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Again, Dad acted as if he hadn’t heard. “How do you know if we don’t ask? Up to this point, you were ready to fork over a large sum of money. What we’re prepared to offer would ease any financial worries, maybe for the rest of her life.”
Rory ran a hand through the spikes in his hair. “No!” The word shot out with the force of a bullet. “Dad, Vi and I are—Dad!”
The older man had slumped over in the chair. Rory rushed to his side. When he pushed Dad against the chair back, his head lolled to one side.
“Becca! Call nine-one-one!”
The January air had warmed to an audacious degree. Good thing. In her haste, Vi had forgotten a jacket. Eager to see the house updates Rory had talked about in such glowing terms, she’d no sooner emerged from her car when Rory’s foreman barreled out the front door.
“Hey, Miss Vi.” Oscar touched the bill of his baseball cap with respect. “Were you out here last night?”
“No, what is it?” His worried expression bothered her.
Oscar’s lips twisted to one side. “A window got left open, and the worker’s power tools are gone. Stolen.”
A new-model red pickup truck hurtled down the lane, leaving a trail of dust clouds. Who could this be? Vi felt the beginnings of a headache.
She glanced back at Oscar. “I haven’t been out here for a couple of days. What do you think happened?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve got a call in to Rory. There’s smoke not too far away, and there’ve been kids running around.”
Vi’s stomach tightened. The illegal squatters. “Were the tools valuable?”
“Yes, ma’am. If we’re lucky, they’ll turn up at local pawnshops.”
A man wearing dress slacks with a long-sleeved white shirt and tie had parked the truck and walked their way.
“Sorry to bother you, miss. We’ll take care of it.” Oscar turned, climbing the steps to the house.
“Hello. I’m looking for Violet Summers.” The man seemed pleasant enough, but Vi’s inner antenna hummed at the use of her full name. For a brief instant, she wished Oscar had stayed.
“I’m Vi Summers.” Her chin lifted.
He held out his hand. “Marvin. I work for Spence Enterprises.”
Vi stared at him, digesting the words, then slowly held out her hand. “Spence Enterprises? As in Rory Spence?” The coffee she had for breakfast percolated right back up her esophagus.
Marvin shook her hand a tad too long. “Yes. I work for him and his father.”
Shards of glass rolled around her stomach. “What’s this about?”
The man blinked. “Is there a place we could sit?—”
“No. State your business.” A growing sense of unease about the man’s mission mushroomed inside of her.
“I … ah … Morgan Spence requests a meeting with you.”
Marvin looked at her as if expecting a response, but Vi said nothing.
“Your recent inheritance has come to our attention, and Mr. Spence wants to make you an offer for a tract of land.”
“No,” Vi said flatly. Her world slid sideways.
“I’m not sure you understand how much money this would mean, Miss Summers. Morgan Spence is willing to offer?—”
“Morgan Spence is Rory’s father?”
“Yes. He’s an entrepreneur here in Val?—”
