“That’s Nate Lence,” Bennie said under her breath.
“The Nate Lence?” Declan focused on Nate like a police dog. “Am I allowed to take him outside? We’re already at the hospital. He won’t have to go far to get stitches. Or crutches. It’s convenient for all parties.”
“No.” Bennie smiled. “Just be nice and civil.”
“Is hand-to-hand combat civil?”
“Please be nice, for Mary’s sake. She’s what matters now.”
“Fine,” Declan said, resigned.
Nate reached them in the hallway. “Bennie, I heard what happened and I came to say how sorry I am. About Mary, about you, and everything.”
“Thank you. Nate, meet Declan Mitchell.”
“Nice to meet you, Declan.” Nate pursed his lips, extending a hand to Declan, who shook it without breaking it off.
“Hello, Nate.”
Nate turned to Bennie. “I was just in the lounge. I met Simon’s family and Mary’s. I’m going to get to the bottom of what happened at OpenSpace. I’ll find a way to make it right. First thing in the morning, I’m going to speak to Corporate Giving at CHOP. I’m sure the Blood and Marrow Unit could use a contribution.”
Declan interrupted, “Does money excuse what you did? Firing Bennie? Accusing Mary of disciplinary violations?”
Bennie rushed to say, “Nate, I’m sure CHOP would appreciate that. Now, we have to go. We want to be with Mary’s family as well.”
Nate avoided Declan’s eye. “I truly am sorry. We can talk later.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about, Nate. Good-bye.” Bennie started to walk away, taking Declan’s hand before he used it to commit bodily harm.
“But Bennie,” Nate called after her, turning. “We do have cases coming in, and I’d like for you to represent Dumbarton again. We need you in your former role.”
“No, thank you,” Bennie called back, taking Declan away. “We have to go. Good-bye.”
They left Nate behind, and Declan looked over. “Nice burn, babe.”
“Wasn’t it? And you behaved yourself. Sort of.”
“That’s because I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Bennie smiled, but it faded as they reached the lounge. She could see Mary’s teary family through the glass window. “I hope she’s going to be okay.”
“Me too,” Declan said quietly, opening the door.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Mary didn’t open her eyes, though her head felt better. They’d told her that she wouldn’t need surgery but had to be monitored, with “neuro checks” and “serial CT scans” administered at regular intervals. She couldn’t eat in case she had to go to surgery, but she wasn’t hungry anyway.
She was so tired, but she could hear all of the people she loved around her, and she listened to their quiet voices as if it were the most beautiful music she had ever heard. Anthony was talking to her mother-in-law El Virus, her mother was praying softly, and her father was whispering for the first time in her life. Mary heard Bennie, Declan, and Judy too.
Mary waited to hear Simon’s voice, but she didn’t, and it nagged at her as she drifted in and out of sleep. She worried about Feet and Rachel, wondering how they were. She assumed The Tonys were with Feet.
Mary knew it must be daytime because she felt a warm square of sunlight on her bed, though she didn’t know what time it was. Her head felt heavy and her throat hurt. She could feel the oxygen tube lying against her cheek and a plastic clip around her index finger. She knew she would look horrible, but luckily she was among family, which was best defined as people who love you no matter what you look like.
She drifted back to sleep to the lullaby of everyone talking, and the next time she woke up, she recognized another voice: Simon’s. Mary worried that Simon wouldn’t be in the room long, since he had Rachel and Feet to take care of, so she tried to wake herself up to talk to him.
“How’s Rachel?” Mary opened her eyes enough to see them clustering around her. But no one answered her question about Rachel. She felt a tingle of concern that there was bad news and they were keeping it from her.
“Simon, how’s Rachel?” Mary asked again, dry-mouthed.
“She’s fine,” Simon answered, materializing at Mary’s side and giving her arm a reassuring squeeze.
“For real?”
“Yes, absolutely. They think they might have found a new donor. We have only one more test to go, then we’ll know for sure.”
“That’s wonderful.” Mary felt the news suffuse her with joy. “And your father?”
“Dad’s still stable. He might get a stent. He’s worried about you.”
“We’re all worried about each other.”
“That’s love.”
“Yes, it is.” Mary felt a familiar grasp on her hand, but this time it felt different than before. It was Anthony. “Anthony, you okay?”
Everybody smiled, and Anthony answered, “Now I am.”
“Good. Love you.” Mary let herself drift back to sleep. She didn’t need to hear Anthony tell her he loved her. She already knew.
She was lucky and blessed in him and all of them, and when she finally succumbed to sleep, she felt in a state of grace, even on Earth.
Because Heaven was right here.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Bennie and Declan didn’t get back to her house until dawn, and Bennie shut the door behind them, exhausted and in some pain. The Advil and adrenaline had finally worn off, as if her body knew it was finally time to let down, and as she turned away from the door, she felt a deep ache from her broken ribs.
“Hurting?” Declan asked, concerned. “Why don’t you go upstairs and lie down? I can make you some eggs and bring them up.”
“No thanks, I’m not hungry.” Bennie trundled to the staircase. “All I want is to get out of these disgusting clothes, take a shower, and sleep for a month.”
“Go right ahead. I’ll be up in a minute. I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
“That would be nice.” Bennie kicked off her shoes and trudged up the stairs, feeling achy with each step, holding on to the banister for support. She reached the top, headed into the bathroom, and closed the door behind her. She flipped on the light and avoided the mirror, knowing it would give her nightmares.
She took off her blazer, which was stained with blood that had dried in stiff patches. She was about to drop it on the tile floor when she noticed that one side of the blazer was heavier than the other. She realized something was in the pocket and she put her hand inside, surprised to find Mo’s burner phone still in her pocket. She must’ve left it there.
She pulled it out, shuddering at the bloody fingerprint on the phone cover. It was her print from when she thought she needed to call 911. She flashed on the two cell phones that had been on the floor next to Mo’s body, his company-issued smartphone and his burner phone. Mo must’ve kept the burner for his machinations with Ray and Ernie. It would probably hold evidence that would support her statement, so she made a mental note to turn it in to the police. But she felt curious about what was inside.
Bennie flipped it open and scrolled to the text function, but there were no texts, which probably meant that they had been deleted. She didn’t know if the burner phone supported encryption apps or the like and she was too tired to care. She flipped to the phone call function to check the recent calls. A list of recent calls popped onto the screen.
Bennie recognized the first number, which appeared twice. She didn’t know if it mattered, but it didn’t make sense. She needed her new favorite sounding board.
“Declan, can you come up?” Bennie called downstairs, getting her second wind.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Sunday morning was insanely humid, and Bennie felt the relief of air-conditioning as she opened the door to Vetri’s, the same fancy restaurant that she’d met Nate in before. She acknowledged the maître d’ and made her way through tables packed with people having brunch. The air was filled with happy chatter and g
rinding espresso machines. It smelled like fresh coffee and artisanal rolls.
“So we’ve come full circle,” Bennie said, pulling out her chair when she reached the table.
“We have.” Nate rose while she sat down, looking fresh in a linen sportcoat, blue T-shirt, and jeans.
“Do you have an entire rich-guy wardrobe?”
“There’s a reason for that.” Nate took his seat. “I was so glad when you called.”
“Well, I thought it over. I changed my mind.”
“How so?” Nate leaned over the table with a warm smile. “Is this where you tell me you like me better than Declan?”
“No.” Bennie shot him a warning look. “And no more talk like that.”
“Got it.” Nate put up a hand. “Limit-setting. This far and no further. I got it. For the time being.”
“I mean it,” Bennie said sternly. “Declan didn’t agree with me being here today, but I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I’ve done a lot of great work for Dumbarton, and we’ve been friends a long time.”
“Truth,” Nate said, in an encouraging tone. “So does this mean you’re working for me again? Please?”
“Yes, but with a few conditions.”
“Terrific!” Nate brightened. “What are they?”
“You write to the disciplinary boards and withdraw your complaint about Mary. You dismiss your defamation lawsuit against Simon. And you settle Simon’s suit against OpenSpace for whatever Mary asked, because we have you dead to rights.”
“We?” Nate lifted an eyebrow.
“Yes, and I’m not finished yet. You apologize to Mary when she gets out of the hospital for what you put her through. And you better make a contribution to CHOP. You want to buy your way back into Heaven, it’s going to cost you.”
“And if I do it all? We start over?”
“Yes, I was angry with you, but it’s not fair to blame you for what happened. You didn’t know what was going on. You didn’t even know those guys.”
“Not at all. Thank you.” Nate nodded. “How’s Mary?”
“Recovering, thanks. She lucked out.”
“I’m so sorry she went through that. And you, too.”
“It was pretty awful.” Bennie didn’t want to elaborate, not with him. She was here doing what she had to do. “What are you going to do about what happened? Todd, Mo, Ray, and Ernie were cutting corners on the electrical. A woman died at Bethlehem Bank. They may have been cutting other corners, and how are you going to get to the bottom of it?”
“I turned it over to Jason to investigate and he’s great. He’ll follow the facts and if we need to fire or even charge anyone else, we will.” Nate’s expression turned grave. “And down the line, I’m selling OpenSpace, PowerPlus, and the other subs involved in cubicle manufacturing. I’m getting out of the business entirely.”
“Really?” Bennie asked, surprised.
“Yes, you can work on the deals. It might make you feel better.”
“I’m never happy when people lose jobs, Nate.”
“I’m not closing the companies, I’ll sell them. I’ll lose money, given what those knuckleheads did to the brand, but I want to be done with it. I assume you saw the media. The PR is terrible.”
“What would you expect?” Bennie had seen the headlines and knew that it would bother him. Appearances were everything to Nate.
“Whatever. Now that you’re back on board, I’ll buy another coat company. Do some good in the world. Get into the social justice business.”
“I don’t think social justice is a business, Nate.”
“You know what I mean.” Nate chuckled.
“I do. I know exactly what you mean. In fact, I thought I knew you better than I did, but it turns out I was wrong.”
“What about?”
“I thought you were totally surprised that those guys were up to no good.”
“I was.”
“I thought you didn’t know any of them. Not Todd, not Ray, not Mo, and not Ernie.”
“I didn’t know them. I don’t know them.”
“You disappoint me, Nate. For the last time.”
“What do you mean?” Nate frowned, and Bennie dug in her purse, pulled out Mo’s cell phone, and set it on the table between them, bloody fingerprint and all.
“This is Mo Nustrall’s burner. The blood belongs to me.”
Nate glanced at the phone. He pursed his lips but said nothing.
“Nate, if you didn’t know Mo Nustrall, why did you call him? I looked at his call log. Your number is there twice. The second time you called him was an hour before he tried to kill me.”
Nate’s expression changed, his eyes hardening as he met her gaze directly. “So I take it you’re wearing a wire?”
“Bingo. I just wanted to be the one to tell you that you got caught. I told the cops you would never admit anything to me.” Bennie smiled. “Once the cops showed Ray the phone, he flipped on you. It gave him a bargaining chip, and he served you right up. You knew everything, all the corner-cutting to pad your margins. You found out about it at PowerPlus on one of your factory tours, when you overheard Mo on the phone. But you didn’t fire him, you covered it up and expanded the operation. It turned criminal when Adele Watson died in that fire at Bethlehem Bank, and it was a slippery slope. You conspired to kill Todd, Ernie, then even Mary and me. I’m trying not to take it personally.”
Nate glanced around the dining room, newly edgy. “So there’s undercover cops here?”
“Right again. You’re going to jail for a very, very long time.” Bennie rose, standing aside because undercover police were already in motion, jumping up from their tables and coming toward them. Uniformed police had burst into the restaurant and charged toward the table. They all swarmed Nate, who looked wildly around but realized he had no escape. One cop frisked him, and another slapped a pair of steel handcuffs on his wrists.
Nate looked at Bennie, stricken. “I need a lawyer.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Bennie snorted.
A third cop said, “Mr. Lence, you are being arrested for conspiracy to commit murder and criminal conspiracy. You have the right to remain silent, and if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you…”
Nate tried to hide his face as the police escorted him past the stunned gaze of the other patrons, some of whom raised their phones, taking pictures and filming.
Bennie watched him go with grim satisfaction. She flashed on the picture of Adele Watson from the Bethlehem Bank website. Nothing could bring Adele back, but justice was still the best consolation prize going.
Bennie left the table, grabbing Mo’s phone. Her work here was done, and she had to get to the hospital.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
By Wednesday, Mary itched to go home. She had been moved off of the neurology floor, ostensibly because her condition had improved, but probably because she had too many visitors. Anthony had slept over every night, and Mary’s mother, father, and El Virus stayed all day. Judy, Bennie, and Declan came in and out, fitting in visits around work. The Tonys stayed with Feet, and Simon and his cousins stayed with Rachel, who was still waiting for a donor, the only dark note in an otherwise happy ending.
“When are you getting out of here, Mary?” Judy asked, which was the question of the moment.
“As soon as they can get rid of us.”
Anthony patted her leg on top of the coverlet. “I saw Dr. Drinkwater in the hallway. He said you might be discharged today, but he’d come in and let us know.”
Mary glanced out the window to a sunny sky. “It’s already afternoon, and I don’t want to spend another night here. I’m ready to go.”
“You sure you feel well enough?” Bennie asked, from the foot of the bed. She was back in her khaki power suit, and the bruise on her cheek and butterfly stitches at her hairline only made her look more badass. Her picture and Mary’s blanketed the news, but the TV stayed off in the hospital room. Mary didn’t need the remin
der, and her parents didn’t need the cardiac.
“Yes, I’m tired, but that’ll go away.”
“YOU GOTTA TAKE IT EASY, HONEY. DON’T PUSH IT. DO WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS.”
“I will, Pop.” Mary didn’t have the heart to tell him that the doctor told her to avoid loud noise, stimulation, and excitement, which was the DiNunzio trifecta.
“Sì, Maria, è vero,” her mother said, looking over from the windowsill, where she was arranging yet another vase of flowers. Mary’s clients had turned out in force, bringing flowers, biscotti, and balloons, and her mother had arranged the gifts around the room to make it homey, which even she couldn’t accomplish.
Declan nodded. “You should take the rest of the week off. Just rest.”
Mary shrugged it off. “I don’t think it’ll take that long. I’ll be back sooner than that.”
Judy perked up. “So does that mean you’re coming back, Mary? Like you’re coming back? Mommy and Daddy aren’t breaking up after all? Rosato & DiNunzio forever?”
Bennie shot Judy a look. “That decision is up to Mary. She doesn’t have to make it now. She should think it over and come back only when, and if, she wants to.”
Mary swallowed hard, meeting Bennie’s eye. She remembered that the last time she had met Bennie’s eye so directly, they had been in mortal danger. Bennie had saved her life, risking her own. Mary felt tears welling, but she didn’t want to cry in front of everybody. She didn’t know why she would cry anyway. Everything had turned out okay. She had no reason to cry.
Mary cleared her throat. “Bennie, I’m very sorry that I considered leaving the firm. I can’t imagine a more loyal partner, and friend. I would love to come back, if you would have me.”
“There’s no apology necessary.” Bennie’s expression softened. “And of course, I’d love to have you back. Hell, you’re already on the sign.”