Unavailable ~ Chapter Six

[bugsfic]

Title: Unavailable, Chapter 6
Authors: Bugs and Aussie
Rated: MA
Genre: A/U, Romance, Drama
Word Count: 5,000
Summary: Will Bill’s sleuthing pay off the way he expects, or will he end up in the doghouse with Jake?


Chapter Six:

Panting and waving a pump with a broken heel over her head, Kara gasped out, "He got away. Damn these shoes! Damn this tight skirt!" She shot Laura an unfriendly look.

Kneeling beside Meier's body, Bill rose with a grunt. "Enzo took off?"

"Yeah, I lost him about two blocks away when this damn shoe broke on me," growled Kara.

Laura peered down at the body, holding her lace handkerchief to her nose. "This is the man you saw at the Sagittarius Enterprises offices?"

Laird shifted back on his heels. "Yep." Cocking his head, he heard the sirens of approaching police cars. "We're in for it now," he said gloomily. Jake peeked out from under the booth's table and then pulled his nose back at the loud wail of the sirens.

Bill gathered Laura close to his side. "Don't you see what Tom Zarek is capable of?"

"There's no definite connection with Tom, is there?" she asked Laird.

"That's what I was trying to prove." Laird stood as his former boss burst through the saloon's door.

"What the hell is going on here?" barked Tyrol, pushing his hat back on his head at the sight of those familiar faces grouped around a dead body.

"Shall we be going to headquarters, Sergeant?" asked Laura, tucking away her handkerchief.

"Yeah, Mrs Adams," Tyrol said grimly as his officers streamed into the dim barroom.

It was a particularly long, grueling questioning, even for the ponderous Giles Tyrol. Then he left the Adams and their friends to stew for another hour before he stuck his head in the examination room and said they could go home. He did not even look at his former subordinate.

"Me too?" piped up Laird, daring Tyrol to ignore him.

"I've got a room full of witnesses saying it was self defense. I want to know where you got that gun, though. You turned in your service piece."

"Someone killed my wife, sir," Laird said with quiet fury. "And they were out there."

Tyrol turned his back and tossed over his shoulder, "Get outta here," as he stormed away.

"Come on, my dear," said Bill, pushing himself up from the hard chair he'd been in for hours. "Let's get you home."

"The car is back in North Beach--" Laura hoped to pick up the trail again.

Her husband squinted at her, reading her bland expression. "No, we'll be getting home; Young Jaffee can pick up the car later. This is way too much excitement for Kara. What will she think of us?"

Slumped in her chair, Kara just rolled her eyes. Laura gave her a little nod, but sighed and accepted Bill's offered arm.

She was not so accommodating four hours later. Lee and Zak sat on the edge of a sofa in one of the parlors, watching her pace, her color high, and her voice higher. "Where could your father be?" she ranted. "He knows he shouldn't be out in this foggy, cold weather!"

"Uncle Saul will watch out for him--" said Zak.

This was exactly the wrong thing to say.

"I should have known they were up to something the minute that old fool went with him. Going out for cigarettes!" She stopped before an onyx-covered box and flipped the lid up. "We have hundreds of cigarettes!"

Lee leapt up to light her cigarette with the heavy crystal lighter. He could barely touch the tip as her lips were quivering with fury.

Kara, lounging on another couch, sighed heavily. "We gotta admit it. They've given us the slip."

"Where could he be?"

"That flatfoot's at this Meier or Smith's place, so they're not there." The young woman hopped up and headed to the drinks cart.

"He wouldn't dare go confront Tom," seethed Laura, wearing a path in the carpet.

The two young men gave each other worried looks. They remembered such scenes so well, when their mother would work herself into a high temper before their father would come home to face her. His stoic face, her rages...They cringed in unison, dreading his return.

Then they heard the front door open and close and the murmur of voices. Laura's back stiffened.

The boys held their breathes. Kara, clutching her drink, huddled in a chair, watching.

Bill stood in the doorway, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Hey kids," he rumbled.

Laura remained with her back to him, staring out the french doors.

The young people mumbled greetings.

"Where's Uncle Saul?" asked Zak.

"He went onto bed. He's still tired." Bill's gaze remained on his wife.

"I guess we should go to bed too." Lee hopped up.

Kara gave him an astonished look. "Mr Adams, where've you been?" she queried.

"Lookin' into some things. No need for you to be worried about it."

Lee watched Laura's shoulders hunch and he cringed, waiting for the explosion.

Laura whirled on her heel. Everyone held their breathes.

"You must be tired as well, Bill. We've had a great deal of excitement today. Let me take you to bed," she said crisply, marching toward him.

"Of course, darling," Bill said, taking her arm.

Once they had mounted the stairs, the brothers huddled. "Do you think he'll slap her around?" whispered Zak. "You know how mother said he would--"

"He wouldn't dare," sneered Lee. "Not with her money."

They missed the way Kara’s face blanched behind them. "Your father wouldn't slap around a woman," insisted Kara.

"You don't know him like we do," grumbled Lee.

She simply arched her eyebrow at him and stomped from the room without kissing her fiance goodnight.

Bill closed and locked the door behind them and leaned on it, waiting for his wife's reprimand.

She stood at the window, closing the drapes. "Have you had any supper?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm.

"Yeah, we picked up some sandwiches for the drive back."

"Back?"

He wasn't going to budge. "Just lookin' into a few things before the cops got there and messed around. I'll tell your private eye about it."

She swung around. "But not me."

"Nope," he said, resolute, his lower lip protruding.

She gasped in frustration. "I thought marriage was partnership to you," she hissed, stomping closer.

"It is. Your friend's name is almost cleared. But it’s meant having you in a room with bullets flying." He took her arms, pulling her close enough to breathe his words into her face. "I'm not gonna lose you. I'm not."

She patted his chest ineffectually. "And I don't want to see you in danger!"

"Aw, don't worry about it," he said with an infuriating masculine chuckle. "Just give your champion his kiss."

She dodged his lips. "Don't think you can charm me, Bill Adams!"

"Charm doesn't have anything to do with it." He moved his hands down to her hips, pulling their bodies flush. "To the victors, the spoils," he suggested, fitting his body into her familiar contours.

Turning her face away, Laura tipped up her chin, her resistance fast. "You can't make this up to me with some kisses."

His fingers were on her dress's zipper. "I got more than some kisses in mind," he said smugly.

"You think I'm some silly girl who can be distracted by your love making?" Eyes blazing, she glared down her nose at him.

"I don’t think you’re a silly girl, but I’m still sure I can distract you anyway."

Furious, she tried to turn away, but Bill bodily lifted her, making her stomach lurch in shock and excitement, and tossed her on the bed.

Bill quickly stripped off his jacket before pouncing on his wife, struggling to right herself on the mattress. He'd been thinking about this all the drive back from Palo Alto, and damn the niceties. Fumbling, he managed to get his pants undone.

Pushing back her hair, Laura gasped, "You wouldn't dare," as she watched him simply shove his underpants down so his hard length could escape, and then reach for her skirt's hem.

"I dare." His hands traveled past the top of her stockings, gave her bare thighs a squeeze before opening them and snaking his fingers under her panties hem. When he found her wet and swollen, he smirked. "And it looks like you dare too."

She turned her flaming face away, still sulking, but lifted her hips in an unspoken invitation.

Until she heard the ripping of her panties.

“Dammit, Bill!” she fumed. “What will Elosha think? She must know you do that when my underwear keeps disappearing!"

Bill shrugged. "Gives the poor woman a thrill, I'm sure.”

Growling, Bill knelt between her legs, holding himself to position for entry.

"What do you mean by poor woman? Elosha has a very fulfilling life. She has her brother with all those children and--"

Bill grabbed Laura's legs, tucking them under his armpits before thrusting forward. She drove him crazy how she could carry on entire conversations at times like this, when all he could do was think of one crude profanity, repeating over and over, a barking order urging him on.

Laura wiggled out of the sleeves of her dress, tugging it down to reveal her breasts to him. He was diving in already when she grabbed his tie, still fully knotted, and yanked his mouth to hers.

He'd give her this; she caught up quickly when she relented. Her shoes' heels pounded on his back, driving him onward. He complied, surging into her again and again.

Lee and Zak walked gingerly by their father's bedroom. Zak cocked his head to listen but it was unnecessary when they heard a thump and a muffled howl through the thick wooden door.

"Should we do something?" he asked his brother.

Lee stiffened. He remembered his mother's beseeching gaze as she went upstairs with their father. She'd wanted him to find some excuse to knock on the door a few minutes later, interrupting her husband taking his rights. He'd done it then, but he didn't owe this new wife anything. She chose this man, after all, and surely could see what sort of crude brute he was.

"No," he said, striding onto their room.

Bill tucked the covers under Laura's chin. She was out like a light. He'd cleaned her up, disposed of her torn garments with a chuckle and slipped her nightgown over her drooping head. "Long day, my darling," he'd murmured before kissing her gently on her swollen lips.

He gathered up his scattered clothing. Hanging his suit in the dressing room, he fished into the jacket's pocket, securing the object he'd found on the bedroom floor of the apartment above the Sagittarius Enterprises office. A ladies' hair comb studded with butterflies. He was sure it meant nothing; just a coincidence. But he hadn't wanted to Saul to see it--it might give him crazy ideas. Bill slipped it into the incineration bin with Laura's underwear.

~*~

Laura found Bill in the morning room, drinking coffee while reading Billy's front page article in the paper. "The boy's back where he belongs," he said approvingly.

Draping her arms around his shoulders, Laura kissed his freshly-shaved cheek. "Good morning, darling," she said with that intensity that made his heart lurch.

He put aside his paper and drew her until his lap. "Forgive me?" He burrowed under her thick curls with his nose to kiss her neck.

"For what? Running off and not telling me what you're doing? Or behaving like some rutting animal?" she drawled, even as she wiggled distractingly on his thighs.

"You love it," he said smugly.

"Not when you run off on me. Bill, tell me where you went," she insisted.

He changed the subject. "How's the party planning going?"

"Oh that." She sighed. "Zak wants whatever Kara wants and all I can get out of her is that she wants beer."

He chuckled, bouncing her up and down. She snuggled closer and his arms held her close.

"Sorry you've ended up with these kids dumped on you. Hope they aren't cramping your style."

"I notice you locked the door last night."

"Damn right. I didn’t want to fall outta bed again. And that was Zak! I remember it was Lee who had the worst habit of walking in when he was a kid."

She shuddered. "No, they're nice young people, if a bit rambunctious. I am not going up in that stunt plane with Kara."

He kissed her cheek. His tone turned serious. "Darling, are you ever sorry you didn't have children? I mean, I suppose it could still happen, but if it hasn't as much as we make love--"

She put her arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. "Oh darling...You know, I hadn't really missed having children. Elosha and I raised my younger sisters; Mother was not strong, even before her death. And with my schools, I felt as though I raised more children than I ever could have bore. When I'd see friends with their children and feel any envy, all I had to do was look at their dull husbands and remind myself how the cart and horse went together."

He laughed again.

Her lips whispered on his cheek. "But now with you...I regret that we had not met earlier in life and not having your child. So if I can help your own in any way I can--"

"I wish I'd met you earlier too. How different things would have been," he said intensely. He turned his mouth to meet hers, kissing her deeply.

"Oh, sorry!"

Lee stood in the doorway, cursing that he hadn't looked more carefully before entering the room. His father sat spread-legged in a chair, like a king on his throne. His wife was curled on his lap, those long legs of hers revealed as her skirt had ridden up above the knee--a knee his father had his hand on.

"Good morning, Lee," Laura said, but did not move, apparently unembarrassed at being caught in such a position. In fact, she lay her head on her husband's shoulder, becoming more comfortable.

Bill rubbed her arm, his other hand still on her knee. "Mornin' son."

"I didn't mean to disturb you," Lee said stiffly.

"No problem. Just sayin' good mornin' to my wife." Bill gave his son a grin that Lee saw as proprietary; Bill Adams was the lord of the manor indeed.

Jaffee hovered in the doorway, keeping his gaze off his employers' intimacies. "Sir, Madam, that police detective sergeant is on the telephone."

Laura scrambled up. "If you won't tell me what's up, Sergeant Tyrol will!"

"You've got him wrapped around your finger," Bill said mildly, getting up to refresh his coffee before Jaffee could hurry over to do it.

She only shimmied her shoulders at him as she made her way to the phone in the foyer.

After a brief conversation, she returned, smug. "The sergeant will be over shortly to give us a report. He wishes that Emily and Peter Laird be present, so I've had Mr Laird called."

She noticed her friend crossing the foyer. "And here's Emily now."

While they waited, Laura asked Emily to help her with the engagement party preparations.

Bill was joined by Saul in his office, only to have the connecting door closed in his face when he kept making 'suggestions' for the engagement party and wedding, each one more crude and randy than the last.

Emily was making a call to the caterers when Old Jaffee announced Peter Laird’s arrival.

The suspended policeman entered the office, along with a small girl of about five who, with her fair hair and generous sprinkling of freckles across her button nose, could only be his daughter.

“Sorry, but someone didn't want to go to kindergarten today,” Peter Laird murmured with a significant look at the small girl clinging to the back of his knee.

“That’s fine, Detective,” Laura assured him, giving the child a friendly smile as she peeked out around her father’s leg.

Bill and Saul slid into the office and both politely shook Laird’s hand.

“It looks like Sergeant Tyrol has also been held up somewhere along the line anyway,” Bill explained.

Behind them, Emily hung up the telephone and swivelled in her seat, drawing the child’s attention.

“Emmy,” she cried out, skipping over to the secretary before her father could grab her.

“Patty!” Peter’s admonishment came out as a strangled cry which his daughter ignored. She instead crawled up to comfortably settle into Emily’s lap.

Laura and Bill exchanged a meaningful look, but Jaffee’s knock on the door stifled any comment they were going to make.

“Detective Tyrol and Mr Taylor have arrived, ma’am,” he announced.

“Taylor? Your private dick? What’s he doing with the coppers?” Saul hissed out from the side of his mouth.

“Dunno. Those types don’t usually get on real well,” Bill noted.

“Send them in, Jaffee,” Laura ordered crisply, but then her gaze wandered to the little girl now leaning her head contentedly on Emily’s shoulder.

“Saul, why don’t you take Patty to the kitchen and rustle her up some milk and cookies,” Bill suggested before Laura could speak.

Saul’s mouth gaped open and one eyebrow arched up so high it disappeared into the wrinkles of his brow.

“Me?” he squawked.

“Well, yeah.” Bill nodded. “You used to look after my kids when they were little.”

“Yeah, but they were boys! She’s a girl!” Saul spluttered.

Bill chuckled. “First time I’ve ever heard you admit you don’t know what to do with girls.”

“I’m not sure...” Peter Laird injected, fretfully glancing from his daughter to Saul.

“You don’t want her to hear anything Tyrol has to say,” Bill reminded him gently.

Laura nudged Saul’s arm with her elbow. “Take her to the kitchen; Elosha's there.” She gave Peter a comforting smile. “It’s okay. She was my nanny.”

Emily stood and handed the child over to Saul.

“Elosha’s very nice. She’ll take good care of you,” Emily’s strong tone reassured father and child.

Despite looking doubtful, the little girl nodded, determined to please her father and friend.

Snatching her up, Saul strode toward the door, Patty's legs dangling as he held her under the armpits. She squealed with a mix of delight and fear. Saul grunted disgustedly as Tyrol and Taylor passed him on their way in.

Laura waved everyone to take a seat before getting straight down to business. “Detective Tyrol, what news have you got for us?”

"What's Stinger doin' here?" Tyrol jerked his head toward Taylor, who ignored the policeman's tone and smoothed his slick black hair back.

"Mr Taylor's doin' some work for us," rumbled Bill. "You can talk in front of him."

Tyrol nodded reluctantly. “Well, the good news is that we’ve advised the DA to drop all charges against Mrs Kowalski,” he informed them.

Emily sagged further into the chair with relief.

“You think it was this Mr Meier? You found something when you searched his apartment?” asked Laura.

“Yes, Mrs Adams," said Tyrol grimly. "We found a slip of paper with the Lairds' auto plate number on it.”

“But why?” burst in Peter. "I never arrested him--"

The Chief turned his sad face to his old friend. “He kept his apartment, a flat on Harrison, in the name Meier. Meier dabbled in some small-time crimes, extortion, pimping, that sort of thing. With this Enzo fellow.”

“And his other life as this Smith person?” Bill asked.

“Mr Smith was the respectable General Manager of Sagittarius Enterprises. Smith lived above his office and, other than a new lady love arriving quite recently, was, according to his neighbors and work associates, a quiet upright citizen.”

“So, the clients of Sagittarius Enterprises had no idea about any of this?” Laura said as she moved to her husband's side, needing the comfort of his strong arm.

“No, none whatsoever." Tyrol shook his head. "And from what we can determine, he was willing to go to any lengths to make sure they continued to see him as legit.”

“He saw Detective Laird watching him? And thought he was going to be exposed?” Emily guessed breathlessly.

Tyrol nodded. “It would appear so.” He settled a sympathetic look on his subordinate. “Sorry, Pete. She got caught in the cross-fire, so to speak.”

Laird let out an anguished groan. “So it’s all my fault? I killed her by proxy.”

“No,” Laura and Emily denied in unison.

“You weren’t to know, Pete,” Tyrol added. “After searching Meier’s apartment, we headed back to Palo Alto to search Sagittarius Enterprise’s offices and Mr Smith’s apartment. Seems like someone had already beaten us to the punch there.”

The detective squinted firstly at Taylor, then cast a look over to Peter Laird before finally settling his gaze on Bill. The room fell silent as the occupants paused dramatically for someone to make an admission.

Bill carefully kept his features neutral. “You think one of Meier’s crime pals ransacked the place?” he asked innocently. "That Enzo sure went runnin' off after Meier was shot."

“That was one of our possible explanations,” Tyrol replied blandly.

The police detective stood and slapped his hat against his leg before squashing it down onto his head.

“Well, I’ll be going to fill in all the necessary paperwork,” he said, nodding in Emily’s direction.

“And Detective Laird will be reinstated?” she asked fretfully.

“Not yet.”

“But--”

Tyrol held up his hand. “We do have a dead body and a gun without a license.” Then, in a softer tone: “Give us a couple of days.”

Once Tyrol had left, Bill peered over at Taylor. He’d noticed the private dick watching Peter Laird’s small breakdown with ill-disguised disgust earlier.

“We can dispense with your services now, Mr Taylor,” he said, moving to show the man the door. “We’ve found out who the murderer was without you.”

“No, you’ve found out who the fuzz are blaming for the murder. But I did dig up something you might all be interested in,” Taylor added, puffing out his chest importantly.

Bill’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah, what?”

“I found out who owns Sagittarius Enterprises. And the owner’s identity does show that Meier definitely knew that killing Marie Laird would distract his boss. But the next question is, did his boss think that killing Marie Laird would distract his boss.”

“Tom Zarek?” Emily gasped.

“Tom Zarek,” Bill snarled out Laura’s General Manager’s name at the same time.

Taylor nodded.

The color drained from Laura’s face. “Tom Zarek?” she murmured.

Saul perched on the kitchen stool, his long legs drawn up as though he feared rising waters. Which perhaps a small child loose in the kitchen seemed to him.

"Now get me those eggs from the icebox," Elosha ordered the little girl, who scampered toward the big refrigerator.

"Careful with them eggs," Saul fussed as he watched Patty try to lift the big bowl of eggs.

"Then help her out, Mr Saul." Elosha continued to mix her dry ingredients in a big bowl.

He scrambled off the stool to scoop up the bowl for the child.

"I wanna do it." Patty stuck out her lower lip as Saul set the eggs on the large table beside the maid.

"Okay, okay," he griped. Scooting the stool over, he gingerly lifted Patty up and set her on it before the table. "Can you break an egg?" he asked.

"Can you?" Elosha asked him.

"Yes, I can! I did all the cookin' when I was home," he blustered.

"Four eggs then. Mix 'em up in a little bowl first."

"I can mix," Patty said importantly.

Saul rolled his eyes when he got down a small bowl.

"Best put an apron on," said Elosha.

Saul found one of Cook's aprons and handed it to the little girl.

"I meant for you," Elosha said, hands on her hips.

He yanked down another apron from the hooks and wrapped to twice around his waist. The little girl was grappling with the huge apron. He took it from her and draped it around her neck as though she were a patron at a barber shop.

"Mr Saul, I can't get my arms out," she whined.

Elosha stifled a snort. "Mr Saul, the child wants to mix."

He groaned loudly, desperately needing a stiff drink and a cigarette. Instead, he cracked the eggs one handed, trying to show Elosha some flair.

After thanking him, the maid assisted the little girl to mix the eggs. "Did you help your Mommy cook?" she asked gently.

"Yes." Her tongue captured between her teeth, Patty stirred carefully so the eggs did not slosh.

Saul and Elosha exchanged sad looks over the girl's head. He had to turn away. At the window, he blew his nose loudly on his large handkerchief.

"Taste?" asked Elosha gently. "The batter's better than the cake."

She was holding out a wooden spoon filled with batter.

Saul shuffled over and lipped the yellow cream from the spoon. His gaze locked with Elosha's large dark eyes.

"I want some!" Patty interrupted just before Saul could say what was on his mind.

The moment lost, they both turned their attention to the child and cake making.

Laura told Jaffee, "When Mr Zarek arrives, please show him into my husband's office."

Bill started to follow her into the room, his face set. Laura turned and blocked his way. "May I use your office, darling?" she asked coolly.

"What?" he rasped.

"I will be speaking with Tom alone; he's my problem."

"Laura--"

"Bill, Tom Zarek has been with me for a number of years. He deserves the opportunity to defend himself and I know you won't give that to him."

Clamping his jaw, Bill shook his head.

"Exactly," she said, closing the door in his face.

He turned like a coiling cat, looking for a victim to unleash his fury on. Stinger Taylor was in the foyer, and blinked in shock.

The doorbell rang.

He considered confronting Tom Zarek before he could ever meet Laura. But he knew he had to respect her wishes.

But it didn't mean he was going to abandon Laura in her time of need. He ducked into the adjoining office and positioned himself by the connecting door, ear to the keyhole.

Tom Zarek entered Bill's office, expecting to see that street thug's ugly face glowering at him. Instead, Laura sat at the imposing desk.

"Tom, please have a seat," she said, her tone dull.

"I think I'll stand," he said carefully.

"The police have been here," she said. "They've found Detective Laird's wife's killer."

"I thought--"

"You were wrong."

He laced his fingers behind his back and waited.

"A man named Meier did it."

Tom held his face still.

"They've traced him to a business in Palo Alto called Sagittarius Enterprises. Have you heard of it?"

Being no fool, Tom knew he needed to speak up. "I'm the owner of Sagittarius Enterprises," he said quickly.

"Really." Laura's gaze dropped to the desktop.

"But my business manager is a man named Smith--"

"Smith is Meier."

"What?!" He leaned on the desk, coming into her space. "Laura, you must believe me--"

“Believe what? That you started up a business that would steal contracts out from under Roslin Industries? That that company bought up land and buildings that you insisted Roslin Industries reject? Or that you arranged to have your General Manager kill a man’s wife and have my oldest friend take the blame when she got too close to the truth?”

She caught her breath from rattling through all of Emily's suspicions and looked up into his shocked, earnest gaze, expecting to believe whatever he'd tell her.

"I had no idea," he insisted. "It's just a coincidence!"

She cocked her eyebrow at him, disgusted. She knew he was lying.

His tone lowered. "Mrs Adams--Laura...All I wanted was to start a business, something of my own, something that would make you see me as worthy--"

A horrible realization dawned for Laura. "Worthy?"

His beseeching look was cloaked as he cast down his eyes. “You must understand--”

“I don’t, Tom,” she cut him off. “And,” she added icily, “I don’t actually believe you.”

"How--Laura, I know you love him, but this man, what he's done to you..." Tom's face twisted in frustration. "You never would have doubted me before--"

"Perhaps I should have." She rose. "I'm going to ask for your resignation, Tom. If you don't give it to me now, I'll fire you."

He took a step back, opened his mouth to protest, then saw her expression of steely resolve.

He gave a sharp nod, turned on his heel and stormed to the door. "You have it," he tossed over his shoulder.

When he slammed it behind him, Bill instantly opened the connecting door to his office and Laura was in his arms. He smoothed her hair as she cried on his shoulder.

Tom yanked his hat down on his head. That bitch...That damn bitch thought she could cut him out! He headed down the street to catch a cab; he had work to do.

Then he noticed Lee Adams coming up the hill, his hands shoved deeply in his pockets, his gaze downcast.

"Mr Adams," Tom called, gaining the young man's attention.

Lee looked up. "Mr Zarek."

"Say, how'd you like to get a drink?" Tom asked with a big grin on his face. He was feeling better already.

The young man looked up at the imposing mansion.

"Yeah, I guess I will," Lee said, turning his back on the house to join the disgraced business manager.

End ~ Chapter Six