George closed the door behind them then went behind his desk. Amelia cast her a dirty look before taking the closest chair.
“What do you want?” He inclined his head, as if giving her permission to speak.
Haley clenched her hand on her inhaler in the light jacket to give her the courage she needed.
“At least you don’t think I’ve come to apologize.”
“I don’t expect the unattainable. You’ve never apologized for your uncouth behavior before. At this late stage of your life, I was hopeful when Desmond told me he was bringing you to the reunion that you may have behaved more well-mannered. As always, we were disappointed.”
“I would say I cared, but that would be a lie.”
“Why stop now? You’re an excellent liar.”
Haley didn’t let George anger her. Staring at the man she hated more than anyone on Earth, she didn’t try to hide her feelings.
“Since you gave me a couple of minutes, let’s get to the point of my visit. Then I can leave and never see either of you again.”
“Agreed.” George looked at her as if he was expecting her to ask for a loan. She was about to disillusion him.
“You may want to ask Amelia to leave,” she warned.
“Amelia will stay. I won’t be left alone with you. I’m too well aware of your propensity to make up situations that are fictitious.”
It didn’t bother her one iota that George was referring to what had happened with Gabriel.
“I’ve never lied about Gabriel, which you’re cognizant to, despite your defense of him.”
George bristled behind his desk, as if he was going to argue.
“Save your feigned indignation. Neither of us have the time for it.”
George’s nostrils flared when she didn’t give him the opportunity to defend his despicable crony.
“I want you to tell me where the people whom Gabriel had removed from Clindale are.”
Haley wished she could take a picture of his face. She wondered if the shocked expression came from the temerity of her asking or the question itself.
Amelia jumped up from her chair. “Leave!”
“Sit down or leave, Amelia. This conversation is between your father and me,” Haley stated in a cold voice that she had never used before. “I only put up with your bitchiness out of respect for Julia. Seeing Leighton at the party and you not helping me convince her to leave Gilbert made me realize how deeply ashamed your mother would be of the woman you have become.”
Slowly, Amelia sat back down.
“Now, without further interruption from Amelia, or I will leave and you both can deal with the blowback when I do, where are they?”
“Gabriel didn’t do anything with them. They died in a hurricane. I thought better of you than believing blatant falsehoods.”
“They aren’t false. People deserve to be returned to their homes and island from where they were stolen from.”
“You have come here in vain. Even if the rumors are true, I have no useful knowledge as to their whereabouts.”
“You’re a liar,” Haley stated detachedly. “You two didn’t fart without telling each other about it.”
“Don’t be uncouth.”
“You think me saying the word fart is uncouth, yet you have no remorse over hundreds of people missing?”
“Your two minutes have passed. If you’re finished wasting both of our time, I suggest you return to Kansas City, where you belong.”
“How badly do you want to say let the door hit you on the ass on the way out?”
George’s nostrils flared again. “Again, uncouth.”
Haley just shook her head at the man behind the mahogany desk. “I feel like drawing this out just to irritate the hell out of you, but like you, I am pressed for time. I have a flight to catch in two hours.”
George’s relief was visible.
“Give me their location, or I will release the letter Julia wrote to me before her death.”
His complexion grew pale, even as he tried to blow it off as if what she had just told him didn’t matter.
“And why should that concern me?”
“In the letter, Julia told me you were poisoning her.”
“Get out!” George stood, slamming his hands on the desk. “No such letter exists.”
At least Amelia remained seated, Haley thought wryly, seeing her cousin appear stunned at her father’s show of rage.
“It does.” Opening her purse, Haley took out a sheet of paper and put it within George’s reach.
“This is a copy,” he noted.
“You seriously think I would bring the real one with me? The original is in a safe spot where no one has access to it. Feel free to read. I can spare a few more minutes.”
George snatched the letter and began reading.
“Julia also disclosed her belief that you were responsible for Pierson’s death.”
Haley noticed George’s hand holding the letter was shaking.
“I’m not responsible for her first husband’s death.”
“As you can see, she knew the truth, which is why she left the home and financial assets to me.”