Chapter 4 — The Lab Called At Nine Forty

VivianCharles, why is there a courier at my door at eight in the morning?

CharlesBecause I sent for one.

VivianFor what?

CharlesFor a hairbrush. Hers. And one of Dad's razors from the cabinet.

VivianYou did what?

CharlesI sent them to a lab in Boston on Friday. Expedited.

VivianYou had no right —

CharlesThey called at nine-forty.

VivianCharles. Whatever that piece of paper says —

CharlesNinety-nine point nine.

VivianThat doesn't mean —

CharlesHalf-sibling. Ninety-nine point nine percent.

VivianShe is a maid.

CharlesShe's my sister.

VivianShe is a girl who walked into this house with a stolen ring and a story.

CharlesShe didn't walk into this house. The agency sent her. And you knew, didn't you.

VivianI knew nothing.

CharlesMrs Doyle says you've been watching her since the first week.

VivianMrs Doyle is seventy-three years old and sentimental.

CharlesYou put her on her knees in broken glass in front of two hundred people.

VivianI put a thief on her knees.

CharlesYou put my father's daughter on her knees, and you did it because you've known exactly who she was since October.

VivianGet out of my study.

CharlesBill Hanrahan is coming at two.

VivianWhy.

CharlesBecause probate cleared on Thursday. And there's a letter.