days, I barely l

t was not particularly important but trou

responsibility kept landing in m

my phone

rk message, but when I look

Margaret Parker, w

call for a few seconds be

el

nd before Margaret's voice came through. "Ha

you need?

with us this weekend. I've already made a reservation. It

d not

not have helped my father, Richard Parker

t bottom

is between you and the family." She paused, then added, "Your

lence, I relented. "Send

clearly

the call ended, the

face down on the desk, and retu

..

wall had alread

back of my neck and closed my la

I could not help muttering unde

cursin

enly came from s

documents in my hands nearly s

ed my h

d there with his suit jacket draped over one arm, the top but

but I kept my face calm. "

lowly and stoppe

enly. "Because I hea

s into my bag. "Then y

seemed to tw

curse people. Looks like you

looked up at him. "Are you still here this

e only glanced at me

ze. "

, "It's already this late. Were you

need. I can get

lked toward the elevator. "I just don't want to hea

conds before picking up

nd our reflections appeared sid

s was the first time

had already dri

nfusion once agai

eemed to make me h

difficult to put into words,

me, but in the end, h

not harsh, but it lef

there's no need.

niel sounded impatient. "Now I'm saving yo

eft spe

ng wheel and stared a

there for a few seconds, I opene

eipt slipped out from ben

a luxury jew

meant to l

lry set" were glaringly obvious, f

ost instantly, I thought of

e had seized my hear

e years, he had n

t coldness, yet turn around and s

ing to spare that rec

otice anything u

steering wheel as he a

about to give him t

d in now was the apartment Daniel and I had rent

d not noticed my reaction, I lowered my eyes and gav

op me of