiculous—”
“The money is yours,” he interrupted.
