The Arrangement Anthology 2(123)

“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.





Chapter 9

The next week rushes by in a blur of tears and sorrow. I still can’t believe Bryan is gone, and other than the outpouring of emotion I heard from Sean the night after Bryan was killed, no one is certain what happened or why. I feel horrible for giving him that gun. Bryan told me he could change things for Sean, that the public wouldn’t despise him anymore. It isn’t until now that I realize he meant to do this all along.

It worked. The news has been all over the place, replaying old clips of Sean walking into the courthouse for his trial, to more current clips of him, both with that stoic expression on his lips, both taken after a loss. Instead of attacking him, they’re playing Sean up to be this mysterious, sensitive man that everyone mistook. The fact that he silently took the blame for his wife’s murder to protect someone else just feeds the media frenzy. It has been nonstop Ferro. The press is parked out at the mansion and at Elizabeth Ferro’s lavish home.