Golden Lies - Barbara Freethy [117]
"No, thanks. I actually wanted to talk to you about something."
He grimaced. "Not the dragon, please."
"About your work at Hathaway's."
His gaze dropped to his empty plate. "I worked in the stockroom. Nothing more."
"Did you get to know Wallace Hathaway?"
"He was a big man. I was a small man."
She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn't say more. Instead, he picked up his empty coffee cup and waved the waitress over. He remained quiet while his cup was refilled. Even after the waitress left, he still didn't speak.
"Can you tell me anything more about him?" Alyssa prodded. "Or about the fire? I know you stopped working there after the fire."
"I can still see those flames in my mind, jumping up the walls like angry snapping snakes." He shook his head as if to dislodge the memory. "It was the end of everything."
"The end of what?" she asked.
His gaze sharpened. "The end of my job."
She had a feeling that wasn't what he'd been thinking at all.
"Why do you ask these questions -- because of the dragon that your mother can't forget?"
"Partly. But also because I want to know more about the Hathaway family."
His lips formed a tight line. "Do not speak of it, Alyssa."
And just like that she knew that he knew—about David and her mother and herself. She had been brought up not to ask questions, especially of her grandparents, and she had always respected that policy ... until now. There was a need to know burning inside of her.
"Just tell me one thing—did my mother's affair with David Hathaway have anything to do with your relationship, whatever it was, with Wallace Hathaway?" she asked. "I know why my mother wanted David, but I don't know why he wanted her. And I can't help thinking, that maybe getting my mother was some sort of revenge or payback or a way of getting in someone's face, maybe even yours."
Her grandfather's face tightened. "You talk crazy. He pulled out his wallet and tossed some money on the table.
"I'm sorry if I upset you," she said as he got to his feet.
"You go home, work hard, forget about this. It was over a long time ago."
That was the problem. It wasn't over, not by a long shot.
* * *
"What do you think are the odds that we're actually going to find something in here?" Paige asked as she and Riley entered her grandfather's study. She turned on the small lamp over his desk. "I've been here before. In fact, I was here yesterday. And I didn't see a dragon or anything else suspicious."
"He wouldn't have it sitting out on his desk," Riley replied, glancing around the room. "This is nice. A man's room." He nodded approvingly at the dark wood, the heavy furniture. "Is this where your grandfather spends his time?"
"Yes. He considers these rooms his private sanctuary. Which is why we shouldn't be doing this. We have no right to be in here."
"Paige, get a grip. We're not stealing anything. We're just looking. You know your grandfather is hiding something. Asking him straight out didn't get you anywhere."
"That's true," she conceded.
"Don't forget, this missing dragon almost sent your father to the morgue."
Riley had a way of cutting to the chase that was really effective. "All right. You've convinced me. But be careful. I don't want him to know anyone was here." She glanced around the neat room. "Where do we start?"
"You check out the desk. I'll look through the filing cabinet."
Paige did as he asked, and for a few moments there was nothing but quiet rustling in the room. The desk revealed common business items, stationery, paper clips, pens. Everything was organized, nothing out of place. She closed the desk and waited for Riley to finish with the filing cabinet.
"Nothing," he said. "Where would your grandfather hide something incriminating?"
"I don't think he has anything incriminating." She couldn't stop the automatic defense. It was second nature to protect the family name.
"Let's go into his bedroom," he said, ignoring that comment. He walked through an adjoining door. She hastily followed. If there was anything to, find,