Page 53 of Nigel

“Are you done?”she asked him coolly.

“You areupset.”

“What gave itaway? Can you make lunch or not?”

“I can. Look,honey, I love you, you are my little sister.”

“I have notbeen little since I came out of the womb and I happen to know what Iam doing. I am doing my brothers the courtesy of telling them aboutthe man I have every intention of marrying and I would love theirsupport.”

“You got it,”he told her quietly. “Luce’s?”

“Yes. Perfect.”

Chapter 11

Lionel sat there athis desk for a few minutes, before reaching for his private line. “Iam conferencing Jeffry.” His tone was abrupt as soon as hisbrother came on the line.

“What?”

“I don’tlike to mince words as you well know- Ah! Jeffry, I hope you are in aposition to speak.”

“I am at theprecinct. What’s the problem?”

“We have beeninvited to lunch by our sister. I am assuming you will put offwhatever it is you both have going on to attend?”

“You justaccepted for us?” Kyle demanded. “I have a number ofpatients lined up.”

“And I have adouble homicide on my hands.”

“I am quitecertain you both can find someone to cover for you for an hour. Youare not goddamned indispensable. I have a bitch of a case that isthreatening to beat my ass and I am taking the time. You can too. Whothe hell is this guy she is supposed to be in love with and why am Ijust learning about him?”

“She metsomeone?” The question came from Jeffry.

“So it seemsand she is in love with him. Kyle, what do you know?” Lionelasked when his younger brother remained silent.

“I think weshould wait until we talk to her.”

“Kyle, spill.Now.” Jeffry’s voice was silky with menace. “Who isthe guy?”

“Someone shemet when she had to cover for one of the maids,” he muttered.

“Name?”Lionel’s deep voice told him plainly that he was satisfied withnothing less than a truthful response.

“Ah, NigelHawthorne.”

Both Jeffry andLionel lapsed into silence.

“As in theNigel Hawthorne?” Lionel was the first to break the silence.

“What the hellis he doing with our sister? If he thinks he is going to goddamneduse her?”

“We need togive her some credit,” Kyle said angrily.

“A guy likethat interested in Ava? It sounds a little far fetched.” Lionelwas busy pulling up the information on Hawthorne. His eyebrows liftedas he scrolled through dozens of photos of the man with variouscelebrity women hanging on his arm.

“Ava isbeautiful,” Kyle snapped it out. “He would be lucky tohave someone like her.”

“I am notdiscounting that, but she is not his type.”

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