The Arrangement 16

Chapter 8

A few days later I’m sitting in the cafeteria opposite Peter. It has been a hellish week. Bryan’s funeral is in the morning. They delayed it as long as possible so Sean could attend. We’re trying to figure out how to get him there since he’s still too weak to do much.

Bryan’s early demise caught me off guard. Sean told me about it, but it was the aftermath on the news that’s made it even more hideous. “What happened?”

Peter shakes his head and stares at his coffee. “No one knows. The best they can piece together is that Bryan and Sean hated each other and it was intentional.”

I make a face, “What, like Bryan committed suicide?”

“Sort of, but not. More like Bryan threw himself in the line of fire to avoid other things.”

“Do you believe that?”

Peter shakes his head. “No, not if he was with Sean. The man protects his family, no matter what people say or hear. Sean wouldn’t let Bryan commit suicide and there’s no way Bryan killed Amanda. That’s just ridiculous. He has no motive and people are speculating wildly. One theory is that Amanda was pregnant with Bryan’s baby and couldn’t take the guilt. She was going to tell Sean, so Bryan shot her. It’s ludicrous.”

I’m staring at him with my jaw hanging open. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Peter shrugs. “People believe what they want to believe. Either way, it makes Sean look like a martyr for all these years, never saying a word about it, silently grieving his losses. The same people that were spitting on him previously, are now sending him fan mail.”

“What? Seriously?” I nearly drop my paper cup of tea.

“Yeah, it’s weird. There are more letters every day. You can’t turn on the television without seeing how Sean was horribly wronged all these years and his little cousin got away with murder. No one seems to care that Bryan took out a mobster.”

“That’s horrible. Bryan was a good man,” I choke up when I say his name. “I still can’t believe Sean would drive him into danger.”

“I don’t think he would, but Sean is still medicated, so the facts are blurry. The shooting occurred and then Sean went straight from the police station to find you. He hadn’t slept. It’s amazing he blocked that bullet.” Peter pushes back his dark hair and slumps back into his chair. His dark blue eyes bore into me, pinning me in place. “Tell me how he got it.”


My gaze darts around and I feign confusion. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I think you do. That gun was connected to another homicide—there was a man found in the woods. He’s yet to be identified. Bryan asked you for it, didn’t he? He never told you why or he made up some bullshit story so you wouldn’t tell Sean. Avery, everything has been pinned on Bryan and he’s dead. If you did something, if someone tried to hurt you and you fired, it’s not murder.”

I laugh and smile too much. “Peter, you’ve been watching too much TV. Nothing like that happened.”

“Really?” He raises a dark brow. “Because I happened to be up at Sean’s old place and found out that someone shot out the window a while back. You wouldn’t know anything about that either, right?”

I stare at him, heart pounding. For a second neither of us says a thing. “You have other people to care for and knowing what I know is like placing a bomb in your living room. Don’t ask about things that you don’t want to know.”

Peter’s gaze drops and he’s silent for a while. When he looks back up he says, “I did something once, well, more than once. The guilt eats away at you if you don’t let it out. Tell someone, when someone is coherent.”

I smile. “Someone is trying to get out of here every time his meds wear off. He hates this place.”

“I can believe it.” Peter stands. “Avery, if you need anything just ask. As far as I’m concerned, you’re one of us. Sean loves you, no matter what he says. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

I smile. “Thanks. Where are you off to now?”

“Police station. They’re canvassing the area for Masterson and he still hasn’t shown up. The guy’s hiding or gone. They need to shake him out before they lose him.”

I startle. “They haven’t caught Marty?” Every time I turn the TV on, it makes Sean angry, so I haven’t been watching. I assumed they caught him.

“No.” Peter tucks his hair behind his ear and looks around. “Do you have any idea why he wanted you dead? It seems so random.”

“He said he loved me a while back. He pretended to be gay to be near me. I had no idea, Peter. Assuming Marty did this to begin with, the only thing I can think is that he was aiming for Sean. The whole thing is so weird. It’s not like him.” That topic stings horribly.

“What about your other friend? The mouthy girl with the big hair.”

“Mel? Mel had nothing to do with this!” I’m defensive when I shouldn’t be.

Peter puts up his hands in surrender. “All right, I’m just pointing out the obvious.”

But it’s not clear to me. “Spell it out for me, Peter.”

“The only people you know who aren’t dead are accused of murder. Mel is an anomaly.”

“I only knew two people.”

He gives me a look. “The sex video has sprung back to life. You know more than two people, a lot more. I know Sean can be hard, but stay here until they release him tonight. At least here I know you’ve got some security.”

Mari walks into the cafeteria. She smiles at me and I feel guilt and shame pool in the pit of my stomach. Ever since I found out she was the woman Trystan was in love with, I feel horrible. Peter smirks. “Case in point—you know more than two people.”

“Hey, Avery. How’s Sean?” Mari already knows how he’s doing, but she’s sweet enough to ask so I can talk about it if I want to.

“Doing better, thanks.”

“I heard about Bryan.” She looks at her hands. “I’m sorry for your loss. Both of you.” Mari glances at Peter who stands there frozen. “I knew him a little bit, anyway. He was kind.”

Peter snaps out of it. “You’re welcome to attend the wake tonight, if you’d like.”

She nods slowly. “I may.” After a second she asks, “If Trystan won’t be there. I don’t want to make him more upset.”

“I know I shouldn’t ask, but what happened with you guys?” I can’t help myself. The two of them seem perfect together, and yet they avoid each other.

She smiles softly. “We dated a long time ago. That seems like a past life. That’s all. I suppose there are still some sore spots, but there’s also compassion. I don’t want to make it more difficult for him.”

Peter offers, “If that Hummer isn’t there, then Trystan isn’t there. The car is usually with the man. I hope to see you later. Not many people can say anything about Bryan with conviction these days. They wonder if the man they knew was a lie.”

“No, the Bryan I knew was real.” Mari sounds certain. “He was hurting, but he put his friends and family first.”

“How’d you know that?” I ask, blurting it out.

“The way he’d suddenly go quiet and tense up. He was either really upset or he was hurting. I assumed the latter, because Bryan didn’t let things get to him. He’d laugh himself sick if he could. I’ve never seen a guy smile so much.” She looks like she’s remembering him. All three of us are silent for a moment.

Peter then gazes over at me. “If you need help with Sean, I’m here. Call me. Oh, and give me your cell number.”

“Uh, I don’t have one right now.” Peter looks at me like I’ve grown a testicle on my face or something equally weird. “Sean and Trystan took my phone so I couldn’t be tracked. I don’t know where it is, so I don’t have one at the moment.”

Mari speaks up, “Here, use mine.” She hands it to me.

“That’s okay. I’m fine, really.” I shove it back.

“I have three.” Now she has balls on her face. Sighing she explains, “One is for work, one is personal, and one is a number only one person has, and since we both know that person, you can use it.”

“Trystan has this number?” I ask glancing at the phone.

She nods. “I never changed it. Life is rough sometimes. I wanted to make sure he had someone if he ever needed someone. Shut up and take it, okay.” Mari stands up, flustered. “I’ll walk Dr., uh Ferro… Granz… Uh, I'll walk Dr. Peter out. If you want to talk, you know where to find me.” Mari made sure I knew where her office was on day one.

“Thank you, Mari.”

“No problem.” She walks away with Peter, giving him the number before I can say anything else.

When I glance up at the TV, there’s more news on the Ferro family and Marty. Marty’s mother is pleading for him to come out and talk. She’s afraid a sniper will take him down before he can say he’s innocent. Numbly, I stare at the show, watching her call out to her son, begging him to come forward.