The Discarded Heiress Returns novel · Chapter 10 of 32

Chapter 10: On the Dock

The man in the fishing shirt grabbed for the jar.

I lifted it out of his reach.

"Pack your bag," I said. "You've got ten minutes, and you're not getting a refund."

"You can't keep my property."

"It's evidence. You can ask Mrs. Ballantyne for another jar."

The birders from room six clapped.

He went back into room four and slammed the door.

Wells already had his phone out.

He didn't walk away to make the call.

He stood on the walk in front of room four, in front of me and the honeymooners and the birders, and put it on speaker.

It rang twice.

"Wells." My mother's voice, warm as butter. "Tell me you have good news."

"I'm at the Lantern," he said.

"I know where you are, darling. You're living there. It's very sweet."

"There's a man here with a jar of dead bugs. Your assistant is texting him."

A short pause.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"He was told to post photos by noon. So the county would see them."

"Then he's lying, or she's lying, or someone is. People will say anything about me." Her voice softened. "Is she there?"

Wells looked at me.

"Yes," I said.

"Hello, Tallulah," my mother said. "Are you listening, Wells? This is important."

"I'm listening."

"That girl is a liar," she said pleasantly. "She was a liar at twelve and a thief at seventeen. She stole from this family the night she left. Ask her what happened to my mother-in-law's pearls."

The honeymooners looked at me.

I didn't move.

"I'm asking you," Wells said. "Did your assistant hire that man?"

"I'm a busy woman. I don't know what my assistant had for lunch." A little laugh. "You're getting attached to the scenery, Wells. Don't. It's coming down."

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