Sarah’s mind was spinning as she wrapped her hand around Phillip’s shoulder to steady him. Vicki? Did his secretary give the information to Kevin, and if so, why? It didn’t make sense. The lawyer slumped forward slightly. Damn. Sarah tightened her grip and tapped her fingers on his shoulder to keep his attention in the room. “Uncle Phillip.” Her voice seemed loud and slow to reach her ears. “Nod if you can hear me. Can you hear me?” He nodded. Thank God.

Mick appeared beside them, nudged a glass of water into the old man’s hand and curled his gnarled fingers around it. “Take a sip,” Mick said as he helped bring the glass to the old man’s trembling mouth. “Nice and easy.” Phillip took a sip. A trickle of the water escaped his lips, dribbled down his chin, and dropped onto his cream-colored shirt like an oversized tear making a grayish spot.

“I’m going to loosen your tie.” She was still talking overly loud, couldn’t help herself. Was overenunciating, too. “Okay?” Sarah didn’t wait for a response; she tugged at his navy silk tie, which was dotted with gold bumblebees. She loosened the knot, then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. “There you go. Better?”

He nodded and smiled wanly, blinking his watery eyes. “Much better. Thank you.” The color was starting to return to his face. He was able to hold the water glass on his own now.

“Take another sip,” Sarah urged. Her voice was more normal now, but her heart was still racing. He raised the water glass and took another sip. There was something so vulnerable and almost childlike about his acquiescence. Then he placed the water glass carefully on the desk in front of him. Both hands wrapped around it, his eyelids half-shut, as if he were too weary to raise them.

“I’m a foolish old man.” His voice was barely audible, his shoulders were rounded, and the expression on his face made him look as if he were a million years old.

“Uncle Phillip, I don’t understand why you think Vicki would—”