Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness by Sidney Sheldon Page A

the profits from the following transactions: 2005, Innovation Management’s six-year fund of funds, executed in Grand Cayman?”
    â€œI don’t know anything.” Grace’s voice was barely a whisper.
    Gavin Williams leaned across the table till his face was millimeters from hers. Grace smelled his sour breath. “Don’t lie to me, Mrs. Brookstein. You will regret it.”
    Grace looked up and saw the compassionless void in his eyes. A cold stab of fear ran through her. “I’m not lying.”
    â€œYou were a partner in your husband’s fund.”
    â€œA partner? No. You’re mistaken. I was never a partner. I don’t know anything about business. It was Lenny and John.”
    â€œDo you deny this is your signature?”
    Angrily, Gavin Williams shoved a piece of paper across the table. Grace recognized her own writing. But she couldn’t for the life of her remember what the document was, when she’d signed it or why. Lenny handled all of that.
    â€œI don’t deny anything. I…I’m confused.”
    Gavin Williams was shouting. “Two thousand and five, Innovation, Grand Cayman!”
    â€œI want my attorney present.” Grace was shocked to hear the words come out of her own mouth. I sound like a bad episode of Law & Order.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI…I said I need a lawyer.”
    Gavin Williams seethed with frustration. He’d hoped that by catching Grace at such a vulnerable moment, he’d be able to bully her into a confession, get her to break down. But if she wanted a lawyer, he could not deny her one. Bitch.
    â€œInterview terminated. Turn off the tape.”
    With a look of disgust, Gavin Williams left the room.
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    T HE FOLLOWING MORNING, NEWS OF G RACE Brookstein’s arrest and the recovery of Lenny Brookstein’s body was splashed all over the papers.
    Honor Warner shook as she read the report. “They’ve found Lenny’s body.”
    â€œYes, I know,” said Jack, deadpan. “I can read.”
    â€œHow can you be so calm about it? The FBI has arrested Grace. Have you seen the list of charges? The things they’re accusing her of: securities fraud, money laundering…Grace can barely add two plus two! What are we going to do?”
    Jack smiled. “ Do? We’re not going to do anything.”
    â€œBut, Jack…”
    â€œBut Jack, what? We’re going to wash our hands of your little sister and walk away.”
    Honor looked horrified. Jack laughed at her.
    â€œOh, please. Don’t try to pretend to me that you care about Grace.It’s a little late for that, darling. Did you think I couldn’t see through you all these years?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œYou think I don’t know how much you hate your sister? How much you’ve always hated her?”
    Honor looked away, ashamed. It’s true. I do hate her. But to let her go to jail? She tried another tack. “All right. Let’s forget about Grace. What about us, Jack? If Grace goes on trial, there’ll be questions. Questions about Lenny’s business affairs, his associates, what happened the day he disappeared. What if the police find out?”
    â€œThey won’t.”
    â€œBut what if they do?”
    Jack looked at her coldly. “Do you want to be first lady, Honor?”
    Honor did want it. More than anything.
    â€œDo you want to see me in the White House?”
    â€œOf course. You know I do.”
    â€œThen stop panicking. Keep your mouth shut and your head down. Lenny’s dead. He can’t hurt us anymore. But Grace could. God knows how much the old man may have told her.”
    Honor shivered. She hadn’t thought of that.
    â€œYour sister going to jail could be the best thing to happen to us. Now pass me the coffee, would you? It’s getting cold.”
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    M ICHAEL G RAY WAS HORRIFIED WHEN HE heard the news. Instinctively he put his arms