Page 62 of Park Avenue Princess

“You don’t know that! You just admitted he may be desperate! You haven’t been around him in a while, you haven’t been in communication with him, so you don’t know his state of mind or what’s driving him. I say we return to the lobby and wait for the authorities. Please.”

I palm her cheek. “If you don’t want to face him, I completely understand, but I need to.” I reach past her to press the button for their floor again.

“No you don’t!”

“You can wait in the elevator and return to the lobby once I’m there but I will go protect my mother and confront my father.”

“Guy,” she starts to plead. I silence her by placing my lips on hers, earning a squeak before she reciprocates. Only it’s short-lived when she pulls away as the door opens directly to my parents’ foyer. “Don’t think you can distract me with your kisses,” she whispers.

“It’s worked before,” I say, trying to ease her tension.

Just as she’s about to speak, we hear my mother’s loud voice from my dad’s office, startling us both.

“You think we can run now, Michael, and not get caught? A few more days and my plan would’ve worked. Damn Terrence for going all noble on us. I knew you should’ve cut him out of this long ago. He and that worthless woman he calls a wife are pathetic. And damn Vince for inquiring about the retirement. Greedy bastard.”

My breath rushes out of me as I barely hear Lynne gasp beside me. The feeling of getting punched in the stomach would be preferable to how I feel now.My mother knows everything!Never before had I heard such hatred in her voice. Lynne clutches my arm and we stand frozen, listening as my parents continue their exchange since they evidently hadn’t heard our arrival.

“We’re in this together, Rachel. We’ll figure this out.”

“Of course we will, but I told you not to panic, yet here you are being foolish again.” I hear my mother sigh. “Terrence got sloppy. Withmycomputer skills, we were doing fine. No one could have traced those transactions before an investigation got started. Those things take time. We would’ve been fine until this weekend. I had it all planned out.” She sounds as if she’s pouting like a spoiled child. “We’d have one final weekend with our son; a good bye he’d never realize was coming. I just wanted you two to make amends before we disappeared in our boating accident. I at least wanted that!”

My head spins, and it takes all the fortitude I can muster to keep from exploding with disbelief and rage. Lynne’s hand on my arm tightens and when I look at her, tears dot her cheeks, her face filled with pitiful sorrow. I open my mouth to speak but before I get a word out she shakes her head and holds up her phone. She’s recording the conversation.

“So what do you suggest we do, Rachel? You said Guy is due here any moment. Why in the world would you even agree to meet him? And here, no less.”

“Well I didn’t expect you to be home so quickly, stuffing passports and cash in a bag! So very cliché, by the way,” she says sarcastically. I hear my father grunt before my mother continues. “He was adamant we meet. To be honest, he sounded more concerned than I thought he’d be. I wanted to try and reassure him I’d heard from you and everything was fine. There’s still time to remedy this clusterfuck of which you’ve lost control.”

My father actually snorts with a chuckle! “So articulate and eloquent, dear wife.”

I hear them moving about the room as their voices grow quieter. I motion for Lynne to follow me as I step closer to the threshold, trying to keep as quiet as possible.

“Guy gave no indication that he’s aware of this situation. I see no cause for him to have any communication with anyone at DuVall’s firm, and even though Terrence’s daughter is working with Management and Budget, I see no reason for her and Guy to cross paths. So, there’s still a chance we can steer him in the direction of our choosing. But to be on the safe side, why don’t you head into the bedroom so he isn’t aware you’re home?”

“Sending me to my room like a bad little boy, are you?”

“Show me you can be a good boy and behave, and I’ll reward you later.”

My stomach sours listening to their words followed by the sound of them obviously kissing. Heartache, disappointment, and disgust spread through me, but those feelings give way to the rage I’ve held in check. I turn, whispering to Lynne.

“Give me your phone, I’ll keep recording. Get down to the lobby and wait for the authorities.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Lynne, please, I—”

She shoves her phone in her pocket while placing her hand across my mouth. “No,” she states. And before I realize what she’s doing, she skirts around me, entering my father’s office.

“Well, hello there,” she says gleefully to my parents. As if she hadn’t just heard everything they said. I’m right on her heels, just in time to see my mom turn toward Lynne, looking as if she’s about to spit venom. All my dad can do is gape in shock as he takes an audible swallow.

“I’d say I’m sorry for busting up this party, but I’m not.” Lynne shrugs and continues. “You’ve been more than bad, Mr. Hamilton, you’ve been downright disgusting, and your scheme is over. We know all about what’s been going on, and we heard everything you had to say, Mrs. Hamilton.”

Mom actually laughs. “And you think you’re going to expose us? I think not. I don’t give a damn what you heard or who you think to tell. Not that it matters. We’ll be long gone before anything can be traced back to us.”

“Wrong,” Lynne states.

Before Mom can counter, I speak up. “What the hell is going on, Mom? Dad? I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” My gaze toggles between the two of them, wishing this is all a mistake. But as much as it sickens my heart, as much as I wish it weren’t true, my mind knows better. Mom turns my way while Dad remains mute as if he’s taking all cues from his wife.

When my mom moves toward me, Lynne steps into her path. “The authorities are on their way. In fact, they should be here any moment. We aren’t the only ones with knowledge of your embezzlement. We have transactions, statements, and everything you just said was recorded. There’s no running for either of you.”

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