“I think you’re giving me way too much credit,” said Richard. He returned the parcel to his possession, while Graham watched with bleary eyes. “Congratulations again on your marriage, Graham. I hope you and Molly enjoy a long and prosperous life together.”
Graham seized Molly’s hand.
“It consoles my heart to have found such an incredible woman,” he said. “I’ve never been happier. I’m sure you understand, especially since your own dear wife is gone forever. My sincerest condolences. I confess I followed your story even after you left the limelight, and when I heard about her suicide—”
“Suicide?” said Shannon.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Graham. “I assumed your grandchildren already knew. I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward situation, but it’s probably best if you talk to them about it while they’re still young.” He lowered his voice. “That sort of thing tends to run in families, and considering what Molly told me about your daughter-in-law’s imminent death, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if your son decided to follow in his mother’s footsteps.”
With this ominous remark, he put his arm around Molly’s shoulders and led her away.
“Did she really kill herself?” said Stephen.
“No, Graham’s just spouting off the official story because he’s an idiot,” said Richard. “I don’t know what your parents told you about your grandmother, but whatever they said, it’s true. Now, go play with your girlfriend.”
He pushed Stephen toward Veronica, who was on the opposite side of the room, and turned to Shannon.
“You have my permission to become mildly inebriated,” he said.
“Thank you,” said Shannon. She wandered over to the bar.
Josh waited for an explanation. He wasn’t particularly surprised to learn that Richard had gone to prison for the debacle with Peterson, but he was stunned by Graham’s remarks about his grandmother. His parents had told him she had died from something so mundane that he couldn’t even remember what it was.
Richard sat down with a deep sigh.
“That was brutal,” he said. “Practically a fight to the death.”
“You got the worst of it,” said Josh, “and now he knows you have the notebook.”
“That’s precisely the point,” said Richard. “I wanted him to know. Why do you think he invited our family to the wedding? Not for innocent reasons, I can assure you. He wanted to get me out of the house. He was hoping for an opportunity to break in and steal everything related to Peterson’s research.”
“During his own wedding?” said Josh.
“Not him personally,” said Richard. “Peterson never worked alone.”
“Whatever,” said Josh. “Here’s an idea: if the notebook is so dangerous, maybe you should destroy it, especially since you obviously don’t need it anymore.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” said Richard. “I do need it, for leverage, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep it safe.”
Josh didn’t reply. He remembered his father’s warning and wondered if Richard was manipulating him. On the other hand, his parents had lied to him about his grandmother, if Graham’s assertions were correct, so maybe they weren’t reliable either. He felt like Graham was the only person in the world who was willing to tell him the truth about his family. He wondered what else Graham knew.
“You don’t trust me,” said Richard. “I don’t blame you. You’re smart enough to think for yourself, and I haven’t done much to earn your respect. It’s the same old story: my pride has gotten in the way. I shouldn’t have to justify myself to you—but maybe it wouldn’t be so difficult if you weren’t so much like your dad. I keep forgetting who I’m talking to, and it’s throwing me off.”
Josh heard the regret in his voice.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “At this point, I don’t think there’s anything you could say that would convince me. I need to figure this out on my own. If you’re willing to keep an eye on the others for a while, I could use some fresh air.”
Ignoring Richard’s protests, he left the ballroom and went down the steps that led into a courtyard behind the house. The storm had passed, leaving the world as cold as ice. Josh shivered as he gazed across the neglected gardens and dead fountains that stretched in front of him. Beyond the gardens, a private marina lay in the deepening shadows. A battered sailboat with two empty masts floated on the water.
While Josh stood there, he heard a motorboat chugging along from the direction of the river. The sound grew steadily louder, and as he waited for it to fade away as it passed him and proceeded to its destination, he concluded it was idling in the marina. He decided he didn’t want to be noticed by the occupants of the motorboat. Feeling rather ridiculous, he crouched down behind a hedge growing beside the house and waited to see what would happen.
The sound suddenly died. A moment later, Josh saw the squat figure of a woman trudging up the winding path toward the house. A cigarette protruded from her mouth, its cinder glowing in the darkness. The stench of flavored tobacco filled the air. She was met by Owen. Josh knew who he was because Richard had pointed him out during the ceremony. The woman removed the cigarette from her mouth and tossed it on the ground.
“Where’s Graham?” she said.
“He’s celebrating,” said Owen. “Despite my doubts, I think he really loves that woman. I’m surprised you made it in this weather, Sophie. You could have waited until tomorrow.”
“The boss is tired of messing around,” said the woman. “I could have refused, but I didn’t want to make a scene. It’s been crazy ever since Graham left. That stubborn little brat won’t listen to a word I say.”
“That bad, is it?” said Owen.
“You have no idea,” she said. “I’d like to shut him up once and for all, but the boss is playing favorites, and blood is thicker than water. Apparently, I’m interfering with the plan, whatever that means. I don’t care anymore. I’m done being nice. When I get
