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"Oh!"

"And he had not recently passed away; he had been dead for twenty-two years"

Kathy raised her eyebrows in that unique andto find adorable

"Never trust gossipy neighbors as fully reliable sources," he pointed out "Anyway, Mrs Sloan was shocked, of course, but she only let it show for about two seconds, after which she showed ave ht be of interest toafternoon"

"Then your father never got to know he had a son"

"No, he didn't So iine Mrs Sloan's face when I introduced myself But she was really nice to me And she offered me a job I had never worked as an assistant before, but, with Mrs Steel's help, I s worked out"

"And she made you her heir to compensate in some measure what your father couldn't do for you?"

"I wasn't looking for money when I went to that house"

"I didn't ht… to a certain extent I'd like to think she also valued ht years"

"Of course"

They held each other's gaze for some seconds

"That just leaves me out of the equation"

"Why can't you adry "That she truly cared for you? You've been trying to find excuses for not accepting this inheritance fro!"

"Because she'd known me for so little," her voice was soft, barely audible

"Soh to knohat you need to know"