by Dale Mayer
"Sure, take a look. Maybe he left something behind? Maybe his cell phone? It would explain why you haven't been able to reach him." He shrugged. "I wouldn't have heard it ringing with all the commotion going on in the other room."
Shay took out her cell and tried her grandfather’s number again. Nothing.
"Maybe his cell phone battery is dead," Roman suggested.
"Good point." She gave the chair a good going over. "Nothing here." She used the opportunity to look for Pappy's energy signature. There it was. Strong and clear. Weird. It went out the other door – probably the main doorway to the office. She needed to go out there and follow his trail. With a smile directed at the lawyer, she thanked him, adding, "I'll go and check my office. He might have shown up there by now."
Roman spoke up. "Are there provisions in the will in case Shay dies before the assets are transferred?"
The lawyer raised his eyebrows so they were almost hidden under his hair. "Bernice insisted I put in a clause so the assets would go to five different charities if that were to happen."
"Good." Shay moved away from the chair and looked under it. "Make sure I know the list of charities. I'll take a look at their needs to determine the amount of money they require on an annual basis to keep them flush."
The lawyer smiled. "And that's what Bernice would have wanted."
She walked to the doorway Pappy had left by. Roman fell into step behind her. In the main reception, Shay followed the energy instinctively, taking the same route her grandfather had.
"Shay?"
Roman's voice stopped her. She turned to look at him. "What?"
"Where are you going?"
She blinked. And turned around. Pappy's energy went to the left. The main exit was on the right. Turning toward the receptionist, who was busy on the computer, she asked, "Excuse me, what's in that direction?"
The receptionist smiled. "That's McElroy's office. Did you need to make an appointment to see him?"
"I'm actually looking for Charles Lassiter. He was here close to an hour, maybe an hour and a half ago. He's gone missing and given his age..." She gave the woman a small concerned smile. "I'm worried."
"Charles was here. He saw both lawyers. But he left before the reading."
"Oh? Do you know where he went?" She held out her own cell phone, habitually checking for messages once again. "I haven't been able to locate him."
"He didn't say." She smiled. "He did say he was planning to meet a special lady for lunch."
Shay felt something go still inside of her. Surely that was her. Had he made other plans and forgotten to tell her? "Do you know who he was meeting?"
"No. He didn't say."
Shay didn't know what to say. Talk about being sidelined by the unexpected. Roman came up behind her. His hand landed on her shoulder and he squeezed gently. "Maybe Charles had other plans for the afternoon?"
Shay couldn't see it, but...what did she know of his private life. He'd loved Bernice…but Bernice hadn't been available... Did he have another lady friend? She'd never looked into the energy in his private life. That was…private. And came under the heading of something she'd never do to him.
"Come on. Let's go collect Grandfather. We could all use some lunch."
He led her toward the hallway and the elevator.
She was still surprised. "I'd planned to have lunch with him myself. Surely he was talking about me? I can't see him having a date."
"Why not?" Roman laughed. "And all the power to him."
"No, you don't understand. He loved Bernice. This is a traumatic time for him."
"And maybe he's not on a date, but enjoying the comfort of an old friend. It's not you obviously so let's give him some space. We'll give him another shout after lunch.
With that, she Roman led her back toward her office.
Now if only she could find some sign of her Pappy on the way back.
***
They'd barely left the lawyer's office when Roman once again found himself wondering if Shay had psychic abilities of her own. He hadn't connected the dots until he'd seen her studying the carpet. And considered her connection to Stefan – whatever they called it. He choked on the term psychic but knew Dr. Maddy and understood some of what she did. Stefan's reputation preceded him. His skills were proven in the field.
What about Shay? Did she have similar abilities? And if so, what could she do? He'd been wracking his brain looking for a reason for her odd behavior. Even in the lawyer's office she'd gone around the room, as if following something no one else could see. But now…
"What's going on, Shay?" He turned to look at her, but she was back to studying the floor.
Roman shook his head. What would it take to have her trust him? He was a fine one to talk. And he probably should fix that. But if he confided to her it could bring up questions he had no answers for.
"Shay?"
Startled, she spun around to look at him, concern pleating her forehead. "I'm trying to figure out if Pappy came this way."
"I understand that, what I don't get is how? What could studying the floor tell you?" He dropped to crouch down beside her. He studied the different expressions as they crossed her face. Consternation. Dismay even. Confusion. "You can tell me, you know."
She hesitated, studying him intently. What did she see? How deep did her insights go? It bothered him that there was something she saw in him and his work that he hadn't seen himself. And Stefan… He’d figured it all out. Knew Shay was the model and he also had heard and understood Shay's insights into the artist’s character and motivation. And until Roman had those same insights…well, he wasn't looking to share his most intimate thoughts.
Her lips quirked. "Can I?" She cast a last look on the floor then straightened in a smooth graceful movement that made him realize the superb muscle tone of her thighs. His artist's eye immediately filled in the dense quad muscle stroking up the length of her leg, the lean hollow hips, and the long, smooth expanse of skin in between. Damn. He closed his eyes.
He wanted her.
But if that wish came to fruition before he could explain his art to her and she found out...yeah, that would be a bad deal all around.
A little too much too explain, and a whole lot too late.
***
Shay didn't know what to say. Casting another fruitless look around, she realized she was on the verge of telling him about how she could see the energy people left behind. And how she was reading that energy to try and track her grandfather, but something held her back. There was the whole trust issue again. "I don't think I can share that with you." She stared at him directly.
His brows met on the bridge of his nose. His gaze narrowed. "And why is that?"
"I don't want to deal with any criticism you might have. Especially right now. I have to stay positive – in the light." She hit the button for the elevator. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't see Pappy's energy. According to the receptionist, and Shay had no reason not to believe her, Pappy had left with the intention of meeting a special woman for lunch. If so, then his energy had to be here. And it wasn't.
She just couldn't see it. And why was that?
She also realized that Roman was unnaturally silent at her side. The elevator opened. She walked in. Roman followed her and stood slightly behind her. She sent the elevator down to her floor. Roman never said a word.
As the door opened, Roman spoke quietly behind her. "I'm not sure what that means, but I'm not critical, you know. I try hard to be very open minded."
She cast a surprised glance behind her. "Are you?" At his nod, she muttered lightly. "Good thing."
At her office, she unlocked the door once again.
"Finally. I was about to come and get you." Gerard sat up from his slouched position on the couch in the waiting room. "Did you find him?"
Roman said, "No. But apparently he left the lawyer's office heading for a luncheon with a special lady friend?"
Surprise lit Gerard's gaze. He was still for a momen
t and then he laughed and laughed. "Good for him. Sly old dog."
"That's it? That's all you can say?" Shay shook her head and motioned toward the main door. "Let's go now that I'm not having lunch with Pappy. I could use something to eat before my assistants bury me in work."
With Roman and Gerard discussing Pappy's life choices, she led the way to the street level. Outside, she took a deep breath and smiled as the sunshine brought out the optimist in her. The sun always seemed to keep the worries away. Still, she had no explanation for why she couldn't see Pappy's energy upstairs in the hallway or leaving the lawyer's office. She should have been able to trace him in this amount of time. Pappy was older, but his vitality was strong. His energy was normally a strong, pulsing wave.
Unbidden, Tabitha came to mind. Then Pappy’s strange disappearance… Could her attacker be after Pappy? She hoped not. But was Shay missing something simple?
Such as Pappy having an innocent lunch with a lady friend? If Shay was wrong about that, was he in danger? As they didn't know who the friend was, there was no way to know. If he were in danger, Shay should have seen an indicator, something that would reveal a negative energy at work. Feel something.
Unless the negative energy was hidden…
Or an energy was hiding her Pappy?
***
Knock, knock…
Hey, Shay, once again, this job has proven to be too easy. I had hoped for a bigger challenge. Honestly, is this the best you can do?
Since I began this vendetta, I've watched you work. I've watched you play. And boy, you don't play much.
Do you know what I could do with all that money?
A hell of a lot more than you.
I know how to live. How to have fun.
You sit in your ivory tower and dream of better days, but you don't DO anything.
Like how pathetic is that?
Chapter 15
Monday, early afternoon…
Shay walked back to her office on her own. Lunch had been a simple affair. She’d barely spoken, and Roman and Gerard had kept to general topics. She'd ignored Roman's worried looks directed her way.
Her mind was too full. She called her grandfather as she entered the elevator again. She probably should have walked up the seven flights of stairs, but she hadn't been able to stop the feeling that she'd missed something. That she should have been at the office before this. Available for Pappy to find her.
But he could have called her any time. In fact, she'd called him a dozen times. And still no answer. Maybe she should go to his apartment. See if he was sleeping.
At her office, Jordan bustled around, filing away documents. Rose was busy on the phone. As always, Jordan's cheerful personality made Shay feel better. Just being around the two women brightened her mood. "Any messages, Jordan?"
"The lawyers handling Bernice's estate called to set up an appointment for tomorrow for you to go over some paperwork regarding Bernice’s bequest to you in the will."
"Right. I should have done that when I was there." Shay walked through to her inner office and sat down. Jordan trailed behind her.
"Should have, but they caught up with me instead, so no worries. Although…" She turned and gave Shay a curious look from the doorway. "I guess you’re even wealthier now?" With a casual shrug, she called out as she walked back to her desk. "Lucky girl."
"So not about that," Shay muttered. She heard the other two women talking.
"You shouldn't bring stuff like that up," Rose said disapprovingly."
"Why? I'm just curious." Jordan sat down so hard, Shay could hear her chair squeak. "I didn't mean any harm."
"It's her personal life. Not office stuff."
"Whatever," Jordan said casually. "She doesn't care."
And that was that. Shay almost laughed. If only the bequest could be handled so simply. She checked her emails. Nothing important. Good enough. She walked back out. "Ladies, I'll be out of the office for the rest of the afternoon. I'll take some of these applications home tonight. Hopefully, I'll have time to go over them this evening."
"If not, then not." Rose gave her a comforting look. "You don't need to work so hard."
Jordan shook her hair, and turquoise braids flipped around her head. "You don’t need to work at all. You haven't even had time to grieve for the loss of your old friend yet."
"I know. And I'm not likely to have more time anytime soon."
"All these funerals make one think, don't they?" Rose sighed and stared out the window.
Rose's statement hit Shay as she was reaching for the door. "In what way, Rose?"
Her receptionist looked up in surprise. "Oh, just about life and our lives. The parts we waste and the parts we do well with. It's like our time here is so short, and we don't understand it until it's too late."
"Now if only we could learn that lesson early in life."
With that, Shay walked out, her arms full of new applications. At the parking level, she walked through the empty basement to her car. Unlocking the vehicle, she dumped the work in the passenger seat and hopped in.
It was just a few minutes to drive to Pappy's place…only his car wasn't in his spot. She had wanted him to give up driving last year after he'd had a fender bender. It wasn't the accident so much as the stress he went through afterward. It had been days before he'd been able to drive again. Shay had suggested that it might be a good idea to give up driving, but that had made him all the more determined to get back behind the wheel. He was a good driver. But he was eighty, and his reflexes had slowed.
Regardless, Pappy hadn't appreciated the suggestion.
She hadn't repeated it.
Where could he be? He was never out of touch like this. Not this long. Unable to leave without checking his apartment, she parked in his spot and walked to his condo. On the ground floor, she let herself in with her key.
"Pappy. Pappy? Are you here?" The apartment appeared empty. She walked through, checking out the small space. Pappy definitely wasn't there. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and called Pappy's number. There was no answering ring in the apartment. So he hadn't left his cell at home. Unless his damn battery had died. She checked his bedroom again, but there wasn't any sign that he'd come home and laid down either. The room was spotless, as always.
She opened her inner vision and searched for any lingering energy to show he'd had a visitor.
There was nothing new. Pappy's energy hovered from early this morning, but there didn't appear to be a second energy. So there was nothing to be found here.
So he hadn't returned here with his lady friend.
She locked up and walked out. At her car, she turned around and studied the area. He wasn't out walking. That didn't mean his car wasn't broken down on the side of the road or that he wasn't visiting friends.
His absence could be nothing.
But it didn't feel like it.
It felt like everything.
***
"What is going on between you and Shay?" Gerard walked from the building out into the sunshine ahead of Roman. He dodged around a large group that streamed passed. A horn blared and a taxi sounded its horn in response. Another typical business day in the city.
Roman laughed. "Nothing." And under his breath, he muttered, "Apparently."
"No, there is definitely something there." A teasing lilt in Gerard's tone made Roman groan.
"See, I know." His grandfather shook his finger at him. "A man knows about another man."
"And what do you know?" Roman glanced down in amusement at his grandfather. Word had it that he'd been a hell raiser in his day.
"I know you have a thing for her."
Roman shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to be grilled by his grandfather. In an effort to ward him off, he asked, "Any idea where Charles could be?"
Grandfather took the bait. "Not unless he's holed up in a hotel with that young thing he'd planned to meet for lunch?"
And was that possible? Roman would love to think by the
time he hit Charles's age, he was still capable of enjoying an afternoon pleasuring a new lady. But it was hard to believe in this case. Charles had been worried about Shay. And he had a connection to Bernice and planned to attend the reading of her will; that he wouldn't have missed. No, it didn't make sense that he'd take off like this.
"And if he isn't with this young lady, do you have a second idea?"
Gerard shook his head and motioned around the streets. "He could be anywhere. Shopping. Resting. Doctor's appointment." Gerard shrugged. "Anywhere."
