Part 4 (2/2)
”I hear accusation in your voice.”
She was startled. He usually didn't hear anything he didn't want to hear. ”Probably,” she said. ”Don't you want to know how she is?”
”I know. I talked to the doctor this morning. For your information, I also talked to him last night. He said she was in a coma. She wouldn't know I was there.”
”She might.”
Some emotion crossed his perfectly blank face, surprising her.
”Are you going to see her today?” Meredith couldn't keep the question from her tongue.
He gave her the piercing look she had seen him give opposition witnesses.
”She was awake yesterday,” Meredith said, wanting to startle a reaction from him.
He frowned. ”I thought she was in a coma.”
”That was later,” she said.
”Is that why you came this morning? To instruct me on my husbandly duties?” His voice had taken on a decided frost.
”No. Not exactly.”
”Then what exactly?”
Meredith was not easily intimidated, but she had to admit her father still made her nervous. Old habits died hard. Especially after thirty years of seeking his approval.
Mrs. Edwards appeared with a plate loaded with two eggs, croissants, and fruit, and disappeared just as discreetly.
”Mom asked me to do something for her,” Meredith said.
His head snapped up. ”What?”
”Did ... did you know she'd had a baby? Before me?”
His face paled. She realized immediately he 'had' known.
It was like a blow in her stomach. Secrets. So many secrets in this house. Was that why it was so cold, so... empty? Even when filled with people?
”Don't rummage around in the past,” he said.
”She asked me to find her. She wants me to share the trust fund she saved for me, for us.”
”That doesn't give you pause?”
She knew exactly what he meant. ”No. I earn all that I need.”
He shook his head as if he could not imagine how she came to be his daughter. ”Your mother is full of drugs. She doesn't know what she's saying.”
”Are you telling me that it didn't happen?”
”You know your mother. Can you believe ...?”
”I'm beginning to think I don't know either of you,” she said tightly. ”I realize you don't love each other, but--”
”You know nothing, miss,” he said sharply. He very carefully folded his napkin and placed it next to his plate, then rose. ”I have to go to the office before court.”
”We haven't finished talking.”
”I have.”
”I'm going to find her.”
He spun around. ”The h.e.l.l you are! You want to ruin your mother's reputation, everything she worked to build? She cared about what people thought.”
”Did she? Or was that you?” she asked quietly.
”You've thrown away everything I've tried to give you,” he said. ”Don't lecture me.”
She knew what he was doing. By attacking her, he could avoid her questions. ”What do you know?” she persisted, her anger rising. He knew something. His eyes told her he knew something. The way he avoided her questions told her he knew something. He wasn't the only attorney in the family. She knew the techniques as well as he did.
He turned away without another word. She heard him walk down the hallway, his steps not quick and determined as they usually were. The door opened and shut behind him.
She had more questions now than before.
Once in his office, Charles Rawson picked up the phone.
He didn't bother with the niceties. ”Meredith knows about her half sister. She's going to try to locate her.”
”There's no trail. I made sure of that.”
”She's persistent. She can be obstinate.”
”Stop her.”
”I'm not sure I can.”
”I'm not asking you to try. Just do it.”
Charles felt trapped. ”She promised her mother.”
”Marguerite?”
”She's very ill. She asked--”
”You a.s.sured me your wife would not say anything. To anyone.”
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