the Kill Clause (2003) by Gregg - Rackley 01 Hurwitz

Author:Gregg - Rackley 01 Hurwitz [Hurwitz, Gregg - Rackley 01]
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-12-26T00:42:17.155000+00:00

Chapter 25

AS TIM PULLED through Rayner's front gate behind the van, he was not surprised to see Ananberg's Lexus with its Georgetown license-plate frame. The gate whirred, rotating closed behind them, folding them protectively into the large rise of the Tudor stage set. Robert stumbled out first, trudging for the house, and the Stork followed, his face drawn and bloodless. Mitchell seemed almost to glide behind them, steady and light on his feet. Tim parked and brought up the rear, a sheepdog herding toward the stone front step, but before they could arrive, Rayner opened the door, his eyes swollen and bloodshot, Ananberg up on tiptoe behind him.

Rayner seemed not even to notice the walking-dead appearance of the crew advancing on him. He started to speak but had to clear his throat and start over. "Franklin's at the VA hospital. He's had a stroke."

They sat spread out evenly across the chairs and sofas of the study, as if needing a buffer from proximity. Tim and Rayner had played unelected spokesmen, swapping information with flat, toneless, just-the-facts-please-ma'am sentences.

Robert hurried to get down a few bolstering bourbons. He drank without hesitation, pausing only to suck ice. A different type of postop drink. The Stork drank milk through a straw--Tim guessed his palate abnormalities made drinking from a glass difficult for him. The Stork had settled down significantly now that the immediate threat had passed; his odd detachment seemed to make him impervious to trauma.

Ananberg kept glancing at the still-moist stain on the front of Mitchell's shirt.

Robert looked exceedingly weary. He shook his head, his eyes glazed with grief. "I can't believe the old man had a stroke."

Tim thought of his morning meeting with Dumone, the quiet apartment filled with the smell of stale carpet.

Rayner sat leaning forward in his charcoal glen-plaid suit, gold cuff links peeking out from the sleeves. The thin white band of his mustache looked fake. "I got the news and called over about an hour ago. The nurse wouldn't put him on to talk. I guess he wasn't in full control of his faculties and speech. No visitors tonight. I'm getting him transferred to the VIP floor at Cedars first thing tomorrow. We can have more control there."

"Of his mouth?" the Stork asked.

"Of his care." Rayner's annoyed gaze lingered on the Stork. "Franklin has an older sister, but he asked she not be contacted. He doesn't want her flying out, fussing over him."

"Unmarried," Ananberg said, by way of explanation.

The ensuing silence was broken only by ice clinking against glass and the slurp of milk through the Stork's straw.

"I think we could all use some time. What do you say we take the rest of the weekend off, meet Sunday night?" Rayner said.

Robert's eyes were focused on absolutely nothing, as if they were peering down an endless well. An alcohol blush had bloomed on his face; now that he'd started drinking, Tim wondered if he'd be able to stop.

Mitchell sat with his hands folded in his lap, the points of his thumbs touching.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.