Letters from Peaceful Lane (New Americana 3)

“That would be Burke, all right,” Allison said. “I’m sorry Samuel. This is no reflection on you.”

“I know. And I think he’ll be okay. It’s just a little startling, that’s all.”

Allison walked him to the front door and watched him drive away in a compact car that seemed too small for his bulky frame. Burke, she suspected, would not be in an amiable mood. But she’d resolved to tell him about the job, and putting it off would only make the confrontation harder.

Feeling like Daniel about to step into the lions’ den, she walked back to the closed door, rapped lightly, then opened it without waiting for an answer.

Burke, dressed in navy blue sweats and gray sneakers, was sitting in the armchair reading the newspaper, with a mug of black coffee on the tray table. The pillows, arranged to support his back and sides, were the only sign that he was still in pain.

He laid the newspaper aside as Allison walked in. “I suppose you’ve spoken with Samuel,” he said.

“Yes. He’s gone. He said you’d be fine.” Allison moved a straight-backed chair to face him. His eyes narrowed as she sat down. He’d lost weight since the accident. His body was leaner, his features sharper. And he’d grown a short, well-trimmed beard, which was darker than his silver hair. Pain had etched new furrows at the corners of his eyes. He looked good, she conceded. But the husband she remembered was gone, his place taken by an edgy stranger she barely knew. Only his deep blue eyes were the same.

“Do we need to talk?” he asked.

“We do. For one thing, are you sure you’ll be all right without Samuel coming in?”

“Positive. I can walk fine. I can manage the shower, get snacks, and use the microwave in the kitchen. The woman who comes in to clean can change the bed and do my laundry. I’m cutting back on my meds. I’ll get along fine. But what I really need is to get back to work. For now, I can work in my study. Between the computer and my phone, I should be able to stay in touch with my employees and the clients.”

Allison faked a smile. “So you won’t be needing me for anything either, right?”

Don’t you know how much I want to help you, Burke? Don’t you know what I’d give if we could be close again ?

She shoved the unspoken words to the back of her mind.

“I’m trying not to need you, Allison. You never signed on to take care of me. If you had any sense, you’d walk out today.”

His words cut deep. She willed herself to ignore them.

“You’re going to need a car,” she said. “But you won’t be allowed to drive until you’re off the opioid pain meds.”

“That won’t be much longer. I’ve already got my dealer on the lookout for a car I can buy with the insurance money from the Porsche. Until I get it, you might have to chauffeur me once in a while. Or maybe Brianna can do it—although I’m still not happy about you trading in the Lexus. That car was my gift to you.”

“Brianna needed a car, and that was the easiest way to get her one. She’s looking for a job now, and she’ll be busy with her community service. She may not have much spare time.”

“We’ll work it out.” He picked up the newspaper again, then glanced at her as if surprised to see that she hadn’t gotten up and left. “Anything else??

? he asked.

“Yes.” Allison braced herself. “There is something else. I’ve accepted a part-time job, starting tomorrow. I’ll be working for the agency, with Garrett.”

The newspaper fell to the floor, scattering pages. “Are you out of your mind?” He stared at her. “I don’t want you anywhere near the agency. Not with Garrett in charge. I don’t trust the man anymore, and I trust his new friends even less.”

“Listen to me, Burke.” Allison leaned toward him, her eyes holding his. “I don’t trust Garrett either. Until you’re strong enough to go back to work full-time, you’ll need somebody at the agency to be your eyes and ears.”

She paused, wondering how much more to tell him. For now, the less said the better, she decided. If she mentioned the key, the new receptionist, and the Mob lawyer who’d shown up, Burke would find a way to interfere with her plan. Or worse, he might go rushing headlong into a dangerous situation.

“But why you?” he demanded. “There must be somebody else I can count on to look out for my interests until I’m back on the job.”

“Think about it,” she said. “The paid employees can be bought or fired. The agents on commission are pretty much working for themselves. As long as they get paid, they don’t care who’s in charge. The one person who’s loyal to you is your wife.”

His jaw tightened as the words sank in. “But wouldn’t Garrett realize that, too? The man isn’t stupid.”

“Neither am I. So far I’ve got him believing that my only interest is saving the theater, and that I can influence you to change your mind about signing the contract. As long as he trusts me—”

“No!” Burke’s fist came down on the table, splattering coffee. “It’s too risky, Allison. I won’t stand for your doing this!”

Allison took a moment to sponge up the spilled coffee with a tissue. “You can’t forbid me, Burke. And the only way you could stop me would be to tell Garrett the truth, which would put me in even more danger. We’ve got to find out what he’s up to with the Mob and stop him. Right now I’m the only one who’s in a position to do that.”