“No, it’s fine. Sorry, I forgot. Please, come in.”
Bailey carefully and purposefully wiped his feet and crossed the threshold.
Abbie took his overcoat and hung it by the door. “Mr. Bailey, what we’re meeting about today?”
Bailey hesitated, “Abigail, I’m here to go over your father’s will.”
Abbie held a brief empty stare at Mr. Bailey. His words took her by surprise. My father had a will? Of course, he had a will, you ninny.
“You sure now is a good time? I can come back later,” said Bailey and backed toward the coat closet.
Abbie responded politely. “No, it's fine.”
Chapter 17
Abbie set a path for her father’s office, which was connected to his library. Mr. Bailey waddled behind her. Bailey had been her father’s lawyer since she was born. He likely knew his way around Dr. Talbot’s house better than she did. Growing up, Abbie often wondered if there were any secret doors or rooms in the house like those seen in the movies. It was that type of home.
They both passed through the library doorway that opened into a square room with cathedral ceilings where the shelves were wall-to-wall, from floor to ceiling full. The bookshelf on the far wall with the glass doors and lock held Dr. Talbot’s prized first editions, which includes Don Quixote, part one published 1605 and part two in 1615. There was a running joke between Abbie and her father about these particular books—they were written in Spanish, a language Dr. Talbot could not read or write.
Abbie continued through the library into a short hall that ended in her father’s office. She sat at her father’s cherry-wood antique desk. She faced her father’s chair. Bailey’s short legs and an awkward gait kept him a few steps behind Abbie, but he eventually joined her there. He sat next to her, lifted his leather attache, and placed it gently on the table. A couple clicks of the locks and Bailey had papers in front of him.
Bailey and Abbie share a moment of awkward silence as the two of them sat facing Dr. Talbot’s empty chair.
“Shall I begin?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” She answered nervously.
Mr. Bailey cleaned his half-moon shaped reading glasses with his handkerchief before resting them on the bridge of his nose. He flipped through several pages of the document before him.
“Mr. Bailey, please don’t take this the wrong way. There’s nothing in that will bring my father back. I know he had money and life insurance and all that. That means very little in comparison.” Abbie’s dried the pooling tears in her eyes with her shirt sleeve. “So, can you please not go through the formalities. Let’s just get this done.”
Bailey nodded. He understood. The family lawyer had known Abbie from a baby. He was practically family. He knew Anthony had a good relationship with his daughter. He knew their relationship was impenetrable after his wife died. Abbie meant everything to Dr. Talbot, and Bailey knew Dr. Talbot meant a great deal to Abbie.
Bailey closed the document he fumbled through and exchanged it with a folder from his briefcase. He opened it and read.
“There’s the life insurance.” He handed Abbie a check.
“No,” she held up her hands. “I don’t need to see it. Just put it into his account.”
“You’ll need to sign it.”
“Fine, I will.”
“He left the house. It was paid off some years ago.”
Abby was trying her best to keep her composure. She brought her legs close to her chest and hug them for comfort. She nodded. “Is that it?”
“Three patents related to his cancer treatment research. Copyrights, book royalties, and his bank account.”
“We done?” asked Abbie. All of this was too definitive for her. She had come to grips with her father being gone. But all of this was overwhelming.
“One more thing.”
Bailey pulled a business card from his briefcase. He rose and approached the wall where a reproduction of The Creation of Adam, the fresco Michelangelo painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He swung the painting open like a door revealing a large wall safe. Bailey punched several digits on the keypad before the magnetic actuator clicked loudly. He opened the safe and removed a briefcase a little smaller than the one that sat on Dr. Talbot’s desk.
Bailey placed the briefcase in front of Abbie.
“What’s this?”
“No idea. Your father’s instructions for me only included where it was, the combination to the safe, and that I was to give it to you.”
Abbie examined the case and noticed a small panel recessed under the handle. She pressed it. The panel flipped over, revealing a small LED screen and a tiny phone-sized keyboard.
“Any chance you have the code?”
Bailey shook his head. “Just this.” He handed her an envelope.
Abbie ripped open the envelope and opened the folded paper, dropping a business card on the floor. She retrieved it. The embossed raised letters on the front of the card read “Anthony Talbot, Ph.D.” She turned it over. She recognized her father’s handwriting.
“Really?” complained Abbie. She smiled as her emotions overwhelmed her.
Bailey asked, “What, dear?”
Abbie gave Bailey the card. He read it. He smiled and shook his head as he returned the card to Abbie.
“His little puzzles and math problems. He knew I didn’t like them. He pestered me with them when he was alive.” She smiled. “And, apparently, after he’s gone too.” Abbie gave Mr. Bailey a speculative gaze as she held up the card. “Any guess what this means?”
Bailey let out a hearty laugh. “Sweet, girl, there’s a reason why I chose Law in college.” Abbie shook her head and shared a laugh with Mr. Bailey.
Chapter 18
Abbie finished her meeting with Mr. Bailey. He explained that her father had enough savings and reoccurring income to where she could take time off if she wanted. Abbie was undecided. It comforted her to know her father thought ahead, but she would rather have him.
After her dealings with Mr. Bailey and the responsibilities that remained from her father’s estate, she had some quiet time for herself. She had a short conversation with Brian over the phone and agreed she would have lunch with him. She did not give him a date but assured him she would call in a couple days. She showered, threw on some baggy sweatpants and shirt, and cuddled with a warm blanket on the couch with a glass of wine in hand and ready to drink.
Abbie gulped a taste of her Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape. She closed her eyes and exhaled a deep breath in hopes that some of the stress in her life from the last two weeks would exit with it.
She opened her eyes. They found the envelope her father gave her. It felt like it was staring at her. She leaned forward and reached for the envelope. A quick grasp and she rocked back on the couch.
She opened the envelope one-handed and unfolded the paper with her teeth. She tossed the envelope next to her noticing the card with her father’s riddle peeking out just above the fold. She took the letter from her mouth and followed it with another large drink of her marvelous red wine. She sat back and read.
Chapter 19
My little girl. I’m sorry if you are reading this. If you are, then it means I, too, left you way too early in the game of life, and now you are alone. Hopefully, my departure was peaceful.
“Not Hardly,” commented Abbie.
The briefcase I left behind contains the last twenty years of my work…my life. It explains why you grew up with a nanny and why you saw very little of me through most of your life. After losing your mother, I was outraged of the thought that others were allowed to live while your mother was taken from us. I fixed that by finding and dispensing justice myself, through the power of science that will affect millions, maybe even billions. I have entrusted this secret with you and only you. I know you hate my math riddles. However, when you solve the puzzle, you’ll open the case. You’ll know what to do when the time comes. Until then, know I love you, and I’m sorry.
A
bbie’s facial features squished in confusion as she gazed as the paper she just read. What the hell does any of that mean? She shook her head and placed the letter beside her. She thought about the words her father said. Affecting millions…billions? What the hell? Abbie reached for the card that rested on the envelope. She reread it.
(73-72)162
The math was simple. The number meant nothing to her.
Chapter 20
“Keep going,” said Emma.
“That’s it,” said Abbie as she folded up the letter and returned it to the envelope.
“What?”
Abbie nodded. “Yea, that’s the end.” Abbie returned the envelope to her purse.
Emma topped off her coffee and held the pot over Abbie’s cup, ready to pour.
Abbie nodded, and Emma filled the cup and dropped two sugar cubes in it.
Emma returned the coffee pot back to the burner and joined Abbie. The two women continued their conversation in the quaint breakfast nook of Emma and David’s apartment.
Emma looked perplexed. “Any clue what he meant there at the end?”
Abbie laughed. “Not a clue.”
“You figured out how to open it?”
“No,” Abbie said reluctantly.
“You going to try? It is what your father wanted.”
Abbie leaned back. She used a sip of coffee to delay her answer. Emma was her best friend, but Abbie knew how Emma felt—what she thought Abbie should do. More to the point, Abbie knew how she felt. She was unsure if she wanted to share it with Emma.
Emma insisted. “Well?”
“Em, I totally get where you are coming from. I do.”
“There’s a but coming.” Emma smiled.
“But,” Abbie returned a smile, “try to look at this from my perspective. I have no mother. And now, no father. I’m tired, Em. I’m ready to trade in this life for a different one.”
“A life with Brian?”
“Maybe,” Abbie said candidly. “But normal sounds like a good change for me.”
Emma rose and gave Abbie a big hub. “I’ve got your back whatever you decide. But sooner or later, this mess with your father is going to surface. Before you make any major decisions, just think about it one more time. It’s always better to face these things on your own terms rather than being forced.
Emma dropped any further discussion about Abbie’s situation. She diverted the conversation to shopping and her upcoming trip with David. She stayed clear of anything related to the hospital. The two women enjoyed their coffee and each other’s company.
Chapter 21
Later that evening, Emma sat upright in bed reading. David Hoffman, her husband, entered from the bathroom wearing pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. He did one of the few things that annoyed Emma—trying to have a conversation while he brushed his teeth. He spoke.
“I’m sorry, honey,” replied Emma. “You seem to have something in your mouth that is preventing you from speaking in any known language.”
“Fuhn-nee,” David said while he avoided drooling a mouth full of toothpaste on himself. He returned to the bathroom, and reappeared moments later, drying his mouth with a towel.
“How’s Abbie doing?”
Emma turned the page of her book. “Confused. Hurt. But mostly lost.”
“Should we pass on Africa. You know? Make sure she’s okay. There’s another opening in six months. We would be first on the list.”
David was the big brother that Abbie never had. He always watched over her, not that he needed to. Emma was like a mama bear with her cub when it came to Abbie.
Emma shook her head. “No bother. Brian’s back.”
“Brian?”
Emma nodded as she turned another page.
“He’s back?”
“Yep. She’ll go back to him. Perhaps it’s best for now until she finds her way. We don’t need to worry about Abbie.”
“No?”
Emma closed her book and placed it on her nightstand. “No,” she said as she raised her eyebrows seductively. “For now.” her voice took on a provocative tone. She could have passed as a phone sex operator. “Come over here and remind me why I married you.” She smiled and sunk into the bed from her upright position.
David wasted no time. He threw the towel he used to dry his mouth on the bathroom counter and shut off the bathroom light. “Right away, Dr. Hoffman.”
Chapter 22
David slowly approached the edge of the bed.
Emma turned off her light, the room went dark, with the faint brightness of the moon that peeked through the barely opened slits of the blinds.
David’s eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. He climbed on the bed. On his hands and knees, he crawled across the bed toward Emma. He worked his way past her feet and stopped at her calf. He kissed softly and slowly, working his way past her knee.
David’s short kisses were moist to the touch. He knew all the rights places and had just the proper finesse and pressure. Emma was already in the mood. David’s kisses aroused her further. She felt his trail of kisses leave her knee and move toward the inside of her thigh.
Emma arched her back. Her skin tightened, and goosebumps followed. The sensation of David’s kisses following the inside of her thigh made her hips thrust forward. David paused. His lips gently sucked the soft skin of her groin. He compassionately kissed his way up the curve of her black lace thong until he reached her abdomen.
Emma was hungry for David. The tingle she felt across her body made it impossible for her not to gyrate her body to David’s loving, sensual touch. David’s breath was warm and moist on her abdomen as he peppered the area around her navel with soft butterfly kisses. Emma saw her husband raise his beautiful blue eyes toward her. She was done with fooling around. Using her finger, she gestured for him to come to her.
David gathered the sheet behind him. He pulled it over him and Emma as he crawled forward and braced himself over her.
Emma shared a loving gaze with her husband as their eyes met. She raised her head and kissed him. His lips were soft and moist. His breath minty. She tenderly bit his bottom lip between kisses.
Emma tugged at the bottom of David’s shirt. She wanted it off. She enjoyed the way his skin felt against hers. He raised up and pulled his t-shirt off. Emma brushed her hands across his well-defined chest. She was warm inside and ready to have him. I love this man. She stared magically into David’s sparkling eyes as his forehead and brain splattered on her, the headboard and the wall.
David’s body fell on Emma's chest. It briefly twitched and convulsed before it went motionless. Her husband's blood mixed with his gray matter spotted Emma's face like she had the measles. Blood from the gaping hole in David’s head emptied on her and the bed.
“Fuck!” yelled Emma. Her instincts kicked in as she pushed her limp husband's body off her. She reached for his throat… for a pulse. There was nothing. A loud click caught her attention. She looked.
Smoke rose from the silenced barrel of a 9mm pistol pointed at Emma. The man holding the gun had dark hair combed back, wore a dark suit and a smile.
“Let’s talk about Abbie,” he said in a thick Ukrainian accent.
Chapter 23
Abbie read the time on her watch as she exited the Lyft ride. She closed the door harder than she wanted. Emma’s last-minute call to meet was interrupting her plans with Brian. She waived apologetically to the driver before he sped away.
Abbie rush-walked to the stairs that led to Emma and David’s apartment. She quickly scaled the first flight but slowed to her average pace in the middle of the second flight. She topped the stairs and headed toward the corner unit.
She pushed the button on the doorbell and waited… and waited some more.
“Emma, it’s me, Abbie. I’m here. Open up.” She called out.
Nothing.
She pushed the button twice more and followed with a few raps of her knuckles on the door.
Abbie angrily dug through her purse. Call me up at
a moment's notice… tell me its urgent… and then don’t answer the door. She pulled out a key on a keyring, unlocked the door, and entered Emma’s apartment.
“Emma?” She waited a few seconds, but no one answered. “I’m here.” Abbie felt a little uneasy as she made her way around the common area of the apartment, calling out Emma’s name. Why would she call and then not be here?
A faint noise caught Abbie’s attention. She turned her head, pointing her ear toward the direction of the sound. She listened. Water…from the master bedroom.
“Seriously?” called out Abbie. Her nerves were set at ease. There was a rational reason why Emma did not answer the door. “You invite someone over but then take a shower?” She navigated her way into the master bedroom, her attention entirely focused on the running shower and giving Emma grief over it. Abbie continued, “How can anyone hear the door from here?”
She entered the sizeable steamy bathroom. “Hey, I’m here. What’s so important that it couldn’t wait?” The only sound Abbie heard was the water from the showerhead beating against the shower’s tile floor.
Abbie opened the glass door to the shower. “Enough with the games. What’s up?” Abbie peeked around the corner. The water circling the drain was not clear, but with a tinge of brownish-red as it whirled its way down the drain. She followed the drops of water to their source.
David’s drenched body hung from the showerhead. His eyes wide open, staring at her vacantly. Blood, from where his forehead once was, gradually ran down his face and dripped into the stream of water.
Chapter 24
Abbie's eyes widened at the horror of David’s lifeless body dangling from the shower. She stepped back and tripped over her feet as she turned. She ran toward the door based on her intuition as she looked over her shoulder as if David’s body was going to chase after her. Seconds later, Abbie bounced to the floor off the large man that blocked the exit from Emma and David’s room.
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