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“She’s still alive?”
“Yes, but… she’s in a bad way.”
DiFanetti gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll get her to a doctor. She won’t be connected to you.”
“But—”
DiFanetti glanced at the other car and then pointed up toward the second story of the house. Then he returned his attention to the senator. “Let’s have a drink.”
Senator Cain stared at him incredulously. “A… drink?”
“I think you could do with one. I know I could. How about you show me your wonderful library, and we can have a drink and a chat. She’ll be taken care of, I promise.”
There was nothing to do but follow instructions.
The senator led him into the house. “This way, Mr. DiFanetti.”
“Please, call me Bruno.”
Senator Cain opened the door to the library. Bruno followed him inside and closed it behind them. The senator’s hands shook as he removed the crystal stopper from the whiskey decanter, and he had to hold it with both hands as he poured. He handed a glass to Bruno, who was seated in one of the armchairs by the fireplace, then sat facing him.
“What you said about no one connecting Cheryl to me, I….”
“It cannot come out where she was when she had her accident. That would raise too many questions. No, she needs to recover somewhere far from here. And shewillrecover.”
Senator Cain raised his gaze to the ceiling. “Who’s up there?”
“My son. He’s taking care of her.” He gave the senator a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to her. I know she’s important to you.”
“But she’ll say what happened. She’ll talk.” He was torn between fear of discovery and fear of losing her.If she’ll ever speak to me again after this.
“You let me worry about that. Now,” Bruno said, leaning back, “drink your whiskey.”
They sat in silence, the senator straining to hear anything from beyond the library door. After a few minutes, Bruno’s phone rang once. He removed it from his jacket pocket and glanced at the screen.
From outside came the sound of a car engine.
He smiled. “She is on her way to receive medical help. All will be well.” Bruno gestured to the glass in the senator’s hand. “Finish your drink. I’ll stay until you do.”
“You don’t have to,” Senator Cain protested.
“Nonsense. You need to calm down. I won’t leave you when you’re in such a state.”
And he was. All he could think about was Cheryl.
I should have gone with her.
Too late for that.
About ten minutes later, his calm restored, the senator was ready to bid goodbye to his guest. “When will you know how she—”
Bruno’s phone rang again, only this time it was a call. “Excuse me,” he murmured. He stood and left the room. Senator Cain heard the low rumble of his voice but couldn’t make out what he was saying.
The library door opened, and Bruno came back in.
One glance at his face and the senator’s heart sank. “What is it? What’s happened?”
Bruno’s voice betrayed genuine sympathy. “I am so, so sorry, Senator, but the call was from my son. Cheryl must have been in a far worse state than you’d thought.”
