AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know anyone, but if Will does, I’ll hook you up. It’s a little weird that you asked me, but I guess it must mean we’re friends. Creepy.”
“I’m just a creepy kind of guy,” Dan said, grinning.
“Don’t look now, but they’re bearing down on us,” Lisa said, getting ready to introduce Will to Dan.
“Everyone, you know Dan Chua. At least Pam knows him,” she said, giggling.
Andrew Roman stuck out his hand. “Dan, of course I remember you. We served on a committee together about fifteen years ago.”
“Will, this is Dan,” Lisa continued.
“Nice to meet you,” Will said. “I think we’ve met. Years ago, regarding an identity issue.”
Dan thought for a minute. “Yes! I had forgotten all about that. It was probably the main reason I went into estate law because the case was so interesting.”
“I’ve never had anyone tell me anything I did was beneficial to them,” Will said, chuckling, the others along with him.
“What happened?” Laura asked.
“The family of a missing person wanted to resolve the estate when a body was finally located, but making a positive identification took some time, waiting for DNA, that sort of rigmarole. Dan represented the insurance company.”
“Yeah, exposing the inner workings of the insurance business didn’t appeal to me after that case,” Dan said. “I was sorry the family had to go through so much to collect what was rightfully theirs.”
“I don’t remember the missing person case, and we’ve lived here forever,” Pam said.
“It was another beach incident, which made the national news,” Will said, looking at Andrew Roman. “Sir, do you want to hear this?”
“I’m interested. I don’t remember a specific case.”
“You will when I tell you the name. Gilgo Beach?”
“Of course,” Roman replied. “Seven bodies. How could I forget that?”
“Now I remember,” Pam said. “The women were always grouped together in the news, so I didn’t think of them individually.”
“It was quite the case,” Will said. “A lot of drama in the sheriff’s department.”
“A lot,” Dan said. “Well, here we are! Years later in the lap of luxury, thanks to Pam.”
Everyone who had a glass lifted it. “To Pam,” Laura said. “The annual party is off to a grand start!”
“Hear, hear!”
The caterer announced that the food was ready, set up under an enormous tent on the south side of the property. The children, their nannies and mothers converged, and soon every chair was occupied, with most of the guests accounted for.
“I don’t remember this many people ever arriving so early,” Pam said. “They’d wait until later in the day, coming for dinner and dancing.”
“Maybe it means they’ll leave early,” Dan said. “I know you’d be happy to be in bed before two for a change.”
“Oh, look, Laura’s sitting with Jake. I wonder if he’s telling her the news.”
“And there’s Sandra and Roman. I knew it was meant to be.”
“Are you jealous?” Pam asked, studying his face.
“Get real, Pam. Are you jealous that Laura is talking to Jake?”
“No, why would I be? She’s young enough to be his daughter.”
