Page 38 of Lovely Darkness

The three of us watch Nick disappear, then I turn to Adam. “Just the man I was looking for.”

Adam smiles. First at Sasha, then at me. “What can I do for you, Merc?”

“I’m sending Doc out to get a drug I need. It’s gonna cost fifty grand.” It’s a lie. And I’m not much of a liar. But I think the old doctor at the university should get the fuck out and enjoy what time he has left, so I’m giving him a bonus, courtesy of Adam Boucher.

Adam doesn’t care, anyway. His smile never falters. “Anything else?”

“Yeah. Donovan lived here, right?”

Adam nods to the stairs. “Yep. Right up there. Second door on the right.”

“Can I look through his things?”

“Whatever you need. But there’s nothing in there, really. He didn’t actually live here. He lived in…” Adam pauses. “Well, I don’t actually know anything about his other life. California. I know that much. But I’ve never been to his house. Wendy would know more. Indie, maybe. But if Indie knows anything, she’s probably not gonna tell you.”

“Even if it saves him?”

“If she knows anything, I’m not sure she can access it.”

“Oh.” Then I open my mouth to ask the obvious, but Adam cuts me off.

“No, Merc. You may not mindfuck Indie.”

“What if she—”

“The answer is no.”

I surrender with my hand. “OK. It’s your call.”

“It is.”

I leave it at that. And I’m just about to walk away—go into the kitchen and find some food—but Adam says, “McKay and I are going into New Orleans this evening. We’ll be back tomorrow. Will that mess with any of your plans?”

“Nope. We’re gonna need the right drugs and equipment and Doc says he can get it, but it’s gonna take the whole day. So. We’ll start tomorrow.”

“Good,” Adam says. And this one word comes with a genuine smile. “Good.” Then he goes back the way he came, disappearing through the front door.

Sasha and I look at each other. She says, “They’re weird, right? This whole place, right?”

“Hundred percent. I can’t wait to go home. And you do not have to stay—”

“Stop.” She puts up a hand. “This is it for me, ya know? Once I leave here, it’s all bygones. So I need to get as much peace of mind as I can before I go.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lauren, Merc. I need to make sure that Nick will stay the hell away from us. The last thing she needs is for him to pop back up after all these years. She’s happy, right?”

I agree with a nod.

“I mean, I’m sure she didn’t forget about him. I’m sure she thinks about him. But picturing Nick in her mind and seeing Nick with her stepmother—”

“Hah. Hah.” I laugh. I can’t help it.

“What?”

“You’re jealous of Wendy.”

“I’m not. I’m happily married.”