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She squeezes harder for a second, and we finally release each other.
“This isn’t your fault. Don’t ever apologize for the bullshit these bastards have pulled us into.”
She takes a seat at the small two-person table while I stand a moment longer, looking at her in awe before finally sitting across from her.
“How are you so strong? I feel like I’m falling apart.” I play with my napkin to give my hands something to do.
“You aren’t falling apart. I won’t let you. We’re going to figure this out, together.” She takes my hand across the table and gives it a squeeze. “Got it?”
I return the gesture and smile sadly. “Got it, Sis.”
“So, what did you find?” Addy asks.
I spill all the details of the bank visit just as the server comes to take our drink order. We order teas and gyros. Her jaw is slack, and it takes her a second to respond with a “Wow.”
“I know! I knew it had to be about money. We’re talking about alotof money; like enough money to kill over.” She sucks in a sharp breath and blows it out, shaking her head as I continue. “I know he’s always been driven and power hungry, but I never would have thought he’d be capable of this. Dad and Andrew’s involvement just blows my mind.”
Her eyes water, and I know what she’s thinking. The most devastating part of this is knowing our family is somehow involved. To what degree, we still aren’t sure, but it’s enough to make us question everything, and that’s a very scary place to be.
We don’t know who we can trust, and we can’t turn to the police for help. For one, Christopher, Dad, and Andrew may find out before we can actually get help. Second, what if we’re wrong? What if we incriminate them, and they aren’t involved like that?
I have no doubt Christopher is the responsible party here, but I don’t know how much or why my father and brother have helped. While lost in a stream of thoughts and questions with no answers, the server brings our teas. We thank him and offer smiles, and he quickly departs.
“Here’s my crazy piece to add to the puzzle,” Addy says when the server is finally out of earshot. “I think they’re all going to the Cayman Islands.”
My hand slips on the drink glass I’m holding, and I barely catch it before it spills all over the table.
“What?! When?”
“Soon, I think. I heard them say, ‘Christopher wants us to make it look like a boys’ trip.’ They seem hesitant and upset. Andrew asked Dad if there was a way out of it. Dad just replied with something that sounded kind of cryptic to me. ‘You know there’s not. We have to protect them, no matter the cost.’”
What in the hell is that about? Protect who? From what?
She is right. It is just one more piece in a giant, fucked-up puzzle gifted to us that we never wanted. We get one more fragment only to figure out it’s a 1000-piece, not a 500-piece like we thought.
The server soon brings our food, and I’m still mulling over the upcoming “boys’ trip” I know nothing about. I wonder when he plans to spring that one on me. At this rate, he’d probably just call me when he’s landed.
I feel Addy staring at me, and I bring my eyes back into focus. I really spaced out for a moment.
“Sorry, this is just all so much to wrap my mind around,” I say, shaking my thoughts away.
“Trust me, I know. This is a crazy turn of events. It seems only you and I have noticed, though,” she replies calmly.
Determined to eat this meal, I lift my gyro to my mouth and take a bite. It’s divine; the tzatziki sauce is just the right mix of cool and refreshing. Looking up, I notice Addy still hasn’t dug in.
I give her a nod. “We can’t starve ourselves. Eat.”
She doesn’t respond but starts eating, anyway.
We eat in silence, glancing around the room. I wonder how many of these people have had their lives turned upside down like this. I huff an unamused laugh under my breath.
Likely none.
Addy cocks her head at me curiously. “What could youpossiblyfind funny at this moment?”
“I was just wondering how many of these people have had their lives turned upside down like we have,” I reply. “I found it amusing to think something like that. In a dark way, of course, but still amusing.”
She glances around before giving a shrug. “Everyone has their own version of something, I’m sure. Though I highly doubt they’ve discovered their families are hiring hitmen, stealing money, and trying their best to keep the wool pulled over everyone’s eyes.”
