Mitch said nothing, but watched as Connie left them alone. Steele and his parents were the worst kind of family. And the hatred between Eloise and him had been horrendous. Mitch waited for him to say more before he asked what he really wanted to know.
“Yes.” Mitch looked at Steele when he spoke. “You’re going to ask me, and I’m telling you yes, Aster was there when she died. She swears to me that she had nothing to do with it, but I don’t know if I believe her. Not that she doesn’t have a damned good reason for wanting her dead…both of us do. But I don’t know if she talked her into it or not.”
“If she said that she didn’t, then she didn’t.” Steele leaned against the railing like he was. Mitch was all right with the silence and so was Steele. They were the other two of the group that could sit in a room together and never say much more than a dozen words for hours on end. And they were comfortable with it.
“Do you know a person by the name of Vinnie Graham?” Mitch stiffened. Yes, he knew the name. It was the attorney who was trying to contact him about the lawsuit. “I got a letter from them today. Apparently, you’re being sued by a man by the name of Mark Bruce.”
“I was going to tell you eventually.” Steele said nothing, and Mitch decided it was time, more than likely past time. “I left their household when I was fifteen. Ten years ago I guess. There were some problems, some of it mine, mostly theirs. But when I left them, I called the agency and told them that I’d had enough. That I was no longer living with them and wouldn’t. That, I guess, stirred up a shit storm, and they were investigated. I don’t think anything ever came of it, but they did figure out that not only was I gone from their care, but two others. The state took their money away from them, as well as demanded a refund on the money they’d been paid. Now, it seems that they think that I did them wrong, and they want me to pay them for pain and suffering.”
“Did you? Suffer I mean?” Mitch didn’t answer Steele, but he must have figured it out. “And how much do they want for their pain and suffering after ten years?”
“Five million.” Steele whistled and stood up. Mitch did as well and they both started for the house. “I don’t have that kind of money. And even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to them. Not even as a settlement.”
They were about fifty feet from the house when Steele spoke again, “She’s here. Vinnie Graham. Showed up right before I went out to get you.”
“She?” Steele nodded. “I don’t want to talk to her. What the hell is she doing here? Trying to figure out if you can pay the debt for me?”
“She’s not representing the Bruces. Miss Graham wants to represent you.” Mitch stopped moving, and Steele had to stop and turn to look back at him. “Are you coming in to talk to her? And before you tell me no, I’ve had her looked into. Not for this, but for something…she wants to join my staff. And I guess she figured if she did a good job for you, I’d hire her.”
“So I’m her test subject.” Steele just stared at him. “I’m not going to dignify this lawsuit with a response. And hiring her will tell them that I have the money and can pay them.”
“If you say so.” Mitch loved Steele to death, but there were times, like right now, that he wanted to bash his head in. “She’s not human.”
“So?” Steele shrugged and started walking to the house again. “What is she, Steele? Another ghost? How will that work out for me? Having to relay everything she says so I can be made to look a fool again to these people.”
“She’s a vampire, and I doubt very much she will need you for much of anything to be honest. I’d say she’s about three, maybe four hundred years old. I guess she’s been studying law since before either of us were even thought of.” He turned to him again just before going in the kitchen door. “Come inside and talk to her. And before you go off halfcocked, you should know that she has a…I guess you would call it her familiar. Someone that helps her during the day. He’s very protective of her, so behave.”
Mitch felt his temper rise up. He hated vampires. They were usually very cruel because of their boredom with life, and they tended to be slightly condescending. Most of the time. The few that he’d had to deal with over his lifetime had left him feeling dirty and pissy. And not that any of them had ever bitten him, but he still didn’t like any of them. This woman with her familiar wasn’t going to be getting any job with Steele either, if he had any say in it.
Mitch knew that he had a chip on his shoulder when he entered the living room. And seeing Kari and Addie sitting there with her didn’t make his mood any better. How dare her suck up to the household like that? When the man stood up Mitch ignored him, but did note that he was flipping huge. Walking to who he assumed was Miss Graham, he started telling her what was what.