“Oh, you knew all right!” Raymond sounded angry. “You knew when I paid off your father’s mortgage on the farm.”
“Yes, I found out when it was too late!” Aunt Mary retorted. “I was horrified. It was too late for me, but I promised myself I’d never bear your child.”
“You did what?”
“You’re a monster, Raymond. Did you think I’d bring your kind into the world?”
She laughed hysterically. There was the sound of a smack, then silence.
“Go to sleep,” Raymond said softly. “You will forget this argument and remember your promise to help me with my plans.”
“Yes, Raymond,” Aunt Mary answered meekly.
“You will be kind to Simon but show your allegiance to me, your husband.”
“Yes, Raymond.”
My God, he’s been hypnotizing her! No wonder she’s a zombie half the time.
The office door opened. I flew upstairs as Aunt Mary walked slowly into the hall. I ran to my room and slammed the door shut, wishing I could erase the awful scene from my head. My spirits sank below basement level because I’d no one to help me. Aunt Lucinda was dotty. Aunt Mary was under Raymond’s spell. There wasn’t an adult in all of Buckley I could count on. I fell into bed and closed my eyes. The only person I could rely on was myself! I’d figure out a way to escape and get to Lucy, if it was the last thing I did.
I washed up and put on my pajamas, wondering if I’d have to undergo another of my uncle’s infusion sessions. God, when would this day end?
I lay in the dark and practiced closing my mind. When the half-expected knock came minutes later, I barely reacted. “Come in.”
“Simon,” Raymond said, “I was hoping you were still awake.”
“I am.”
“Do you mind switching on your lamp?”
Did it matter if I minded? “Sure, Uncle Raymond.”
My uncle held out a sheet of paper folded in quarters. “I believe this is yours.”
My heart raced as I stared down at the paper. It was the petition Andy had given me at lunch time. What should I say? I ran through several responses in my head and grinned when I’d decided how I to play this.
I handed the petition back to Raymond. “What about it?”
“Is it yours?”
“Looks like it’s yours now. I suppose Craig Averil gave it to you. Did you tell him to spy on me?”
My insolence rattled him, but not for long. “When I saw Mr. Averil this evening, he mentioned you’d worked in his office today and must have left this on his desk. He asked me to return it to you.”
I laughed. “Great recovery, Unc. I’m impressed.”
Raymond pursed his lips. “I’d like to remind you I’m your uncle and you are to show me respect.”
I felt the push of his psychic force and closed my mind just in time. I watched him recoil, a stunned expression on his face. Maybe Lucinda was right and I was stronger than Raymond.
“And how shall I do that—show you respect?”
“By answering my questions with a civil tongue.” Raymond rattled the paper in my face. “Who gave you this petition?”
I had no wish to make the twins the subject of my uncle’s fury, but the news of their activities was bound to get out. In fact, Raymond probably knew all about their meeting by now.
“Andy Coltrane handed it to me during lunch.” I shrugged. “I explained I couldn’t get signatures since I don’t know anything about those playing fields.”
Raymond looked relieved. “They can collect all the signatures they like, but it won’t do them any good. I own the property.”
I met his gaze. “You do?”
Raymond’s eyes slid away. “Who else?”
I shrugged. “Just asking. Can I go to sleep now?”
He studied me. I stared back at him. Just try one of your infusions!
But my uncle had other things on his mind. “Tomorrow, instead of coming straight home from camp, I’d like you to meet me in town—at our lawyers’ office.”
My pulse went into overdrive. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Raymond reached out to pat my arm. I had to exert total self-control not to yank it free.
“Nothing’s wrong. We’ve a few legal matters to settle. I didn’t want to bother you with them when you first came to live with us, but they need attending. Can you get on a camp bus that will drop you off in town? The address is 154 Main Street. Garrison and Bergson. They’re on the second floor. Here’s their card.” Raymond placed it on my dresser. “Our appointment’s for five o’clock.”
What is he after? “Okay. I’ll be there,” I agreed, knowing I had no choice but to play dumb.
My uncle rewarded me with a broad smile. “Good! I’ll be changing my will. I’m leaving everything to you.”
The kiss of death! He’s leaving me his money because he intends to become me. I wanted to jump off the bed and run out of the house. Instead, I said, “Thanks, Uncle Raymond. That’s very kind of you.”
“Don’t mention it. Now go to sleep and get some rest. You’ve a big day ahead of you.”
To my relief, he left and closed the door behind him.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“WHAT’S THE NAME of that lawyer who’s looking into the playing fields property deed?” I asked the twins the next day at lunch. It had rained in the morning, so we were eating inside.
Andy finished chewing a huge bite of his hero sandwich and swallowed.
“Chuck Bayard. Why?”
“I may need a lawyer,” I said, going for casual.
Judging by the way Pol’s mouth popped open, I hadn’t succeeded. She glanced around the noisy lunchroom and must have decided to hold all questions till later.
“Chuck’s a junior partner in a large Albany firm. They have a small office here in town. He’s real smart.” She grinned. “And easy on the eyes.”
Why the comment about his looks? And why do I care? “I could use a smart lawyer,” I said. “Got his number?”
“Andy has it on his phone.” She looked meaningfully at her brother. “Give it to Simon.”
Andy was dying to ask me why I needed a lawyer, but he obeyed Pol’s message to keep his mouth shut. He sighed as he fished his phone from his pocket. He rattled off the number and I added it to my list of contacts. Then I stood and tossed my half-eaten sandwich in the garbage. “Thanks. See you later.”
Outside, I found a quiet spot at the rear of the building and called the lawyer. A secretary answered and asked me to hold. I smiled. So far, so good.
When Chuck Bayard picked up, I introduced myself, adding that I’d gotten his number from Andy. Then I explained why I needed an attorney.
“I’m meeting my uncle at his lawyer’s office. He’s probably going to ask me to sign papers I’ve no intention of signing.”
“Is your uncle your guardian?” Chuck asked.
“No, and I don’t want him to be.”
“Then the court will have to provide you with one. Is there another adult— preferably a relative—you’d rather live with?”
Aunt Grace was the logical choice, but God knew where she was at this moment. She certainly wasn’t available to me. Great-Aunt Lucinda? She was too flaky. And old.
“Offhand, I can’t think of anyone. What will happen then? Would I stay in my uncle’s house?”
“I can’t say. A lot depends on the Family Court judge.”
“Oh.” Another dead end. How can this lawyer help me when he knows zilch about me and my situation? He’d think I was nuts if I told him what Uncle Raymond’s doing to me and those little girls.
“Hey, Simon,” Chuck finally said. “Why don’t I pick you up from camp and drive you to the meeting? This will give us a chance to talk. I need to know everything you can tell me about your situation before I can offer you legal advice.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” I heard footsteps, turned, and saw Craig Averil walking toward me. “Gotta go.”
“Whoa, there! I know where
the camp is. What time shall I pick you up?”
“Four’s good. Wait for me on the road a hundred feet below where the buses line up.”
“Got it. See you later.”
I slipped my phone into my pocket and waited. Craig’s expression of concern was as phony as a three dollar bill. I barely managed to suppress a shudder. This man was in my uncle’s pay. For all I knew, he’d driven my parents off the road. How had Raymond convinced him to commit murder? Did he promise him money? How many millions was it worth to sell your soul to become the devil’s henchman?
“I looked for you in the lunchroom,” Craig said. “Everything all right?”
“I had to take care of something. Is there a problem?”
“No problem. Your uncle Raymond called to remind you to take the bus that passes through town. It’s number 8. Jenny Barnett’s the driver.”
“Thanks, Craig.” I started walking toward the entrance.
“Simon.”
I stopped and turned around. Craig closed the gap between us.
“I hope you’re not angry because I gave your uncle the petition you’d left in the office.”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
“The truth is, I felt a conflict of loyalty—toward an old friend and toward a member of my staff.”
Anger churned the bit of lunch I’d managed to eat into bile. I glared at Craig. “Where’s the conflict? You work for my uncle and I work for you. I’ll do my job in camp. Just keep away from me.”
“Don’t take that tone with me!”
My fury solidified into a molten ball of lava. I envisioned shooting it straight at Craig’s gut. I thought I was hallucinating when Craig moaned and clutched his stomach.
“Or you’ll do what?” I asked softly.
He straightened up and fled.
What have I done? What am I becoming? My joy at having bested Craig Averil faded away and I felt like a freak. Was what had happened the result of my uncle’s infusions? Or were my own powers growing, developing faster than I could manage?
***
“There’s not much to tell,” I began as soon as Chuck Bayard U-turned and drove us away from the camp. “My parents died in an accident. My aunt Grace was nowhere to be found, so they put me in foster care. Then my uncle Raymond found me and brought me to Buckley.”
“Quite a story,” Chuck said thoughtfully. I could see why girls would find him sexy. He was clean-cut, lean, and fit. I bet he’d run on the track team in high school and college. And he had a pleasant scent. Lately, I was picking up everyone’s scent, something else I had to block out. “But why do I get the feeling you’re leaving all the good parts out?”
And he’s smart. I decided to offer a half-truth.
“My uncle’s making me his heir. I’m worried he’s doing this so, in exchange, I’ll sign over my rights to the property now being used as the playing fields. According to my great-aunt Lucinda, all Davenports own equal parts of the property.”
Chuck whistled. “That’s news. I’ve been looking everywhere for the deed. Does you aunt have a copy of it?”
“She says she has it somewhere. I’m sure my uncle has his copy. Or his lawyer does.”
Chuck stopped at a red light and gave me a searching look. “I get the impression you don’t like your uncle very much.”
I made a face. “You got that right.”
“Lots of people don’t like Raymond Davenport. But he’s pretty powerful and well-connected. He’s friends with everyone who’s anyone in Buckley.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Chuck laughed. “I didn’t point that out to make you feel bad. Stay positive. I’ve a few connections of my own.”
We parked and entered a building of professional suites. Uncle Raymond’s lawyers had the entire third floor. Chuck let out a low whistle as we approached the receptionist’s desk. “Marble, no less.”
A gray-haired man with a moustache, dressed in a three-piece suit, came out to greet us. He smiled and shook hands with me. “Nice to meet you. I’m Paul Garrison, one of your uncle’s lawyers.” He blinked at Chuck, then quickly added, “I see you’ve brought a friend.”
Chuck extended his hand, giving the other lawyer no choice but to shake it. “Chuck Bayard, with Terrance and Fine. I’m Mr. Porte’s attorney.”
“Oh! We weren’t expecting…” Mr. Garrison gave off a whiff of fear. What is he afraid of? “Come this way,” he said to me. “Your Uncle Raymond’s waiting for you in the conference room.”
Raymond and a heavyset man in his sixties were laughing heartily at a joke one of them had just told. I could see they were old pals. Another person on my uncle’s side. I was suddenly feeling vulnerable and was glad I’d brought Chuck along, if only for moral support.
Like Mr. Garrison, Raymond wasn’t happy to see Chuck. Good! But my small boost of pleasure vanished when he introduced the portly gentleman as Judge Arnold Potter. “He’s a Family Court judge,” Raymond explained. “Since Judge Potter wasn’t holding court this afternoon, I asked him to attend our meeting, given the legal matters we have to discuss today.”
Chuck and I took seats at the long table opposite Raymond and the judge. Paul Garrison sat at the head.
“What exactly are these legal matters to be discussed?” Chuck asked. “My client is concerned because he has no previous knowledge of them.”
“That’s because they’re nothing but formalities,” my uncle said. “Simon, you had no need to bring your own lawyer.” He gave a false laugh. “Mr. Garrison is capable of representing us both.”
“Only if your interests and Simon’s are one and the same,” Chuck said. “We’ve yet to find out if they are.”
Raymond’s eyes blazed with fury. “Now see here, young man! I’ve no intention of defrauding my nephew of one single penny of his inheritance! In fact, I’ve just revised my will and made him my sole heir.”
Judge Potter placed a hand on my uncle’s arm. “Easy does it, Raymond. You don’t want to bring on a coronary.”
“Shall we begin?” Mr. Garrison suggested. He turned to me. “Simon, feel free to stop me whenever you have a question, if you want me to explain a term or situation, or simply if you disagree. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“And I’ll advise my client when something’s not in his best interest,” Chuck added.
“Agreed,” Paul Garrison said smoothly. He glanced down at his notes while Raymond glared at Chuck. “The first topic is Simon’s guardianship.” Mr. Garrison smiled at me. “Your uncle loves you and would like to be more than your guardian. He wants to adopt you, Simon, as well as make you his heir.”
My heart began to pound. “I don’t want to be adopted.” I shot a look at my uncle. “No offense, Uncle Raymond, but my parents left it in their will that if they were to die, my mother’s sister, Grace Addison, is to be my guardian.”
Mr. Garrison sighed. “Your uncle has made every effort to find your aunt. She’s left her home with no forwarding address. We’ve no way of contacting her.”
Thank God for that! “Maybe she went off to Europe,” I said. “She does that sometimes.”
“In the meantime, your aunt Mary and I have been caring for you as if you were our own son,” Raymond said stiffly. “We thought you were aware of how much we love having you in our home.”
I grimaced. “I appreciate your taking me into your home, but can’t we go on as we’ve been? I mean, can’t I live with you without being adopted?”
Raymond and the judge exchanged glances. The vibes they gave off sent a shiver down my spine. Judge Potter cleared his throat. “It’s to your advantage to be declared your uncle’s legal ward, Simon.”
“Why?’ Chuck asked. He grinned. “Does Simon’s uncle intend to toss him out if he won’t agree to the adoption? Is there some legal issue Mr. Davenport hopes to circumvent by having himself declared Simon’s guardian?”
Yay! I covered my mouth to hide my grin, while my uncle looked like he was about to exp
lode. Raymond didn’t like this young lawyer defending my rights, which I bet had plenty to do with the playing fields property.
I suddenly had the need to express my feelings, without letting on I had a good idea of what my uncle was after. “In a few years I’ll be eighteen and considered an adult. I don’t want my uncle to have the power to speak for me in any way.”
“What are you babbling about?” Uncle Raymond demanded. “I’m making you my heir. What power do you want?”
“I want the kids in Buckley to be able to play soccer and baseball on the playing fields. I don’t want condos built on that property.”
Raymond slammed his fist down on the table. “You know nothing about this matter! What nonsense is your lawyer putting in your head?”
As I got to my feet, every bit of anxiety faded away. I felt clear-headed and in total control of what I was about to say. Four pairs of eyes focused on me, which only served to make me feel more confident.
“Chuck hasn’t told me what to say. In fact, he doesn’t know what I’m about to say.”
“In which case, maybe we’d better discuss it first,” Chuck advised.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” I fixed my gaze on my uncle. “Do you have a copy of the deed to the property in question?”
“Of course I do!”
“Interesting, because I’ve been told the one in Town Hall is missing.”
Raymond threw up his hands. “That’s not my concern! It’s not my business to keep track of how official papers are filed in Town Hall.”
“I believe it is,” Chuck said calmly, “since you’re the town council’s official record keeper.”
“True, but as you must know, there was a fire some years ago, and many records were destroyed. I’m…er…I’m busy trying to sort things out.”
Sure you are. Aloud, I said, “I believe the property we’re talking about belongs to all living Davenports.”
Raymond’s mouth fell open. He quickly recovered. “That’s you and me, Simon. There’s no one else remaining in our family.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was afraid to name Great-Aunt Lucinda. Raymond would want to know how I knew about her, then ask if I’d met her. I dreaded to think what he’d do once he learned Lucinda was my ally.
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