Page 30 of Lilly

He's lying. Audrey didn't even cry at her husband's funeral, and the next day she went to a spa where she stayed for a week, getting massages and manicures, likely not giving her dead husband even a thought. She told all her friends she was at a retreat for grieving spouses, one of many lies Audrey's used over the years to keep up appearances and not harm her social standing.

"I still can't believe he died in that crash," Phillip says. "He was always so fastidious in checking his plane."

"He certainly was." I shake my head. "It's such a shame."

Phillip is eyeing me, as if waiting for me to supply him with more of a reaction. It's obvious he's aware of my involvement in the crash, or at least assumes I was involved. It's good he thinks that. Perhaps it will make him fear me, knowing what I'm capable of.

"So is this your first meeting since the move?" I ask.

"Actually no. I attended one—" He stops suddenly and fakes a smile. "Pardon me. I misspoke. What I meant to say is that I met with some of the members informally for dinner a few weeks ago. I'm still trying to get to know everyone."

Another lie. I can tell by his eye twitch. I'd forgotten about that. His eye twitches when he's highly stressed, which means whatever he almost said to me was something important. Something he didn't want me to know.

What is he hiding? Is he planning something? Some kind of revenge for what he thinks I did to Leland? Did Caroline put him up to this?

"Who did you have dinner with?" I ask.

"Pearce, you know I'm not one to gossip. And last I knew you weren't either. Caroline and Katherine do enough of that for the both of us."

"Telling me who you had dinner with isn't considered gossip. And I only asked so that I could perhaps recommend other members you might want to get to know."

"Thank you for your offer but I don't need your help." He smiles. "I'm quite capable of making the right connections on my own." He pats my shoulder in a condescending manner. "Good seeing you, Pearce."

The right connections for what? What the hell is he up to? He strides off to the bar as a voice comes over the speakers.

"Everyone please take your seats. The meeting will begin shortly."

I find a spot in the very last row and watch as Phillip seats himself near the front. The meeting starts and all I can think about is Phillip and why he's here. Why would he move here? What were his motives? His true motives? I wonder if Katherine would tell me. After being married to her all those years, I know what to say to make her slip up and reveal things she didn't mean to tell me. But if I called her about this, she'd tell Phillip, which would give him the upper hand and let him know that his comments affected me. I don't want him knowing that. I need to remain aloof, as though I'm not at all suspicious of him or his sudden return to the States.

The meeting continues and I force myself to pay attention, but nothing that's been said is of any interest to me. It's just the same dull topics that have been brought up for years. News about our political involvement. Updates on our investments. Recent business deals.

Then just as the meeting is about to wrap up, the man leading it says, "There is still one spot left on the new member committee. Anyone who is interested should talk to Alister. As you know, he'll be stepping down from his role on the committee later this month but is actively involved in finding his replacement. He'll be presenting us with candidates at the next meeting."

"Don't do it," the man next to me says. It's Rolan Crenshaw. He's in his nineties and a bit senile. He's not competent enough to carry out assignments anymore so he doesn't need to continue coming to these meetings. I think he only does so because it's an excuse to get out of the house. "It's a pain in the ass," he says in a low scratchy voice. "Takes too much damn time. I don't know why the hell we're letting in all these new people. Should've never been allowed if you ask me."

He clearly doesn't remember that I'm the one who came up with the idea to allow outsiders to join. I spent years trying to get it approved by the members, and it finally was. If it weren't for me, it never would've happened.

"I suppose you're right," I say, agreeing with the old man so he'll move away from me.

He coughs and sits up straight again, then coughs some more.

Between his talking and coughing I've been unable to hear what's being said in the meeting.

"I believe that's it for today," the man up front says. "Oh, one last thing. I'd like to officially welcome Phillip Chambers to our group. He recently moved to New York after living in France for many years. He and his wife, Caroline, are pleased to be back and will be hosting an event at their home once they've had time to get settled. For those who don't know, Phillip was a very active member of our European group, serving on numerous committees and planning several big events, and he's committed to continuing that level of involvement here in the States. He's already serving on our new member committee, and I'm sure in the coming months, he'll become even more involved in our activities. Before you leave today, please be sure to say hello to Phillip. This concludes the meeting."

New member committee. Why would Phillip join the new member committee? He despises the fact that we allow outsiders in. Just like my father and Leland, Phillip believes the group should be limited to the descendants of those who founded it. So why would he volunteer to be on a committee that actively seeks out people from the outside to become members? Or is he trying to shut the committee down? Change the rules so that outsiders are no longer considered for membership? It's quite possible that's what he's doing. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if that's the reason he moved here. To join that committee and shut it down.

Everyone begins to leave, some gathering to make plans to go out later. The members often go out for dinner or drinks after a meeting. I never did. I had no interest in socializing with these people, but now I do. I need information. I need to know if what I suspect to be true really is, and if it is, I need to stop it. We can't go back to closed membership. Doing so would make them come after Garret again. The organization needs members in order to continue their existence and do their assignments, and if they can't obtain members from the outside, they'll go after our sons. Membership will stop being an option and be a requirement, as it was before the rule changed.

"Alister," I say, catching him before he leaves. "I'd like to be on the committee."

He laughs. "Not a chance in hell, Pearce."

He walks off but I grab his arm. "I am volunteering for a position on the committee. You can't ban me from doing so. It's against the rules."

"Then I'm breaking the rules because I'm not letting you take my place on that committee."

"That's not for you to decide. I've offered my services and my name must now go on the list of possible candidates."

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