Rituals (Cainsville 5)

"I'd have a higher opinion of your intelligence, Pamela," I said, "if you didn't insist on starting every visit by insulting Gabriel, knowing the only person you piss off is me."

And for that, she smiled. Smiled and nodded, pride shining again as she conceded the point.

"You've come to find out what Seanna wanted," she said. "I only wish I knew. She's a tiresome woman. All I could guess was that she was trying to get a better handle on you, Eden. And by you, I mean your financial situation. She wasn't exactly cagey about it, though I'm sure she thought she was."

"What was she asking?"

"How did I meet Gabriel? How was my appeal progressing? Her version of small talk, into which she not-so-subtly interjected two primary questions. One, what is the exact nature of your relationship with her son? Two, what are the terms of your trust fund from your adoptive parents?"

"And you said?"

"The truth. I know nothing about your trust fund except that you are financially secure, which is all that matters to me. As for Gabriel, that is also primarily a financial matter--a profitable relationship for both of you. He provides employment for you and gets to handle our appeal because of you."

The last part was bullshit. She just liked to put my relationship with Gabriel in a business perspective. That was how she reconciled things.

We talked for a few more minutes, but there wasn't any more. Given what Seanna had told Rose, I suspected those questions about Pamela's appeal weren't as pointless as they seemed, but whatever Seanna's angle there, she hadn't tipped her hand to Pamela.

As we neared the end of our time, I said, "Greg Kirkman."

No sign of recognition sparked in Pamela's dark eyes. "Who?"

"Greg Kirkman," I repeated. "Do you know him?"

"Not that I'm aware of. In what context?"

"Seanna went to see Todd. He refused."

"Smart man," she murmured. "Watching paint dry is more interesting than talking to that woman. I hope you told him to continue refusing."

"I did, and he will."

"Good. But what does this have to do with...what's the name again?"

"Kirkman. Before Seanna left, she bribed a guard to pass Todd an envelope. The guard gave it to Gabriel instead. Inside was a slip of paper with that name on it. Nothing more."

Pamela's brows rose. "What did your father say about it?"

"We got the envelope after I met with him. I'll ask him next time."

"Don't, Eden. Please. If I didn't recognize the name, neither will he. But he'll worry that he should know it, and fret over why Seanna gave it to him, and then he'll decide he should speak to her. Which is likely her entire goal. Intriguing him into meeting her."

She was right. I would investigate Kirkman myself and leave my father out of it.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"The cabin has wi-fi," Gabriel said as we passed through prison security. When I glanced over, he said, "You're thinking of stopping at a coffee shop to research Greg Kirkman before we go to the cabin."

"Actually, given that it's an hour drive, I planned to do it on the way. Tether my laptop to my phone. But I'll take you up on that offer of a mocha."

His lips twitched. "I don't believe I actually offered--"

"You implied it. Close enough."

"Your mocha will be on me, Liv," said a voice behind us. "I need to talk to you before you leave."

The man approaching looked to be in his sixties, handsome, average height, with a build that belonged on a man half his age and a smooth charm that came from decades of experience. Or, in his case, centuries.

Ioan, leader of the local Cwn Annwn. Also Ricky's grandfather, though the only role he'd played in his son's life was making sure Ricky's father and grandmother never wanted for anything.