It was dinnertime when Kim and her family got back to the Excelsior from the train station.

Lily was hungry and cranky, making eating in the formal hotel dining room an ill-advised option.

Their daughter was small but her lungs were mighty, and when she was upset they resounded everywhere. She wasn’t at all badly behaved but when she was off-form she became very miserable and needed more attention.

Gabriel settled her back in the suite while Kim talked again on her phone outside on the terrace.

Hank had called back with some more information on the plagiarism claim.

“I just spoke to the lawyer. This person claims some of the affirmations were her mother’s. They were shared throughout the family for generations. She says you stole them.”

Kim’s heart hammered as she tried to get a handle on this. “Well, if it’s family stuff, did she give any idea of how she thinks I supposedly came by this information to steal it?”

“Her attorney’s being sketchy. I think he’s trying to feel me out. Rattle us, even, in the hope of a quick payoff. Don’t worry. I don’t scare easily. And I don’t lose either.”

“I know,” Kim replied. Then she paused. “Does anyone else in the company know about this?”

“You mean Antonio or the investors? No. Just you. I didn’t think you’d want anyone worrying, especially with the launch coming up. The only ones who know are the clerk who received the claim, my assistant, and me. Think it’s best to keep things quiet at this point until we fully know what we’re dealing with.”

“I knew I hired you for a good reason, Hank,” Kim commented. He was great at his job. She was sure she could trust him to handle this. If it could be handled. She sincerely hoped it could.

Her entire life could implode if it didn’t.

“Everything OK?” Gabriel called out gently from inside the room.

Kim turned and nodded, flashing what she hoped was a sincere smile.

He turned back to Lily, who was playing on the bed. “Mommy’s busy,” she informed him, rattling off what Kim recognized as her own familiar refrain. “Can I have chicken for dinner?”

She spoke so well for a three-year-old that people often commented on it. It even surprised Kim how smart she could be sometimes. Gabriel said she took after her, but she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t feel that Lily got anything from her, except her blonde hair. When she looked at her child she didn’t see herself at all. Just Gabriel.

“Kim? You still there?”

“Sorry, Hank, what were you saying?”