Return of the Reaper novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: The Lobby

The sun room had a Christmas tree in the corner, already hung with paper snowflakes.

Six residents sat around card tables in cardigans, and two aides stood by the coffee urn.

Everyone in the room could see Cade Cavanagh holding an old woman's hand.

That was why he had chosen it.

"Let go of her," Noelle said.

Her voice was very quiet.

Cade smiled at her mother instead.

"Marian, look who's here. Your daughter. She's gotten so thin."

Marian Tarrant turned her head slowly.

Her eyes were pale blue and a little cloudy, and they passed over her daughter without settling.

"Is it Thursday?" she asked.

"It's Tuesday, Mom."

"I have to be at the school at three."

"I know. I'll take you."

Doyle stayed where he was in the doorway, with his hands loose at his sides.

He could cross the room in four steps.

He could break Cade's wrist in two.

An aide at the urn was watching him, and so was a man with a walker, and a woman with a puzzle.

That was the other reason Cade had chosen it.

"Mr. Roark," Cade said warmly. "I wanted to thank you personally."

"For what?"

"Taking the pressure off. My father has been so tense about Saturday. He sleeps better when he knows you're in town."

"Let go of her hand."

"I'm only visiting."

Doyle walked into the room.

He took the empty chair across from Cade and sat in it, and the whole sun room seemed to hold its breath.

"You have no business here," he said.

"A lot of people say that to me."

Cade turned his wrist, and a gold watch slid down from under the cuff.

"Funny thing is, the family has been a generous friend to this home. Ask anyone who works here."

The aide at the urn looked at her shoes.

Cade lowered his voice, though not by much.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Return of the Reaper from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.