Grant’s head snapped toward her.
“Melissa.”
I went still.
“What money?”
She looked frightened now.
Grant spoke over her.
“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
I stepped closer to the gate.
“What happened to my house money?”
“Evelyn,” Grant said, “this is not the place.”
“It is exactly the place.”
Melissa covered her mouth.
Grant hissed, “Do not do this.”
She looked at him.
Then at me.
And I knew.
Whatever I thought had happened to that money was wrong.
The truth was worse.
PART THREE
“Melissa.”
My voice sounded strange to my own ears.
“Tell me where my money went.”
She looked at Grant.
Grant looked ready to explode.
Ruth stood beside me with her arms crossed.
No one moved.
Finally Melissa whispered, “Not all of it went into the renovation.”
