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assault and battery and attempted murder. That stacks up to
a lot of jail time.
 If I find out you had anything to do with this, before or
after the event, you re looking at a conspiracy, which carries
about the same jail time. I don t think you d find prison a very
happy place. So, if you know anything, you better come
clean. When I catch the men who did this, and if they
implicate you in their crime, there will be no leniency. You will
go to jail. For a very long time. And no amount of money is
going to get your pretty little butt out of this one.
 You can bank on that, Ben. She won t get any help from
me. I m just glad her mother isn t around to see what she s
become. Steve s words, while filled with sadness, were
laced with steel conviction.
Sharon s face stayed arrogant as Ben spoke, but her
father s words caused the blood to drain from her face.
 Daddy? The shrill harpy turned into a lost little girl
before Dan s eyes.
 I m serious, Sharon. You ve run roughshod over me and
everyone who comes in contact with you. I m done. You have
one month to find a job and a place to live. I m not doing you
any favors letting you act the way you do. It stops now.
 A job?
 A job, responsibility. You need something to anchor
your life. Looking for a man to make miserable isn t the way.
You ve been engaged to every guy you ve gone out with. I m
not even sure they realized it.
Dan couldn t help the small snort of laughter. He
definitely hadn t. Only Ben acted as if he d heard him. Sharon
and her father were oblivious to their audience by now.
 I can t& I don t& What would I do? The panic in her
voice wasn t playacting.
Steve nodded as he swallowed hard.  I ll make a deal
with you. You go back to school, for a real education, no
sororities, no partying, just to study. I ll pay for it. You can live
here until you re done. You ll have curfews and I expect to
see decent grade reports. You break any of the rules and
you re out. I don t care where I don t care how. I ll wash my
hands of you. Sorrow tightened his voice.  You ve
embarrassed me and the memory of your mother for too
long. I shouldn t have let you get away with it but I did. I admit
my responsibility but I m going to fix it. Starting right now.
Dan could see the tears in Steve s eyes as he spoke. As
much as Sharon drove Dan crazy, he could only imagine the
angst she d heaped on her father.
Steve continued.  If you know anything about what
happened to Rich Taylor, you come clean. Now. If I find out
you had any information and withheld it anything I ll
disown you. Right then and there.
Dan had never seen Sharon vulnerable, but right now
she looked about fifteen and completely lost.
 I&  Tears welled in her eyes as she stuttered.  I kind of
told Mark Harrell&  She hesitated, her eyes darting from
man to man.  Told him I d like to& see Rich taught a lesson.
Tears fell down her face. Her sobs began to distort her
words.  I& told him& I would& be really& grateful& 
She didn t need to continue. Ben nodded at Dan.  Let s
go talk to Mr. Harrell. He placed a hand on Steve s shoulder.
 Thank you. We still need to deal with the charge of driving
without a license. You ll need to bring her down to the office
this afternoon.
Steve s head dipped in a sharp nod.  We ll be there.
They left the disappointed man staring at his sobbing
daughter.
* * * * *
Dan mused in silence over Steve Rodgers words as
Ben maneuvered the big SUV off the Rodgers property. Did
he think Rich was gay? His comment about not caring who
Rich slept with didn t really sound as if he did. He was
probably just trying to make a point. Or he could really care
less. Ben hadn t reacted to any of it.
They drove in silence for a few miles.
 Does the idea Rich might be gay make you
uncomfortable? Ben asked softly.
 Who said he s gay? Panic rose in his throat. He
couldn t out Rich to his boss.
 I didn t say he was. I asked would the idea make you
uncomfortable.
 Maybe& Some.
 Even though you ve been friends for years?
 I don t know. I don t really know anyone who is gay.
Guess it s all a new idea to me. Until Rich announced his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]