Chapter 12: Sunday

"Mr. MacGovern," Evan said again, and the roses sank in his hand.

Adam walked across the terrace without hurrying.

The guests left on the roof had gone completely silent.

"Mr. Lacey," he said. "I didn't expect to find you at a party."

"Sir, this is, I can explain, it's a personal matter."

"I got your voicemails."

"Then you know it was a misunderstanding."

Adam turned to me.

He didn't say anything.

He only waited, with his hands loose at his sides.

Every face on the roof looked at me.

It was the same lobby feeling, only now it was mine.

"Tell him to enjoy his week," I said to Adam.

Evan's mouth fell open.

"The gala is still on," Adam said to him. "Seat at table one. Bring Ms. Hathcock."

"Sir?"

"You've worked hard for Salesman of the Year, Mr. Lacey. I'd hate for you to miss it."

Evan looked from his boss to me and back.

He was sweating through his shirt.

He did not understand, but he understood enough to be afraid.

Adam held out his arm, and I took it.

We left through the crowd, past Daphne with her bar bill in one hand and Evan standing frozen with his roses.

Nobody followed us to the elevator.

Sunday morning came in gray and slow.

I woke in my own bed with the sheets changed, and Adam asleep on his side of it with one arm over his eyes.

He had slept in my condo for two nights.

He slept the way he did everything else, quietly and completely.

I watched him for a while.

The scar on his knuckles was a thin silver line.

I put my finger on it.

His eyes opened.

"Good morning," he said.

"It's Sunday."

He went very still.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Five of Us Went to the Theme Park, They Only… from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.