Dylan looked at Gareth as though this had to be a joke. This guy obviously had no idea who they were. Then again, it was possible Brice didn’t either. They were soon to find out. The guard escorted them up a private elevator but stood with his chest puffed out, as though it intimidated either of them. They weren’t impressed. They were from New York and used to dealing with people a hell of a lot scarier than that guard.
When they got out they were met by an older woman with a very cheery disposition. “Hello. I’m Nancy. Brice is just finishing up with a meeting but he’d like to see you both right after. Would you mind waiting a few minutes?”
“Not at all,” Gareth said.
“Wonderful. I can show you to a private conference room, or you can wait here by my desk. Whichever you prefer.”
“Here will be fine,” Dylan said.
“And how about coffee?” Nancy asked. They both shook their head. “Please let me know if you change your mind. I do make the best cup in Boston. Don’t tell his wife Lena that. She thinks hers tops mine.”
Dylan hadn’t thought about Brice’s family when he had decided to come. It was a complication that he’d intentionally avoided thinking about. But as this next generation was being born, like Penelope, it made Dylan want to tighten up all those loose ends that others had created. No more surprises. No more lies.
They didn’t need to wait very long and when the door opened, Dylan recognized the man leaving the office. It was the youngest Henderson, Dean. Dylan wondered if they had been discussing what to say or not to them. It was a question Dylan planned on asking.
Once Dean was out of earshot, Brice walked over and said, “Why don’t you two come into my office where we can talk in private.”
They followed him in and took the two high-back leather seats across from Brice’s desk. “You seem to have been expecting us,” Dylan said.
“I was hoping this day wouldn’t come. Please pardon me if that sounds…rude. But under the circumstances, I’m sure you agree,” Brice stated as he took his seat.
More than you know.“Should we get right to the point?” Brice nodded. “I’m sure you know who we are. I’m Dylan and this is Gareth.”
“I’m Brice and that was Dean who I was meeting with earlier.”
“Is he aware of why we’re here?” Gareth asked.
“I’m not even sure he knows who you are. I’ve kept what I know quiet. Actually, I was hoping that this day would never come. It seems Roger, an associate of mine, didn’t cover the tracks as well as we had hoped.”
Dylan asked, “You mean from Gia, the woman who you had investigate us?”
Brice replied, “That wasn’t how it started.”
Gareth said, “Then enlighten us.”
“My father wasn’t what you would call a nice person. I’m not even sure they have created a word that could describe his sick demented mind or actions. Some people should never be born. He’s one of them,” Brice snarled out. Dylan could see the disgust in his eyes as Brice spoke about his father. “It’s not something any of us are proud of, but we can’t change our past. Over the years I learned that it’s best to be proactive when it comes to my father’s secrets. None of them ever turned out to be good. So, when I found a photo of a young girl and small boy, I had Roger do some research. We weren’t looking into your family; I was having him look into mine.”
“And you found the connection, Aunt Audrey,” Gareth stated.
“My grandmother,” Brice replied.
“Do you know what my great-grandfather did to her?” Dylan asked.
“Not everything. I heard that he faked her disappearance and she ended up here. I also know there are some questions regarding my grandfather’s first wife,” Brice said.
“Audrey was working in the mill that my grandfather owned. He was a tough bastard who didn’t treat his workers nicely. It was all about making himself richer. But there was one worker who he paid special attention to.”
Dylan snarled, “Audrey.”
“Yes. But my grandfather was married. His wife was murdered,” Brice said.
Gareth asked, “You think your grandfather did it?”
He shook his head. “No. He had an alibi. I believe it was Audrey, my grandmother. She always got what she wanted, and if that was my grandfather, she’d have made sure Gloria was out of the way.”
“Damn. That’s fucked up,” Gareth said, then added, “No disrespect, ’cause that’s our family too.”
“Trust me, I have no love for my grandmother or my father. The world is a better place without either of them.”