The China Doll by Deborah Nam-Krane

Author:Deborah Nam-Krane
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: mystery, college, boston, family secrets, new adult

CHAPTER 18

Two hours later, Michael was just about to leave his house when there was a knock on the door.

"I ought to punch you, you know that?" Richard said as soon as he saw Michael.

"Good to see you, too. Can I make you some coffee first?"

Richard shook his head in disgust, then walked in. "How long have you been here?"

Michael closed the door. "About a month."

"And you were planning on telling me when?"

"When I wasn’t going to have to ask you to keep me a secret from her," Michael said simply. "I know this is a difficult concept to grasp, but I actually thought I’d be doing you a favor if you didn’t know I was here."

"Do me a real favor, alright? No more lying, because I think I’m just about to choke on it."

Richard looked like he hadn’t slept all night. "Have a seat," Michael said as he gestured to a chair. "Tell me about last night."

Richard sat back into the couch. "So she did come this morning?"

Michael smiled again. "Did you think she was going to stay away?"

"Not after last night."

Michael poured Richard a cup of coffee and handed it to him. "What happened?"

"You lose, Michael. I hate Alex much, much more than you ever could."

"Nope, sorry, I’ve got that locked up. Costing my father his life and lying about who Miranda really was—you’re not going to top that."

"Try blackmailing my mother into marriage."

"Alex blackmailed Lucy?" Michael asked incredulously. "Wow, this has to be pretty good."

"Shut up, Michael. You knew he had something on her, that’s why she didn’t go to the police."

Michael smiled ruefully. "To be perfectly honest, I always thought Miranda was overplaying that. I guess I thought you pled my case to Lucy."

"I wouldn’t plead for my life to her," Richard spat.

"What did he have on her, Richard?"

"I knew about it, Michael. I just didn’t know he did. Or for how long."

"What was it?" Michael asked again, not because he needed more proof of what a bastard Alex was, but because he could see that Richard needed to tell him.

"She’s gay," Richard said simply. "She was having an affair with Joanna Hazlett."

"What?" Michael blinked. "Who?"

"Gay. I think you understand the concept. And Joanna Hazlett is also Professor Hazlett, but since you didn’t even get through the second month of college, I guess you wouldn’t have ever come across her." Richard paused, sighing. "But in the interest of full disclosure, I think you should know that you did have a special connection to her. She was Emily’s boss. She was the person Alex used to get to Emily before you left."

It took a moment for what Richard said to sink in. "And how is that treacherous little do-gooder?"

"Michael, don’t start. Emily has every right to hate you, and you know it. But for the record, she cried her eyes out that day, and she quit her job the next."

"You know, you’re right. That does make up for the last two and a half years of my life.

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