Julian wasn’t home. He had left early, convinced Grant was still paralyzed in bed.
I opened the front gates.
A distinguished silver-haired man carrying a thick leather briefcase stepped out, followed by a younger female attorney, two private investigators, and two plainclothes LAPD detectives who showed me their badges before crossing the threshold.
The silver-haired man was Arthur Vance, Grant’s personal attorney for over twenty years.
“Where is he?” Arthur asked urgently.
I pointed toward the grand staircase. “Getting ready.”
Arthur looked at me, utterly bewildered.
Then, a heavy thud echoed from the top of the stairs.
Then another.
Grant appeared at the landing. He was wearing dark trousers, a crisp white shirt, and leaning heavily on an antique wooden cane. He had spent two grueling nights practicing walking from his bed to the door, but he had never attempted stairs.
“Mr. Sterling…” Arthur breathed, his mouth agape.