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“Hi,” Elena returned, and then she added cautiously, “I brought sos”

“Oh, good,” Neal said absentmindedly

“Neal – are you OK?”

He didn’t answer for a minute and then he looked up, his eyes were far away

“I need to drop by my brother’s apartment for a bit”

“Oh,” she said, “alright I’ll be fine here”

“Actually,” Neal said tentatively, “I was hoping you would come with me… for some moral support”

Elena leaned in and gave hi

“Of course,” she said willingly

The two of thee’s aparthts The doorave Neal his cond

olences as they went up in the elevator

Finally, they reached his apartment Neal stood at the door for what seemed like an eternity, but Elena never pressed him to turn the key in the lock She just stood behind him until he was ready Finally, he took a deep breath, turned the key and pushed the door open

They walked around Elena started cleaning up, the musky smell of desertion had already settled over the roo Then finally, he walked into his brother’s rooh the drawers, the cupboards, and the wardrobe He searched with single- for So hidden a his brother’s possessions that could save him somehow

Soet their company back and keep it in the family Perhaps a second codicil that out dated the first and thus rendered it null and void Perhaps this one would state that in the absence of any children, Hargrove Brothers would pass to Neal and his children He had gotten so used to receiving lifelines from his brother, that a part of hie’s absence He was so involved in his aimless hunt, that he didn’t notice Elena behind him