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“I can’t threaten Pelletier,” I said.
“Why not?”
“Because he’s treating Daphne. She needs him, and I need her whole.”
“You have to let her be, son,” he said. “You can’t hide everything from her. If you never give her a chance to be strong, she won’t be.”
“Daphne’s my responsibility. I’ll handle her situation the way I see fit. My child needs his mother.”
“Your child needs a mother who has a grip on reality. How can she have a grip on reality if you’re constantly hiding it from her?”
“Enough!” I slammed my fist on my desk. “I made a vow to protect my wife, and I will do it. I know her better than you or anyone else does.”
“Fine. I’ll let it drop. There are more important matters. At least there haven’t been any more threats against your son.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “I know. Thank God. I’m still not convinced Wendy hasn’t been a part of this the whole time.”
“I’m not convinced either,” he said, “though I can’t find any evidence that she has.”
“If anyone can cover her tracks, it’s Wendy Madigan.”
“She’s been locked up, son.”
“I know. And now she’s getting out. Which means things will get worse.”
“Maybe not. Maybe she actually healed at the hospital.”
“Please.” I scoffed.
“Then find another doctor to replace Pelletier,” he said. “Make him an offer he can’t refuse so he’ll keep Wendy hospitalized.”
“Dad, does it have to be like this?”
“You have another choice.”
“What’s that?”
“Let Wendy be released. See what she does. Maybe she’ll finish school. Get a job. Maybe she’ll leave you behind.”
“If she’s not behind all this shit—and I still think she’s got her hands dirty—then who is?”
“I’ve been working on that. She may well be involved. I just don’t know yet.”
“You’ve been working on it for a year. If we haven’t figured it out by now, how will we ever?”
“We will. I’ll leave no stone unturned. How are things with the ranch?”
“Profits are great. My new financial guy has us invested in some ground-floor deals. We’re going to make a killing.”
“I knew you’d be the one to take this business to the next level.”
“Yeah, we’ll be richer than God.” I rolled my eyes. “I’d trade it all for the safety of my wife and child.”
“Then you know what you have to do.”
I exhaled slowly. “Yes. I know.”
“I’m sorry, son.”
“I’m sorry too. This is all on me. Me and those damned Future Lawmakers. Fuck. Why didn’t you stop me?”
“Because a man has to learn from his own mistakes.”
“I was a kid.”
“You were eighteen by the time you began giving them money, Brad. That’s a man.”
“In my defense, I got paid back ten times over.”
“You did, and I’m glad you got out when you did.”
“I had to. They were getting into drugs.”
“They were. They are.”
“Tom and Larry are both going to be lawyers. I don’t get it.”
He laughed. “Lawyers are notoriously unscrupulous.”
“Not all of them.”
“I suppose you can find a couple good apples in the bushel. I tried.”
“Really? You tried?”
He laughed again. “Not really. I needed attorneys who were willing to leave their scruples on the doorstep.”
I nodded, knowing he couldn’t see me. I had nothing else to say.
Except for one thing.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“For what?”
“For working so hard all those years. And for doing what you’re doing now, trying to find out who’s behind all of this horror.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
Again, I said nothing.
“I’ve got to go, son. I’ll talk to you next week. Same time. Be sure to pick up.”
“Can’t you give me any way to contact you?”
“We’ve been through this. I have to keep moving. I’ll call you.”
“Fine.” I hung up the phone a little more harshly than I meant to.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Daphne
He was gone again.
Only out on the ranch, this time, checking on things. He was the owner, after all. He’d be back for our romantic dinner.
He’d promised.
I had no reason to believe he would renege.
I was making my way to the nursery to check on Joe when the doorbell rang. Mazie was in the greenhouse.
“I’ll get it, Belinda,” I called and walked to the door.
A young man stood on the porch.
“May I help you?” I asked.
“I have a delivery for Bradford Steel.”
“I’m his wife. I can take it.”
“Okay.” He handed me the white envelope.
I closed the door and fingered the smooth paper.
Take it to his office.
Just take it to his office.
I walked through the foyer and down the hallway leading to Brad’s study. I opened the door and was about to lay the envelope on his desk, when—
Hmm. The seal had been broken and was only glued at the tip of the triangle. Without thinking, I ran my finger under the seal and broke it without tearing the paper.
Nicely done.
Don’t, Daphne. Don’t.
But as soon as I noticed the broken seal, I knew I was going to look inside.
I pulled out the single sheet of paper.
