Chapter 89
They walked along in silence for a while, then, just before they reached the main hub Catherine stopped. Both men stopped as well, turning to look at her, "Catherine, what is it?" Vincent asked gently.
"In all the…" she paused a second not quite sure what to call it and then settled on, "excitement, I didn't get the dress from the cleaners."
Devin glanced at his watch, "They'll be closed by now. You'll have to get it tomorrow."
"I guess so," she sighed in disappointment. She had really been looking forward to trying it on tonight. Mary had also told her that if there were any alterations needed she would be glad to do so.
Vincent put a comforting arm around her shoulders and they continued on their way. He knew the uproar that was being caused as they neared the main hub. Word had gone out on the pipes that he had returned after his frantic departure, and that not only was Catherine with him, but a stranger too! No one challenged the stranger because he was with Vincent, but Vincent was sure there was much speculation going on and that Father would be impatiently waiting for an explanation. That was why he led them directly to Father's study.
As they entered Father wasn't able to see Devin who was walking behind Vincent so he began with an angry demand, "Vincent who have you brought Below now without consulting the council?"
Now that the three were in the room instead of narrow passageway, Devin stepped out from behind his brother. "It's the prodigal son returned home for a visit," he said.
"Devin?" Father gasped.
"In the flesh, so to speak."
"Why do you look so disheveled? Were you fighting?"
"The men that attacked Catherine in the park tried again tonight in an alley near her work, Father. Devin was there and was protecting her," Vincent reported. "Devin is injured and should be looked over."
"Yes, of course!" Father exclaimed, "And Catherine? Were you hurt?"
"No, I am fine Father. Although without Je…Devin and Vincent, I'm sure the outcome would have been different!"
"Good, good," Father said, then turning his eyes back to Devin he stated, "Well then we had better get you checked out. We can go into the hospital chamber and you can catch me up on what you have been doing all these years and how you came to be in an alley with Catherine."
"Mr. Radler and I work together in the DA's office, Father."
"Radler?" Father questioned.
"Well Vincent and I never did have last names, being raised down here, so it seemed as good as any other."
"Ummm, well yes, I guess so. But a lawyer Devin? That is a fine choice of profession! You must have studied very hard to get a job at the DA's office!" Father seemed very pleased with his son.
"Yes Devin, you must have been near the top of your class! What law school did you attend again?" Catherine asked with a bit of a bite in her voice. He wondered at that and at the feeling of anger that seemed to be boiling just under the surface in her. Then he remembered she had thought his name was Jeff Radler and not Devin Radler. That must have had something to do with it, but he couldn't think of what.
Meanwhile, Devin was flashing the charming smile Vincent remembered from when they were boys. At that time the bigger Devin's smile, the bigger the lie he was telling. Vincent couldn't help but notice Devin's smile was almost ear to ear as he said, "Actually I went to several different ones because I was traveling around so much. I wanted to take advantage of the best professors in each subject."
Father was nodding as if that made perfect sense to him. Yet, while Vincent could tell that Catherine did not believe a word of what Devin had just said, just as Vincent was almost certain his brother had been lying.
"Well we can talk more later," Father declared. "Let's get you patched up first."
When Vincent and Catherine were alone she turned to him and exclaimed, "He's lying Vincent!"
To be continued….