CHAPTER 36

CHAPTER 36

CAT

Two days later, I spotted Matt easily, his fluorescent-orange cast standing out in the brightly lit hospital lobby. “Hey!” I smiled warmly at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Getting my cast off.” He lifted the bulky appendage. “I’ve been counting down the days. You?”

“Oh, just a follow-up on my stomach. I’m actually on my way out. Is Neena with you?” I kept my face blank, as if I didn’t know about the all-employee meeting going on in the WT offices, one that would tie up his wife for at least two hours. I’d spent the entire morning hanging around the hospital lobby, waiting for this moment to catch him alone. While I did have a follow-up appointment on the books, it wasn’t for another two days. In the meantime, I needed to share something with him. Something important.

“Nah, she’s working. Are you feeling better? You look good.” He froze, a look of panic crossing his face. “I mean, you look healthy. Better. Less sick.” Poor guy. Neena probably had a noose around his neck that automatically tightened whenever she sniffed out flirtation.

I smiled to put him at ease. “I’m feeling much better, thank you for asking. Plus, I’ve lost six pounds, so”—I shrugged—“that’s great news. I should drink limoncello every day.”

“Yeah.” He shifted uncomfortably. “You know, I don’t know how anything got into that drink, but we’ve called the company, and they’re testing the facility to see if there’s any contamination—”

“Oh, I know you guys didn’t have anything to do with it. Did you feel okay after that sip or two you took?”

“Actually, I threw up, too.” His chubby cheeks tinted pink. “On the way home from the hospital. But I’m fine now.”

“I am wondering if we’re all jinxed. You know, they say trouble comes in threes. With the limoncello and your fall . . . I just hope there isn’t anything else. I was thinking about that railing last night. Did you guys ever research it further?”

As if on cue, his face turned blank. “Research what?”

“The railing on your upper balcony. The one off your bedroom. Didn’t Neena tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Well, most of the bracing for the railing was tight and secure.” I let out a short, awkward laugh. “Overly secure. It wasn’t going anywhere. But on the far end, by where you fell, there was only a single screw holding the railing in place, and a pretty loose one at that.”

He frowned.

“And it was odd, because the posts had the holes in them, as if there were screws at one time, but they were all missing. I found that strange, so I told Neena about it. She told me to throw away the damaged items and that she’d show them to you later, before they were picked up by trash collection.” I peered at him. “You did see them, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he said slowly. “Yes. Of course. I forgot.” He hit the side of his head lightly with his palm. “I’ve gotten so absentminded lately.”

“Well, you’ve been working so hard. I thought you’d slow down with the broken arm, but I see you heading out to work almost every day. You should give your body a chance to heal. Maybe take a vacation. You know, we have a house in Hawaii. You guys should head over there for a week and have a romantic getaway. Relax on the beach and enjoy the last bits of summer.”

He sagged a little in place. “You’re so wonderful. And you’re right. I’m working too much. It’s just, with this big house, we’re a little stressed over the costs. Atherton is expensive.” His face tightened. “Though, don’t tell Neena I said that. She wouldn’t—”

“No worries. Stays between us.” I gave his good forearm an affectionate pat. “Now, go get that cast off. I’m sure your arm is dying for a good scratch.”

“Thanks.” He lifted the cast in parting.

“And be careful,” I added, almost as an afterthought. “No more falls off high buildings.”

“No problem,” he said. “I’m drinking my coffee inside now.”

I waved and watched as he made his way to the sign-in desk. He was a good liar, but I knew the truth.

Neena had never told him about the missing screws. She couldn’t have.