Chapter 37
Payson
The crowd thins out quickly as people begin leaving in clusters.
I stay where I am watching from a distance, as Vivian acts like she’s a heartbroken sister, when the truth lies with Jay beneath the ground.
I know she had something to do with this.
I can’t prove it, but I know in my heart she did.
I watch the last of friends drive away and tell myself it’s alright to walk up there now.
It will never make sense to me why the casket was not allowed to be opened.
I heard Vivian say it was because she didn’t want anyone to remember him that way, but I believe it’s because she doesn’t want anyone to know the truth.
She killed him. I know it deep down in my soul.
I swallow the thought down, savoring the taste of revenge as the footsteps on the gravel behind me begin to get closer.
“You don’t belong here.” The sound of her voice makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight.
I refuse to speak to her, so I ignore her and look to the man beside her.
Her new fling, I assume, though this one is clean cut and wears a suit.
“Only family is allowed at the graveside,” she says.
“I’m not interested in anything you have to say to me.”
“This is Mr. Halden. He’s the lawyer handling everything,” Vivian says.
He gives me a polite nod. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he says. Vivian rolls her eyes. “To make things clear, you are not listed as a beneficiary, and you are not of blood relation…” As if I didn’t know that myself. “There are no legal provisions assigning assets, properties, or holdings to you.”
“You get nothing,” Vivian adds.
“However,” the man continues reaching into his briefcase, “there was a document found in Mr. Reith’s office addressed to you.” Vivian eyes him suspiciously as he hands me a golden envelope with my name written across it.
Payson.
It’s written in Jay’s handwriting. It hits me then, but I don’t let them see it.
“Take it,” Vivian says. “Then leave.” My fingers close around the envelope carefully.
“Again, I’m sorry for your loss,” the lawyer says before walking off.
Vivian watches me for a moment before she decides to speak again. “Try not to make this more difficult than it needs to be,” she says. I meet her gaze.
“You already did that,” I reply. “Now if you’ll excuse me.” Something flickers in her expression just enough to confirm I hit something, then she turns and walks away.
Griffith approaches a few minutes later beside me as I stare down at the envelope in my hands. He doesn’t say anything at first, then he asks, “You okay?”
“I will be.”
“I’ll take you home,” he says. Home. I almost correct him, but don’t.
“The penthouse is safe,” he adds, reading my mind as we walk toward the car.
“It’s not tied to the Reith estate. You’re not losing that…
” I breathe a sigh of relief over that tiny detail.
“As for the hotel, casino… everything you’ve been working on… that stays in place for now.”
I glance over at him as we reach the car. “Thank you,” I say softly, mustering a genuine soft smile for him. He shrugs it off. “I mean it,” I add.
He pauses before opening the door, looking at me. “I know, and you don’t have to go through this alone,” he says.
I look down at the envelope in my hand then back to him. “This is something I need to do alone, though.”
He looks down at the envelope then back at me and nods. “Alright.”
“Go home,” I tell him. “Your wife’s been waiting for you all day.”
“Call us if you need anything,” he replies.
“I won’t.”
The penthouse is deathly silent as I walk in.
Something I have become accustomed to, but right now I don’t care for it.
I kick off my shoes and make my way to the couch, placing the envelope on the table in front of me.
I trace each letter of my name, in his handwriting, and tears start to gather in my eyes.
I open it slowly and dump the contents on the table.
A set of car keys and a folded piece of paper.
I unfold it slowly, my hands trembling a little.
There’s an address at the top, and a letter below.
Payson,
If you’re reading this, then things didn’t go the way I intended.
I won’t waste your time with explanations you don’t need.
What matters is what you do next. Take the keys and go to Jeff’s.
If this really did happen, then he will be expecting you.
It’s yours, and everything inside. Once you’ve collected it, drive to the address listed at the top.
Don’t bring anyone with you, and don’t tell anyone where you’re going.
Trust that even now… I know what is best.
-Jay
I stare at the letter far longer than I need to, trying to make sense of it.
Nothing about the last couple of days has made any sense to me at all.
I look at the keys, then the address, then read the instructions again before I stand and head to my closet to pack some clothes.
If he wanted me to go to this address, then there must be a reason.
And I am not ignoring it. Not this time.