Queen Never Cry novel · Chapter 12 of 32

Chapter 12: Count It

The envelope was fat and cream-colored, and it made a soft slap when I set it on the table.

I put it beside the soup tureen, in the exact center of the white cloth.

Twenty faces stared at it.

"How curious," Desmond said. "It was in your coat."

"It was."

"You admit it."

"I admit I carried it from the front hall to this chair." I looked down the length of the table. "Lydia, you dropped something."

Lydia's lips parted.

"I didn't, I never..."

"Then let's count it together," I said, "so nobody can say I touched it."

I slid the envelope down the table to the old man in the white jacket.

He took it with two fingers and peered inside.

He drew out two thick bundles of hundred-dollar bills.

Each was wrapped in a blue paper strap.

CORRIGAN FAMILY FOUNDATION. PETTY CASH.

"Twenty thousand," the Chairman said.

He set them side by side beside his bread plate.

"Exactly twenty thousand."

"Then it's recovered," Desmond said smoothly. "Thank God.

"Pippa, you took it from the study safe.

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation, but under the circumstances, I must call..."

"At seven fifty-one," I said, "I walked through your front door."

"Your hall has a camera over the rose bowl.

"Please play the footage for the board.

"You will see a woman carrying nothing.

"You will see her hugged by your wife.

"And you will see your wife's hand."

Nobody moved.

At the far end of the table, Lydia's face had gone the gray of old paper.

"That's absurd," Desmond said. "The security system is down for repairs."

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