Kitabı oku: «Weddings: The Proposals», sayfa 7

“None. No swords, slings or arrows. I’ll come unarmed.”

One brow lifted. “Raoul Laroche, unarmed?”

He lifted his hands.

A faint smile curved one corner of her pliant mouth. “You look about as innocent as Vercingetorix before he swept down on Gergovia, but it might be worth my trouble.”

Raoul burst into laughter. “I had no idea you were so knowledgeable about Gallic history.”

“Chantelle is a fan of one of the most famous French warriors in history.”

His heart rate sped up. “If you have any other conditions, I’ll do my utmost to grant them.”

Their gazes fused. “For one day I’d like you to show up without your glasses.”

“I don’t wear any. My eyesight is 20/20.”

“I’m talking about those lenses you look through from the inside. You might like what you see without them.”

If he liked what he saw any more than what was in front of him right now, he was in danger of being consumed by her fire.

A few hours later Laura came up from the galley of the cruiser with two orange drinks for the boys. She arranged the large umbrella so Paul stayed out of the hot, late-afternoon sun.

“Will you two be all right if Raoul and I take a swim? We’ll stay near the boat of course.” She made sure his sore leg was elevated.

Paul nodded. Both of them were too involved in their electronic games to talk.

“Then we’ll see you in a little while.”

“Ciao,” they both said at the same time.

She walked to the rear of the big cruiser where Raoul was waiting by the ladder. In black trunks his powerful, tanned body took her breath. Laura felt his black eyes roam over her as she removed her beach coat.

He’d been the perfect host so far, but this would be the first time they had been alone since taking the boat out.

“I swear the Italians invented the greatest word in the world.”

“You mean ciao,” he surmised correctly.

Laura nodded. “You can have a whole conversation with it. Hi—goodbye—and in English it sounds like ‘chow,’ meaning food.”

He chuckled. “Lunch was delicious by the way.”

“You liked my hamburgers and chips? You weren’t faking it?”

His expression remained benign. “Would I do that?”

She started to say yes, then remembered their pact. “I’m glad, then.”

Recognizing she’d practiced self-control, his eyes smiled, filling her with warmth. “Are you ready for our swim?”

They were anchored a couple of miles off the point of Cap Ferrat in a calm, pale-blue sea. Conditions were ideal.

“I’ve wanted to do this since the day I arrived.” So saying she climbed up on the side and dived straight in.

“How is it?” he asked as her head bobbed up.

She treaded water. “Fantastic. It has to be close to eighty out here, a good twelve to fifteen degrees higher than the ocean off Manhattan Beach. Come on in.”

He dived off the top of the ladder, reaching her in a few swift kicks. She loved the way he looked when his black hair was plastered to his head, almost as though the water brought out the primitive in him.

Pretending he was after her, she did the back stroke around the cruiser so she could watch him. Maybe he could read her mind because he stayed a body’s length away while he did the front crawl, as if he were toying with her before he seized his prey. Each time his head lifted above the water, their gazes connected, making it a little more difficult for her to breathe.

She swam full circle. When she was almost to the ladder, Raoul galvanized into action. He snaked an arm around her waist and towed her with him the short distance to the bottom rung. By now her heart was fluttering like a hummingbird’s.

Their mouths gravitated to each other in a long, drawn-out, saltwater kiss that shook her to the foundations. He’d locked his legs around hers, making escape impossible, but she didn’t want to escape—far from it. Being with him like this had transformed her. She felt alive and treasured for herself. Odd how she’d never felt beautiful before.

His breathing sounded shallow once he’d allowed her up for air. “Let’s go below deck,” he murmured in a thick toned voice against her nape. “I can’t begin to do what I want with you out here.”

She clung to him. “We can’t anyway. There’s a pair of chaperones on board.”

“Let’s take them home. I’m going to fix you dinner at my villa where no one will be around to disturb us.”

Laura kissed his jaw. “I understand you have a pool.”

“I do. It’s shaped like a full moon.”

“Do you ever swim in it?”

“Not for years.”

“Why?”

“Have you ever noticed how lonely a pool can feel when you’re the only one in it?”

She rubbed her cheek against his. “Yes. Did you live there with your wife?”

“No. Danielle’s from Vence. When we married, she wanted to continue living there. It’s only twenty minutes from my work, so we bought a home there.”

“I remember it. You drove us through the main street after we left Tourettes. It’s a charming town.”

“I agree. Her parents still live there.”

It was heaven to be able to talk to him like this. “How long were you married?”

His eyes played over her features. “Five years.”

More than double the length of Laura’s fiasco of a marriage. “Does she still live there?”

“Yes.”

“Do you ever—” She looked away. “I mean, do yo—”

“No.” He read her mind. “My feelings for her died long ago. Naturally I have memories of us falling in love, but not the emotions that once accompanied them.”

Laura nodded. “I know what you mean.”

“Then why are we wasting our time talking about the past?”

Laura didn’t want to think about it, either. “Can we swim in your pool tonight?” she asked in an aching voice.

He pressed an urgent kiss to her mouth. “I’m living for a moon bath, as long as you take it with me.”

As a shiver of delight ran through her body, she heard a familiar voice call out. “Uncle Raoul? When are you coming back?”

That slight tinge of anxiety was the only power that could have wrenched her from his embrace.

CHAPTER SEVEN

BEFORE Raoul pulled into the boat slip, he saw Guy waving to him from outside the limo. Surprised to have a welcoming committee, he shut off the motor and reached for the ropes to secure the cruiser.

His brother came onboard to help Paul back to shore using his crutches. “Did you have a good time?”

The boys nodded. “We had hamburgers for lunch!”

Guy winked at Laura. “I’m partial to those myself. Come on. Your maman is missing you.”

Laura followed them to the car with an armload of items. Raoul started to catch up with her to help, but Guy held him back.

“You have a visitor waiting for you outside your villa.”

It could only be one person. “Danielle.”

He nodded. “She influenced the guard to let her through the gate. She called me and said she planned to wait for you no matter how long it took.”

A full-blown bash to the gut would have been more welcome. Once again Danielle’s timing was unbelievable, particularly in view of his conversation with Laura earlier.

“It’s all right. I’ll take care of it.” She’d wanted a showdown for a long time. He’d give her one, but not in his house. Their confrontation would be short and sweet, then he’d go for Laura and take her back home with him.

“One more thing,” Guy said. “Have you made a decision on the warehouse at the marina?”

“I have, and I don’t think it’s worth it.”

“Have you told Jean-Luc yet?”

“No.”

“Then do it tonight. While you’re at it, tell him you want all gossip stopped and stamped out immediately about the woman he saw you kissing last week or we’re taking him off the payroll.”

“You’re referring to Laura of course.”

“You know I am.” Guy sounded angry. Possibly angrier than Raoul had ever heard him before.

“I’ll do it right now if you wish. May I ask why?”

“No. My reasons are personal.”

The heat of anger flared up in him. “What exactly did she tell you?”

“It’s what Jean-Luc told me! Why else would Danielle show up on the estate and force her way in? She’s out to cause trouble, and I won’t have Laura dragged into the mess. She saved my life, mon frère. Do you have any comprehension of what that means to me?” His voice literally shook.

If Raoul didn’t know before, he did now. He couldn’t remember the last time Guy had pulled the older-brother routine on him.

“Laura has influenced Chantelle to do things I wouldn’t have imagined. I don’t know what we’d do without her and I don’t want to find out. I trust you to deal with the situation, Raoul.”

After he walked back to the limo and it disappeared around the incline, Raoul got Jean-Luc on the line. It was too late for damage control, but an edict from Guy would ensure the agent’s cooperation from here on out.

With that taken care of, he called Danielle on his cell phone. The second she picked up he said, “I’m down at the dock. If you want to talk, it will have to be here. Otherwise you’ll be waiting there indefinitely.”

“I just want to know one thing. Are you involved with that American woman living with Guy and Chantelle?”

Jean-Luc hadn’t wasted any time. Raoul had no one but himself to blame and instantly regretted his impulsive actions from that day. Guy was right, it wasn’t fair to drag Laura into this mess. “We’ve been divorced a year, Danielle. My business is my own.”

“You are involved!” she cried emotionally. “How much does she mean to you, Raoul?”

That was a question Raoul didn’t even want to think about, because he knew that the answer would disturb him. “I’m hanging up now, Danielle.”

“You can’t marry her, Raoul! You can’t, I won’t let you!”

He clicked off, then phoned security and told them to escort his ex-wife off the estate. Danielle needed help, and he’d begged her to get it when they were married, had offered to pay for it, but she had always refused.

Ironically, though, she’d just hit on the truth. Laura was still Ted Stillman’s wife and out of bounds. But Raoul was determined to find out why she was still married to the man, because he knew she couldn’t be in love with him anymore.

After he reached his villa he received another call, this time from the deputy minister of finance in Paris. The other man was calling an emergency meeting of the economic committee first thing in the morning. Raoul needed to bring all the latest banking figures with him.

He groaned. To get all that together would take him till midnight. This was one meeting he couldn’t get out of. The night he’d anticipated with Laura would have to be put off. He was beginning to believe the last few hours had been nothing more than an unattainable dream.

When he tried to reach her to explain, Guy said she was in with Paul. Totally frustrated, he told his brother he had to fly to Paris and would get in touch with Laura later. Guy said he’d tell her, but he sounded more preoccupied than usual. After they hung up, he headed for his bedroom and started throwing things in his suitcase.

The maid knocked on Laura’s door the next morning and brought her a breakfast tray. On her way out she asked Laura if she needed anything washed. She did actually. It forced her to get up and face the day. After the heavenly afternoon she’d spent with Raoul, her disappointment over not being with him last night had just about killed her.

Once dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, she put her hair in a ponytail and went in search of Chantelle, who would have had breakfast by now. Another maid informed her Guy had left to take Paul to Remy’s house, but he’d be back shortly. In an aside she mentioned that Chantelle was having a bad morning. When Laura asked if she was ill, the maid shook her head. Guy’s wife had been crying and wouldn’t stop.

There could be many reasons for her tears. Laura vacillated between doing a little gardening or going to check on her. In the end she walked down the other hall to the master suite. The minute she put her ear to the door, she heard heartwrenching sobs coming out of Chantelle, the kind that couldn’t be dismissed.

Deciding to take the chance she might get told to leave the villa and never come back, Laura opened the door and tiptoed inside. Beyond their sitting room was the master bedroom, but her sobs came from an adjoining room. Evidently she and Guy lived in separate rooms.

The door to Chantelle’s room stood ajar. Laura looked in. Chantelle sat on an upholstered bench in front of her dressing table with her head buried in her hands. The wheelchair was pushed away. She wore a lovely lemon-colored nightgown. It looked like she’d been brushing her dark chestnut hair. Such a beautiful woman. No wonder Guy was beside himself.

Taking a deep breath she said, “Chantelle?”

She lifted her head to reveal a glistening wet face. “Please leave me alone.”

Laura was prepared for that. “I can’t. It’s because I see myself in you. No one sobs the way you’re doing unless you’ve reached the breaking point. I reached mine six months ago. If my best friend hadn’t intervened and helped me to leave Ted, I don’t know what I would have done.

“I didn’t come in here for Guy’s sake. He’s gone with Paul. I came for me because I can’t bear to see you in this kind of pain.” She moved closer and hunkered down next to her. Looking into her eyes she said, “You’ve got to talk to someone. Let me be a sounding board. Please.”

In the quiet, a gold and crystal clock with angels moving their parts chimed ten o’clock. Laura waited, holding her breath.

“I’m dying, Laura,” Chantelle said in a dull voice. “I have a brain tumour and I am going to die.”

She didn’t say it hysterically. It came out as a statement of fact.

Laura fought her own hysteria.

“When did you find out?”

“Right after the accident when they did a CAT scan and an MRI. They found it and said it was inoperable. If I hadn’t had the car accident, I wouldn’t have known until the symptoms began to appear. They said I would start to show signs within three to four months and be dead within a year.”

“Obviously, Guy doesn’t know anything about this.”

“No. He’ll find out soon enough.”

“That’s why you’ve been pushing him away?”

“Yes. I know my husband. We love and need each other too much. I decided to distance myself so that when things get difficult, it won’t be such a shock to him. He and Paul have each other.”

Laura groaned inwardly at Chantelle’s desperate situation. “Have the symptoms started?”

“Two migraines.”

What Chantelle was doing was more painful for Guy than the death sentence, but in Chantelle’s mind she’d chosen to handle it this way. Laura wouldn’t be able to talk her out of it. Without hesitation she wrapped her arms around her and rocked her for a long time.

“You can never tell him, Laura.”

“No. I won’t. But this is affecting everyone, Chantelle. Not just Guy but Paul, too. It’s even been hard on Raoul. He loves you and has resented me for being here to try to help when he can’t.”

“I know. I purposely didn’t tell him we knew you previously.”

“Why?” Laura couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“The more he’s distracted, the more he leaves me alone. He was born with extra radar. He’s not like Guy. Since his divorce and my accident, he’s over here constantly, always trying to get me to do things, hoping I’ll turn back into the old Chantelle. I can’t bear his scrutiny.”

Laura could relate to that, too. “That’s because he loves you so much.”

“I love Raoul, too. He is a wonderful brother to me. That’s what has made this so much harder.”

She bit her lip. “How can I help you, Chantelle?”

“I want you to stay with us to the end. Paul would be thrilled, and he’ll need you when the time comes. Would it be possible, Laura?”

“I … I don’t know.” There was too much to process at once.

Chantelle stared at her through drenched eyes. “When Guy said you were calling from Italy, I couldn’t have been happier and told him to invite you to the house. It’s like my prayers had been answered. Little did I know you would save his life that night! I love you, Laura, my family loves you. We need you now.”

Laura took a fortifying breath. “I’m going to have to speak to my boss again.”

“You’ll be safe with us. I’d like to see that husband of yours try to bother you here. Guy wouldn’t stand for it.”

Right now Laura’s thoughts weren’t on Ted. She was envisioning everyone’s pain and trauma over the next few months when Chantelle started degenerating. The thought of it was unbearable.

“Guy’s going to be back soon. Let’s go out to the rose garden so he won’t know you’ve been crying.”

“I’ll get dressed.”

They hugged for another long moment before Laura left the room.

She wished she could wave a magic wand and restore Chantelle to the happiness of her life before the accident. To think she’d been living all these months knowing she had an inoperable brain tumor …

For herself, Laura wished she could run into one pair of arms for comfort and know she would always be welcome there. While Raoul was still in Paris, the only panacea for her pain was work, whether it be helping with Paul, doing some gardening or keeping Chantelle company.

By the next evening she was ready to make that important phone call to her boss. While she was at it, she wanted to send him her latest artwork. In order to do it, she needed access to a scanner.

Laura glanced at Paul, who’d used his crutches to walk her over to Raoul’s villa from Guy’s. His leg was healing so well he really didn’t need crutches anymore. She couldn’t get over how agile he was again.

“Are you sure your uncle won’t mind?”

“Nope. I use his stuff whenever I need it for school. Maman gave you her permission. He won’t be home until tomorrow night. She said that conference in Paris ran over another day. Come on in.”

Raoul’s home was more contemporarily furnished, but equally elegant. “This is a beautiful place.”

“My grandparents used to live here, but I don’t remember them. Papa said they died in a plane accident.” She’d wondered about Raoul’s parents, yet another scar to add to his damaged heart. “Sit over here and I’ll show you how his scanner works.”

Laura had brought all three sketchpads she’d filled so far this trip. She needed to download everything she scanned and e-mail it. Depending on what her boss thought of her work, she’d broach the subject of staying in France for an indefinite period. As much as she wanted a divorce from Ted, Chantelle had become her top priority.

It would mean taking a leave of absence from her lifeguard job. Plus she’d have to discuss the whole situation of her apartment with Cindy.

After a few run-throughs with Paul on Raoul’s state-of-the-art equipment, she felt she could take it from here. “You’re a whiz, mon ami.” He’d been teaching her some basic phrases. “I think I’m ready, thanks to you. Why don’t you go now. Giles is waiting for you.”

“Call the house if you have problems.”

“I don’t plan to have any.”

He grinned. “Ciao.”

“Ciao.”

Once she got the knack of it, the scanning went fast. Before long she’d done the downloading. A press of the button and they were sent. Before she left to go back to the other villa she phoned her boss. He’d be in his office by now. It was after 9:00 a.m. his time.

“Other World Video Games.”

‘Hi, Sandra. It’s Laura. Can I speak to Carl?”

“Sure. Just a moment.”

While she waited, she studied a grouping of small-framed pictures on the shelf above his desk. She reached for one of them. Raoul and Guy were just young boys surrounded by family. Laura loved them so much she wanted to steal them.

“Laura? How are you?”

“I’m fine, Carl. And you?”

“Swamped as usual. What’s going on?”

“I wanted you to know I just sent you a file of all my sketches.”

“Terrific! Let me take a look while you’re on the line.”

While they were busy chatting about business, she heard an ear-piercing whistle. “These are fabulous, Laura! I mean really fabulous!”

“Oh, good. I’m glad you like them.”

“Like—the guys in the backroom are going to go crazy! Don’t you ever leave me, honey.”

Carl was the only man she didn’t mind calling her that. “Actually, that’s what I’m calling about.”

“No. I’m not going to listen.”

She laughed. “I have to be serious for a moment.” In the next breath she explained her dilemma and ended up in tears.

When she’d finished he said, “Let me sleep on it and we’ll talk tomorrow at the same time.”

“Thanks, Carl.”

“Thank you. By the way, Sandra’s been documenting the number of calls your husband has made to the office. She has the telephone company printouts. The pile is growing.”

“It’s his funeral, but I’m sorry you’ve been bothered. Tell her I owe her.”

“No problem. Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” She clicked off.

“What’s so important about tomorrow?”

Laura spun around in the swivel chair. “Raoul—”

He wasn’t supposed to be home until tomorrow night. She shivered to think that if he’d come in a few minutes sooner, he would have heard her telling Carl about Chantelle’s condition. The little picture she was holding fell on the area rug. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She rushed to pick it up and dropped her cell phone.

Raoul was there so fast their hands brushed. He was still in his gray business suit. When he lifted his dark head, their faces were level. Mere centimeters apart. It only took a little tug to pull her down on the floor next to him.

“On the flight home I wondered how I was going to get you alone before the evening was out.”

She’d made up her mind they couldn’t do this until she was free from Ted, but her puny efforts to resist were no match for his hard-muscled strength. He stretched out on his back and pulled her on top of him. Taking his time he threaded his fingers through the fine-spun gold of her hair.

“Umm … you’ve been out in the sun this afternoon.” He kissed every feature of her face. “Much as I like the taste of your lipstick, I like the taste of the strawberries you had for dinner. They’re sweet like your mouth. You’d have to be a man to know what it does to me.”

With one hand at the back of her waist, the other spanning her neck, he gathered her tightly against him, searching for her mouth until they clung in a wine-dark rapture.

One kiss. That was all. It started out slow, then began building, shooting fire through her body until she felt an ecstasy almost beyond bearing. Somewhere outside the euphoric haze holding her in its thrall she heard the phone ringing.

“Raoul—” she moaned helplessly, but he wasn’t listening. In a dizzying motion she was turned on her back, her face cupped between his hands. He lowered his mouth to her eyelids and earlobes.

“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered in an aching voice. “I can’t get enough. Three days away from you have been an eternity.” His lips swept over her cheeks and throat before coming back to her mouth over and over again in a rhythm so intoxicating, he might as well be putting her under a spell.

He was the vortex drawing her in with a hold so strong she had no concept of time or knew where she was.

“Laura?” She heard Paul on the voice message. “Maman said to call and tell you Uncle Raoul is home so you won’t be surprised.”

“I should call him back,” she said, trying to roll away from him.

“He doesn’t expect a response.”

Raoul slid his hands to her shoulders from behind. The second he touched her, she felt like she was undergoing a meltdown. He removed the picture she was holding in her hand. “I like this one, too,” he murmured into her hair. “I’m eight here. Guy’s fourteen. Give me some time and I’ll show you my baby pictures.”

She’d love to see them, but her heartache over Chantelle was too great to get back to the happiness she’d experienced a few days ago out on the cruiser. Slowly she moved away from him and started gathering up her sketches.

He put the picture back on the shelf while his gaze remained riveted on her. “What’s wrong? Where have you gone since I left?”

She could try to keep her heart from hammering, but when she was anywhere near Raoul, her body reacted with a will that knew no master. This time, however, it was vital she deflect his radar, a precarious assignment under any circumstances, but especially now.

“While you’ve been in Paris, there’s been a development.”

Over the past seventy-two hours she’d been forced to come to grips with the knowledge that Chantelle’s days were numbered. There’d been more nights when Laura had cried herself to sleep because she’d had to bear the burden of it alone. Now there were two inconsolable women in the villa.

His body tensed. She could see it in the rigidity of his jaw. “Go on.”

“Chantelle has asked me to stay on longer than the two weeks.”

Raoul shrugged out of his suit jacket and tossed it over a chair back. Rolling up his shirtsleeves he said, “I don’t understand why that’s so upsetting to you when it’s clear the family adores you. Did you say yes?”

She rubbed her temples. “Not yet.”

Through slumberous eyes he examined her face and figure. “Come into the kitchen with me and you can tell me why. The heat in Paris was stifling. I need something cold to drink.”

Whether she should or not, she followed him through his beautiful home to the immaculate kitchen. He opened the fridge and pulled out a bottled water. “Would you like one, too? I don’t have anything else to offer. I haven’t entertained since my divorce. I’m afraid my cupboards are embarrassingly empty.”

“Please.” After removing the lid, he put the cold bottle against her hot cheek for a minute. She could almost hear it sizzle before he placed it in her hand. She took a long gulp while he began drinking his. At one point their gazes collided. Her hand tightened on the bottleneck in reaction to that penetrating look. “If you came to my apartment in Manhattan Beach, I couldn’t even offer you water.”

He drained the rest and put the empty bottle on the counter. “Does that mean you’re inviting me?” The depth of his tone traveled to her insides, causing her to grow weak with the longing to experience more of his passion. He was like a drug her system recognized and wanted above everything else.

“I wish I could,” her voice shook.

Shadows marred his handsome features. “What’s the hold your husband has on you?”

It was time for the truth. “I fell out of love with Ted soon after we were married. I’m trying to divorce him, but he’s giving me trouble.”

There was a moment of quiet before he said, “How long were you married before you filed?”

She took a fortifying breath. “Two years.”

“How did you meet him?”

“He was out on the family yacht with a group of friends. They’d come down the coast from Santa Barbara. It was a beautiful day, but there was some wind that had kicked up moderate swells. Four of them decided to swim in the ocean for a little while. I was on lifeguard duty.

“I’m always looking through my binoculars for signs of trouble. You can usually tell when a person is starting to drown because their hands go up and their head goes back. While I was spotting different people, I saw this swimmer struggling and raced out.”

“Ted, obviously.”

She nodded. “When I brought him in to shore, he was in serious trouble. It took a long time to revive him. The paramedics arrived and took over, but they didn’t give him much of a chance to survive. A week later I had a phone call from my supervisor telling me that Congressman Stillman wanted to meet me.”

“I think I can write the script from here.”

“It’s transparent.” She laughed sadly. “One thing led to another and I met the older man and his son, Ted. They wanted to thank me for saving Ted’s life. In fact they were so grateful they couldn’t do enough for me. Flowers, dinner at their home.”

Raoul’s brow lowered. “Sounds like Guy and Chantelle.”

“But there’s one huge difference,” she declared. “Guy hoped I might be able to help Chantelle. Ted pursued me relentlessly. I was attracted and fell hard for him. He decided he would marry me. I became his trophy wife.”

The use of that word made his lips thin.

“He never shared his dream with me about going into politics. I was a naive fool to think we could have a normal life. He insisted I be in all his photo shoots.”

“I saw one of you on the Colorado River.”

She bowed her head. “That was a nightmare trip. They all were. We were never home to make a home. Ted demanded I give up both my jobs and be available to him for his campaign. He liked the idea of being a young, hip congressman with a wife he could show off.

“Too late I realized he had no depth and was just using me. In fact Ted could only love himself. I saved his life and he mistook it for love. So did I. His father encouraged our union because to quote him, ‘I looked good in print.’”

“You can’t blame him for that,” he said under his breath, but she heard him.

“Toward the end of our marriage, I refused to go on any more trips with him. His mother begged me to work things out with him one more time. So I showed up at his hotel one night and discovered him with another woman.”

Raoul bit out an epithet.

“One of his ex-security men told me it was the usual pattern with the Stillman men. I went back home. On the advice of my friend, Cindy, I found an attorney who wouldn’t be intimidated by the Stillmans and I filed for divorce.”

“When was that?”

“Six months ago. Ted’s been fighting it ever since. He’s afraid a divorce will finish him in politics. The Stillman family has never had a divorce. Their record is clean, so to speak, so he has refused to give me one.

“When I return to Manhattan Beach I’ll take him to court. With the documentation I’ve accrued, the judge will have to grant it unless he’s in their pocket, but I have to be careful.”