The CEO Above My Desk (Mckenzie Shinabery) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Violet

My fingers tighten around the phone. “He should be. The hospital told me both would be ready.”

“They are ready,” she says gently. “But they are not in the same facility.”

My voice sharpens. “Where is my brother?”

Another pause. Longer this time.

“Your brother is currently at St. Thomas’s Funeral Home,” she says.

The kitchen seems to tilt.

“What?” I whisper.

“He was transferred directly from the morgue several weeks ago,” she continues. “At the request of the police department.”

I grip the edge of the counter so hard my knuckles ache. “Why was I not told?”

“I don’t have that information,” she replies. “I only have what is documented.”

“So you’re telling me,” I say slowly, each word heavy, “that my mother and my brother are in two different funeral homes.”

“Yes, Ms. Pierce.”

“And no one thought to fix that when my mother passed?”

“No,” she says softly. “They did not.”

My chest tightens painfully. “Fine. Then I need to speak with St. Thomas’s.”

“I can give you their number,” she offers.

“Yes,” I say. “Please.”

She reads it off. I type it in with shaking hands.

“And Ms. Pierce,” she adds, quieter now, “I truly am sorry. This is… unusual.”

“It shouldn’t happen at all,” I reply.

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I hang up and stare at the phone for a long moment before dialing again.

St. Thomas’s answers immediately.

“St. Thomas’s Funeral Home. This is David.”

“Hi,” I say. “My name is Violet Pierce. I was told my brother is in your care.”

There is silence. Then typing.

“Yes,” he says. “I have him here.”

My throat burns. “I need to arrange burial services. He should be buried with my mother.”

Another pause.

“I’m sorry,” David says carefully. “We cannot release his remains without authorization.”

“What authorization,” I ask. “I’m next of kin.”

“Yes,” he says. “However, his file is marked as restricted.”

My hands curl into fists. “Restricted by who.”

“The police department,” he replies. “Specifically Detective Calder.”

The name lands like a punch.

“That detective is no longer assigned to the case,” I say.

“That may be,” David responds. “But his hold is still active.”

“Why was my brother moved here in the first place,” I demand. “Why was he separated from my mother.”

David exhales slowly. “Off the record, Ms. Pierce, I would say it was intentional.”

My heart pounds. “Intentional how.”

“There are notes stating his remains were not to be reunited with any other services until further notice,” he says.

Further notice.

From a man who strangled a CI.

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From a man who told my mother her son was dead.

My vision blurs.

“This is cruel,” I say. “You understand that, right.”

“Yes,” he replies quietly. “I do.”

I pull the phone away from my ear, pressing my fingers to my temple. When I bring it back, my voice is colder. Steadier.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” I say. “You will hold my brother exactly where he is. Do not move him. Do not release him. Do not allow access without my consent or a court order.”

“Yes, Ms. Pierce.”

“And Sunnyfields will proceed with my mother,” I continue. “Separate services if necessary. I will be present for both.”

“Understood.”

I hang up before my voice can break again.

For a moment, I just sit there, phone in my hand, staring at the countertop.

They separated them.

Even in death, someone decided my family did not belong together.

My chest feels too tight, like there is not enough air in the room. Not panic. Not yet. This is something hotter. Thicker.

Rage that crawls up my spine and settles behind my eyes.

I hear a chair shift.

Devin steps into my line of sight carefully, like he is approaching a wild animal. His voice is soft, cautious. “Violet…”

I do not look at him.

“They moved him,” I say. My voice sounds wrong to my own ears. Flat. Empty. “They took Drew and put him somewhere

else. Like he was evidence. Like he wasn’t… like he wasn’t my brother.”

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