Page 11 of Slow Burn

Josh snorted. “We’re going to see the worthless son of a bitch who for a decade and a half let his own wife and kids think he was dead. I doubt we’ll share any Hallmark moments today. You’re welcome to come.”

Nikki was torn. She did have questions. A million of them. Why did the two partners steal from their clients? Why did they run? Why did Vernon never come home? Why did he and Everett think it was okay to destroy dozens of lives? And for what?

Jake sighed. “Come if you want. I doubt he’ll talk, anyway. He won’t want to incriminate himself.”

The cynicism in Jake’s voice didn’t entirely conceal a son’s pain. Vernon Lowell had betrayed his own flesh and blood. How could he have been so selfishly cruel?

“My mother is with Emma. Let me see if she can stay.” Nikki stepped out into the hallway and called her mom’s cell. It wasn’t hard to fabricate an excuse. Besides, Roberta loved spending time with her granddaughter. Not to mention the fact that Nikki partially supported her mother. Other than a small government retirement check, Roberta had no income. The woman who had once been a society maven and influencer now shopped for groceries at a discount store and drove a ten-year-old car.

Nikki liked to think her mother had adapted to their new reality, but the truth was, Roberta never gave up hope that one day she might reclaim what she considered to be her rightful place in the social scene.

When Nikki returned to Josh’s office, the two brothers had their heads together and were talking in low tones. They both jerked upright with identical guilty expressions on their faces.

“Am I interrupting?” she asked wryly.

“Of course not.” Jake gave nothing away. “We’re ready to head out. You okay with the plan?”

He didn’t mention Emma’s name. The oblique question was odd. “I’m good,” she said.

Downstairs in the employee parking garage, Joshua motioned to a large black SUV. “We’re taking mine. Jake is leaving his car here. He spoke to our security guard and asked him to feed your parking meter. I hope that’s okay.”

“I appreciate it.” She wasn’t going to jockey for shotgun position. Before either man could say a word, she climbed into the back seat. The interior was nice. It reminded her of a Secret Service vehicle. Nothing wrong with that.

Falling Brook was an hour from New York City, depending on traffic and the destination. Once Joshua put the SUV in motion, Nikki fell dead asleep...

She roused as the car slowed and turned a corner. Up ahead, she saw a sign for the correctional facility.

Jake shot her a glance over his shoulder. “You okay back there?”

She nodded, rubbing her eyes and smoothing her hair. “Yes. I can’t help thinking about all the times my mother and I came to the city for a play. Or shopping. Those days seem like another lifetime, another person. I was spoiled and naive.”

He frowned. “Don’t beat yourself up. You were the only child of wealthy parents. Of course they gave you the best of everything.”

Until they didn’t.

This prison, among others, made the news now and again for overcrowding and poor treatment of inmates. Nikki shivered. Her own father could have landed here before his certain conviction. Maybe death had been a kinder sentence.

When the three of them exited the parking garage a short time later, Nikki huddled into her coat. The wind whistled through the streets between tall buildings. The sun was out, but it shone hazily behind a thin veil of clouds.

Once inside they had to go through a security checkpoint with a metal detector. She began to wish she hadn’t come, but it was too late to back out now.

Joshua signed a visitor log for the three of them, and then they sat in a waiting room. About fifteen minutes later, a uniformed security officer appeared in the doorway and called Joshua’s name. Jake and Nikki stood, too. Her stomach fell to her feet.

Without overthinking it, she slid her hand into Jake’s. He was about to see his father for the first time in a decade and a half. What was he thinking? His fingers gripped hers tightly.

The officer’s face was stoic. “Mr. Lowell has changed his mind. He doesn’t want visitors today.”

After a moment of silence, Josh cursed beneath his breath. He and Jake had both gone pale. Joshua straightened his shoulders. “Perhaps you misunderstood. My father asked us to come today. We’re here as a courtesy to him.”

The man shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. Mr. Lowell was perfectly clear. He’s in his cell, and he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

Nikki could feel the tension in Jake’s body. “Well,” he said, his tone gruff. “I guess that’s it.” He turned on his heel, dragging Nikki in his wake.

Joshua followed them out onto the street. They all stood on the sidewalk, stunned. Nikki let go of Jake’s hand, self-conscious now that Joshua might notice.

Jake exhaled and stared at the ground. “I’m not sure why we’re surprised. The old man is a class-A bastard. We’ve done our duty. Now we’re off the hook.”

Joshua shook his head slowly. “I can’t believe it. Why would he ask us to come and then refuse to see us?”

---