'Do what you want!' bellowed Richard. 'Burn the money, throw it away, but just don't try to-'

'Richard, please!' begged Marion. 'Listen to me!' She was starting to cry. 'You know what I'm saying is true. I may be old, but I'm not insane. Your brother tried to kill Damien. WHY?!'

'Get out!' Ann screamed. She started around the table as though she were actually going to strike the old woman. Richard stopped her, but she shook herself loose from his grasp and pointed with a trembling finger. 'Tell-her-to-go!'

'I'm going!' said Aunt Marion, and mustering all her dignity, she nodded good night to Dr Warren and left the room. Richard followed right behind her.

When their footsteps had receded into the echoing distance of the huge house, Ann turned to Dr Warren and let out an enormous sigh. ‘I'm so sorry, Charles,' she apologized. 'I had no idea—'

'No, it's all right,' Warren assured her. ‘I understand.' He rose and headed for the den. 'Why don't we go set up the slides?' he asked, changing the subject. 'I have some wonderful things I want to show you and Richard.'

What he really wanted was simply to be out of that room.

***

By the time they had reached the second-floor landing, Aunt Marion had succeeded in wrenching her arm away from Richard's grasp. 'I can walk by myself!' she said stiffly. They walked in silence down the long, carpeted corridor, but when they reached her bedroom door, she turned around to face him. 'Your brother tried to kill Damien—'

'We've been through this, Aunt Marion.'

‘There must have been a reason.’

'I've told you before. I don't like to talk about it. Especially not in front of guests! Jesus Christ-'

'But why would he try to kill his own son?'

'He was ill, Aunt Marion, emotionally and mentally ill.'

'And what about Damien? You think he's not?'

‘There is nothing wrong with Damien!' Thorn found himself shouting again. It infuriated him that she could enrage him so easily. Perhaps she would let up if he reacted less vehemently. He tried to calm down, tried to sound reasonable. 'You've built up this hatred of him based on absolutely nothing.'

'Look carefully,' advised Aunt Marion.

It's finally happened, Thorn thought. She's finally gone round the bend. 'Go to bed. Please,' he said. 'You're not in control of yourself right now.'

Aunt Marion raised an eyebrow. She knew how to strike him where it hurt. She'd remind him just how much in control she was. 'Damien will inherit nothing from me. I'll see to that tomorrow!' She reached for the doorknob.

Thorn grabbed her hand. 'Do what you want; the shares in the company are yours.' He knew he sounded desperate. He needed those shares to protect the interests of his two sons. ‘But when you're in my house-'

‘I'm your guest,' she finished the sentence for him. 'I know. But this is my room, and I'll have to ask you to leave. Now.'