Chapter 22
I sat up, thankful I rested in Lou Ann’s guest room rather than the hospital, where reporters tried to get me to give an interview. Here, the quiet calm away from prying eyes helped me a lot, physically, if not emotionally.
“How are you feeling, boss?”
“Stop it, Lou Ann—I’m not your boss anymore. Soon as I can get out of here, we have to close down the office.” I wheezed. My ribs hurt.
“Well, it was a good run while it lasted.” She smiled.
Lou Ann stood rearranging flowers she’d brought in from her garden. Two flower vases paired next to the arrangement, one courtesy of Elena, another courtesy of Frank Peoples, free now that the state dropped its charges because the murder case and Ivan’s participation couldn’t be separated.
Next to the flowers lay a funeral notice from No
