Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Pulling up outside the apartment, Dorian leaned over to unbuckle Irene’s seatbelt.
He half–encircled Irene against his chest with a smile. “I thought you were staying in with Valerie tonight. How’d you end up at Silvergrove Park?
Knowing Dorian’s calculating nature, Irene could tell he was getting suspicious again.
She didn’t hold back, recounting how she’d clashed with Shelby at the Jacksons place.
Finishing her story, she dropped her gaze, her voice thick with sorrow. “Truth is, I never had that recording. I just wanted to see if I mattered to her at all.”
A bitter, self–mocking laugh escaped her, followed by a choked sob. “You saw how that turned out. I lost. Utterly. The sadness rolling off her was almost tangible.
Dorian rubbed her hand reassuringly. “Go get some rest. Sleep it off, forget about them both. Irene, from now on, I’ll be your family.
Hearing this, Irene clutched his arm, her gaze wide and uncertain. “Dorian, will you really always be good to me? Can I truly trust you?”
Dorian nodded seriously, his expression one of deep convictions. “Irene, you can doubt everyone in the world–but never doubt me. I love you more than my own life.”
A fragile smile of relief finally touched Irene’s lips. “Dorian, thank you for coming into my life.”
Got out of the car, Irene stood at the entrance, watching longingly until Dorian’s car disappeared down the road. The second his taillights vanished, her smile dropped like a stone.
“Rini.” Valerie appeared, linking her arm through Irene’s. She’d come down earlier but hung back, seeing Irene talking with Dorian in the car. Only after he left did she approach
Irene gave a warm smile. “Valerie, that police call tonight? Perfect timing.”
“Hey, dealing with cops? I’m a pro,” Valerie grinned.
Linking arms, they headed toward the building. “Saw you with Dorian just now,” Valerie remarked. “Seriously, if I didn’t know what you’re up to, I’d totally buy the lovesick act.”
Irene smirked. “Oh, that’s when I asked if he’d always be good to me. He said yes, told me to trust him–even claimed he loves me more than life itself.”
Valerie shuddered dramatically. “Ugh, makes my skin crawl. You and Dorian are like two actors in a pissing contest–who can fake it better?”
The thought worried Valerie. Her smile faded. “Just be careful, okay? Dancing with the devil like that is very dangerous.”
“I got this,” Irene squeezed her hand.
“Oh, right,” Valerie mentioned. I ran into a guy at Silvergrove Park tonight, when I was leaving,”
Irene stopped in her tracks, her expression turning serious. “Who was it? Did you recognize him?”
“Nope. Never seen him before, Valerie shook her head.
“What did he look like?” Irene pressed.
Valerie, with her trained observational skills honed from undercover work, recalled details despite the darkness.
“It’s April now, but he was bundled up in a thick sweater. Wore thin–rimmed glasses. Oh, and he had a thermos mug in his hand,” she said.
Recalling another detail, she added, “There was a doodle on the mug. A pink flower-
Chapter 18
“Pink tulip,” Irene cut in, naming the flower exactly.
Valerie nodded eagerly. “Yes! That’s it. Wait, how’d you know?”
Irene said. “That must be Jeremy”
Jeremy founded a charity school in the west of town, offering free education to children with special needs. That tulip had been a gift from an autistic girl before she passed away.
In her previous life, at Jeremy’s funeral, the school’s director had brought several children to pay their respects.
Irene remembered that mug clearly–when Dorian took her to visit Jeremy earlier that year, he’d been holding it.
Coincidentally, Jeremy had been in poor health lately, staying at a wellness villa near Silvergrove Park to recover.
Hearing Valerie’s description, Irene’s mind jumped at Jeremy immediately.
“Jeremy?” Valerie frowned, the name ringing a faint bell. “Where have I heard-
“Dorian’s uncle. The youngest son of the Tucker family, Irene clarified.
Valerie snapped her fingers. “Oh! That Jeremy. The sickly one.” That explained the heavy sweater.
Valerie shook her head. “Not even middle–aged yet, but already carrying a thermos everywhere. Doesn’t exactly scream long life, that one.”
Irene murmured. “More than that…” She thought, ‘He doesn’t have long to live at all. Just seven more months.
“He probably saw what happened on the shore,” Valerie said, concerned. “Got a plan!”
Caught off guard by Jeremy’s presence, Irene had no immediate answer. “Not yet. We’ll deal with it when it comes. Play it by
ear
Irene turned to Valerie. “Oh, right–my grandma is coming to there tomorrow. Help me cook up a plan to convince her to stay here for good.”
Valerie caught a weight in Irene’s voice when she mentioned Ruth. A cold dread settled in her stomach. “Mrs. Patterson. Is something going to happen to her too?”
“Yeah.” Irene nodded. “This summer, it’s gonna be a rough patch for her.”
Valerie’s heart skipped a beat. Back in high school, she’d often tagged along with Irene to the countryside.
Ruth had been the warmest host, always treating Valerie like family. She was rene’s only family. The thought of her leaving this summer filled Valerie with anxiety.
“Lie,” Valerie suggested bluntly. “Tell her you’re sick. Really sick. Need her.”
Irene perked up. “What kind of sickness?”
Valerie raised an eyebrow. “Infertility?”
“Get lost!” Irene lunged playfully at Valerie. They laughed their way into the apartment, washed up quickly, and crashed into
bed.
When they woke up, it was almost noon. Irene called her studio partner to take another day off.
After scarfing down some cereal and a handful of nuts, she dragged Valerie to the train station.
At 2 p.m., a distinctive figure in her seventies emerged among the crowd at the train station. Wearing sturdy leather boots and
canvas tote, she carried freshly foraged morel mushrooms.
In her left hand: a reusable grocery bag overflowing with farm–fresh eggs. Her right hand held a burlap sack of artisanal cured
Chapter 18
It was Ruth Patterson. She followed commuters through subway tunnels, moving with surprising agility–until a businessman, Simon Gibson, stopped her at the gates.
“Miss, what a coincidence. We meet again,” Simon smiled. He was the passenger who had sat next to Ruth on the train earlier.
“Are you sure you won’t sell those mushrooms! I’ll pay a thousand dollars for those three matsutake in your basket. Smith added.
Well–traveled, Simon recognized the mushrooms in her basket–including three rare wild matsutake, enormous and top- quality.
Premium wild matsutake were pricey and hard to find from reliable sources.
Spotting them now, he wanted to buy them as a gift for a big shot he was meeting in Eldraeth, a chronically ill gentleman who’d appreciate them.
Ruth shook her head firmly. “Sir, these aren’t for sale. My granddaughter loves matsutake soup.”
“Your granddaughter is one lucky lady.” Simon exclaimed, half–joking he wished he were her grandson
¡Grandma!” Irene and Valerie waved from the exit.
Seeing Irene after so long, Ruth’s face lit up with pure joy. She pointed to Irene and said to Simon. “See? That’s my granddaughter. Isn’t she pretty?
“These matsutake are for my beauty here–you’re a grown man, don’t you feel shy competing with a girl for food?”
Smith was left speechless.
