Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,57

“Do you think I need to know the amount? I mean, will it be enough to keep me from having to work if I don’t want to? I’m not being a bitch right now, but I’ve been thrown a great deal today. Don’t you agree?”

“I understand, I do. Like I said, it’s all yours now. The insurance that my aunt fixed for you is much more than Missy will need. Aunt Carson also made it so that you could collect the rest of the things they left behind. All of it is now in your name.” Jamie asked him if it was a lot. “Yes. Even by our standards, being very wealthy, you’re a billionaire several times over, Jamie. A few of the stocks you own are older than a few of the investments that my family has. You were what most would call born rich.” He laughed. “Christ, you could own this state if you wished.”

“My parents were tight fisted with their things. I guess I’m very lucky about that.” She looked around the room, then back at him. “I’d like to be immortal. I’d like to live in this home for the rest of my days. If you’d not mind the faeries fixing the rest of it for me.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He kissed her on the cheek. “You and Jangles work out what you want, and I’m sure that in no time at all, this place will be the showplace that it was always meant to be. I’m so very glad you’re going to be a part of this family.”

He’d bet that by the time he was back at his own home, this place would be finished up. Jamie had been thinking of this house for most of her life. It would be just like she wanted it, and Theo knew that Milo was going to love living there. He’d not been very happy with the home that had been bought for him. Perhaps they’d work on something about it as well.

Theo and Pem helped her with the rooms in that they made sure the faeries understood not to go overboard with the revamping of the house. On his way out the door, he noticed that someone had set the faeries onto the grounds. Yes, Theo thought, this place was going to be a grand showcase in no time.

Chapter 9

Sandra hated to wait for her turn. The system sucked in the way they did things around here. She thought that if a person had money, they shouldn’t have to wait in line for anything. Even in alphabetical order was stupid. Merkel would put her at the end of the line somewhere, and she didn’t think being in that slot was going to do her the least bit of good.

The judge already looked pissed off. She stood up and waited for him to notice her. It didn’t take him long. When he put down his gavel, something she thought he should use on a few heads instead of the desk, he looked at her with a meaner look than he’d had before.

“Ms. Merkel. Either sit down, or I’m going to null and void your question session with me and send you back to jail. I’ve got a full docket today, and you’re just adding to it. Sit down and shut your mouth until I—”

“I don’t want to sit down. I only have a single question.” He waved at her, and she decided he meant for her to go on. “I want you to release me for a few days. A week would be all right with me. Two would make it better. I heard that they reopened Merkle’s Mark, and I didn’t authorize it. I need to go there and see what they’ve done.”

“You want me to just release you. To say, hey, go ahead and see to your life while the rest of the inmates have to wait until such time as they’re released, or they’ve made arrangements to have someone do whatever it is for them. Is that what you’re asking me?” Sandra told him she’d return when she was finished knocking some heads around. “I see. And this knocking heads around? I’m assuming you know just who that might entail?”

“My husband and his supposed sister.” She did the quote thing around supposed and thought by now the judge would have figured out what she felt about Rachel being Chad’s sister. “They’re plotting again, and I won’t have it. It’s bad enough that you