Part 45 (1/2)
”Yes.” He shook his head. The heating system came on with a thump. Dave thought how he had to get it fixed. Shel got up after a minute and walked over to the liquor cabinet. ”Mind?”
”No. Go ahead.”
”You want anything?”
”Rum and c.o.ke would be good.”
He mixed the drinks, brought them back, and gave one to Dave. ”I couldn't help it.” He fell back down into his chair. ”I read how I was one of two sons of Michael Shelborne. That I'd been in public relations. And that I'd died in a fire on Friday, September 13, 2019. The fire wasn't caused by lightning. It was deliberately set. Perpetrator never caught. That was all they had to say. Oh, and that my father vanished under mysterious circ.u.mstances.”
”I'm sorry, Shel.”
He sighed. ”G.o.ddam it, Dave, I can't believe this is happening.”
Dave tried his drink. There was too much rum. ”I don't know what to say.”
”It's a scary thing to have the story of your entire life lying at your elbow. And it amounts to two lines.”
”This is what comes of traveling alone.” Dave was annoyed. ”We agreed not to do that.”
”It's done. And if I hadn't, I'd be dead now.” He was pale, frightened. He buried his forehead in his palms. ”What the h.e.l.l am I saying? I am am dead.” dead.”
”You're here.”
”And I'm also in the graveyard.”
”What are you going to do?”
”I don't know.” He seemed lost. ”It's waiting for me back there.” ”It's waiting for me back there.” His breathing was loud. His breathing was loud.
”Don't go back to the town house,” Dave said. ”Stay here.”
Shel seemed not to have heard. ”It must have been burglars.”
”They broke into the desk. Into the bottom drawer.”
”Well, that's what burglars do.”
”You're sure n.o.body else knew? About the converters?”
He just stared out of those dazed, blank eyes. ”n.o.body else knew. But at least I'm warned. Maybe I should take a gun back with me.”
”Maybe.”
Avoid the irreparable act.
”Anyway,” he said, ”I thought you'd want to know I'm okay.” He snickered at that.
”Don't go back at all,” Dave said. ”With or without a gun.”
”I don't intend to.”
”Good.”
”If it drops me in the Atlantic, so be it.” It was supposed to be a joke, and he laughed, though Dave remained silent. ”Dave, I'm scared.”
”I know.”
”At some point, for one reason or another, it's going to happen.” He finished his drink. ”Maybe I get drunk. Maybe I lose my mind. Maybe I just decide to get it over with. Whatever it is-”
”Let it go, Shel.”
”Easy for you to say.”
”I'm sorry.”
”It's knowing the way of it,” he said. ”That's what tears me up.”
”Just stay here,” Dave said again. ”You're safe here.”
Shel shook his head. ”I appreciate the offer, Dave.”
”But . . . ?”
”Nothing like watching your own funeral to remind you how valuable sunlight is. And that you don't have it forever. I've got a few places to go. People to talk to. Then, when I've done what I need to, I'll think about all this.”
”Okay.”
”I've got a place downstream. I'm going to stay there.”
”Really?” said Dave. ”Where?”
”Center City.” He didn't elaborate, so Dave didn't push. Shel picked up the gla.s.s, drained it, wiped his lips. ”Are they sure it's me? I heard the body was burned beyond recognition.”
”The police checked your dental records.”
”They matched?”
”Yes.”
His brows came together. ”Do me a favor, Dave. Make sure they actually did did the identification. Maybe they thought there was no question it was me, and they just put that out there but didn't really bother. Okay?” the identification. Maybe they thought there was no question it was me, and they just put that out there but didn't really bother. Okay?”
”Okay. I'll make sure.”
He got up, wandered around the room, touching things, the books, a bust of Plato, a table lamp. He paused in front of the picture from the Beach Club. ”I keep thinking how much it means to be alive. You know, Dave, I saw people out there today I haven't seen in years.” He played with his gla.s.s. It was an expensive piece, chiseled, and he explored its facets. ”When is the reading of the will?”