Chapter 13: The Spider

*Kennedy*

Lucas wasn't in the office when I showed up for work and still wasn't there when the sun hung low, welcoming evening. Grace had popped in and out all day to check up on me. Grace could talk more than anyone I knew. She had an ability to describe to exhaustion every last detail in a story. She reminded me of an old country singer from the seventies, with blonde hair that was teased so much there had to be at least six inches of extra volume, "the higher the hair, the closer to god," she'd always say. Her lips were layered with thick coats of deep red lipstick and long nails were painted a new bright color every week. She spoke about Tony as if they were married. Because of this, I was convinced that something romantic was going on between them.

"Now honey," was how she started every sentence, in her deep southern accent. I had heard those two words today more times than I could count. "Lucas and Titus are always getting into fights. They are good boys, but trouble finds the