Chapter 10
Roger could’ve easily met with Brice yesterday when he returned to Boston, but fuck it. He wasn’t about to be dictated to by anyone. He also wanted to make sure he was available if Gia reached out and needed him ASAP. He was unsure if it was a good or bad sign that he hadn’t heard from her since he left.
It was good news as far as her father being stable. He only wished things were going a bit more smoothly with Gia and her brother. Although they had only met briefly, Gary didn’t seem to be anything like Gia. She was outgoing and happy and Gary seemed . . . angry.
But Roger wasn’t sure if Gary was angry at her so much as with himself. From what Gia had told him, Gary’s life hadn’t turned out as he thought. Divorced and still in his hometown probably hadn’t been his dream. Gary might not resent Gia as much as he was jealous of her. Man or woman, Gia had proven herself to be a fighter, willing to work to achieve what she wanted. The Henderson family would be lucky to have her.
As he rode the elevator to Brice’s office, Roger questioned hooking her up with them. It wasn’t as though she couldn’t have applied and got the job on her own. Hell, they’d have been stupid to turn her down. Yet when Brice started to question what she knew, he was concerned he might confront Gia directly someday. Roger knew she would have a difficult time not speaking the truth.
That left only one thing. He needed to take the brunt of it, as he should. If Brice was going to be pissed, it shouldn’t be at Gia. Hell, he really should thank her because she took the bull by the horns and ran with it. Roger really didn’t do anything. Not that he couldn’t have accomplished the same thing himself, but sadly, he didn’t give a shit about the picture. At least he hadn’t. After what Gia uncovered, that changed.
The doors opened and the receptionist greeted him. “Mr. Patrick, Mr. Henderson is expecting you. You may go right in.”
He couldn’t believe Brice had his staff there so damn early. It wasn’t even eight in the morning. “Thank you.”
“Can I bring you a coffee or anything?”
Depends on Brice’s mood. I might need something stronger. Roger shook his head. He hopefully wasn’t going to be there all that long. Then again, when had anything gone quickly when it came to a Henderson?
Brice was sitting behind a large mahogany desk that didn’t fit him. The guy was a scientist. Shouldn’t his office be high-tech? Instead it looked like something Brice’s father or grandfather would’ve had. Hell, maybe it is. That would be disturbing since James was one of the evilest men Roger had the pleasure of researching. Thankfully he was dead, otherwise Roger might have helped him get there.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to show,” Brice said without looking up from his computer.
“What part of I’ll be there at eight gave you that impression?” Roger asked sarcastically.
Brice ignored his response and asked, “You have information for me?”
“I do. I’m just not sure this is what you were looking for.” Roger pulled out a report that detailed the link between Audrey Henderson and the Lawson family. He quietly watched Brice as he read through several pages.
When he finally looked up he asked, “This is accurate?”
“It appears so.”
“It’s not what I expected. But then again, why would I? My grandmother was a fucked-up individual who passed that down to my father.”
“Sounds like your great-grandparents weren’t that great after all.”
“Maybe if my grandmother had gotten some help, things might not have turned out the way they did,” Brice stated.
Roger wasn’t so ignorant to think people back then understood mental illness, but going to such lengths to shun her from the family was a bit drastic.
“I’m not a big believer in fate, but if they hadn’t, you wouldn’t exist. Neither would any of your siblings.”
“With a family legacy like this, can you really say that would be a bad thing? This practically says my grandmother was capable of murder.”
Roger didn’t want to defend the Henderson name. But since getting to know them better, it was obvious they weren’t like their father. Did that mean they weren’t capable of doing some really fucked-up shit? No. They still were a family not to cross. Of course, Roger wasn’t easily intimidated by that.
“It was a different time. Something must have transpired in her life that no one knew. And really, the only one who might, would’ve been her brother, Charles. He’s dead too. In my opinion, that is where you want all this to lie. What would revealing it now do? Unless you’re thinking about having a big family reunion and explaining how you’re related.”
Brice shook his head. “I know the Lawsons are our long-lost cousins. Let’s keep them that way.” He opened his desk and slid in the papers, including the photo and shut it. “Our paths haven’t crossed so far. I don’t see why they should start now.”
“Agreed.”
Brice pulled out his checkbook and started filling it out.
“I don’t need or want your money,” Roger said firmly. He also hadn’t earned it.
Brice looked up and eyed him before saying, “There’s something else you want.”