"What do you think will happen to her?" Valerie asked.
Wyn shook his head. "It's a hard call," he replied. "Claims she didn't know what it was. I think a lot of it depends on the jury, what they believe. She may get off pretty light, considering."
Valerie didn't respond immediately, but sat thoughtfully looking off into space. "And Teddy?" she finally asked. "Any news there yet?"
"He's been indicted on a number of charges, but the investigation continues, Colette said. Misappropriating clients' money, breaking all kinds of SEC rules. Jesus. A lot of stuff. Apparently that secretary of his—"
"Lydia?" Valerie asked.
"Yes, I think that was her name," he replied. "Anyway, she's a material witness and word is she's a good one. It's lucky she stepped forward when she did, or all of your mother's money, and your cousin's, might have gone up in smoke."
"I'm glad they didn't lose anything," Valerie said.
"The big losers in this whole mess were Teddy and Tiffani and Santo and Arielle," he said. "Santo would've gotten a nice retirement package from me, but instead he's going to be pumping iron in a prison gym for killing Daphne. Ditto Arielle. She'd have gotten a huge financial settlement, instead of jail time if she hadn't gotten so greedy."
"You're right," she said. "I can only feel pity for them."
He looked over at her and took one of her hands in his. "Val," he said, "I've got to say that I've never respected or loved anybody in my life like you."
She laughed. "Why are you saying that now?"
"Because you just reminded me of it," he said. "Wishing your mother well even though she's been so unkind to you. Inviting her to the wedding like you did. A lot of people, most people probably, would've turned their backs on her."
"I couldn't do that," she said.
"No," he said, "I know you couldn't." He hugged her to him then. "What say we get out of this riding gear now, and go upstairs for a little romp in the hay?"
"You bet I am, Mrs. Conrad," he replied. "It seems," she said, looking up into his dark eyes, "you know me awfully well."
"And I love what I know," he said, leaning down to kiss her.
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BOOK ONE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen BOOK TWO
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two