Part 32 (1/2)
She kept her eyes fixed on the cup as she dumped sugar and cream in it, then carried it to the table and sat down across from Sydney.
”I hear you had a close call last night,” Sydney said.
Faith's pale lips moved in an imitation smile.
”Close enough. If he hadn't made a noise or two getting the window open ... ”But you didn't see who it was?”
”No.”
”So it really could have been Kane the guy was after.”
”I suppose so. Detective Richardson seems to think it's possible.”
”Kane, I hope you mean to 'increase security around here. Those guards
of yours have their hands full with the media outside.”
”I'm calling the security company right after breakfast. A dozen more men and a couple of dogs on each s.h.i.+ft ought to do the job.”
Faith sent him a quick glance. ”Won't the other tenants in the building
object?”
It was Sydney who replied. ”Probably not. Kane's their landlord.”
Faith hadn't realized he owned the building. Or perhaps the entire
complex.
He said, ”I doubt they'd say much anyway if the object is to keep them safer.”
Faith thought he had a point.
After breakfast, Faith and Sydney shared the cleaning ch.o.r.es while Kane
got on the phone to his security company. They ignored the dishwasher by tacit consent, both needing to be occupied by the simple physical actions of was.h.i.+ng, drying, and putting away the dishes. It wasn't until the women were alone together that Sydney asked a quiet question.
”How is he doing, really?”
Faith didn't know how to answer that except by being honest. ”He hasn't said much to me. I think ... he talked to Bishop.”
”They've been friends a long time. If anyone could help..
Faith wondered if anyone could, but all she said was, ”I don't know what
to say to him.”
Sydney leaned a hip against the counter and kept her gaze on the plate
she was drying. The delicate charm bracelet she wore tinkled softly.
”There isn't much you can say, I guess. Me either. All we can do is sympathize with someone else's pain. And be here, in case he needs us.”
Faith drew a shaky breath. ”Yes, but in my case, I could actually be
responsiblee--directly or indirectly-for the murder of the woman he loves.” She used the present tense deliberately.
”You don't know that, Faith.”
”That's just it. I don't know. And neither does he.
”Still no luck in remembering, I take it.”
”None. And even though we've found out some details of my past, nothing is even vaguely familiar to me.”
”So it's still possible that whatever you and Dinah were involved in is
something you ... brought with you when you came to Atlanta?”
”More than possible. Something drove me to cross the country and come live in a strange city. I just wish I knew what that was.”
”You have no idea at all?”
They've taken everything away from me, Dinab.