Not-So-Secret

Chapter twenty-seven

It all became real clear the day she watched Jones order someone's execution. Oh, yeah. The picture had come into razor-sharp focus. Along with the knowledge there was no way out.

"I would think after all this time away, you would be brimming with questions," Jones said.

She nodded. "I don't know where to begin."

He laughed. Anyone walking by would have thought they were having a wonderful time. "Let me guide you, dear Kelly. As in all things "

It wasn't sarcasm or wit. "Thank you."

He signaled the waitress for another drink. He always had the same thing. Single malt scotch, aged a minimum of twenty-five years, straight up. "I'm a much wealthier man, for starters," he said. "Plenty for Shaun to inherit." He paused, narrowed his pale blue eyes. "A son, Kelly. You knew how important that is to me."

"Of course. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

"No. You were thinking. Only of yourself, however. Not of Shaun's welfare. Did you honestly believe any child of mine should be raised in a place like Milford, Utah? That he should go to public schools? Kelly," he said, shaking his head, "haven't I taught you anything? Even if you were willing to slum it, he's not your private property."

"That's true. I know you can give him everything, that you can make his future wonderful."

"That nanny used to work for Princess Diana. She knows how to train a child to accept special privileges and responsibilities. You coddle the boy and that's going to stop. He's not too young to learn his place in the world. Does he read?"

"Not yet. He's not even three."

"I read when I was three."

She smiled, batted her eyelashes. "You're the exception to every rule."

"I'll start working on it tomorrow."

"The nanny will see that. Tomorrow, you're going shopping. I want you to have your wardrobe complete by the end of the week. Don't get any jewelry. I'll see to that."