CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Tuesday, November 8th

KANDICE DODGED EVERY ONE OF JACKIE'S CALLS. There was no point trying to explain her departure, and they'd never gotten along anyway so they shouldn't miss each other or need a long goodbye.

After the first six voicemails, she quit listening, and deleted them. The only person she contacted was Mr. Goldsmith to explain her departure. Since it was unclear where they were going, she let him know the city was too painful to live in and a friend would accompany her on a cross-country adventure. She promised to check in with him, and Mr. Goldsmith agreed to watch after her assets.

Kandice also informed him that her apartment would be empty by the end of the week because she was selling off her belongings. Breaking a lease would look bad on her renter's history, but there was no avoiding it as paying for it throughout the year wasn't an option.

Mr. Goldsmith said he would pay the cancellation fee and next month's rent out of Kandice's bank account, and that he could smooth it over with the apartment complex on her behalf.

He also agreed to sell her moped for her and didn't want compensation for it. He considered it a favor to Kandice and her parents. She had thanked him and asked one last favor: that he not discuss any of it with Jackie. He explained that it would violate client privilege to tell Jackie anything.