He glanced from his brother and back to her, his gray eyes glacial, before giving her hand a perfunctory shake. It was better than nothing, she supposed. At least he hadn't ignored it. “What's this all about?"

"Why don't we talk inside?” She turned and strode toward the house, knowing they'd have no choice but to follow her. She went straight into her father's office and sat in the chair behind his desk. She was glad this piece was still here, at least for a few more days. Sitting behind it, she didn't feel quite so vulnerable. Shamus was two steps behind her and followed her around the desk, standing at her side.

Patrick's scowl deepened, if that were even possible, as he stood on the opposite side of the desk, hands on his hips. “Okay, what the hell is this about?"

Cyndi cleared her voice. “I was going through my father's papers and came across something I thought the law should be aware of. I'm not sure if it warrants criminal investigation or not. I'm waiting for my lawyer to arrive and then we can all figure out what can be done about the situation."

"What situation? What kind of game are you playing now?” The contempt in his voice flayed her, but she didn't flinch. At her side, she felt Shamus stiffen. Reaching out, she grabbed his arm, squeezing it. He'd promised to let her handle this.

"No game, sheriff. But this is something that needs to be handled carefully, and quite honestly, I wasn't sure if your office could handle it, but Shamus says you can be trusted.” It was Patrick's turn to stiffen. “Take that", she thought, and immediately felt small for provoking him.

"Look.” She rubbed her hand across her forehead. After only a few hours of sleep last night and another long day of packing furniture and boxes, she was in no mood to deal with his cutting remarks. But she had no choice. “This is not a pleasant thing to have to deal with, but it needs to be done. Let's keep personal feelings out of this if we can."

The doorbell rang. Shamus hesitated, but then headed for the door to let Alicia in. At least Cyndi hoped it was Alicia. The quicker this was done the better. Patrick was examining her as if she were some slimy bug that he was deciding whether or not to squash.

"You don't like me, and that's fine. I can live with that.” Cyndi wanted to get this out before Shamus returned. “But this is bigger than that."

Patrick said nothing, but continued to stare at her. She stared back, not flinching. They were still in the midst of their staring contest when Alicia walked into the room, followed by Shamus. The other woman looked as cool and composed as ever, wearing gray pinstriped pants and a matching jacket.

"What's going on?” Alicia looked from Cyndi, to the sheriff, and back to Cyndi again. She plopped her briefcase on the desk and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I found something in my father's papers last night.” She addressed Alicia because it was easier than talking directly to Patrick. “He was involved in some illegal activities."

Patrick snorted. “Like that's any surprise."

"Sheriff O'Rourke, I'll remind you that my client didn't have to contact you about this. Papers are easily disposed of.” Alicia's voice was sharp as she addressed him.

Patrick stiffened, but he inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement.

"Continue.” Alicia's voice was softer when she spoke to Cyndi.

Cyndi took a deep breath. “It's not just my father. He'd blackmailed a former mayor and several city officials, for sure, for favors. There are allegations of a certain prominent citizen being involved with prostitution, and another one with gambling. Plus, his lawyer knowingly committed fraud.” She glanced at Patrick. “I wasn't sure if he had someone working for him inside your office, which is why I didn't want to do this at the station. I don't want anyone tipped off in advance."

She risked another glanced at Patrick, but he just glowered, saying nothing.

"Anyway, it seems that my father's law firm, Harris and Hammond, helped him by falsifying records in order to foreclose on some properties and to acquire others."

"That son of a bitch,” Patrick spat.

"Yes,” she quietly agreed. “He was that and more.” Cyndi returned her gaze to Alicia. “I have the originals and copies of the papers we went through last night."

Alicia picked up one set and started riffling through them, stopping at the sections that she and Shamus had marked with sticky notes.

Patrick strode to the desk, grabbed a sheaf of papers, and did the same. He raised his head a few minutes later. “Why didn't you destroy them?"

Cyndi flinched in spite of her resolve not to do so. The man obviously thought she was as much of a criminal as her father.

"That's uncalled for, sheriff.” Alicia's voice was sharp.

"No.” Cyndi raised her hand. “That's all right. The sheriff is allowed to have his opinion of me.” She stared straight into Patrick's stormy gray eyes. It was impossible to be mad at him. The past had shaped him as much as it had her. “Because it's illegal and needs to be set right. Harris and Hammond need to pay for what they've done."

Turning away from the sheriff, she turned to Alicia. “There are ten properties in particular. Is there any way we can get them returned to their rightful owners? I did have a quick look through the office files, and all the signed documents are here."

"Absolutely,” Alicia reassured her. “If the transactions are proven illegal, then it will revert to the previous owners. But the process will be much easier if you don't fight it."

"Good."

"Don't anybody contact anyone yet. Not until I have time to go through all of this.” Patrick dropped the sheaf of papers back on top of the desk. “I'll need to see all the paperwork concerning these transactions, and everything else you've got."

"If you want to see anything else in this house, you'll need a warrant.” Cyndi started to protest her lawyer's words, but Alicia forestalled her. “No, you need to protect yourself. You're innocent in all this, and I intend for it to stay that way."

"What the hell does that mean?” Patrick snapped.

"It means that you have your job, sheriff, and I have mine."

"Enough.” Shamus's voice wasn't loud, but it was hard. “Both of you stop it. Cyndi's been through enough without you two squabbling.” He dropped his hand on her shoulder and Cyndi shuddered as the heat from his palm coursed through her. She was so very cold. “What do you want to do?” He hunkered down beside her as he spoke.

She glanced from Patrick to Alicia. “Patrick can go through the files with you here, can't he? We can make copies of anything he needs to take. He can sign some sort of receipt or something for whatever he removes from the house, so we all have a record."

Alicia leaned her hip on the desk, facing Cyndi. “If that's what you want. But as your lawyer, I'm advising you to protect yourself."

Cyndi shook her head. “I want this over with. And if Shamus says his brother is trustworthy, that's good enough for me."

Alicia sighed. “I don't like it, but if that's what you want."

"It's what I need.” Slowly, she pushed out of the chair. Shamus stood beside her and she resisted the urge to lean on him. “I'm going to make some coffee. This might take a while."

She could feel all eyes on her as she left the room. Her head was pounding and her stomach was roiling. It was going to be a long evening.

Shamus rounded on his brother as soon as Cyndi left the room. “You might not like Cyndi personally, but you'll damn well treat her with some respect."

Patrick threw up his hand. “Look, I have every reason to be suspicious."

"No. You. Don't.” He said each word slowly as he advanced toward Patrick. “You knew a frightened, young woman who did what she had to in order to survive."

"Yeah, right,” he sneered. “Like being the richest girl in town was such a hardship. Poor little princess."

It took all his self-control not to plant his fist in his brother's face. “You have no idea what you're talking about."

"But you do?” he taunted.

Shamus couldn't, wouldn't betray Cyndi's confidence. But he was sick of everyone coming down so hard on her without any kind of understanding. “Yes, I do.” He hesitated briefly before forging ahead. “Let's just say that your wife and Cyndi have more in common than you might imagine."

Patrick tilted his head, looking totally perplexed. As if a light bulb suddenly went off in his brain, he slowly stiffened.

Shamus gave one nod, knowing his message had been understood. Patrick's wife Shannon had been abused by her ex-husband. Cyndi's father had abused her.

"Are you sure?” Patrick's voice was low and angry.

"Yes.” He could still see the faint scars on her back whenever he closed his eyes. “Not all her actions back then were of her own doing. Others were based on fear."

"I don't quite understand what the two of you are talking about, but I want you to stop right now.” Alicia stepped between them putting a manicured hand on each chest. “Cyndi doesn't need to be discussed like this when she's not in the room, and we have work to do."

Shamus knew that Alicia was right. “I'm going to see what's keeping Cyndi.” He left the two of them alone in the study, trusting Alicia and his brother to start working.

He strode down the hall to the kitchen to find Cyndi slumped against the counter. Not stopping, he went right up to her and dragged her into his arms. “Everything will be all right."

She gave a watery laugh as she buried her face in his chest. “You can't promise that. No one can."