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Chapter 22
Halfway through the bottle of wine, Lori had started to relax. She had been under a lot of pressure, but she was free of Matt’s influence. The rest of the evening with Gunner had been loving and intimate, and he had kept her up until the early hours of the morning with his affections.
Life looked even better the next morning. When Lori arrived at the clinic, the mood was lighter than it had been in months. The staff seemed to have recovered from yesterday’s events and were back to work.
It was a joy to treat patients. With Matt in prison, Lori felt safe. Her attorney had told her that, due to the nature of the charges, the court might deny bail. In that case, Matt would have to post a cash bond.
That could get tricky, because in a case of federal drug charges, the government could ask for a funding hearing. Matt would be required to prove that the money wasn’t drug money, and that it hadn’t been obtained from other illegal sources. The judge would require a paper trail to verify where the bond money came from.
The story of Matt’s arrest made the morning headlines, and a couple of the news channels broadcast the details. Lori wasn’t surprised to hear from Uncle Sheldon. He wanted to make sure that she hadn’t been hurt, and then he invited her to lunch at his home.
Lori texted that she would be at her uncle’s house in Brentwood for a couple of hours. Gunner was at Stealth, digging for evidence, determined to give the police what they needed to add a murder charge to Matt’s list of crimes.
Sarah was staying in for lunch, so Lori left her in charge and drove to Sheldon’s home. She had been there a few times, but he preferred taking her to nice restaurants. He was making spaghetti with homemade sauce, and Lori hoped he made extra sauce, so she could take some home.
The Brentwood mansion wasn’t as large as the safe house where Lori had stayed, but it would certainly do. The Spanish architecture accommodated indoor/outdoor living, making the interior space very airy. Lori remembered the high ceilings with the enormous kitchen.
Sheldon enjoyed cooking and made use of the marble islands and gourmet appliances. Lori’s father had talked about his visits and helping to prepare gourmet meals. Before he died, the visits had been more frequent, and her father had dined with his brother about once a week.
Thoughts of her father distracted Lori. She missed him, but she had to put that aside. When she rang the bell, Sheldon greeted her. He didn’t have a staff of servants, despite his wealth. Lori hugged her uncle then stepped inside.
“It’s gorgeous in here,” Lori said. “A bit different than I remember. Have you redecorated?” She noted that the paintings, rugs, and furnishings were more luxurious than she recalled.
“It’s just like you to notice,” Sheldon said. “I hired an interior decorator.”
Sheldon had done well in his investment business, and his lifestyle reflected that. Lori couldn’t complain; her uncle had certainly been good to her.
“You can select a bottle of wine for the meal,” Sheldon said, then guided her to the walk-in wine closet.
“I shouldn’t,” Lori said. “I have patients scheduled this afternoon.”
“Just one glass,” Sheldon said. “After what you’ve been through, you deserve it.”
Lori chose the wine then followed Sheldon to the living room and sat on a plush white sofa.
“The spaghetti is nearly ready,” Sheldon said. “Enjoy your wine for a few minutes.”
While her uncle checked on the pasta, Lori admired the view. The windows looked out onto lush green lawns with rows of manicured shrubs in the distance. She remembered that there was an ocean view from the upstairs windows. Maybe she could check that out before she left.
When Sheldon returned, he made a toast to Lori. “I was stunned to hear the news about Matt. I’ve known him for years, but I didn’t suspect anything like that.”
“I’m just glad it’s over.”
“You’ll need a replacement, a qualified manager to handle the clinic’s administration.”
“Honestly, I haven’t had a chance to think about that,” Lori said.
“I know a couple of qualified prospects,” Sheldon said. “I’ll give you their names. It’s the least I can do.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Bring your wine in,” Sheldon said. “Lunch should be ready.”
They ate at a long glass table in front of a picture window, with a view of the backyard. Lori sipped her wine, then put her napkin on her lap. “This looks delicious.”
Sheldon twisted a bite around his fork and ate it. “Ah, it turned out well. I used more garlic, but it worked.”
“Excuse me a moment,” Lori said. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”
