Primitive Secrets
straighter. “Why did you call me?”
    â€œI was surprised at David’s reaction to the will. You have any idea what’s going on with him?”
    Lorraine clamped her hands together and looked down at them with an unhappy expression. Storm wanted to ask a dozen questions, but forced herself to lean back and take a deep breath. Lorraine certainly knew more than she was saying. Storm looked at the older woman’s tiny white hands, which she’d twisted tightly together, and suddenly understood that the woman was afraid. Lorraine wanted to talk, but was anxious about something.
    Storm’s mind raced. Learning whether Lorraine worried about a family or a business issue would depend on how she could put the woman at ease.
    â€œI’m trying to figure out if I did something wrong,” Storm said softly. “Even Martin shut me out of the conversation after Cunningham read the will.” She let the sadness show on her face. “I also wanted to ask you about Hamasaki’s briefcase. Maybe if I knew where he was Sunday, who he spent time with, I could find it.”
    â€œMaybe his late appointment has it,” Lorraine mumbled.
    â€œHe met someone on Sunday?”
    â€œYes, Bitsy was visiting her sister on the Big Island, so he was getting some extra work done. He had an appointment that afternoon.”
    Storm sat back with surprise. He hadn’t said anything to her about it. “Who’d he meet?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’d come in to do some filing and he told me not to wait, that he wouldn’t be long. Dr. O’Toole called, but he says he never came to the office.”
    Storm blinked rapidly. Uncle Miles used to tell her over and over that one had to pay attention to more than words. He knew better than most that she operated with her head in the clouds. He also understood that almost everyone lied.
    â€œYou answered his private phone line for him, didn’t you?” Storm asked.
    Lorraine nodded slowly. “Yes, most of the time.”
    Storm leaned toward the older woman. “Maybe if we put our heads together, we could figure out who he met. Or where he left the briefcase.” Storm searched Lorraine’s face. “Do you think you could make a list of people he talked to last Friday and any calls to the office during the weekend?”
    Lorraine nodded. “I could try.”
    Lorraine’s eyes flitted from Storm’s face to the desk to the hands folded tightly in her lap, then she stole another glance at Storm.
    Again, Storm had the feeling that Lorraine wanted to share something. “I can help with Friday. I drove him to work after we dropped his car for an oil change,” she said.
    â€œOh yes, you two came in together. And not long after he went to his office, Bitsy called.” Lorraine started twisting her wedding ring again and avoided Storm’s eyes. “Some of his problems were family ones.”
    â€œYou know, until this morning, I thought I was part of the family.” Storm’s voice quivered a bit.
    Lorraine sighed. “You probably know some of this, anyway. I overheard part of the conversation when I dropped some contracts in his office to be signed. He was practically shouting.” Her face reddened. “He was telling Bitsy that David’s financial problems were his own fault and loaning him money wasn’t going to teach him to stop his champagne and truffle parties. It sounded like Bitsy thought David’s worries were hurting his health.” Lorraine dropped her voice. “She told me a few days ago that he’d gained more weight and his insulin requirements have gone up. He has to give himself at least two shots a day, now.” Lorraine looked at Storm. “He’s gained weight, hasn’t he?”
    Storm nodded. “And Hamasaki was tough about money. He was determined none of us would depend on our trust funds as a livelihood. He’d pay for four years of

Similar Books

Taking Connor

B.N. Toler

The Other Schindlers

Agnes Grunwald-Spier

Heart's Demand

Cheryl Holt

Star by Star

Troy Denning

Desk Jockey Jam

Ainslie Paton

A Heart's Treasure

Teresa DesJardien

Lessons Learned

Nora Roberts