Your mother was cleverer than I remembered.”
Harlan Vane stood inside the chapel.
Two armed men waited behind him.
My breath caught.
Vane removed his gloves.
“She hid those papers in the dress, didn’t she?”
I backed toward the altar.
Gideon stepped between us.
Vane looked almost amused.
“Still playing the gallant husband, Rook?”
Gideon could not hear him.
But he recognized the expression.
He took out his notebook.
Vane laughed.
“Do you intend to write me a threatening letter?”
I seized the pencil and wrote quickly for Gideon.
Vane.
Two men.
Door blocked.
His eyes moved toward the side window.
Vane noticed.
“Don’t bother.
My men are outside as well.”
He stepped closer.
“Give me the ledger, Mrs.
Rook.”
I held it against my chest.
“Why?”
“Because you’re standing on the edge of an old tragedy you don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
His smile faded.
“Your father and I made decisions when we were young.
