Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [24]
Annie’s heart hammered in her chest. “Mom’s doing great, Tom. She really seems happy. Most times when I go to see her she doesn’t want to visit. She has friends and she gardens. The little villa she has is just perfect for her. She doesn’t wander off, and the security is great. She’s coming for Christmas. I have a real tree and everything. We closed up shop, since the college is closed. So is Bishop England. What are you doing for Christmas, Tom?”
“I’ll probably sleep all day. Mona took the kids kicking and screaming to her parents’ house.”
“Why don’t you come here? I have an extra bedroom, and I know Mom would love to see you. It’s been a long time since you’ve seen her.”
“I can’t afford it, Annie. I don’t have two extra nickels to rub together. It’s kind of you to ask since I. . .”
“Will you come if I get you a ticket?”
“You don’t have to do that, Annie. Drink a toast to me. I don’t want you feeling sorry for me.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you. You’re my brother. I’d love it if we could all spend Christmas together. Say yes, Tom. I’ll call the airline and make the reservation now and you can take the next flight. I’ll pick you up at the airport. It will be like old times.”
“Okay, it’s a deal. Listen, Annie, you and Jane aren’t in any kind of trouble, are you?”
“No, of course not. That guy has been dogging us for months now. Sooner or later, he’ll give up. If he doesn’t stop soon, though, I’m going to call his home office and tell them he’s harassing us. Elmo is getting real feisty about all of this. I think because he sold his drugstore and moved here when we did, the investigator thinks we had something to do with it. The shops are doing extremely well. He’s probably running bank checks on us and all that other stuff they manage to do. Whoever would have thought he would track you down in California? Hang up, Tom, and I’ll call the airline and then call you back.”
“I’ll pack in the meantime. Jeez, Annie, this is so nice of you.”
“If you could, would you do it for me?”
“Yeah, Annie, I would. I want you to believe that.”
“Okay, then. Hang up.”
The moment Annie hung up the phone, she dropped her head to rest between her legs to ward off the dizziness engulfing her. I have to give it back. I have to give it back. I’m sending it back. I’m sending it back as soon as I can figure out a way to do it without it coming back to haunt me. I’m going to do it. I swear I am. I can’t take this anymore. Get a grip, Annie. It’s all part of the investigative process. If he does suspect, this is his way of trying to wear you down. If you send it back now, he’ll know it was you. You replaced all the money you borrowed. You’re just holding it for the right time to mail it back.
Annie gave her head a shake to clear her thoughts before she dialed the airline. Within minutes she had a reservation for her brother on the red-eye. She whipped her credit card out of the desk drawer and rattled off the numbers. It was the first time she’d used the card since coming to South Carolina. It gave her a good feeling to know she could afford to charge the ticket and pay it off when the bill came in. A very good feeling. “Do what you want with this, Mr. Snoop,” she muttered. There was no doubt in her mind that the insurance investigator had her account as well as Jane’s flagged for any charges that might appear. “Tough, Mr. Snoop. Just plain old tough.
“You know something else, Mr. Snoop?” Annie said, sloshing more wine into her glass. “I’m going to be so successful you aren’t going to believe it. I’m going to do it on my own, too. By the time I’m thirty I’m going to be a millionaire.”
As she guzzled the wine, her head spinning, Annie placed the call to her brother. “It’s all set. Just go to the airport and take the United red-eye. I’ll