[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
during this conversation, he was inclined to believe that was the case.
Anyway, this just isn t working for me, Loretta said before Laine could figure out
what, if anything, he should be saying. She flicked at something on her sleeve then nodded
once before rising. I just think everyone here should conduct themselves with more
decorum. As that isn t going to happen, and I am simply not happy here, it s best I leave.
Normally I d give notice, being a professional myself, but it seems silly to do so, all things
considered.
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
49
Laine was still trying to process the way Loretta phrased her resignation he was pretty
sure the last time he d heard anyone use the terms conduct and decorum , he d probably
been a kid listening to his grandma go on about young people nowadays . Somehow he
found himself standing and shaking Loretta s hand, then the woman left the office and Laine
shook his head. About all he d got out of that was Loretta thought Laine and his deputies
were unprofessional unprofessional enough that she didn t feel the need to give any notice,
and he was now in need of another temporary receptionist.
He heard Loretta s voice droning on, and the rumbling sound of Sev s reply although
he couldn t make out the words. Worried there d be some sort of confrontation, Laine
quickly headed back to where he d left the others.
Alma was staring at the door with her eyebrows arched just like Sev did when he was
puzzled or amused. Well, she was& something else.
I d say you re well rid of her, Roger added to his wife s commentary. She made sure
to inform us how unprofessional you and everyone else working here was.
Laine looked at Sev, halfway expecting the man to be fuming. Instead Sev was shaking
his head and frowning slightly. She must be very unhappy, poor woman.
Laine wasn t the only one who goggled at Sev. What? Sev asked, his eyebrows arched
high and his hands raised in front of him. Would any of you like to be that miserable? I
mean, what a horrible way to spend your life. I feel sorry for her. He sighed and pointed to
the empty desk. Guess this means you can t go to lunch with us.
Laine remembered his fears about having Sev s family camped out at their place. That
didn t seem so terrible now, though he still would rather they spend their nights at the motel.
But having them to dinner wouldn t be so bad.
Why don t y all go on and we ll all have dinner at the house tonight? We can do pizza
if you don t want to cook, I ll grab it on my way in.
Sev s face lit up with a grin so big Laine didn t see how anyone could resist smiling
back. That d be great! I can cook
Can I? Alma asked, looking from Sev to Laine. I d like to make dinner, if you
wouldn t mind. Then she grinned, looking so much like Sev Laine s heart lurched. I ll even
make coffee and bring you a cup or two.
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
50
Laine chuckled, the tension from the confrontation with Loretta gone. Well, how could
I say no to an offer like that?
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
51
Chapter Six
There were too many things Laine had to do to spend the day sitting behind a desk,
especially one that wasn t his. He picked up the phone and called Rich, who said he d be
more than happy to help out for a few days. That settled, Laine leant back in Doreen s chair
and contemplated the missing spirits. He hoped having his family here would help distract
Sev a little from the whole issue, but Laine knew it wouldn t, not for long at least.
Communicating with the dead was an integral part of Sev it d shaped him into the
man he was now. It had to feel like he was missing a limb or two with that ability now
useless. Of course, it would probably work just fine somewhere else. Laine suspected this
was an isolated thing, occurring only here in McKinton. If not, surely there d be stories of
others& He should check that out.
Laine was elbow-deep in Google links when Matt and Carlin arrived. He hadn t found
anything useful, just confirmed what he d already known. There were a lot of weird people
in the world. He closed the page and pushed out of the chair, a smile teasing his lips. Matt,
Carlin. You win your case?
Carlin s smile would have put a model s to shame. Of course. Hopefully the lower
courts will never do something so stupid as to bulldoze over a woman s rights like they did
Mrs Odon s. If nothing else, they should think twice before forcing hospitalisation and tests
on a woman just because she asks her doctor for a second opinion. Maybe they ll think four
million times, once for every dollar the state has to pay Mrs Odon.
Matt beamed at his lover. Yeah, and she gets all of it since Carlin took this case pro
bono.
Wasn t like we needed the money, and what happened to Mrs Odon was just so
wrong. Carlin shrugged, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Laine was impressed. He knew Carlin was a good man, but to give up a chunk of
money the size he must have& That put Carlin in a whole higher class of good. I bet Mrs
Hawkins is very proud of you, Laine said, referring to Carlin s deceased aunt.
Matt and Carlin looked at each other then at Laine. We figured out on the way in from
the airport, neither of us has felt her for days. Matt slipped his hand in Carlin s and tugged
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
52
the man closer to his side. I thought she was hanging around New York keeping an eye on
Carlin, and he thought she was here. Turns out we were both wrong. We thought we d talk
to Severo, if we could.
About that&
By the time Laine had explained that all the spirits had vanished and what his theory on
the why of that was, Matt was ready to storm Rich s place and demand to speak to Miriam.
Let Laine handle it for now, Carlin said. He patted Matt s chest when the man
grumbled. You re too emotional right now, and I m exhausted. I m sure Laine will tell us
what he finds out. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl aikidobyd.xlx.pl
during this conversation, he was inclined to believe that was the case.
Anyway, this just isn t working for me, Loretta said before Laine could figure out
what, if anything, he should be saying. She flicked at something on her sleeve then nodded
once before rising. I just think everyone here should conduct themselves with more
decorum. As that isn t going to happen, and I am simply not happy here, it s best I leave.
Normally I d give notice, being a professional myself, but it seems silly to do so, all things
considered.
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
49
Laine was still trying to process the way Loretta phrased her resignation he was pretty
sure the last time he d heard anyone use the terms conduct and decorum , he d probably
been a kid listening to his grandma go on about young people nowadays . Somehow he
found himself standing and shaking Loretta s hand, then the woman left the office and Laine
shook his head. About all he d got out of that was Loretta thought Laine and his deputies
were unprofessional unprofessional enough that she didn t feel the need to give any notice,
and he was now in need of another temporary receptionist.
He heard Loretta s voice droning on, and the rumbling sound of Sev s reply although
he couldn t make out the words. Worried there d be some sort of confrontation, Laine
quickly headed back to where he d left the others.
Alma was staring at the door with her eyebrows arched just like Sev did when he was
puzzled or amused. Well, she was& something else.
I d say you re well rid of her, Roger added to his wife s commentary. She made sure
to inform us how unprofessional you and everyone else working here was.
Laine looked at Sev, halfway expecting the man to be fuming. Instead Sev was shaking
his head and frowning slightly. She must be very unhappy, poor woman.
Laine wasn t the only one who goggled at Sev. What? Sev asked, his eyebrows arched
high and his hands raised in front of him. Would any of you like to be that miserable? I
mean, what a horrible way to spend your life. I feel sorry for her. He sighed and pointed to
the empty desk. Guess this means you can t go to lunch with us.
Laine remembered his fears about having Sev s family camped out at their place. That
didn t seem so terrible now, though he still would rather they spend their nights at the motel.
But having them to dinner wouldn t be so bad.
Why don t y all go on and we ll all have dinner at the house tonight? We can do pizza
if you don t want to cook, I ll grab it on my way in.
Sev s face lit up with a grin so big Laine didn t see how anyone could resist smiling
back. That d be great! I can cook
Can I? Alma asked, looking from Sev to Laine. I d like to make dinner, if you
wouldn t mind. Then she grinned, looking so much like Sev Laine s heart lurched. I ll even
make coffee and bring you a cup or two.
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
50
Laine chuckled, the tension from the confrontation with Loretta gone. Well, how could
I say no to an offer like that?
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
51
Chapter Six
There were too many things Laine had to do to spend the day sitting behind a desk,
especially one that wasn t his. He picked up the phone and called Rich, who said he d be
more than happy to help out for a few days. That settled, Laine leant back in Doreen s chair
and contemplated the missing spirits. He hoped having his family here would help distract
Sev a little from the whole issue, but Laine knew it wouldn t, not for long at least.
Communicating with the dead was an integral part of Sev it d shaped him into the
man he was now. It had to feel like he was missing a limb or two with that ability now
useless. Of course, it would probably work just fine somewhere else. Laine suspected this
was an isolated thing, occurring only here in McKinton. If not, surely there d be stories of
others& He should check that out.
Laine was elbow-deep in Google links when Matt and Carlin arrived. He hadn t found
anything useful, just confirmed what he d already known. There were a lot of weird people
in the world. He closed the page and pushed out of the chair, a smile teasing his lips. Matt,
Carlin. You win your case?
Carlin s smile would have put a model s to shame. Of course. Hopefully the lower
courts will never do something so stupid as to bulldoze over a woman s rights like they did
Mrs Odon s. If nothing else, they should think twice before forcing hospitalisation and tests
on a woman just because she asks her doctor for a second opinion. Maybe they ll think four
million times, once for every dollar the state has to pay Mrs Odon.
Matt beamed at his lover. Yeah, and she gets all of it since Carlin took this case pro
bono.
Wasn t like we needed the money, and what happened to Mrs Odon was just so
wrong. Carlin shrugged, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Laine was impressed. He knew Carlin was a good man, but to give up a chunk of
money the size he must have& That put Carlin in a whole higher class of good. I bet Mrs
Hawkins is very proud of you, Laine said, referring to Carlin s deceased aunt.
Matt and Carlin looked at each other then at Laine. We figured out on the way in from
the airport, neither of us has felt her for days. Matt slipped his hand in Carlin s and tugged
WHAT REMAINS Bailey Bradford
52
the man closer to his side. I thought she was hanging around New York keeping an eye on
Carlin, and he thought she was here. Turns out we were both wrong. We thought we d talk
to Severo, if we could.
About that&
By the time Laine had explained that all the spirits had vanished and what his theory on
the why of that was, Matt was ready to storm Rich s place and demand to speak to Miriam.
Let Laine handle it for now, Carlin said. He patted Matt s chest when the man
grumbled. You re too emotional right now, and I m exhausted. I m sure Laine will tell us
what he finds out. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]