The list of tasks we needed to accomplish had grown longer, while the window in order to complete them had narrowed even further. I’d chosen today’s outfit with care. Word of my mother’s death was practically front page news for the gossips among us.
The black pantsuit and blazer set the right tone for “mourning,” even if I could barely register grief for Melissa Benedict Reed’s death when almost all of my focus was on Andrea. Where was she? Who was she with? What was happening to her?
Appearances, however, had to be kept. The fact Tally was at a woman’s power breakfast meant this was an ideal location to corner her. King wouldn’t be with her, nor most of her family.
“Miss Benedict,” a familiar voice said, equal parts solicitation and sympathy. It took a moment for me to register the woman approaching with her hand outstretched. It was the salt-and-pepper hair pulled fiercely back from her face and secured into a tight chignon that gave her away.
All hard angles and high cheekbones, Mrs. Johanna Thorpe had been born an Adler, however, I didn’t hold that against her. She’d been a very good friend to my grandmother. I was well-aware that she sent her thoughtful gifts of her favorite flowers and the occasional treat basket though more and more, Grandmother didn’t recognize any of us.
I accepted her offered hand and summoned a wan smile. The part I needed to play as a grieving daughter had some specific requirements. The gloves covered my hands and added to the atmospheric black I wore as did the equally opaque sunglasses. Grief, as with all things, needed to be fashionable.
“Mrs. Thorpe,” I greeted her and tilted my head easily as she leaned in to press air kisses to each of my cheeks.
“Darling girl, what are you doing here? I assure you, everyone would have understood if you skipped the event.”
I lifted my shoulders in the most careless of shrugs. “Mother had many interests, as you know.”
None of which was the power of women entrepreneurs or the development of future leaders. Then again, a large number of the donors in attendance didn’t do more than pay lip service and arrive promptly for the breakfast and the mimosas.
“She would be so very proud of you,” Mrs. Thorpe said, her sympathetic smile turning a bit maudlin. “I wish—”
“So do I,” I said, cutting her off before she brought Grandmother into it. “But if you’ll allow me, I’m just going to make an appearance, listen to the introductory speaker and then slip out quietly so I don’t distract from the rest of the event.”
“You won’t be a distraction at all.” Despite her firm words, some of the worry around her eyes eased. “But if you need anything, anything at all. Let me know? I’m sure you will release the funeral and memorial service plans soon.”
Well, this was as good a time as any to begin spreading the word. “Perhaps. Though with the crash and all…” I just let it trail off and Mrs. Thorpe nodded swiftly.
“Of course, of course. That makes so much sense. That poor family and your sister…” Genuine sorrow inhabited her voice and my heart wrenched at the open display. “Is she home…?”
“Not yet,” I told her. “I’m going to her soon. We thought it best we keep her out of the immediate fray.” I hated this lie more than any other. While we would absolutely have kept her out of the “fray”, committing to the lie was a soul deep bruise that throbbed more with every passing moment. “If you’ll forgive me, Mrs. Thorpe…”
I needed to escape this conversation before her pity drowned me. She squeezed my hand once more but nodded, murmuring, “of course, of course. Do let me know if I can do anything…”
Not lingering, I withdrew my hand and continued down the hall to where the marble tile gave way to carpeted floors. The lush hotel was an ideal location for the gathering of this size. The conference center meeting rooms easily accommodated more than twice the number I expected to see inside. The tables were spread out, with the more prominent members up front.
As always, wealth and power dictated precedence. Inside, the lights were lower and I had to remove my sunglasses. Wearing them through the hotel allowed my eyes to adjust to the gloomier room far more easily.
Serving staff weaved among the tables, delivering coffees and orange juices. The Benedict table was at the front. I didn’t bother going to it. Every seat was filled with executives from different charities, as well as two vice-presidents from the company. Prior to the dimming of the lights, those executives would have given everyone a good look at my “absence” and fed the hungrier gossips.
For the moment.
The executives and the vice-presidents were better off attending than I was anyway. They didn’t need to be wealthy to benefit from the networking and speeches. I scanned the room even as I moved more to the side. Karagiani actually settled next to me, his bulk offering me something resembling cover while I searched for my second oldest friend.
My other best friend. The bruise on my heart grew claws and dug in deeper. That sorrow couldn’t be allowed purchase. I had a task to accomplish today and finding Tally was just the start of it.
As expected, she wasn’t at the Marlowe table. Her family’s wealth and position afforded her many of the same privileges as mine did. More so, at times, she wasn’t the designated heir. Once upon a time, I’d envied her freedom but I was second-guessing everything now.
Everything.
As the director of the foundation crossed the stage to the podium, Tally murmured something to the woman she’d been speaking to and rose. I tracked her as she made her way through the room, skirting the center with the kind of skill we’d both developed over the years. Some presentations were deadly dull. If the only purpose for being there was to show our support and be seen, then our work was generally done when the presenters began.
The attention would be on the stage, and the much-lauded guests they’d spent a large amount of money to see while eating a generally tasteless meal of chicken and vegetables. The luxury wasn’t even found in the seating arrangements. No, it was all about making sure the foundation got the bulk of the money and we got to pat ourselves on the back for our devotion to charity.
Mission accomplished as it were.
Tally paused. A hand to a shoulder here, another to the back of a chair, or a quick handshake as she made her graceful exit.
“You may follow,” I reminded Karagiani. “Remember, I want to talk to her alone.”
Another consideration, as we’d discussed this earlier. What Tally and I had to say was for us and no one else.
“I’ll make sure no one interrupts. Don’t leave my line of sight.” Compromise offered.
“I can do that.” Compromise accepted.
“Lead the way,” he murmured. As Tally finally left the orbit of the tables, I moved. She was already diverting to an exit on the far side. If I recalled correctly, it was a hallway between other meeting rooms. She was either escaping to “powder” her nose and head to the bar or she was just leaving entirely.
Karagiani matched his pace to mine. I kept to the edges of the room, going wide. The only people in my path were wait staff who were placed at intervals in order to refill water or clear away finished plates. Not thirty seconds after Tally pushed out of the door, I was right behind her.
The light was brighter out here. A wide array of doors at the end of the hall opened out of the hotel, but I didn’t let those distract me as I followed. There were no signs posted about other events taking place. I hadn’t noticed any when we came in.
This was good.
Tally had her phone out and her focus was on it as she walked. Her fingers flew as she answered some text messages. My stomach sank as I tried to focus on everything I needed to know and everything I needed to say.
None were words I ever imagined saying. I picked up speed, gripped her arm and cut left through an open door into an empty meeting room. The low lights were more than enough to make out the stacks of chairs and folded up tables.
“What the he—Lainey!” Tally said abruptly as she spun to face me. “Oh my god. I’ve been so worried about you.” She wrapped her arms around me in the kind of hug we often exchanged. So familiar and normally so welcomed. She even smelled like Tally with the faint touch of something floral underscoring her perfume.
