Chapter 23
Priya nibbles on a cube of roasted sweet potato. Her self-made Buddha bowl from Saladworks lays in a color wheel. Instead of tossing it together, she works it by section, eyeing Lucius’s Philly cheesesteak.
“Like I said, something feels off about her.” She stabs a tomato, then hovers her fork by her mouth.
“When I asked her about her college plans, she threw me a look. The girl couldn’t get away from me faster.
” She scans her teammates’ faces around the white conference table.
“Anybody else think she’s harboring secrets? ”
Lucius lifts his index finger. His cheek expands as he chews a large bite. “Well,” he says, swallowing, “she could certainly afford to go to college if that’s what she wanted.”
Priya picks up a pink watermelon radish. “Why do you say that?”
“Last night while we were dancing, she blurted out that her parents are Basilio and Katia Gallardo.” He leans over the table. “Yo, she’s a descendant of music royalty! Got to be loaded.”
Josie’s mouth hangs open. “Why didn’t she tell us? We wouldn’t have treated her any differently. Though I’m sure if Scott knew, he’d find a way to leverage it.”
Lucius eyes his phone. “She looks foreign, like her mom in this picture.”
“Foreign, really? So racist.” Josie pulls a face.
“What?” Lucius laughs. “I’m Persian. People say it about me.
I get the side-eye terrorist treatment every day.
When they ask if I speak English, I mess with them and start cursing in Farsi.
Judgy Josie.” He sticks his tongue out at her.
“All I’m saying is, she looks exotic like a Kardashian.
You’re not quite sure where she’s from. I think she’s hot. Tiny waist, great boobs.”
Priya rolls her eyes. “Objectifying, much?”
“Didn’t the Gallardos recently croak? Must be nice living off your parents’ wealth. Snobby little bitch.” Donovan sniffs, crossing his arms.
“She’s not rich. Have you seen the way she stuffs bagels in her purse?” Josie snorts.
“The girl does like to eat. What?” Donovan shrugs at the faces Priya and Josie make. “I’m not saying she’s fat.”
Meredith descends on the group with a stack of files in her arms, winded. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Our mysterious intern, Brynn.” Donovan winks at her.
Meredith plunks down in the nearest seat.
“You guys, listen. My brother’s ex-girlfriend’s best friend’s younger brother’s friend graduated with her this past spring.
” She pauses, checking she has their attention.
“Brynn’s parents were these famous musicians turned club owners who got killed in a car accident a few months ago, same night her boyfriend got hit by a car.
All three, dead. Isn’t that awful? Explains her antisocial attitude and bitchiness. ”
Donovan nods. “Snobby little bitch, like I said.”
“Didn’t the Gallardos own that famous club in the East Village?” Priya wrinkles her forehead. “What was it called?”
“The Flaming Flamingo. Birthplace of punk and new wave.” Josie whistles. “What a loss for the antiestablishment.”
“The club filed bankruptcy, right? Maybe they owed money and their deaths weren’t a coincidence.” Priya flourishes the lettuce on her fork.
“My girl’s got a nose for a juicy angle.” Donovan slurps his protein shake and leans back in his chair.
“Or the three of them were murdered and Brynn’s a key witness. Sounds more intriguing than simply committing insurance fraud.” Lucius shrugs.
“Listen to you guys.” Josie narrows her eyes. “I’m not surprised she doesn’t want to hang out with us. She’s barely out of high school. Her parents and boyfriend are dead. She could probably use a friend. Bet we seem old to her.”
“But we’re so cool.” Donovan grins.
“And good-looking.” Lucius fist-bumps him.
Priya sighs. “I couldn’t wait to get out of high school and away from my parents. I grew up in a traditional Indian home; they were so overprotective of me, compared to how they treated my brothers. I wasn’t allowed out past ten.”
“Plenty of things can happen before ten, darling.” Donovan jumps to the seat next to her, grinning and rubbing his hands together.
Josie ignores him. “I get it. My mom got pregnant with my oldest brother, Joe, when my dad was stationed in Okinawa. She kept the reins tight on me so history didn’t repeat itself. I would never have been allowed to go out with twenty- and thirty-year-olds at Brynn’s age.”
“Is there anything about her parents’ car accident online?” Meredith motions to Josie to open her laptop. “Search Saw Mill River Parkway crash.”
“Here it is!” Josie says almost immediately.
TWO KILLED IN SAW MILL RIVER PARKWAY CRASH
ELMSFORD, NEW YORK (WNBC) – THE NEW YORK STATE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME ACROSS A SINGLE-CAR CRASH AT 9:11 P.M. SATURDAY EVENING IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
THE VEHICLE WAS HEADING NORTH ON THE SAW MILL RIVER PARKWAY NEAR ELMSFORD WHEN IT ROLLED AND SPARKED AN EXPLOSION.
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE DISCOVERED TWO PASSENGERS STUCK INSIDE THE OVERTURNED VEHICLE WITH AIRBAGS STILL INFLATED.
INVESTIGATORS LATER IDENTIFIED THE VICTIMS AS 43-YEAR-OLD BASILIO GALLARDO AND HIS WIFE, 43-YEAR-OLD KATIA GALLARDO, FORMER OWNERS OF THE FLAMING FLAMINGO IN GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK.
BOTH PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THE POLICE ARE ASKING ANYONE WITH MORE INFORMATION TO CONTACT THEM.
Josie covers her mouth with both hands.
Priya gasps. “Oh my God, they were burned alive.”
Brynn appears in the doorway.
Priya elbows Donovan.
“Not now, P.” His eyes are glued to the same news article on his phone. “This is so messed up!”
“What are you guys doing?” Brynn takes a couple steps into the conference room. Her eyes blaze into the back of Josie’s computer, then over to Donovan.
They jump like errant children.
The color of Josie’s cheeks rivals the beets in Priya’s salad.
An air of tension snakes around the table. No one utters a word or glances at Brynn.
“What are you looking at?” She folds her arms.
“Checking the sports scores from last night.” Donovan coughs like his shake went down the wrong pipe.
“Um . . . doing emails.” Josie closes tabs on her computer, sweating.
Tears spring to Brynn’s eyes. She storms out.