Even if I believed her to be his victim.
I returned to the room. Rene was on a stretcher, in and out of consciousness.
“I’ll be in touch when I can,” I instructed her.
She began to walk away. “Please extend my apologies,” I added.
She looked over her shoulder. “Done.”
When he came to, Rene proved to be as stubborn while injured as he was when healthy. He was mouthy and belligerent after getting X-rayed and checked, arguing with the doctors and nurses alike. I had to wrestle his phone away from him, a surprisingly hard feat considering he had one bad arm. He kept texting someone and refusing to stop.
“The doctors told you to stay still. Jesus, Rene! You have a broken arm and a freaking concussion. Stay down, man.”
He glared, holding the phone over his head. “This is important.”
“Nothing is as important as you right now.”
He ignored me, typing something on his phone. Then he grinned and let me take it away. His eyes danced, alive with mischief. “I think there is something far more important.”
I turned off the phone. “Whatever. It’s the morphine talking.”
“And what lovely morphine it is,” he agreed, finally closing his eyes. “You are gonna miss me for the next few days.”
I didn’t bother to respond—he was already out. He was right, though. I had no idea how I was going to cope without him—and I knew it would be longer than a few days. A temp would drive me crazy, so I was going to have to figure this out once I got back to the office.
I waited until his son arrived, having driven down from Kingston. I filled him in on what the doctor said, including the fact that Rene had to have surgery later today to repair the broken bone.
“They say he can probably go home tomorrow if they get him in tonight, but he’ll need help.”
Andy chuckled. “Have they met my dad? He’ll say it’s the useless arm anyway and he doesn’t need any help.”
I grinned. “Tell him he can’t do up the buttons on his jazzy vests with one hand. That’ll shut him up.”
Andy’s wife, Clara, walked in and kissed my cheek. “Thanks, Halton. We’ll take it from here. Dad said you had a ton of cases going on right now. You go handle that. We’ll handle him.”
“I think I got the easy part of the deal,” I joked. Then I became serious. “Let me know what happens and as soon as he is out of surgery.” I paused. “The firm will cover any medical expenses. He only gets the best.”
Rene spoke up from the bed. “Good God, man, I fell off the ladder because my ass was too lazy to move it. I overreached. You aren’t paying for that.”
“I am, so zip it.” I turned to Andy. “Now he’s awake, he’s yours.”
I leaned over Rene. “For Christ’s sake, do what they tell you, old man. I need you back at the office.”
He grinned, his eyes still not quite focused. “Not as much as you did before.”
Then he was out again.
Before what?
I had no idea what he was talking about, but I headed back to the office to try to sort out the mess that would be waiting. Luckily, I was able to grab a cab and get there quickly.
I walked through the door, shocked to find Fiona at Rene’s desk.
“What are you doing here?”
She smiled and stood. “I was about to finish up. I figured you’d be along soon.”
“Finish up what?”
“Rearranging your schedule. Everyone has been contacted, and I’ve forwarded the updated calendar to your phone and laptop.”
I frowned in confusion and said the only thing I could think of. “I don’t know where my phone is.”
She indicated the corner of the desk. “Right there.”
I picked it up, surprised. “How?” I asked.
“Rene had the app to find your phone. It was under your seat in your car downstairs. I found your spare set of keys, got it out, and charged it for you. He texted me all the information and answered some questions to help me.”
Huh. It must have fallen out of my pocket in the car, and in my rush to get to the courthouse, I hadn’t noticed. But her words sank in.
“I said not to use your phone. I don’t want that asshole—”
She interrupted me with a wave of her hand. “Calm down, Halton. I know the rules. Rene gave me a new phone today. I came to drop off something for you and he had it ready.”
It all became clear. “So, you’re the person he was texting.”
“Yes—and before you freak out, he didn’t give me any passwords to private files. Only his applications and the calendar. I got the information to call everyone from there. I didn’t touch anything else.”
I heard the truth in her simple statement. There was no hesitance on my part in my response. “I believe you.”
“As soon as I had what I needed, I told Rene to stop texting me, and I got to work. I told him I had it covered.”
“I see. I’m impressed.”
Her lips curled in amusement, a teasing note in her voice. “You’re impressed because you didn’t think I was capable?”
“No, I’m impressed because Rene never gives up control here in the office. I’ve hired people to help him, and he sends them away.”
She shrugged. “What can I say, Halton? I charmed him.”
“Knock it off with the Halton shit, Fee. It’s Hal.”
“Nope. I like Halton. It suits you.”
“Obviously, Rene wasn’t so drugged he couldn’t drop that tidbit.”
“Actually, I think it was because he was so loopy. He kept referring to it as morephine.” She giggled, the sound light and airy. “He was adorable.”
I snorted. “Adorable isn’t a word I would use to describe Rene. Cantankerous and bossy, maybe.”
“Maybe that’s why the two of you get along so well. You’re twins,” she deadpanned.
I began to laugh. This was a side of her I hadn’t seen before. I had caught a glimpse of it at the dinner long ago, but now I could hear her sense of humor loud and clear. It hit me as I watched her that she seemed relaxed, almost happy. It was a different look on her.
I liked it.
She ran a finger down her notepad. “I rescheduled all your meetings. You need to be in at six every morning and you’ll have to work late the next couple of nights to fit them all in, but I was sure you’d be fine with that.”
I nodded in silence. I was usually in before seven anyway. I would come in earlier to get the day started and catch up for the next while.
“I made sure you were confirmed for your court times. I have someone coming in to fix the ladder. I printed out all the documents you need to sign that came in via email. They’re by your door.” She tapped her chin. “Oh, and someone named Molly called repeatedly, saying she was sorry about throwing water at you and wanted to talk. She kept blathering away until I finally told her you were much too busy for any more emotional outbursts and to go away. And I got your dinner—it’s in the kitchen.” She indicated the small area Rene where kept coffee and necessities. “I washed the few cups in the sink too.”
I stared at her. Gaped, in fact.