Jay Giles by Blindsided (A Thriller) Page B

will not happen.”
          “All I want is a yes or a no. What’s there to think about? I’m told you’re a powerful executive. This should be a simple decision for you.”
          “Don’t goad me, Mr. Seattle, or you will join your dog. There are issues to consider beyond your understanding. I will review this and let you know my decision. End of discussion.”
          I stood. “Well, thanks for listening at least.” I headed for the door. When I opened it, Ann was waiting for me.
          She smiled nicely. I was back among normal human beings. “I’ll show you downstairs, Mr. Seattle.”
          “Thanks.” I gratefully followed her to the elevator banks. She rode down to the lobby with me. Each floor dinged as we descended. On the fifth ding, the door opened. We were back at the lobby.
          “Have a great day,” she said as I stepped out.
          “Oh, I will,” I replied optimistically. The meeting with D’Onifrio had been such a disaster my day couldn’t get any worse.
          Or so I thought.

Chapter 18

    “Where’s Eddie?” Rosemary asked lightly when I entered the office.
          “He’s gone, I’m afraid.”
          “Gone?”
          “He was killed last night.”
          Her face fell. “Oh, Matt, I’m so sorry. What happened?”
          It was hard to talk about it. I choked up as I told her about the shooting in the parking lot, carrying Eddie home, burying him. I got myself under control and told her about my visit to D’Onifrio.
          She listened sympathetically. When I was finished, she said, “As if you haven’t had enough trouble, I’m afraid there’s more.” She handed me an envelope. “That came a wee bit ago.”
          I glanced quickly at the front of it. Registered mail From the Sarasota County Court. “Julian warned me this was coming.” I ripped open the envelope, looked at the papers inside.
          “What’s it say?” Rosemary asked.
          “Says I’m being sued by Janet Jesso. She’s asking the return of ninety-five thousand dollars in investment fees and two million in punitive damages.” I handed her the papers.
          “My God,” she said as she read them. “Can they do this?”
          I nodded. “Julian says they can.”
          “For so much money?”
          I nodded again. “Afraid so.” If they won, I’d be out of business. Bankrupt.
          “Matt, how are you holding yourself together? Losing Eddie. Now this.”
          I thought about what Dr. Swarthmore had said last night, warning me not to slide back into depression. She’d been right that it would be easy to let go, let the darkness surround me. But somebody had to pay for Eddie. I wasn’t about to let his death go unpunished. This hadn’t been an accident. This time I wasn’t totally helpless. I held Nevitt and Wakeman as responsible for his death as D’Onifrio. “You know, Rosemary, as bad as this is, I’m going to get through it.”
          “You know I’ll do anything I can to help.”
          “I appreciate that, Rosemary.” I headed to my office. Waiting for me were voice mails, pink message slips, emails. I ignored them all, dialed Tory’s number, got her machine. After the beep, I said, “Tory, it’s Matt Seattle. Sorry to be calling you so often. I know you don’t like that. But we need to talk as soon as possible. There have been major new developments and I need your help.”
          I cradled the receiver, sat there watching it not ring. After fifteen minutes, I decided I was kidding myself to think she’d call back quickly. I went to work, returned calls, booked transactions, did paperwork. At six, Rosemary stuck her head in, said she was leaving. By seven, I’d done all I could do. I got up, stretched, turned out the lights, and walked to the front door. I’d just finished locking up when I heard the phone ring. I set a new record for