Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

Merrivale might wish it weren’t so, but she could keep on wishing. They were all hanging off of Lenny Brookstein’s coattails. And they were the lucky ones. Poor old Michael Gray was sitting on Maria’s right, also listening to Lenny’s story. The Grays were like a walking cautionary tale. One minute they were partying up a storm all over Manhattan, living it up in their Greenwich Village brownstone, summering in the South of France and wintering at their newly remodeled chalet in Aspen. The next minute— poof— it was all gone. Word was that every cent Mike Gray had had been leveraged against Lehman stock. Their kids, Cade and Cooper, were still in their private schools only because Grace Brookstein, Connie Gray’s sister, had insisted on covering the tuition.
    Maria whispered in Andrew’s ear: “The auction starts in a few minutes, Andy. I’ve got my eye on the vintage Cartier watch. Will you bid for it, or shall I?”
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    G RACE B ROOKSTEIN SMILED AND CLAPPED THROUGHOUT the bidding, but she was secretly relieved when the auction ended and it was time for dancing.
    â€œI hate these things,” she whispered in Lenny’s ear as he whisked her around the floor. “All those fragile male egos trying to outspend each other. It’s chest beating.”
    â€œI know.” Lenny’s hand caressed her lower back. “But those chest beaters just raised fifteen million for our foundation. In this economy, that’s pretty good going.”
    â€œDo you mind if I cut in? I’ve barely spoken to my favorite brother-in-law all night.”
    Connie, Grace’s eldest sister, slipped her arm around Lenny’s waist. Lenny and Grace both smiled.
    â€œFavorite brother-in-law, eh?” Grace teased. “Don’t let Jack hear you say that.”
    â€œOh, Jack .” Connie waved her hand dismissively. “He’s been in sucha funk all evening. I thought being a senator was supposed to be fun. Anyone would think he was the one who’d just lost his house. And job. And life savings. Come on, Lenny! Cheer a girl up, would you?”
    Grace watched her husband dance with her sister, holding Connie close so he could offer words of comfort. I love them both so much, she thought. And I admire them both so much. The way Connie can make jokes and laugh at herself when she and Mike are going through hell. And Lenny’s incredible, inexhaustible compassion. People were always talking about how “lucky” Grace was to be married to Lenny. Grace agreed. But it wasn’t Lenny’s money that made her blessed. It was his kindness.
    Of course, there was a downside to being married to the nicest man in the world. So many people loved Lenny, and relied on him, that Grace almost never got him all to herself. Next week they were flying to Nantucket, Grace’s favorite place in the world, for a two-week vacation. But of course, being the gracious host that he was, Lenny had invited everyone at the table tonight to join them.
    â€œPromise me we’ll get at least one night alone,” Grace begged, when they finally crawled into bed that night. The ball had been fun, but exhausting. The thought of even more socializing filled Grace with dread.
    â€œDon’t worry. They won’t all come. And even if they do, we’ll get more than one night alone, I promise. The house is big enough for us to sneak away.”
    Grace thought, That’s true. The house is enormous. Almost as big as your heart, my darling.

T WO
    I T WAS THE MORNING AFTER THE Quorum Ball, a Saturday. John Merrivale was in bed with his wife.
    â€œPlease, C-C-Caroline. I don’t want to.”
    â€œI don’t care what you want, you pathetic little worm. Do it! ”
    John Merrivale closed his eyes and moved down beneath the sheets till he was eye level with his wife’s neatly trimmed black bush.
    Caroline taunted him. “If you weren’t such a limp dick,