time.
Amanda glanced around the new office space. “You have an office as an investigator?”
Tommy felt like holding his breath. He nodded and smiled tightly. “Yeah, I just moved my office down here.” He cleared his throat. “What do you think?”
“I think you shouldn’t have turned down my family. That’s okay that they pay you for a job well done. What happens if I don’t take the money?” Amanda asked again, her head cocked to the side in question.
Tommy exhaled on a whoosh. “Okay. If you really don’t want the money, the whole of the amount will get divvied up to six different charities in Mistletoe. That was Simon’s contingency. That way neither of the families would get the money. He’d been laundering it for years and they put it in there the week you were born according to Jennifer.”
“So, the money is a large amount and it will go to the town and not to Jennifer? Is there any way she can get it? Any way at all?” Amanda bit her lower lip and stared at him.
He shook his head. “No. There’s no way.”
“I need you to do me a favor.” Amanda took a deep breath.
“Anything.” Tommy wasn’t kidding. He’d do anything she asked.
***
“Is she here? Is she ready?” Two hours later, Jennifer stormed into the bank with her red lipstick and her brightly matching nails.
Amanda stepped from behind Tommy and said with sarcasm dripping from her words. “Yep, she’s here.”
“Amanda, I’m so glad you came.” Jennifer’s tone immediately shifted to saccharine sweetness. She reached out but Amanda stepped back, glancing at Tommy with panic in her eyes.
Tommy stepped forward. “Okay, she’s here, Ms. Halliwell. I think we should get this underway and get the paperwork signed.” Tommy reached out, offering his arm to Amanda and feeling a knot unravel when she took it. They’d gone their separate ways since she’d asked him to help her and he couldn’t deny her. He wouldn’t deny her. Anything.
Jennifer hiked the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder as she glanced around the bank lobby. “Okay, let’s talk to Mark. He knows to expect us this week.”
“We already spoke with Mark. He’s waiting for us in his office. We want to make this as painless as possible.” Tommy smiled.
But Amanda cut him off. “Honestly? I want as little time around you as possible. I just want this over with.”
Jennifer stopped outside the office door and studied Amanda, approval in her overly made-up face. “You know, I think you’re more like me and your father than I originally thought. I miss him, you know. He was… the only thing that made me feel like I wasn’t stuck. When he died…” Jennifer sniffed and used the tips of her fingers to dab at the corners of her eyes. “Well, it was a great loss for a lot of people. Me being the most important.” She laughed as if to throttle her vulnerabilities.
The door opened, cutting off any response Amanda might have had.
Mark stuck his head out, his smile formal as he took in the trio standing in the hall. “Come on in. Come on in. We’re going to get things wrapped up here pretty quick.” Mark motioned for them to join him inside and stepped back as they walked in.
Tommy nodded at the man who knew the plan already. He’d drawn up the paperwork according to Amanda’s instructions. He knew what they were there for and what Jennifer was there for.
“We took the liberty of bringing the safety deposit box in here for you both to open in private. This was the older style of boxes which made them independent of their slots in the vaults.” He smiled encouragingly and indicated the table that was ready with all of the stuff they needed to accomplish their goal.
“Should we start with that?” Jennifer sat in a chair on the end and glanced up at Amanda as if they were best friends.
“Sure.” Amanda glanced at Tommy but redirected her gaze before he could wink or do anything else to acknowledge her.
Amanda produced both keys, the one that she had hidden with her journal and the one that Elizabeth had produced from the box.
Jennifer held out her hand and Amanda slowly put one in her palm without touching her mother. They both turned to the box and twisted the keys at the same time, releasing the spring and the lid popped half-open.
A stack of pictures of a much younger Jennifer and Simon was the first thing in