He cut her off. “The hospital records may show differently.”

Abby’s cheeks flushed with anger. “You took—”

“However…” Nichols held one finger in the air. “However, I believe the time has come to have the physicians reevaluate Ray’s mental state and consider his release. I visited with him the other day, and he seemed in his right mind. I’m sure the doctors will give him a clean bill of health if he agrees not to make these unfortunate incidents a continuing issue. Would that be agreeable to you, Ms. Caldwell?”

She sat silently for a moment. “What you have done is wrong, Mr. Nichols. And I cannot control whether my grandfather will agree to your terms. But I want him out.”

“Then we are agreed, aren’t we? I’ll take the matter up with Ray. In the meantime, it’s late in what I’m sure has been a tiring day for you. I invite you to have dinner and spend the night with us here.”

Spending the night at Nichols’s estate wasn’t part of her plan. Abby didn’t trust the man, and here she was completely at his mercy. Everything he’d just said to her concerning Poppy might have been a lie. She didn’t see much choice, however. Cooperating seemed her best shot at securing her grandfather’s release.

“Thank you,” she replied. “I accept your invitation. How soon do you anticipate going to visit my grandfather?”

His eyebrows rose slightly. “Well, I do have to think through how exactly Ray and I will need to proceed from here, to protect both of our interests. I would say within a day or two.”

Anger rose within her again. Already the man was playing games. There was no reason Nichols couldn’t tap the mental hospital this evening and talk with Ray. And it was only his own interests, not those of Poppy, that Nichols had any intention of protecting.

She pushed down her anger. Losing her temper was the last thing she wanted to do. “A single day would be preferable,” she responded.

“Indeed. I will let you know.” Nichols got up and crossed to the far side of the room to a wet bar. He opened a refrigerator and pulled out a bottle. “You’ve caused quite a stir since your arrival, you know.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

He pulled out two glasses and poured something into each. “But it is now?”

Abby decided to go along with the conversation. Perhaps Nichols would inadvertently say something that would help them stop him. “Not to cause a stir, no,” she answered.

Abby paused and thought about her epiphany before continuing. “I want to spread the message of Jesus to this country. To tell people that”—she hesitated—“that God’s own life is now available to everyone in the person of Christ.”