Page 104 of The Innovator

Or maybe it was because my prayers had been answered—I was finally getting the closure I deserved.

“How are you feeling, Natalie?” Dolores asked. “I heard about the abduction, and I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“I’m okay. Please have a seat.”

“Do you want something to drink?” Grayson asked us.

“Wine. A big bottle, please.” I needed something to soothe my nerves.

Sergeant Kennedy laughed. “I’d never say no to wine. Give me your best wine, boy.” Her gray hair had grown longer, and she wore it in a braid. She paired a brown jacket over a flannel top with jeans.

Grayson poured three glasses of wine and sat beside me.

Dolores sipped and placed her glass on the table. “This is fabulous.”

“It better be. I paid thirty grand for that.”

Dolores blinked and grabbed the glass again, downing it. “Then I better make sure it doesn’t go to waste.”

I laughed and agreed the wine was fantastic.

“I volunteer at RISD because my husband was a film and animation professor there,” Dolores began. “When Sam passed, I continued volunteering. I met your father at one of the fashion show presentations. He loved one of the indie films Sam had worked on. We started chatting, and I told him Sam left a property to me, but I didn’t know what to do with it.”

Grayson rubbed circles on my back.

“Your dad told me you’re very passionate about your work, but family responsibility trapped you. Restricted your creativity.”

Tears welled in my eyes. Dad knew me more than I thought.

“He wanted The Prism so you could start your own company here in the States. No one would know your connection to LaRue. Even if they did, it would be two separate entities. You could do whatever you wanted with your own label.”

Grayson offered me a tissue.

“Thanks.” I dabbed my eyes. “Were you the one who sent me the deed and his pocket watch?”

Dolores nodded. “He mentioned about his sister. Though he didn’t say much, he asked me to keep the property private until he resolved some financial issues at LaRue. He also gave me the watch. Maybe he sensed something was wrong and needed to prepare. He’d speculated his sister had gotten the company into financial hardship on purpose, but needed proof.”

I’d always wondered why House of LaRue suddenly had financial issues. Now I understood the reason she never offered Mom or me straightforward answers.

“Why weren’t there any keys to the property?” I asked.

“Sam had so many keys, and I didn’t know what set belonged to which building. He wasn’t the most organized individual, but I loved him. I gave your dad several keys, hoping they’d work. Maybe they didn’t, and he never got the chance to get new locks and keys.”

Even if I had the keys, the crime organization that took over the passageways would have changed the locks anyway.

“The timing of the plane crash didn’t sit well with me,” Dolores said. “So I hid all the information about The Prism from the City of Providence. I’d been employed there forever. No one questioned me when I gave them an answer.” Her eyes sparkled. “When I saw your resume, I knew it was Eugene’s daughter in disguise. I’m on the hiring committee, and I vouched for you.”

“And here I thought I got hired for my credentials.”

“Sweetheart, your resume was fine, but there were other candidates who were more qualified because they had municipal experience. You had none, and the jobs you put down were fake. People on the hiring committee do their research, but I took your resume and told Commissioner Conner that you’d be a great fit for him.”

I reached across the table for her hand. “Thank you for helping me.”

“You’re welcome.”

* * *

After Dolores left, I stayed on the couch and finished another glass of wine. Dolores took the bottle home, promising she’d finish it when she got home.

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