Deadly Payoff

by Valerie Hansen

  “Only if Grandfather is solely responsible. Remember, he’s been sick for a long time. Even if Cymbeline was his idea, Father has been running this company. He’d surely have noticed a nonproductive drain on the firm. I’m surprised Brandon didn’t question it.”

  “Maybe he did. You can ask him when you see him.”

  She watched Juliet lay a hand on Shaun’s forearm to command his full attention. “Take care of her for us? Please? She’s a very special part of our family.”

  “I will.” He pulled Delia to his side, holding her there with a light, supportive touch as he urged her toward the doorway. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here before somebody notices you’re in the building and tells Daddy. I don’t imagine you’d appreciate being ambushed before you get your plans worked out.”

  “Right,” Delia said with a slight shiver. “My father is the last person I want to see or talk to right now.”

  Sunlight shining into the pickup truck had overheated the interior so Shaun had rolled down the windows. An ocean breeze ruffled Delia’s short hair.

  She pushed the button to end her telephone conversation and leaned back against the seat with a sigh. “Well, that’s the last one. Bianca’s busy in Boston, as I’d thought, so she won’t be able to be there tonight. Rissa’s in New York so she’s out, too. Portia said she’d try to make it. I asked her not to bring her fiancé, Mick Campbell, since he’s with the police and I’m not sure exactly what we’ll find out.”

  “Do you think your father is guilty of a crime?”

  “It’s a distinct possibility.”

  “You’re sure you want me to be there?” Shaun asked.

  “Absolutely. You deserve to be. Not only were you involved in my current search, you and I were victims all along.”

  “We were? How?”

  “Think about it, Shaun. I was flighty and confused when I was a teenager, at least partly because of my dysfunctional home life. If I’d had the benefit of my mother’s counsel back then, maybe I’d have been smart enough to know I couldn’t run away from my problems and I wouldn’t have latched on to you and hurt you the way I did.” She paused to gather her courage before she added, “I’m sorry, Shaun. I’m so sorry.”

  “No problem. That was a long time ago.”

  Delia didn’t know what she’d expected him to say but she certainly wasn’t ready to hear him shrug off their marriage as if it hadn’t mattered. It had taken her years to get over losing him. Apparently, Shaun had not been nearly as devastated. She knew it wasn’t right or fair to hold him responsible for being more emotionally resilient than she was but she couldn’t help doing it.

  A lot of the things that had happened to her and Shaun hadn’t been fair, had they? If he was able to easily get over her and go on with his life, more power to him. She just wished she could say the same for herself.

  “What about the Halls?” Shaun asked. “You told Juliet you were going to include them and I didn’t hear you call them.”

  “You’re right. But what am I going to say?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t go into detail about what you suspect the way you did with your sisters. Why not just tell them that you’ve found some information about Cymbeline and you thought they might like to drop by the house tonight to talk it over?”

  “Do you think that’s sensible? I mean, Eleanor was already upset over our visit, today. This revelation about Father’s involvement may be much harder on her.”

  “Then let me talk to Stanley for you. He can decide how much his wife can stand.”

  “Fair enough. But not on the phone. I have to go back to the Coastal Inn to get my car, anyway. We can ask him to come downstairs and you can talk to him then.”

  “All right.”

  Delia could tell that Shaun was not thrilled with her decision. She’d have stepped in and relieved him of having to deal with her maternal grandfather if he hadn’t been so right about how best to handle the situation. Speaking to Stanley man-to-man was by far the wisest choice. Since Shaun had offered, Delia was going to let him go through with it.

  Yes, it was the coward’s way out. And, yes, she was not displaying her usual bravado. But she was weary beyond reason. Her mind had been on overload ever since she’d undertaken this quest and her heart was now totally involved, too.

  Looking for villains in her own family was only the half of it. Finding love again, where it was not reciprocated, was the other half of the equation.

  Delia didn’t like the way either situation was working out. If she hadn’t felt a duty to her sisters, to her missing mother, and now to her grandparents, she’d have hopped the first plane out of Bangor and headed for the sanctuary that waited for her on Oahu.

  Soon, that was exactly what she was going to do.

  Shaun gritted his teeth as he stood on the porch of the Coastal Inn and waited for Stanley Hall to join him. He had no idea what he was going to tell the man but he figured something would come to mind. For once, Delia hadn’t tried to interfere and he wished she had. This situation was extremely important to her. Shaun didn’t want to make things any harder than they already were by saying or doing the wrong thing.

  Still, Delia had left, trusting him to approach Stanley alone, so she must feel comfortable with his diplomatic ability. He just hoped he had some of that tact left when he next came face-to-face with Ronald Blanchard.

  Stanley burst out the door, spotted him and hurried over. “What’s wrong? I had to fib to my wife to get away from her and I don’t like doing that. You sounded deadly serious when you called on the house phone. Is Delia all right?”

  “She’s fine.” Shaun shook the older man’s hand. “Thanks for coming down. Delia and I thought it would be best if I briefed you first and let you break the news to your wife.”

  “Have you found our Trudy?”

  “Not yet. But Delia keeps getting closer. She’s uncovered a connection between her family and that Cymbeline Corporation we had asked you about earlier.”

  “What is it?”

  “Blanchard Fabrics,” Shaun said, pausing to let the information sink in before he went on. Obviously, Stanley was stunned.

  “Ronald?” the older man guessed.

  “Looks like it. Him, or old Howard. Delia and Juliet think it was probably their father’s doing, though. Howard might have set it up but Ronald had to have been the one keeping the whole thing funded.”

  Stanley sagged back against the exterior wall of the inn and shook his head slowly. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. The girls have called a family meeting for tonight. Can you and Eleanor be there?”

  “Of course. Where and when?”

  “At the estate. Around seven. I’ll tell Delia to expect you. Ronald doesn’t know anything about this yet so keep the details to yourself, will you?”

  “I’m going to tell Eleanor.”

  “We assumed you’d want to,” Shaun said with evident empathy. “That’s why I’m here. It would be best if she were prepared ahead of time, don’t you think?”

  Stanley continued to nod. “Yes.” He held out his hand and shook Shaun’s with gusto. “I don’t know how to thank you, son.”

  “Getting Delia’s family back on track will be all the thanks I need.”

  “You and my granddaughter. What’s the story there?”

  “No story,” Shaun said. He took a deep breath and blew it out with a puff. “There used to be, but there isn’t anything going on now.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Stanley replied. “I saw the way you two looked at each other, the way you both seemed to rely on each other for support when you were up in our suite.”

  “Delia only needs me to help her through this mess she’s gotten into regarding her mother,” Shaun said. “Things will be settled soon and she’ll head back to Hawaii without a second thought.”

  The older man chuckled quietly and clapped Shaun on the shoulder. “She may go back, as you say, but I doubt it’ll be without plenty of second thoughts.�
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  “It won’t matter.” Shaun was adamant. “She married me in the first place, when we were kids, as a way to escape her unhappy home life. She told me so. In retrospect, I imagine she’s glad her father had our marriage annulled. She certainly took it well enough when it happened. He shipped her off to Hawaii and she never even wrote me a goodbye note.”

  “That’s hard to believe.” Stanley replied incredulously. “She seems like a very considerate young woman.”

  “I used to think she was. I found out differently.”

  “Did you? Hmm. That seems a bit oversimplified. Have you discussed the matter with her?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “There’s no need,” Shaun said firmly. “Delia has her life and I have mine. Any chances we may have had in the past are long gone.”

  “You don’t believe in second chances?”

  “No.”

  “Too bad,” Stanley said. “Too bad. If we hadn’t had this little chat I’d have suspected the Blanchard money might be what was bothering you.” He smiled wistfully. “There was a time when I’d have given almost anything to have had the bankroll Ronald was born with. Now that I’m older and wiser I can see that the Good Lord knew exactly what He was doing. I have my Eleanor and we’re happy together in spite of everything. Ronald has nothing but his fat wallet and a lot of problems.”

  Shaun snorted derisively. “Only a man with enough money to do as he pleases feels that way.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Shakespeare says it best in Henry the Eighth.

  I swear, ’tis better to be lowly born,

  And range with humble livers in content,

  Than to be perked up in a glistening grief,

  And wear a golden sorrow.

  Stanley paused in his recitation and smiled at Shaun. “Or, as the Bible says in Proverbs, ‘Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred therewith.’”

  “Your family members have meaningful quotes for every occasion, don’t they?” Shaun said, returning the older man’s grin.

  “The wisdom of the ages is always apropos.” He grew more solemn and stepped away. “Well, I’d better be getting back to Eleanor before she starts to worry. Will we see you there tonight?”

  “Yes. Delia asked me to come, too.”

  Stanley’s smile returned. “Did she? Well, well. Can’t say that I’m surprised.”

  “I’m just going as a friend, to back her up in case she needs it.”

  “Friendship is the best way to start,” Stanley said. “If I were to believe the social pundits of today, I’d think good marriages only came about after a couple had played house and mucked around for who-knows-how-long. In my humble opinion, you can’t build a better foundation for a life together than a strong, stable friendship. You mark my words, son.”

  Shaun bid him goodbye and watched him walk away. It was strange how much he liked the older man. Maybe Stanley reminded him of his own father, although he couldn’t imagine how. On the surface the two men were very different. Yet there was an undercurrent of shared Christian beliefs and moral fiber, wasn’t there? Perhaps that was the commonality. Both men had faced adversity and loss and had come through with their faith not only intact but strengthened.

  For that, Shaun envied them. Maybe having faith was like having money. If Shaun had a lot, he didn’t worry about getting more, and if he had very little, he was always seeking an increase. He supposed that could be true. Then again, who was he to speculate on the finer points of faith when his was so lacking?

  What would it take to fix his spiritual deficiency? he wondered. How could he renew himself without relinquishing his character, his self-made strength? That was what had kept him together when he’d lost Delia, and again when he’d stood at attention as they laid his army buddies to rest with a twenty-one-gun salute. If he released his tight hold on himself, assuming he actually could, what would he have left?

  Shaun set his jaw and headed for his truck. He wasn’t about to let go of anything and take the chance that God would decide to pick up the pieces.

  He’d come this far under his own steam and he was going to finish that way. Period.

  FOURTEEN

  Delia couldn’t remember ever being this nervous in her whole life. She had picked at her supper while hoping that no one would notice her lack of appetite, especially her father.

  Miranda, aware of the coming conflict, had shaken so badly throughout the meal her tremors would have jiggled the table had it not been so substantially built. And Winnie wasn’t faring much better.

  Wisely, Juliet had made the excuse that she was dining in town with Brandon and Portia and had promised to arrive in time for dessert.

  That left only Shaun and the Halls unaccounted for. For her own sake, Delia dearly wished she’d made more precise arrangements but it was too late now.

  Ronald sipped the last of his coffee, placed his linen napkin beside his plate and started to rise. “Well…”

  Delia ordered, “No. Wait,” so loudly that everyone startled, including her father.

  He scowled at her. “What is the matter with you, Delia? You’ve been jumpy as a cat tonight.”

  “I have good reason to be,” she said. “Please, let Sonya clear the table if you want, but don’t leave. I need to talk to you.”

  “So, talk.” He shrugged his shoulders beneath his expensive suit coat and straightened his silk tie. “I don’t have all night.”

  “Excuse me just a minute,” she said. “I think I hear the buzzer. I need to go open the gate. At least I think I do.” And if not, I’ll phone the others and tell them all to hurry, she added to herself. Before this suspense kills me.

  To her relief, Shaun was the one ringing for admittance. She released the gates, then opened the heavy front door to wait on the porch, delighted to find her maternal grandparents arriving at the same time.

  Shaun parked and took the steps two at a time.

  Delia broke into a wide grin and murmured, “Thank you, Jesus,” before she raised her voice to call, “Everybody come on in. It’s time to get started.”

  The moment Shaun reached her he tenderly touched her arm. “Are your sisters here?”

  “Not all of them. Juliet and Portia are late. Father’s getting restless so I’m going to start without them.”

  “Okay. After you.” He stood aside so Eleanor and Stanley could pass, then followed them and Delia into the dining room.

  Ronald got to his feet and scowled. “What is this, some kind of a surprise party?”

  “Not exactly, Father,” Delia said. “I did invite some people but this is no party. I have something to ask you and I thought it was only fair for the Halls to be here, too.”

  “Ask me? Ask me what? What are you talking about?” he turned his frigid gaze on Shaun. “You’d better not have had anything to do with this, Murphy.”

  “Leave Shaun out of it, Father. He’s just here as a friend. You’re the one who involved him in the first place. Remember?”

  “I just wanted somebody to look after you,” Ronald insisted. “I didn’t intend to make him a part of the family any more than Sonya or Andre or Peg are. They work for us. That’s all.”

  Embarrassed, Delia rested her gaze on Shaun long enough to be sure he was going to hold his temper. His jaw was clenched but he nodded to her, clearly understanding her unspoken concern.

  Fingers trembling, Delia reached into the pocket of the designer jeans Juliet had given her and withdrew a folded sheet of paper. Without explanation, she handed it to her father.

  He looked annoyed at first. Then, his countenance darkened as he read what was printed. “Where did you get this?”

  “That doesn’t matter,” Delia said. “What we want is an explanation. What do you know about Cymbeline Corporation?”

  “Why?”

  “You know why.” Her voice was rising to match her ire. “That was where the money came from that financed Mother’s illegal hospitalizat
ion all those years.”

  “So?”

  “So? So?” Delia was practically shouting. Shaun stepped to her side as she continued, “So, just how much did you know about what Aunt Genie was doing?”

  “I simply gave her money to look after your mother,” Ronald said stiffly.

  “Yes, but she was the one who okayed the debits to the Cymbeline account and you were the one who kept it solvent, so you must have known everything. Everything, including exactly where and how that money was being spent.”

  “No, I…” Ronald looked as if he’d planned to argue more. Then, he sank back into his chair, rested his elbows on the table and put his face in his hands, the fight suddenly gone out of him. “That’s not how it was.”

  “Then how was it? Tell us.”

  When he looked up, there were unshed tears in his eyes. The sight of her father showing any emotion other than anger or self-righteousness took Delia aback.

  “I did set up Cymbeline,” he admitted. “Years ago. It was Genie’s idea to do it that way. She was supposed to look after your mother, to keep her from ever coming back to bother us after she signed away her parental rights. I just never dreamed…”

  Winnie leaned forward and pointed a long, tapering finger at her brother. “You can’t possibly expect us to believe that fairy tale, Ronald. You were always very thorough. Very competent. You never did anything halfway. Nor did you leave important details to underlings. You knew where Trudy was. You had to.”

  Ronald was shaking his head emphatically. “No. No, I didn’t. I swear it. Genie lied to me. She told me she was taking good care of Trudy. Why shouldn’t I have trusted her? She was Trudy’s sister!”

  “What happened after Mother escaped from Westside Medical Retreat?” Delia asked, listening to her own heart thudding while Eleanor sobbed softly in the background.

  “Genie came back here and got in touch with me,” Ronald explained. “We agreed to meet in the gazebo. I thought we were going to discuss what had happened but she threatened me instead. She said she had Trudy put away somewhere safe and she wanted a lot more money or she’d go to the police and tell them I was guilty of false imprisonment and spousal abuse.”