45To speed Nicholson along, I kept my reply brief. “Fine.”
He smiled. “Jeff wanted you to be alone when you open this. He understood I can’t require that of you. But that’s his request.”
“I’ll honor it.” I leaned forward. “Who knows Jeff left this with you?”
“I agreed to keep this arrangement confidential. Only you and I know of it.”
“Did Steve tell you I asked about a message Jeff might’ve left for me?”
“He mentioned that yesterday when I met with the family. I didn’t reveal I had this in my possession.”
He held up the envelope to show my name and phone number printed in black ink across the front.
“Following the service this morning,” Nicholson continued, “Steve took me aside. He insisted on giving me your phone number. I accepted it without comment.”
“Wise.” I stretched my left
