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“I tried that,” he said. “Fairview had hardened the doors. Only choice I had was to break down the loading-dock wall, and I had to use explosives to do it. ”
“And you just carry those around with you. ”
“Yeah,” he said, “I do. In my job, it pays to be prepared. ”
“Like a Boy Scout. ”
“With C-four. ”
There were a substantial number of trucks pulled up in the driveway, unloading materials. Repairs, it seemed, were already under way, and a work crew in hard hats was swarming around the place looking purposeful. Bryn got out of the SUV and walked toward the building, then stopped. She turned to Joe. “What about the bodies?” she asked.
“Which bodies?”
“Fairview, Fast Freddy, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. Garcia …”
“The basement bodies. They were removed already. ” Joe cleared his throat. “Mrs. Jones and Mr. Garcia were special problems. They were, ah, cleared separately. ”
He meant dismembered. Or burned. Or both. Bryn felt a little wave of faintness come over her, and had to grip Fideli’s arm tight for a second until it passed. He didn’t say anything about it, which she appreciated. Once she felt steady again, she started to walk on—and then stopped, stock-still. She turned to look at Fideli. “Just those two?”
“Yeah,” he said, and his brows came down to a level, concerned line. “Why?”
“Because Fast Freddy was the same. Like me, I mean. Revived. ”
“Fuck,” he spat, and pulled out his cell phone. He turned away and marched off, talking softly but quickly. She waited. He finally finished and came back, looking even grimmer. “Should have done a blood test. Damn it. Body’s already been processed and sent off for cremation. ”
“Well—that’s okay, then, right?”
“Would have been,” he said, “except that nobody had any warning ol’ Freddy might get all better, get up, and walk away. Which he did. He’s in the wind. ” He shook his head. “Listen, Bryn, I’ve got to get back—”
“Yes, of course. I’ll be fine, Joe. Thank you for … for everything. ” Including, she thought, the clothes on her back … a gift from Kylie of a butter-soft tan sweater and jeans that fit like a dream. Even the shoes—loafers again— were her size, or close enough. Kylie had gotten her sizes and gone on a midnight shopping run, and that woman had some clothing feng shui, no doubt about it. “I’m sorry. I should have told you about Freddy. ”
“You had other things on your mind, and I never asked. This one’s on me,” he said. He climbed in the truck and started it up, then leaned out the window. “Forgot to tell you, your ride’s over there in the lot. It’s the black one. ” He tossed her a set of keys, which she caught automatically, still not understanding. He grinned at her and backed out, then gunned the engine to a full roar on his way out of the parking area and onto the main road.
Bryn watched until he was out of sight, then looked around again. She wasn’t quite sure what her role here was supposed to be, considering the damage that had been done—or she wasn‘t, until a big Cadillac sedan made the turn off the road and pulled up in the lot near her.
Lucy, the receptionist, got out and stood there, staring. “Lord,” she said. “I was told, but I didn’t believe it. Is it true? Mr. Fairview, gone?”
“And Freddy,” Bryn said.
Lucy tore her gaze away from the damaged building and glanced over at her, lifting an eyebrow. “I’m not crying over him. Oh, you didn’t meet him, did you?”
“No,” Bryn lied. “I went home. After … after what happened to Melissa. ” That, Fideli had told her, was the official story, and it made sense. More sense than what she’d done. “I guess Mr. Fairview and Freddy were working late. They say it was some kind of explosion and fire. ”
“Some of those chemicals are real nasty,” Lucy agreed. “It’s just awful. Well, I suppose both of us are out of a job. ”
“No. ” Bryn took a deep breath. “I … I was Mr. Fairview’s niece. ”
“You what? Why didn’t anybody tell me?”
“He wanted me to make it on my own. Without any special treatment. You know. ”
“Well, that’s just like him, fair as always,” Lucy said. “What a good man. But still …” She let it go. “I guess you’ll be inheriting the place? I know he didn’t have a wife or any children. ”
“Yes,” Bryn said. “I’m going to get it up and running as fast as possible. You still have a job, Lucy—if you’re willing to work for me, I mean. I really need your help. You know so much, and I have so much to learn. ”
“You must be related to Mr. Fairview. You flatter just like him. ” Lucy tilted her head slightly, her expression gone calculating. “So you want me to be more of an administrator, then. ”
“Of course, there’s a raise,” Bryn said.
