Chapter 23: The Seat

Arthur woke in a private room on the top floor of Lakeshore Memorial, down the hall from the suite where Elsie had spent her first night.

His right hand lay still on the blanket, and his speech was slower than it had been.

"Don't cry," he said, when she came in. "I'm too tired to be sorry."

"You stood up too fast, Dad."

"I stood up to see my girl." The corner of his mouth lifted. "You were very good."

Elsie sat on the edge of the bed.

The twins were in the corner in their carrier, asleep, with Darius's coat spread over them.

"I want you to take it," Arthur said.

"Take what?"

"The chair. The company."

"Dad. You'll be better in a month."

"Maybe." He closed his eyes. "I've run it for forty years. I'd like to see it run by someone who was in a ward bed once."

Elsie looked at the old man's thin face on the white pillow.

"I counted pills in the basement of this hospital," she said. "I don't know anything about freight."

"You know how to read a ledger. You found thirty-six wires in a folder."

"Darius found them."

"Darius will help. He'll stand beside you, if you let him."

Arthur opened his eyes and looked at the man by the window.

Darius said nothing, but he took a step forward.

"Not behind," Arthur said. "Beside."

"Yes, sir."

Elsie took her father's hand.

"I'll take it," she said. "First I have a check to collect."

The courthouse steps were thick with people at ten.

Trent had pleaded guilty that morning to fraud on his investors and to the break-in.

The judge had ordered full restitution before sentencing.

His lawyer waited on the top step in a good coat, holding a long envelope.

Elsie came out of the courthouse doors with the twins in the double stroller.

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