AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Abby tried to keep her expression impassive. “Fredo DeLuca’sdead.”
“I know,” Rosie said. “But there was that whole incident with him coming into the office, before… before the shooting at the hotel. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen Jason lose it. I wondered even then if he was into somethingbad."
“What would that be with DeLuca dead?” Abby said softly, not wanting any of the passing mothers or nannies tooverhear.
“I have no idea,” Rosie said. “I just know that he’s not right. He looks…” She laughed sadly. “Well, he looks a little crazy, to behonest.”
“Crazy,how?”
“He doesn’t look like he’s sleeping.” Rosie’s mouth was drawn, the pretense of a casual meeting dropped now that they were really talking. “And he’s living in the hotel now, which is weird. I know he keeps the suite there for backup, but I’ve never seen him stay more than a couple of nights, and that was only when he was trying to close a deal that had him making international calls at allhours.”
“What do you make of it?” Abbyasked.
Rosie sighed. “It’s understandable, I suppose. He’s under assault from every corner. The FBI’s been in more than once, and rumor has it the board might be looking for ways to get himout.”
“And the hotel?” Abbyasked.
“Business is down,” Rosie said. “The shooting doesn’t exactly fit in with ourbrand.”
“No, I’m sure that didn’thelp."
Abby had helped brainstorm the Tangier’s marketing strategy in the early days of Jason’s search for funding. Its brand was Hemingway traveling across the desert in a caravan of camels, camping in luxurious tents, surrounded by intricate rugs, silk cushions, the finest food andwine.
What it wasn’t was a Mob-related shooting and a runaway CEO wanted as a person of interest in a federalinvestigation.
“Have you considered leaving?” Abbyasked.
“I can’t do that. My job is to lookout for Jason. I’ll do that to the best of my ability as long as he’sthere.”
“He’s lucky to haveyou.”
Rosie opened her mouth to speak, then closed it as her granddaughter came running over. They suspended their discussion as Rosie introduced Abby to the spirited little girl, and Abby spent a few minutes asking Hannah about her weekend with her grandmother. Finally impatient with all the talking, Hannah tugged on Rosie’s hand and begged her to watch her jump off theswings.
“I guess my time’s up,” Rosie laughed, getting to herfeet.
Hannah launched herself across the sand, getting a jump on Rosie as she aimed for one of the freeswings.
Abby smiled and leaned in to give Rosie a hug. “It was so nice to see you. Will you let me know if you need anything? Whatever happens with Jason, I can always act as a reference if you need one for anotherjob.”
Rosie smiled. “Thank you. I’ll keep it inmind.”
“Talksoon.”
“There is one more thing,” Rosie said as Abby was turning toleave.
“What’sthat?”
Rosie stepped closer and drew in a breath. “He carries a gunnow.”
“Whodoes?”
“Jason.” She sighed. “I don’t know if it matters. I think I just needed to tellsomeone.”
Abby nodded, dread spreading slow and sticky like molasses in her stomach. “Please be careful,Rosie.”
She nodded and started toward Hannah, already pumping her legs to take her higher on theswing.
Abby looked at the smile plastered on Rosie’s face as she approached her granddaughter and was grateful she didn’t have to keep up that kind ofpretense.
The idea of Jason with a gun was ludicrous. Then, the more she thought about it, itwasn’t.
And that was the most terrifying thing ofall.
