least part of the property. Don’t you think so, Lynley?”
The younger woman hesitated. “You’d have to talk to him while he’s still alert enough to understand.”
“Lawson has lung cancer,” Carmen told Gerard.
“He’s been in long remissions twice over the years, and he’s fought a good fight.” Lynley’s voice wobbled. She swallowed and took a breath. “But he’s been advised by his oncologist to get his affairs in order.”
“I’m afraid I’d feel like a vulture if I approached him about it now,” Gerard said.
“I think he’d be interested in doing business with you,” Lynley said. “He’s still carrying on as usual, and he really is trying to get his affairs in order. He’s a wonderful person with a huge heart. A rehab center sounds like something Uncle Lawson would want for the resort.”
“You wouldn’t be the vulture, believe me,” Carmen said, with a meaningful look at Lynley.
Lynley grew still for a moment. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again they were silvered with tears.
“Sorry,” Carmen said softly.
“Does he have any kids?” Gerard asked.
Lynley shook her head and dabbed at her eyes with her fingers. “Just a niece and a nephew, Mom and her brother, Arthur.”
Warning bells went off in Gerard’s head. Kirstie was set to inherit apparently a lot of money and she suspected poisoning, and it was just now being mentioned? Why hadn’t Kirstie said something earlier? “If your great uncle were to donate the property, or part of it, that would mess with your mother’s inheritance.”
“Mom always believed that too much money could ruin a person.”
“And you?”
“I can make my own way. I’m not like my father. I don’t pretend to be friends with the rich uncle and then wait around for him to die so I can inherit.” Lynley’s voice took on a bitter heaviness.
“Your father’s named in the will?”
Lynley nodded. “Mom doesn’t want to tell Uncle Lawson that Dad’s left her. He and Dad were hunting buddies for a lot of years, and Mom doesn’t want to break Uncle Lawson’s heart right here at the end.”
Carmen shook her head. “Kirstie’s too good-hearted. She’s more interested in protecting everyone but herself.”
Gerard felt himself clenching and unclenching his fists. How true Carmen’s words were. He may be a newcomer to this mess, but from his first meeting on the phone with Kirstie he’d realized Barry Marshal never deserved his wife.
“I’d like to take a look at this place,” he told Lynley. “Where is Mr. Barnes? How would I contact him?”
Lynley got up. “I’ll go write down his information for you, but Mom has keys to the place. I know he won’t mind at all if you take a look at it.” She entered the glassed-in office.
“Count yourself an honored man,” Carmen said softly. “After what she’s been through, I wouldn’t expect her to trust another man to tell him that much about her struggles.”
“You do know I can still hear you, don’t you?” Lynley asked, sliding the reception window open.
“Sure do, sweetheart.”
Before the two women could exchange more friendly fire, two car doors closed in the parking lot.
Gerard glanced out the plate-glass window to see a dark-haired, exotic-eyed woman in a dress of emerald silk. She carried a large leather bag over her shoulder. She turned from a champagne-colored Cadillac Seville and strode toward the doors. The heels she wore were at least four inches high. Gerard imagined a model on a runway would envy the graceful movements.
A younger man with those same dark eyes slipped ahead of her to get the door. Mother and son. This would be Nora and Alec Thompson. They both looked friendlier in person than online.
Gerard rose to his feet as the woman stepped inside.
Carmen rose with him. “Nora, tell me you brought them. You promised.”
Nora nodded and pointed to her bag as her attention settled on Gerard. “Can anyone tell us how Kirstie is?”
“Megan’s patching up her feet,” Carmen said. “She’s back in her right mind. Nora and Alec Thompson, meet Gerard Vance. He’s—”
“I know who he is.” Nora stepped forward and held her hand out. “He’s definitely a Texan.”
Gerard took the hand. She had a solid handshake, a level gaze, a husky voice. She was another of Kirstie’s trusted friends, and she was an impressive woman who seemed capable of handling multiple enterprises successfully.
Alec followed in his mother’s wake. So this was Megan’s new boss in person. His grip was no less solid, and his smile seemed genuine. He made no attempt to display machismo by squeezing too hard.