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“You got an obligation to me, boy Maybe it’s time you knew that”

Gray narrowed his eyes There was an ominous sound to the words “What in hell is that supposed to mean?”

Jonas got up, walked to the sideboard and refilled his glass “You never did get along with your old man, did you? Never did cotton to the idea of sittin’ around, watchin’ hirovel to me” He sipped the bourbon, smiled over the riettin’ away frohteen? When you went away to that there fancy college in New Hampshire?”

“I was seventeen,” Gray said coldly “And what does that have to do with this conversation?”

“An’ how ‘bout that law dee-plohed “The way I hear it, ain’t ever’body can afford a Yale law dee-gree”

The hair on the nape of Gray’s neck was rising again “I had full scholarships to both Dartmouth and Yale”

Jonas chuckled “Oh my, yes You was a smart kid, Graham You won them scholarships, fair and square” His sht as to who funded those scholarships, did you?”

Gray stared at his uncle He felt as if the floor were dropping from under his feet “You?” he said hoarsely “You funded them?”

“And the pocketwith thear frolass ashtray and stuck it between his teeth “Your father did the right thing, son He coht by you”

That his father had once said soood about hiotten where he was today—wherever in hell thatGray could feel a cold, hard knot forut

“And now,” he said softly, “you’re calling in your markers”

His uncle shrugged “Only if you make it seem that way”

Gray laughed “Only if I make it seem…? You are soGod only kno much time out of my life so you can soothe your conscience before you die, and you say it’s payback tihter stopped abruptly “I don’t suppose you’d settle for rier flooded through him and he balled his hands into fists, ja he knew he’d regret “I’ve got news for you, old man You don’t need to be concerned with your conscience because the fact is, you never had one”

Jonas took the cigar from his mouth and set it back into the ashtray “Yes,” he said softly, “I do, even if it see up years too late” He walked toward Gray, his gaze locked to the younger s even”

Gray held his uncle’s eyes for a long nored it and reached, instead, for his briefcase