Free Turning the Page by Andrew Grey Page A

have some time.” He smiled and met Taylor’s intense gaze. This was a man on a mission, and a man who was worried about something. That was clear enough.
    “Thank you,” Taylor said with a half smile and then turned away, sliding the card into his pocket.
    Hans returned, and Malcolm carefully put on his coat. Then, after saying good-bye to a few people, he and Hans left for the evening, making their way back out into the cold and across the bridge to the parking structure. “I should drive,” Hans said as they reached the car. “You just had a double scotch, and I haven’t had anything to drink in a while.”
    Malcolm handed over his keys and directed Hans back to his house. He didn’t give much thought at that point to how Hans was going to get home. All he wanted was to get home himself, take something for the ache in his arm, and go to bed.
    By the time they reached his house, the alcohol had kicked in fully. Malcolm was warm from the inside, and his head was a little swimmy. Maybe it was the drink or the endorphins from the pain. It could also be the gentle touch Hans had as he helped him inside and got him settled in a chair.
    “I’m going to be fine.”
    “I know that. But you can’t drive, and I don’t want to take your car.” Hans went into the kitchen, returned with a couple of glasses of water, and handed one to him. Then he sat on the sofa near him. “You’re an interesting man, Malcolm.”
    “Why? I always thought I was boring.” He sipped some water and set the glass on a coaster on the side table.
    “Then you’re wrong. You have a heart, and when it comes down to it, a spine of steel. You’re willing to try to help someone attain his dream, even if he isn’t able to keep it.”
    “Gary?” Malcolm asked.
    “He wanted to be senior partner, and you helped get him elected and gave him a chance. It isn’t your fault that he didn’t make the most of it. He should have valued the gift you gave him.”
    “What gift?” Malcolm wasn’t sure what he meant.
    “The chance. At some point in our lives, someone gives us a chance. Success is what we make of it. My first editor, Nicole, bought my first book, not because it was the greatest story ever written, but because she saw something in me. She published Undersea Inferno and then the next one, each getting better and better, selling more and more. She believed in me, and I made the most of her faith. You did the same thing for Gary, but he didn’t follow through, and that isn’t your fault. It’s his, and he’s the one who needs to own up to it when the time comes.”
    Malcolm wasn’t sure Gary was capable of that. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that this whole thing was his fault for getting Gary’s hopes up. After all, he was the one who helped create this monster, and now he was going to have to deal with the fallout. Gary was certain to be removed by the other partners, and he could end up leaving the firm. Maybe that was for the best for all of them.
    “Do you want me to take you home in a few hours?” Malcolm asked.
    “That’s fine,” Hans said, and Malcolm got up and made his way to the kitchen. He took some painkillers he had in the cupboard. Then he found some snacks and brought them into the living room. When he returned, he took off his jacket and removed his tie before loosening his shirt. It felt good to be more comfortable. Hans did the same, and Malcolm found a movie to rent and sat on the sofa to be closer to the food.
    “Thank God it’s the weekend.”
    “I know exactly how you feel,” Hans said, and they both put their feet up as the movie started.
     
     
    MALCOLM WASN’T sure how much he actually watched, but he did wake up for the dramatic climax when Bruce Willis was about to take out the bad guy. Hans had fallen asleep as well and was leaning against him. Part of Malcolm told him he should move away, and the other half urged him to stay right where he was. Malcolm liked being