know if Greg would ask, but I truly wanted to know.
She looked at me strangely. “Of course we were. I mean, we had our fights, but we were still working on our relationship. Now, well, now that he’s dead, I guess it is what it is.”
“Did you have a prenuptial agreement?” Greg was taking notes in the notebook he always carried. Even on vacation, I guessed.
“No. I told him if we got lucky and one of my paintings made me famous, he’d be a part of that, so I didn’t insist on a prenup. I loved my husband.” She pulled out a tissue and wiped her eyes. “I guess I’d better get back to reality and get everything situated. I can’t hide in fantasyland forever.”
I looked at Greg, but he shook his head. No need to tell Cali that Frank had left her a very rich widow. Frank’s lawyer could do that.
He put away his notebook and took out one of his cards. “When you get back home, please call me. I have the name of Frank’s lawyer and I think he’ll need to talk to you about the final arrangements. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“I am too.” I stood up and stood by Greg. “If you want to talk, I’m at the bookstore in town most every morning. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”
We left her there, sitting and staring at the painting. It was of a simple house with several flowers in front and a bowl of fruit on an outside table. When we went back into the lobby of the Venetian, Amy and Justin were waiting for us.
“You didn’t tell her she was rich,” I said to Greg as we crossed the lobby to meet our friends. I wasn’t quite sure Cali was telling me the entire truth. I mean, I wasn’t in a position of authority or anything, and she’d spilled the story about making Frank kill my project for a developer. Didn’t she know that was illegal?
“Leave that to the lawyer once she gets home. I don’t want her going crazy in Vegas with the money. She seems like a good kid.” Greg pulled me into a hug. “Sorry it took me so long to get there, but Aaron threw a little fit that got him arrested and in custody for the weekend. According to the Vegas cops who showed up, he shouldn’t be able to get before a judge before Monday. So as soon as your aunt’s dinner is over, I’m heading over to the jail to talk to him.”
“And we get our weekend without any more interruptions.” I squealed just a little.
“I’m not dumb. I know how to work a situation.” He grinned at me. “So, we can check off the art gallery? Now it’s time for a roller-coaster or two.”
Justin jumped up. “Did someone say roller-coaster?”
* * * *
We played for the rest of the day. The party was starting at six, so when the clock struck five, we made our way back to our rooms. We parted ways in the elevator. We were on ten, but Amy and Justin were on a higher floor. “See you downstairs.”
“We’re going to have so much fun,” Amy bubbled.
When we got into the room, I collapsed on the bed. “Tell me how much Amy would hate me if I just stayed in the room and watched television.”
“She’s your best friend. You can people for a few more hours for her.” He opened his laptop. “If I have to play nice with the guys, you can go play with the girls.”
“We should disappear for a week. Just you and me. Maybe Emma.”
Greg didn’t look up. “As soon as this case is closed, you’ve got it. Maybe a trip to Oregon to play on the dunes again?”
“I’m not sure I’d call our last Oregon trip relaxing. But I don’t understand how someone comes to Vegas to relax.” I closed my eyes. “There’s too much to do and too much to see.”
“And too many places to eat,” Greg said. I could hear him typing on the keyboard. The man was a multitasking master.
“And definitely too many people,” I added, curling up in a ball. I guess he let me sleep for a while, because the next thing I knew, he was shaking my arm and telling me I had thirty minutes to get ready. He knew I didn’t need a lot of time. Which helped.
I dragged myself into the shower and tried to wake up. Cali’s sad