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It wasn’t like Kat knehat she was doing She hadn’t had tiht and Marianne had been wronged All she knew for certain was that Marcus was still arguing with his sister and, outside, it was a beautiful day And, besides, her rides--both of theed, so Kat stepped out into the fresh air to collect her thoughts It wasn’t her fault her footsteps kept drawing her through the woods and closer to the big house, one word on her mind

Hale

Kat had to talk to Hale That was the beginning to any possible plan: explain Marcus’s theory and find out what--if anything--Hale randht want to circuh It all see house ca about Hale’s world was ordinary So she walked across the grounds without another thought It felt good to have a job A purpose And her footsteps felt h the back door and up the stairs

She threw open one door anduntil she saw a closed set of double doors, light streah the cracks beneath theainst the wood and listened

"‘To Cousin Isabel,’" a ed to her great-great- grandmother’"

Kat eased open one door just in time to see a woman throw her hands to her chest She looked like someone had just named her Miss America

"So that concludes the issue of the Hale faems," said the man behind the podium He had a dark suit and eyes so black there was no doubt in Kat’sat Natalie’s father

He brought his hands together and stood quietly at the front of the roo for someone to object

"What about the company?" Hale’s father asked

"Yes, yes" The lawyer shuffled his papers and a few fluttered to the floor "We are about to that point now, I believe"

"Well, get on with it, Garrett" The Hollywood uncle glanced at his wife "We have a jet reserved for eight o’clock, and I don’t intend to miss it We’ve already spent three days on this"

"How rude of Hazel not to die on your schedule," Hale said His fanored him

At the back of the room, Kat dared to open the door a little wider, but no one noticed The collective gaze of the entire Hale faht-backed, on folding chairs, waiting European cousins lined the right wall; distant nieces and nephews gathered on the left And, at the front of the roo and in-laho had coht out of Agatha Christie, with the country reedy heirs So Kat peeked inside, staring at the usual suspects

"Mrs Hale discussed this moment with me many times, and, before me, she discussed it with my late father You should rest assured that Mrs Hale knew the gravity of what she held and the responsibility it was up to her to bestow She watched her husband accept the mantle of sole control of Hale Industries when his brother passed She herself took it up after the death of Mr Hale the Third"

He drew a deep breath He didn’t look like aas he read, "‘Hale Industries is our faht Our responsibility’" The attorney adjusted his glasses and spoke directly to the men and women in the front row "Those were your mother’s exact words"

He continued to read "‘My father-in-law gave it to his sons and then ive it to the next generation--to our fareatest faith in the future’"

Watching, listening, Kat felt a sudden wave of sadness that she had never known the woman who had written those words, and she hated the possibility that there was a traitor in this family’s midst, someone who could manipulate the will of the sixth-wealthiest wo

"‘And thereby,’" the lawyer read on, "‘upon my death, sole ownership and control of Hale Industries shall pass to ht have thought she’d misunderstood, had it not been for the shocked expressions and stunned silence that filled the room

"The Fifth?" Hale’s father asked "My son? My mother left our company to my son?"

"Actually, Senior," Garrett said, "I think it’s his company now"

"But he’s a child!" Hale’s aunt cried

"And your hteen dictates that, should she pass before he is of age, his interest in the company will be held in a trust until he turns twenty-five"

"And who’s the trustee?" Hale’s mother asked

"I am," the lawyer said

Hale’s father was up, crossing the roo for the document "I’d like to see that, if you please"

"Fine," Garrett said "We have copies for each of you Hazel’s wishes were clear and, make no mistake, her mind was sharp"

"I think company performance of late says otherwise," Hale’s unclealoud

"She knew exactly what she wanted," the lawyer said, and a hush fell over the rooer and pointed toward Hale "And what she wanted was him"

Chapter 8