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.It’s quite possible she could have unwittingly shown someone the bowl and that person could have come back to steal it.”Later that night, as Lisa went over her scheduling for the next week, she began checking properties and talking with clients to make sure they were satisfied with their work.She also had to hire more cleaning people and train them.She had several interviews scheduled.Word of mouth was spreading about her cleaning service and that was a good thing.She called several of her workers and went over the schedule with them.Brian was asleep by the time she finished her calls.As she hung up the phone she thought about her conversation with him.Would Jackie sell the family out? Was she that desperate for money? She lived with her parents so she didn’t have to worry about food or shelter.But if Jackie sold the bowl, she wouldn’t need the job and she could leave her parents’ home.26Nicholas hadn’t driven to Virginia Beach that night, after all.He’d spent the night in a Williamsburg hotel and waited until the next morning to make the trip.He called his secretary first thing and dictated the obituary for the local paper.He also commissioned a funeral parlor to pick up the body later that day.The owner had borrowed a considerable amount of money from Nicholas when he wanted to expand.National chains were grabbing up the funeral business.He wanted to keep his business independent and Nicholas had helped him.The owner was more than glad to help.The funeral would be in three days.Then he dressed in disguise and left the hotel.He’d paid by credit card.He didn’t need to stop by the front desk.Now he drove along 64-E.Whisked past Newport News and Hampton, then through the tunnel.His hands tightened around the wheel.They’d lived in D.C.when Greg was a child.He’d brought Greg here on a trip when he was around eleven or twelve with a couple of his friends—friends Nicholas had approved of.Greg was more his child than his brother.Nicholas had taken care of him from the moment the little tyke was born.Made sure he got his meals on time.Even stole diapers and formula when he didn’t have enough money to buy them.An alley cat had more motherly concern than their mother.She didn’t care who she laid with or what happened to her sons as long as she got her fix.At first the lady upstairs had seen to Greg’s needs whenever Nicholas was working.He didn’t go to social services because he was afraid they’d take his brother away.And Nicholas wanted to make sure nothing happened to Greg.He made sure Greg wasn’t crying in some dirty crib while six or seven kids vied for attention from some poor harried woman.And then one night an old man had seen him stealing diapers and pulled out a handgun from beneath the counter.It was the first time Nick had killed a person.And it had felt good.The way the old guy, the store owner, was trying to keep him from stealing what he needed for Greg, he deserved it.What did a few diapers or cans of formula mean to him?But Nicholas was a kid with a drug-addicted whore for a mother.It wasn’t as if she’d ever taught him a thing.Everything he’d learned had come from the streets.Much later he realized he needed to learn the skills others learned from home to raise himself and Greg in a better world.He was smart.He’d quickly learned what he needed.He’d given Greg an Ivy League upbringing.Only for it to end up like this.Nicholas shook his head, inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to keep himself from sinking into depression.Within an hour, he parked in front of the plush beach hotel where Greg had stayed.While he was in the driveway he called Justin and asked him to meet him in Greg’s room, making sure to give him the room number.Nicholas looked at himself in the rearview mirror.Not even Greg would recognize him in this getup.He knew how to completely alter his appearance.When he was finished to his satisfaction, he jogged toward the beach to clear his head.He walked briskly along the boardwalk.It was early morning.A few people were scurrying about, trying to get in their morning run before the children stirred or the wives made demands on their time.A bunch of nobodys.Justin should be here by now, Nicholas figured, looking at his watch.When he went through the front door into the lobby, the desk clerk barely looked up from his paperwork.Nick gave an imperceptible nod as he headed to the elevator and caught it to the top floor.He knocked lightly on the door when he got there.Justin opened it, his brows furrowed in concern.He should be worried, Nicholas thought.“I’m really sorry, man,” Justin said.“If I had had any idea he was going after that woman, I would have stopped him or called you.”“Start from the beginning.”“I told him to be patient, to let me handle getting the bowl.But he was bent on getting this done in a hurry.” Justin started from the beginning.Maybe he’d come out of this alive.Hopefully.He wouldn’t mention his contact with Tootsie, merely tell him he’d deliver the bowl to him tomorrow.“Why didn’t you come to me in the beginning?” Nick asked.“He wanted the bowl to be your birthday surprise.He didn’t want you to know.”Justin finished his story.“It’s nice on the balcony,” Nicholas said.“I can use some fresh air.” He searched in the drawer for the menu.“Let’s take this with us and decide what we’ll order for breakfast.”Justin looked nervously in that direction when Nick opened the balcony door and stepped outside.Cool air rushed in.What could he do but follow?“Still pretty cool,” Justin said.“I like it cool.”Justin swallowed hard.“I have plans for breakfast.I’ll be on my way.” But Nicholas was on the balcony leaning on the railing.Nicholas turned.“You’ll have breakfast with me.” It wasn’t a request but a demand.Gingerly Justin moved near the door and stepped out onto the balcony.Nicholas held out the menu.Justin reached for it.Nicholas caught Justin’s hand and pulled him forward and with a hard push, Justin flew over the banister, screaming.He’d never thought his life would end this way.Nicholas stood there only a few seconds before he stepped back.He quickly made his way to the elevator as if he had a pressing meeting to attend.He did not run.He would not look suspicious.People were too focused on the fallen man to notice Nicholas exiting the hotel.It was eleven.Justin was supposed to meet Tootsie at ten.She waited for more than an hour for him to show up.Finally she ordered pancakes
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