The Inner Circle

34

They didn’t believe you, did they?” the dead First Lady asked.

Up on the third floor, standing near the edge of the screenedin balcony, Nico watched the powder blue Mustang squirm down the narrow paved road that led toward the guardhouse at the front gate.

“She’s watching me. I can see her,” Nico announced.

“Does that matter?” the First Lady asked.

“It means she’ll be back again. I know she’ll be back.”

“But what you said about the boy… about Beecher… They never believe you.”

Turning to the First Lady, he asked, “Do you believe me?”

“Nico, you shot me with a bullet that sprayed my brain across the front of my car’s dashboard. You took me away from my husband and children and grandchildren. I want to hate you with everything I have left. But this boy Beecher-he knows who he is. We all know who we are, even if we won’t admit it. So when he comes to betray us-”

“He may not betray us. That’s his test. I have to give him his chance.”

“A chance is fine. But if he fails, he better suffer the same punishment you gave me.”

Nico nodded, turning back to the fading Mustang.

“What about the girl?” the First Lady added. “You know who she is, don’t you?”

“Of course,” Nico replied as the car finally turned the corner. “I may be crazy, but I’m not an idiot.”