the big guns. It was impressive, really.
Nonna turned to Tessa. “Tell us all about your business plan.”
Tessa’s gaze landed on me with a pleading I couldn’t ignore. I cleared my throat. “I just have a few minutes before my next client arrives, but I’m happy to help with the holiday party. It’s four months away, so we have plenty of time to get things in order.” While I was willing to take the attention off my sister for the moment, that was as far as I’d go against Nonna’s plan.
“Of course,” Nonna said, straightening the Seahawk cloth that covered the picnic table. “Gerty? Should we start an email chain?”
“Yes,” Gerty answered. “Or perhaps we should start a text chain?”
“Email chain,” Tessa, Nick, and I said in unison. Getting caught on a group text with Nonna and Gerty would not go well for any of us.
Nonna stood. That was one thing about my grandmother. When she won a campaign, she didn’t linger. “All right. We’ll set up the email chain, and everyone can look at their schedules. Gerty and I believe we should meet once a week, and we’re more than happy to work around your calendars. I’ll be in touch.”
Everyone stood. Okay. That wasn’t so difficult.
Gerty looked at her watch. “Oh my. We have to get back, Elda. We have a Lady Elks meeting in forty-five minutes.”
Nonna tucked her monstrous purse against her flowered shirt. “You’re right. Oh my. Let’s go.” Then she hesitated. “Tessa.”
Gerty gasped. “That’s right. We picked Contessa up on the way here. Nick, would you—”
“Sure, Grams.” Nick obviously knew when to give up the fight. “I’m happy to give Tessa a ride home.”
Nonna clapped her hands together. “That’s fabulous since Anna said she has a client coming. We’ll walk you two out.” Yeah, she was making sure Nick didn’t dump Tessa on me. She was one smart woman.
Tessa followed our grandmother and avoided looking at Nick. Zena barked and trotted along behind her. The dog no doubt felt the tension.
Tessa looked down. “I can take Zena, if you want.”
It sounded like she wanted to take the dog, and I didn’t blame her. “Sure. You go ahead and have fun.”
“I’ll call you later,” Tess said.
Oh, I just bet she would. I kept my smile at bay until they’d left, and only then did I let myself chuckle for a few moments before grabbing a glass of water and moving back to my office. It was surprising that Kurt hadn’t returned yet, but I had promised to stay in the office, and Kelsey had been wearing a short dress, so maybe he was offering comfort to her. She had mentioned getting ice cream.
I researched a couple of timber trespass statutes before Oliver called to say my four p.m. appointment had arrived and he’d bring the gentleman back. I was getting accustomed to formality from Czar Oliver. When he arrived at my door with my new client, I stood while setting the water glass down.
“Mr. Smith, this is Ms. Albertini,” Oliver said. Then he turned and disappeared down the hallway.
I couldn’t breathe. My legs went soft and I nearly fell. In my doorway, plain as day, stood Norman Barensky.
The bomber.
Chapter 25
My throat went so dry it hurt. Yet I kept my expression as neutral as I could. “Mr. Smith. It’s nice to meet you.” I gestured to one of my guest chairs.
Barensky’s gray hair looked even thinner in person than in the picture Aiden had shown me. His wrinkled face appeared smaller, and his brown eyes beadier. He sat and smiled with very thin lips. “It’s so kind of you to fit me into your schedule.” His voice was surprisingly soft.
I sat and forced a smile. “We’re building our clientele now, and I’m happy to see you.” I had pens and paper on my desk and would need an excuse to open the drawer to my left and get my gun. “I see from your Timber City Golf Course shirt that you like to golf,” I said, looking him over to see if he had a weapon.
If he did, it was tucked either at the back of his waist beneath a light beige-colored jacket or in an ankle holster. His pants were a loose gray cotton, and his shoes penny loafers, but there could be an upper calf holster out of sight.
“I love to golf,” he said.
“Me, too.” I reached for a pen as my mind kept swirling around. Focus, darn it. “My assistant had a notation next to