“Dawson said you won’t get the book for him because you still have issues about the past.”
“Well, sure, who doesn’t? But I repeat, it’s not that simple.”
“Abigail, you were a very troubled girl. We did what we felt was best for you and the family. You’re an adult now. I would have hoped that by this time you would have realized that we had no choice but to send you to that special school. You needed treatment.”
“Uh–huh.”
“Do you have any idea of how much it cost to send you to the Summer Hill Academy?”
“Summerlight.”
“What?” Orinda asked.
“The name of the school was the Summerlight Academy.”
“Well, you can’t expect me to remember the name of the school after all these years.”
“Gee, that’s funny,” Abby said. “I’ve never been able to forget it. And no, in answer to your question, I don’t know how much it cost you to dump me there.”
“We spent thousands on tuition, room and board and counseling. You should be grateful for all that we did for you.”
“Oh, I am,” Abby said politely. “Very grateful.”
She was aware of Sam watching her. He lounged against the counter, sipping coffee and listening to every word. Newton rested his head on her leg, offering silent comfort.
“The least you can do for the family is find that book for Dawson,” Orinda said. “He tells me it is absolutely critical to closing the deal with the investor.”
“Yes, he mentioned that. But you’re going to have to trust me when I tell you that the book is dangerous.”
“Nonsense. It’s just a book, not even a very old one at that. We’re not talking a medieval manuscript here. Evidently, the investor is obsessedwith finding this particular book, however, and has made it clear that it is the price of doing business.”
“A lot of people are searching for that same book, and at least one person has already been murdered because of it,” Abby said.
“I don’t believe that for a second. No one commits murder because of a forty-year-old book. You’re making up stories, just like you did when you were a girl. This is about the money, isn’t it?”
“No.”
“Of course it is,” Orinda said. “You have always resented Dawson’s inheritance and the trust funds I established for the twins, even though I have explained that you have no right to that money because you have no biological connection to the Strickland line.”
“I remember that talk. I told you then, and I’m telling you now, I’m not interested in the Strickland money.”
“It’s always about the money,” Orinda shot back. Anger and conviction rang in her voice. “I would think that after all we’ve done for you, you would be willing to do this one small favor in return. If your sense of family obligation is so lacking, however, you have my word that you will be compensated for your efforts.”
Maybe it was the rare show of emotion or simply the rising panic in Orinda’s voice. Whatever the source, it triggered Abby’s intuition. She straightened in the chair and braced her elbows on the table.
“This is as close to groveling as I have ever known you to come, Mrs. Strickland.”
“I’m not groveling, you ungrateful woman. I’m trying to make you understand that you have a responsibility to help your brother in this crisis.”
“Stepbrother,” Abby said automatically. “No bloodline connection, remember?”
“That is beside the point. We are a family. Dawson says he could be looking at prison.”
“Look, I understand that he’s facing bankruptcy, but unless he was the one who was running the Ponzi scheme, I doubt that the Feds will charge him with a crime.”
“Don’t you understand?” Orinda said. “Whoever lured Dawson into that scheme made sure that when it fell apart, Dawson would take the fall.”
“Okay, okay, calm down. Sounds like this all comes down to money. If Dawson is forced to pay off some clients, he can borrow the money from the Strickland trust. Surely he can get a loan from you.”
