Mischief in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #2)(68)

Beau and Raissa stared at her, then looked at each other, then back at her. No one seemed to have any idea what to say. “Maybe the test was wrong,” Sabine suggested. “That can happen, right? I mean, men who have vasectomies sometimes still surprise their wives with a baby.”

Raissa frowned. “I don’t know that this is the same thing. Your father was working for a doctor at the time they ran these tests. It looks like he was taking part in some sort of medical trial, but the file doesn’t state for what. I guess anything’s possible…”

Beau shook his head. “But it’s more likely that if you’re really related, your father is a different Fortescue.”

“My mother got pregnant by a different Fortescue?” Sabine sank onto the bed, her mind whirling with a million jumbled thoughts. “But even if that were the case, that wouldn’t show up as a positive paternity, not if I were the child of some distant cousin, would it?”

“Not likely,” Raissa said. “It would have to be an uncle, or a grandparent, I think, to register that closely.”

Sabine covered her hand with her hands. “Oh, Lord, that’s awful. My dad couldn’t possibly have known, could he?”

“Don’t go down that road just yet,” Beau said. “There’s always another explanation.”

Sabine looked up at him. “Like what?”

“Well, the Fortecues could have lied about the results,” Beau said.

“Why would they do that? What could they possibly have to gain by pretending I was Adam’s daughter?”

Beau looked at Raissa, who frowned. “Maybe so you’d stop looking for your father,” Raissa said.

Sabine stared at her for a moment. “Then that means they know the truth.”

Raissa nodded. “I think they’ve always known.”





[page]Chapter Sixteen




The shrill ring of Sabine’s cell phone cut into their conversation, and Sabine flipped it open, desperate for any possible distraction. Her mind was overloaded, her emotions overwhelmed. This was so much more confusing than she’d thought it would be. And so much more dangerous. She glanced at Beau and Raissa, who were studying her with matched looks of concern, and pressed the Talk button.

“Sabine?” Catherine Fortescue’s voice was the absolute last one she expected to hear at the moment, and the last one she was prepared to speak to.

“Ye-yes.” Sabine pointed to the phone and signaled to Beau and Raissa.

“Sabine, this is Catherine Fortescue. I hope I didn’t call too early.”

“No, Catherine,” Sabine said, trying to keep her voice calm. “I’ve been up for a while.”

“Good, then that means you’ve gotten the message from Mr. Alford about the test results. I can’t tell you how pleased the family is to have Adam’s child with us. I’m sorry we had to jump to legal proof so soon after our first meeting, but now all that unpleasantness is behind us.”

“I understand,” Sabine said, “and I told Mr. Alford that I’d expected to take the test. It wasn’t an inconvenience, I assure you.”

“Thank goodness. I was a little concerned. It’s all so tacky, really. But the reason I called is that we’d like to meet with you to get to know you better and to start working on some of the more unfortunate legal work required to set up your trust fund.”

“Oh no,” Sabine protested, “I already told you I didn’t want any money.”

“The Fortescue estate is quite clear on the rules for heirs. You’re the firstborn child of a firstborn child, and that comes with certain privileges, as well as obligations, I’m afraid. While I certainly have the utmost respect for your wishes, we really don’t have much choice in the matter. Of course, you’re free to do whatever you’d like with the money once the fund is established and transferred.”

“Of course.” No point arguing. She’d just deal with it later.

“If you’re available, we’d love to have you over tonight for dinner.”

Deciding the best possible decision at the moment was no decision, Sabine said finally, “I need to check my schedule at the shop first. If that’s okay, can I give you a call in the next hour or so and let you know for sure?”

“That will be fine,” Catherine replied. “And please feel free to bring your detective friend. Mr. Alford says he has a reputation for being quite a specialist at this sort of family dynamic. He might be able to lend some advice.”

“Thank you. I’ll let him know.” Sabine said goodbye and closed the phone. Beau and Raissa were brimming with impatience. “Catherine wants me to go to dinner tonight to ‘get to know me better and start the legal work for my trust fund.’ ” She looked at Beau. “You’re invited.”

Beau shook his head. “I don’t like it.”

“Nobody likes it,” Raissa pointed out, “but it does present an opportunity for the two of you to get a closer look at the Fortescues in a somewhat manageable environment. The sooner you find out what they’re hiding, the sooner Sabine’s life might get back to normal.”

Beau stared at Raissa as if she’d lost her mind. “How the hell is that manageable? Possibly confronting a killer on his own turf? Especially that turf—isolated doesn’t even begin to describe the Fortescue estate. That’s the quickest way to ensure a call to the coroner in my experience.”