The Uncle's Reckoning

he stood there, rooted to the spot, unable

she started the car and held onto the steering wheel on her way home, Geof

them. You're

was just a threat to get him to come to his senses. Nevertheless, she h

, she was interested in the Smiths inheritance, but how could she have killed her only relati

eir car, and her sister yelled Danny's name. Geoffrey had spok

ged from the hospital too quickly. The poor, traum

hen the latter picked up, Catherine spoke with a firm yet strained voice as she urged,

m, are you concerned

. "I simply want to make sure he's alrig

, ma

f the week to watch him, to see if his behavior and acc

fused to allow the

****************

he Smith mansion, waiting for their interview

, he was drawn to the sound of voices as he ap

ting on a skeleton crew because he had fired so many employees. If Catherine real

ng small talk. A quiet but assured voice. Real, not staged, not rehearsed. And the girl

quired, "What makes

expenditures, my father is ailing. Even when I study part-time, it's insufficient. I'

y, not pretense or a last-ditch effort to seem flawless. A dramatic contrast

fore the workload became too much in addition to school, I worked at a hotel for two years. I als

the other maids. He said, "Tell the house manager that

. "Sir, you mea

es

here are other c

ped at the inquisitive elderly maid. There

oon as the house manager got Ge

roke through the cacopho

oice, the house manager added, "S

she replied, "I'll take i

k he couldn't possibly read. Light footsteps came as the door creaked op

e knew she had to tread carefully. She couldn't help but be impressed with his good looks though. How

tion of her voice. "You are now my pe

ng. "So I've been informed. My name is Tia

tion, "I dislike dishonesty.

hose who believe they can us

eadily. "I und

ing me. Nobody else. You'll accompan

eath Tiana repli

u steal from me." Geoffrey concluded

beat. And then

mocking. It was real. "Is there some

ttle laugh. "Do you honestly believe that I would jeopardize my job for a

nesty, which always turned out to be fake, peopl

y his admonition. Curious, h

th a softer tone. "If it's okay with y

ue to her plain honesty, her seeming difference fro

tone, Tiana let out a

t shift as she turned ar

re he could react, something chilly wrapped itself around his wrist a

e, Tiana continued, "Calm down sir. I just

atch he had thought was gone-or stolen. After a long period

left, she took it. But I retrieved it." When she saw Geoffrey's unsatisfied expression, she di

h his lips. "Why didn't you le

t believe I had to. I as

n a long time. A sneer flickered on his lips as the door closed behind her. She was different, thi