Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Ava is the key to this mystery. She has to get the information out of Wendy Madigan before the woman up and croaks.
For good this time.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ava
“You’re the key to my legacy,” Wendy says.
“I appreciate your confidence in me, Grandmother.”
The lie is bitter on my tongue, but it’s a sweet bitter. I will do what I must to get the answers I seek in order to end this, once and for all.
“I knew it was you. I knew it was you the day you were born.”
“Then will you be honest with me?”
“Once I know that you plan to use the truth to fulfill my legacy.”
“I’ve accepted that fate, Grandmother. I’ve accepted my destiny. I saw it in the tarot cards. I will do whatever you ask of me.”
“What does your father say?”
“He says you’re trying to manipulate me.”
“And you believe that, Ava?”
“I did at first.” I take off my bracelets, caress them gently, and then hold them up so my grandmother can see them. “But it was these bracelets that changed my mind. Somehow you knew they were meant for me. Plus, the cards, the numbers… It’s all been leading me to you, Grandmother.”
Wendy’s eyes flutter closed, and a look of pure serenity graces her wrinkled face.
“Finally…” she says on a sigh. “Finally I can go in peace.”
Oh, hell no. She’s not going in peace yet. Not before she gives me all the information I need.
“Grandmother, are you all right?”
Her eyes flutter open then. “Oh, yes, child. I’m just fine. I’m not going anywhere. Not yet, anyway.”
“Thank goodness. Just when I was getting to know you.”
“I’ve left many things for you, Ava. Some of them you’ll find here in your own house.”
“Here?”
“Yes. Left here by your grandmother. At my request.”
Anger fills me. I don’t try to suppress it, but it’s imperative that I at least hide it.
This woman manipulated Didi for God knows how many years. Didi, who I was close to. Didi, who had a damned shitty life until she moved in with us, according to my mother.
“Just tell me where they are, Grandmother. I will find them all.”
“Not yet, Ava. First of all, there are a few things you need to know.”
“Yes?”
“Your father will soon find out that Lauren is his full-blooded sister.”
“I see.”
“But, Ava… There’s a reason why you are my true progeny rather than Lauren’s son.”
“Why?”
“Because Ryan was made the natural way. Through Brad’s and my love. Lauren came a few years later, through artificial insemination.”
“Why didn’t you tell Brad he had another child?”
“He wouldn’t have believed me.”
“Did he know you had access to his sperm?”
“No.” She shakes her head, trembling a bit. “All the future lawmakers chose to immortalize ourselves, including me. The technology was fairly new at that time, so we were interested. I had my eggs extracted and frozen as well. A year later, when Brad met Sean Murphy, he told him about the process. Sean decided he wanted to take part as well.”
“So that was his decision?”
“Sean’s? Yes, it was. No one coerced him into it.” She pauses, breathing in deeply. “What your grandfather and the others didn’t know is that I retained access to their donations. I retained access to everything the club did. To everything, Ava. Everything.”
“You mean…”
“All their funds, earned through both legal and illegal means. Every cent, Ava. I retained access.”
“I see. And why did you choose Sean Murphy for your daughter?”
“I certainly wasn’t going to impregnate her with her father’s sperm. And the others weren’t even slightly worthy of my daughter.”
I nod. Since three of the others were rapists and child molesters, I see her point, though she’s the pot calling the kettle black. Big time. I clamp my lips shut, determined not to call her out on her hypocrisy.
“I’ve set it all in motion for you, Ava. You will continue my legacy and find your destiny.”
“My God…”
“What?”
“The future lawmakers club. The one in Snow Creek. That’s how this all started, with that club.”
Wendy shakes her head. “I didn’t go to Snow Creek High School. I went to a private prep school in Grand Junction.”
“So the club…”
“If there’s a future lawmakers club here in Snow Creek, it’s not related to anything I’ve done.”
“It’s not? Are you sure?”
She narrows her gaze a bit, frowning. “Do you doubt that I’m being honest with you?”
Now isn’t the time to piss her off, but… “Why would they use the same name? Ten years ago, the club talked about sticking it to the man.”
“I can assure you I was never involved in sticking it to the government or any other authority, Ava. The club in Snow Creek is not related to any of my business.”
Good enough. I’ll be able to tell Brendan and Donny they don’t need to bother with the club notes from Darrell Hutchins. I begrudgingly take her hand. Her skin is dry.