See No Evil

Chapter 27

Stone

“I’m so glad you could come,” Charlene coos, wrapping me up in her arms for an awkward hug before letting me take a seat.

“You didn’t leave me much choice,” I say overly sweet, as a way of hinting my displeasure for being here.

If she was offended by my rebuke, she has hidden it quite well with her poised smile.

“Ah, yes. I forgot how frank you are. It will make this conversation go a lot smoother,” she retorts, ordering us some mimosas from the waiter passing by.

“I figured it wasn’t just an invite to eat cucumber sandwiches.”

“Now, Stone, you’re a clever girl. You must have assumed that my invitation had an underlying agenda.”

“Yes, Ma’am. I just didn’t think you’d be so open about it,” I reply, surprised with her candor.

“What can I say? I hate beating around the bush if I can avoid it. I think we have that in common,” she beams, self-assured.

“I guess we do. So, what I can I do you for, Mrs. Walker?”

“Please, it’s Charlene,” she insists as the waiter hands us our drinks.

“Okay, Charlene. Why did you invite me to brunch today?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I need your help. My son is being quite unreasonable of late, and I need someone to persuade him to see sense.”

“And you think I can help how, exactly?” I ask, more out of curiosity than anything else.

“Oh, you’d be surprised what a loving word here, or a gentle push there, can do when it comes from the woman a man loves. Trust me, gentle persuasion goes a long way,” she singsongs, taking a sip of her spiked orange juice.

“That sounds awfully like manipulation to me,” I clip back, unimpressed with her cu

“We women use all the talents God afforded us, in any ma

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Charlene, but I think you’ve got the wrong girl. I’m not a fan of manipulation of any kind.”

“But are you a fan of my son?” She cocks her manicured brow at me, making my lips thin at the question.

“Not at the moment, no.”

“Hmm. So the rumors are true. You have broken up. Can I ask why?” she asks, looking saddened with the idea of her son and I no longer being together.

“I’d rather keep my personal life to myself if you don’t mind. And if Fi

“I do see why he is so infatuated with you.” She grins yet again, her forlorn frown no longer in place. “You know, most women would take this opportunity of having an intimate brunch to win me over.”

“I guess I’m not most women.”

“No, you’re not,” she deadpans.

I suck in my teeth to prevent myself from asking just exactly what she meant with that underhanded comment, but then she surprises me with her next statement, leaving me even more baffled.

“I think you’re better. You are just the type of partner my son needs in his life.”

Feeling my cheeks starting to blush at the unexpected compliment, I take a sip of the tainted champagne. Before I know it, I drink the whole flute in an instant, without leaving even a measly drop to keep me occupied. I place the glass back on the table and look around for the waiter, anxiously waiting for a refill to get me through this heart-to-heart with Fi

“I am curious, though, how my son pushed you away. Why did you end it?”

“What makes you think I was the one who ended it? Fi

“Stone, if we are going to have a relationship based on respect, please don’t offend my intelligence. My son would have never ended the courtship, and please, no more nonsense of keeping your personal life to yourself. I have no patience for it. Rest assured, I’ll find out one way or the other. Believe me, there isn’t a thing I don’t know if I’m so inclined to look.”

“I believe you.”

“As you should. Now out with it. What did my foolish boy do that deserved you breaking his heart for?”

“You really want to know? Fine. Your precious Fi

“My Fi

“Yes, he did,” I repeat, rudely snapping my fingers at the waiter for that damn mimosa, hoping that liquor will get me through this conversation.

“Hmm. Tell me something, Stone, with everything you know about my son, does that seem like something he would do?” she probes further, clearly not satisfied with my reason.

“I didn’t think so, no. But I have proof he did everything that I just told you.”

“Ah, yes, proof. There’s that pesky word again. I’ve been hearing it a lot lately.” She seethes, ru

Now it’s my turn for my forehead to wrinkle in confusion, so I counter, “What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t know?” she questions, surprised.

“Know what?” I demand a little too loudly, gaining the other patron’s eyes on me. I inwardly slap myself for being so reckless with my outcry, and sit quietly until their prying curiosity is focused elsewhere before I repeat, “Know what?”

“Of course you don’t know. If you are bitter with Fi

“Charlene, I thought you weren’t one for idle chit-chat.”

“Quite so.” She chuckles, but there is no humor behind her laugh. “Fi

“He did?” I stutter my eyes begi

“Yes. I know my son never wished to pursue it anyway, but the way it all came to an end was unfortunate, at best. You see, Richfield University makes sure to test all its players on occasion to prevent any scandal, should one of them test positive before a big game. After all, it’s the university’s reputation on the line.”

“What does that have to do with Fi

“Everything, darling girl. Fi

“That’s impossible! Fi

“My thoughts exactly. I know my Fi

“He’s not a cheater,” I add with all the conviction in the world. “I know Fi

“Unfortunately, Dean Ryland and my husband believe more in a piece of paper than the word of my own son.”

“But you don’t believe it.”

“Do you?” she asks, her eye narrowing on me to gauge my response.

“No, I don’t.”

“Good. Neither do I,” she replies with a relieved smile on her lips. “So tell me Stone, if you think my son is incapable of committing such an act, would it also be possible he didn’t do what you are accusing him of?”

I play with my tongue ring, deep in thought, putting together all the sinister pieces of a game I didn’t even realize I was playing.

“Someone is trying to hurt him. But who?” I conclude at last.