Chasing Shadows (First Wives #3)(50)

Lori grinned. “That’s a big word, coming from you.”

“Yeah, well . . . Shannon wouldn’t shut up about it this morning. So . . .” She released a long-resigned sigh. “I’m in a relationship.”

“It’s not a jail sentence.”

“Whatever.”

“Why are you so opposed to a relationship?”

“Relationships don’t fit my life,” she said as if on autopilot. “It’s easier to flutter around and come home alone than end up like my parents.” As the words left her lips, she was reminded of her dedication to stay single.

“Not everyone is like your parents,” Lori told her.

“I know that. But my gene pool says I’m destined to be as miserable in their roles as they are.”

“Something tells me Liam is making you consider that might not be the case.”

Avery scoffed and changed the subject. “I didn’t ask you up here to bend your ear all night about Liam.”

Lori glanced over her shoulder. “That’s too bad. I want to know more about the kitchen counter. You washed it, right?”

Avery chuckled. “Yes.” No, actually, Liam had. After pointing out what he said looked like an impression of her bare butt. Which wasn’t there. But telling Lori that would keep the topic going, and Avery really needed a night or two to think about the whole Liam thing.

“So what else is on your mind?”

Avery set her glass on the coffee table as the amusement of all things Liam left her brain. “This falls under Lori Lawyer category. As in no one can hear about this.”

“Not even Shannon and Trina?”

“It probably wouldn’t be an issue with them, but I thought it would be best to run it past you.”

Lori’s smile faded as she sat poised for the conversation.

“It’s about my client, Sheldon Lankford.”

“The Brentwood estate.”

She nodded. “First off, I’m paid to snoop. Right? I’m hired to find the big and little stuff that’s worth money for my clients.”

“Oh, no,” Lori said. “You found something stolen.”

Avery shook her head. “No. Stolen I could deal with. I think.” Could she? What would happen if she did find something like that? “Nothing like that.”

“Criminal?”

“You’ll have to tell me.”

Lori blinked. “You might need to elaborate.”

Avery flexed her sweaty palms. “I found pictures in Mr. Stewart Lankford’s desk. Hidden. Secret drawer stuff.”

“I hide a gun in my secret drawer.”

“You do?”

Lori nodded. “Reed insisted. Sorry. Go on.”

Avery unfurled herself from the couch and brought her folder over for Lori to see.

Lori set her glass to the side and opened it. “What am I looking at?”

Avery sat close and pointed. “That is Mr. Lankford Senior. Only that isn’t Mrs. Lankford.”

“He had an affair.”

“That’s what it looked like to me.”

Lori skimmed over the pictures. “I can’t imagine it’s uncommon for these things to come to light after someone dies. Does your client know?”

“I haven’t told him yet. The picture that concerns me is this one.” Avery removed the picture of Mr. Lankford, his mistress . . . and a young boy around the age of seven. “That isn’t Sheldon, my client.”

“Oh . . . you think this might be Lankford’s kid.”

“He kinda looks like he could be, don’t you think?”

“Hard to say. But yeah. Could be.”

“Sheldon told me his parents were old when they adopted him and didn’t have the energy to chase him around as a child. He was thrown from nanny to nanny, then boarding school. Hell, that’s the way my parents are, and I’m not adopted, and they weren’t old when they had me.”

Lori closed the file and put it aside. “Let’s for argument’s sake say that Mr. Lankford is this child’s father and Sheldon knows nothing about it. Showing him these pictures does what?”

Avery shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s the sole beneficiary to the estate. Does this kid, probably a man by now, have any right to it?”

“I’d have to see the family trust. Probably not. Not that an illegitimate child can’t claim differently to a court.”

“That would put a halt to everything we’re doing. Am I legally obligated to say anything? To question the estate and who has the right to sell it off? Sheldon hired me, but it isn’t like I have ever needed to see a will to prove my clients own what they say they own. That’s between the bank and them, right?”

“Yeah. You’re in the clear. Maybe you should just show them to Sheldon and let him deal with it.”

Avery shivered.

“You don’t like that idea,” Lori said as she peered closer. “Why?”

“I want to avoid any personal conversations with him. Asking him if he knew his dad was sleeping with someone else and possibly fathered a child is entirely too personal. What if Sheldon’s father treated him differently than he did this child, assuming it is his? Showing him these pictures might open a door that, while painful, at least has answers. What if he knew, or assumed? Not knowing and questioning yourself can haunt you. Trust me on that. Even though I don’t really like the guy, I don’t think this kind of secret should be kept.”