Knock, knock... (22 page)

With a slight groan, she straightened, her mind searching for a plausible answer.

Roman waited. When she didn't answer, he quirked an eyebrow at her.

She shrugged. "Just looking. For anything that might tell me where Pappy went."

"And checking out the carpet is going to do that, how?"

His tone sounded neutral, too neutral. She searched his face. Did he suspect what she’d been doing? She hoped not.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Then she spun around and headed into the lawyer's office. Security was assisting the last of the group out of the door, the ones that were still arguing. Shay slipped around behind them and squeezed behind the security officer to enter the room.

The lawyer was standing, staring outside, to beyond the window.

"Mr. McIntosh?"

He started. Then slowly turned around. "You're Shay Lassiter. I'm pleased to meet you." He stepped forward, his hand extended.

Shay grimaced. He looked like he'd walked through a war. "Even after today?"

He laughed. "Of course. I spent a lot of time with Bernice. She spoke highly of you."

"She was a beautiful woman." Shay felt her throat choke and tears welled up in the corner of her eyes. "And I loved her." She sniffled.

He nodded to the room behind them. "I'd hoped for a private reading, but Bernice wanted them all here, hoping that if they all heard the news up front, they'd stop hoping and pestering for something they would never get – and leave you alone."

"She would do that." Shay had to smile. "Speaking of terrible things, have you seen my grandfather, Charles Lassiter?" She studied the lawyer's face anxiously. "He called me from somewhere in the building before the reading, but when I got here, there was no sign of him." She motioned to Roman. "We've been searching for him, calling his home and cell phone, but there's no sign of him."

"Oh dear. He
was
here. I spoke to him earlier."

"When?" Roman's voice cut across sharply.

"I don't know. Maybe twenty minutes before the reading of the will." The lawyer looked down at his planner. "He was worried about you, Shay. I know he planned to call you if you were late."

"And he did. I just don't know where he went after that." She walked the room casually. There was no sign of Pappy's energy anywhere. Inside, a cold nugget of suspicion started to form. He'd been here. At least according to the lawyer…

Or had he?
She turned back to face the lawyer. "Did you see Pappy in this room?"

He looked surprised at the question but answered smoothly. "No. In my office." He motioned to the door on the right. "It's through here."

Roman walked around the small austere room.

She asked, "Did he sit down?"

"Yes, he was there in the visitor's chair." The lawyer motioned to a heavy, maroon chair.

Shay moved toward the chair, then stopped and looked at the lawyer, a question on her face.

"Sure, take a look. Maybe he left something behind? Maybe his cell phone? It would explain why you haven't been able to reach him." He shrugged. "I wouldn't have heard it ringing with all the commotion going on in the other room."

Shay took out her cell and tried her grandfather’s number again. Nothing.

"Maybe his cell phone battery is dead," Roman suggested.

"Good point." She gave the chair a good going over. "Nothing here." She used the opportunity to look for Pappy's energy signature. There it was. Strong and clear. Weird. It went out the other door – probably the main doorway to the office. She needed to go out there and follow his trail. With a smile directed at the lawyer, she thanked him, adding, "I'll go and check my office. He might have shown up there by now."

Roman spoke up. "Are there provisions in the will in case Shay dies before the assets are transferred?"

The lawyer raised his eyebrows so they were almost hidden under his hair. "Bernice insisted I put in a clause so the assets would go to five different charities if that were to happen."

"Good." Shay moved away from the chair and looked under it. "Make sure I know the list of charities. I'll take a look at their needs to determine the amount of money they require on an annual basis to keep them flush."

The lawyer smiled. "And that's what Bernice would have wanted."

She walked to the doorway Pappy had left by. Roman fell into step behind her. In the main reception, Shay followed the energy instinctively, taking the same route her grandfather had.

"Shay?"

Roman's voice stopped her. She turned to look at him. "What?"

"Where are you going?"

She blinked. And turned around. Pappy's energy went to the left. The main exit was on the right. Turning toward the receptionist, who was busy on the computer, she asked, "Excuse me, what's in that direction?"

The receptionist smiled. "That's McElroy's office. Did you need to make an appointment to see him?"

"I'm actually looking for Charles Lassiter. He was here close to an hour, maybe an hour and a half ago. He's gone missing and given his age..." She gave the woman a small concerned smile. "I'm worried."

"Charles was here. He saw both lawyers. But he left before the reading."

"Oh? Do you know where he went?" She held out her own cell phone, habitually checking for messages once again. "I haven't been able to locate him."

"He didn't say." She smiled. "He did say he was planning to meet a special lady for lunch."

Shay felt something go still inside of her. Surely that was
her.
Had he made other plans and forgotten to tell her? "Do you know who he was meeting?"

"No. He didn't say."

Shay didn't know what to say. Talk about being sidelined by the unexpected. Roman came up behind her. His hand landed on her shoulder and he squeezed gently. "Maybe Charles had other plans for the afternoon?"

Shay couldn't see it, but...what did she know of his private life. He'd loved Bernice…but Bernice hadn't been available... Did he have another lady friend? She'd never looked into the energy in his private life. That was…private. And came under the heading of something she'd never do to him.

"Come on. Let's go collect Grandfather. We could all use some lunch."

He led her toward the hallway and the elevator.

She was still surprised. "I'd planned to have lunch with him myself. Surely he was talking about me? I can't see him having a date."

"Why not?" Roman laughed. "And all the power to him."

"No, you don't understand. He
loved
Bernice. This is a traumatic time for him."

"And maybe he's not on a date, but enjoying the comfort of an old friend. It's
not
you obviously so let's give him some space. We'll give him another shout after lunch.

With that, she Roman led her back toward her office.

Now if only she could find some sign of her Pappy on the way back.

***

They'd barely left the lawyer's office when Roman once again found himself wondering if Shay had psychic abilities of her own. He hadn't connected the dots until he'd seen her studying the carpet. And considered her connection to Stefan – whatever they called it. He choked on the term psychic but knew Dr. Maddy and understood some of what she did. Stefan's reputation preceded him. His skills were proven in the field.

What about Shay?
Did she have similar abilities? And if so, what could she do? He'd been wracking his brain looking for a reason for her odd behavior. Even in the lawyer's office she'd gone around the room, as if following something no one else could see. But now…

"What's going on, Shay?" He turned to look at her, but she was back to studying the floor.

Roman shook his head. What would it take to have her trust him? He was a fine one to talk. And he probably should fix that. But if he confided to her it could bring up questions he had no answers for.

"Shay?"

Startled, she spun around to look at him, concern pleating her forehead. "I'm trying to figure out if Pappy came this way."

"I understand that, what I don't get is
how
? What could studying the floor tell you?" He dropped to crouch down beside her. He studied the different expressions as they crossed her face. Consternation. Dismay even. Confusion. "You can tell me, you know."

She hesitated, studying him intently.
What did she see? How deep did her insights go?
It bothered him that there was something she saw in him and his work that he hadn't seen himself. And Stefan… He’d figured it all out. Knew Shay was the model and he also had heard and understood Shay's insights into the artist’s character and motivation. And until Roman had those same insights…well, he wasn't looking to share his most intimate thoughts.

Her lips quirked. "Can I?" She cast a last look on the floor then straightened in a smooth graceful movement that made him realize the superb muscle tone of her thighs. His artist's eye immediately filled in the dense quad muscle stroking up the length of her leg, the lean hollow hips, and the long, smooth expanse of skin in between. Damn. He closed his eyes.

He wanted her.

But if that wish came to fruition before he could explain his art to her and she found out...yeah, that would be a bad deal all around.

A little
too
much too explain, and a whole lot
too
late.

***

Shay didn't know what to say. Casting another fruitless look around, she realized she was on the verge of telling him about how she could see the energy people left behind. And how she was reading that energy to try and track her grandfather, but something held her back. There was the whole trust issue again. "I don't think I can share that with you." She stared at him directly.

His brows met on the bridge of his nose. His gaze narrowed. "And why is that?"

"I don't want to deal with any criticism you might have. Especially right now. I have to stay positive – in the light." She hit the button for the elevator. She couldn't figure out why she couldn't see Pappy's energy. According to the receptionist, and Shay had no reason not to believe her, Pappy had left with the intention of meeting a special woman for lunch. If so, then his energy had to be here. And it wasn't.

She just couldn't see it.
And why was that?

She also realized that Roman was unnaturally silent at her side. The elevator opened. She walked in. Roman followed her and stood slightly behind her. She sent the elevator down to her floor. Roman never said a word.

As the door opened, Roman spoke quietly behind her. "I'm not sure what that means, but I'm not critical, you know. I try hard to be very open minded."

She cast a surprised glance behind her. "Are you?" At his nod, she muttered lightly. "Good thing."

At her office, she unlocked the door once again.

"Finally. I was about to come and get you." Gerard sat up from his slouched position on the couch in the waiting room. "Did you find him?"

Roman said, "No. But apparently he left the lawyer's office heading for a luncheon with a special lady friend?"

Surprise lit Gerard's gaze. He was still for a moment and then he laughed and laughed. "Good for him. Sly old dog."

"That's it? That's all you can say?" Shay shook her head and motioned toward the main door. "Let's go now that
I'm
not having lunch with Pappy. I could use something to eat before my assistants bury me in work."

With Roman and Gerard discussing Pappy's life choices, she led the way to the street level. Outside, she took a deep breath and smiled as the sunshine brought out the optimist in her. The sun always seemed to keep the worries away. Still, she had no explanation for why she couldn't see Pappy's energy upstairs in the hallway or leaving the lawyer's office. She should have been able to trace him in this amount of time. Pappy was older, but his vitality was strong. His energy was normally a strong, pulsing wave.

Unbidden, Tabitha came to mind. Then Pappy’s strange disappearance… Could her attacker be after Pappy? She hoped not. But was Shay missing something simple?

Such as Pappy having an innocent lunch with a lady friend? If Shay was wrong about that, was he in danger? As they didn't know who the friend was, there was no way to know. If he were in danger, Shay should have seen an indicator, something that would reveal a negative energy at work. Feel something.

Unless the negative energy was hidden…

Or an energy was hiding her Pappy?

***

Knock, knock…

Hey, Shay, once again, this job has proven to be too easy. I had hoped for a bigger challenge. Honestly, is this the best you can do?