I’m second-guessing myself.
Did I make the right decision about Carson’s house?
Carson entrusted me to sell it but my best effort has been spectacularly unsuccessful. Word got out about the property and no one – absolutely no one – was about to put their money in it and live there.
I could have held on, hoping that someone would come along and show some interest in it, but I had to face up to the fact that this simply would not happen.
Not in my lifetime.
So I agreed with Shirley that demolition was the only choice.
That said, I am truly glad to have come to the decision, to end the drama if nothing else. I am relieved.
And, in truth, I don’t give a damn about what Carson would say about what we did.
We’re moving on. No more worrying, no more second-guessing. Period.
Do I believe this or am I just trying to convince myself?
Whatever. Maybe I can now give my full attention to Shirley and her mayoralty campaign. The distraction is gone and I feel better, so let’s hope.
Cassie delivers my second gin and tonic. “By yourself this evening?” she asks.
I nod. “So far.”
She sits next to me and looks around nervously.
“I hear that your former husband is traveling out west to do some research for a story he’s working on,” Cassie says. “Not sure how this information has become publicly known but I’d guess it’s about Carson. Have you heard?”
“No,” I reply. Of course, I know exactly where Carson is.
But now she has me wondering what Bernie is up to and how that relates to Carson. Cassie is the last person I want to talk to about any of this.
“I’d love to know what you find out,” she says. “Work beckons, gotta go.” Cassie jumps up to help a new group of customers.
I immediately text Bernie to ask about meeting for dinner, following up on his suggestion several weeks ago. Bernie texts back that he’s leaving in a day or so and he puts me off until he is back, probably a few weeks from now.
Who else would know about this, I wonder?
I decide to pay a quick visit to Silas at his office to pick his brain. I catch him off guard. It’s clear he didn’t know of Bernie’s intensions, and he is immediately concerned. He says he’ll take it up with Mercury they’ll decide how to play it.
If he can lead us to Carson, he says, we can see that he is arrested and charged.
Never mind that I could lead him there, but I digress.
I return to the Riverside and find that some of Wanda’s supporters have gathered in an impromptu campaign event. The Riverside has informally become the headquarters for her campaign.
I quickly call Shirley, “Get yourself over here. People here are gaga over Wanda but I think you should give them a chance to see you as well, and to talk to you. This is important!”