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When the call finally came through and I was able to set a meeting for the following morning, I was grateful to have a private plane at my disposal.
“We have forty-eight hours to get in and out,” said Buck after I hung up. “However, if for any reason you need to stay longer, we’ll figure it out.”
Within minutes, Irish, Cope, Ali, and the team of bodyguards were gathered in our cabin.
“Ink and Rock, you’ll travel with us. The rest of you stay put.”
“Buck?” said Rip. “You sure you don’t want me to go too?”
“You’re needed here.”
“Copy that.”
“In order to make the most of our time, we’ll leave at twenty-three hundred hours. That’ll put us on the East Coast at zero six hundred. Stella’s appointment is at eleven hundred hours.”
“Has he said anything about the location of the safe-deposit box?” asked Ali.
“He has not. What he said was he had a great deal to discuss with me regarding Barb’s will. I’m hoping that’s part of it.”
“What about the death certificate?” asked Irish.
“Stella made arrangements for it to be overnighted directly to the attorney.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me or some of the other guys to travel with you?” Cope asked Buck.
“I’m sure. We don’t need more targets to cover, and you’d be one.”
“Copy that.”
“If there’s nothing else, we’ll move out at twenty-three hundred. Thanks, everyone.”
“We’ll sleep on the plane,” Buck said after I spent much of the time between everyone leaving and when Ink and Rock showed up to take us to Gunnison either pacing or on my laptop. “There’s a stateroom we can use.”
I doubted I’d be able to, but I had to at least try. I needed to have my wits about me when I met with the attorney, and in order for that to happen, I had to rest.
31
Buck
As I’d anticipated, Stella didn’t get any sleep on the plane ride, and while we were checking into a hotel shortly after we landed, I doubted very much she’d sleep before meeting with the attorney.
After driving from JFK to Manhattan and checking in, we still had four hours to wait. As long as we got in and out of the lawyer’s office quickly, were able to find the location of the safe-deposit box, and the bank granted Stella access, given she’d have a copy of the death certificate and the will with her, we’d be back in Colorado with time to spare.
“I hope this isn’t just another fucking wild goose chase,” I heard her mutter from the hotel room’s bathroom.
I finished brushing my teeth and came out to find her standing by the window, looking out at the city. I stood behind her and massaged her shoulders.
“Why didn’t I just take the fucking key that day? She could’ve told me which bank the box was in, and maybe she wouldn’t be dead.”
I didn’t think it would have made any difference and doubted Stella did either. It wasn’t necessary for me to say it, though.
“Come lie with me.”
“Buck, I can’t.”
“Just for a few minutes.”
I kicked off my boots and stretched out on the mattress. When Stella did the same, I gathered her in my arms.
