The last part, Reaper thought, had such a ring of truth that he even glimpsed a brief expression of uncertainty in Allerton.
“T.A. certainly didn’t expect her wedding singer to be the sister she lost at sea,” Ginny continued. “Nor did I expect my former boss from the tour company to ask me to do her a personal favor by singing at T.A.’s wedding. I try not think about my sister being so close without my knowledge. It’s been deeply hurtful for me, as I’m sure is to T.A., that we spent the time apart unnecessarily. While at the same time, I love my adoptive family and consider them my true family, and I wouldn’t take back the time I had with them if the whims of fate hadn’t interceded.”
“Fate?” Allerton countered snidely. “Excuse me if I don’t believe your disappearance had anything to do with the vagaries of fate.”
Reaper tightened his hands on Ginny’s shoulder at the overt way Allerton was perceptibly disparaging. The condescending fucker was about to have his ass handed to him on a platter if he wasn’t careful.
Ginny interrupted his plan to reach across the desk and use the fancy tie to strangle him when she reached up to pat one of his hands, as if saying she had this under control.
Relaxing his hold on her shoulders, Reaper let her storytelling play out. He just hoped like hell that Allerton chilled with the snide comments before the fucker was forced to scream for help from his security, which Reaper was sure were watching from the camera mounted high in the corner of the office.
The outdated camera was a fucking joke. The sophisticated equipment layered throughout their bungalow in was top of the game where surveillance was concerned. The camera in the office was from the Ice Age. Reaper reasoned it was meant for those less tech savvy, to give the assumption Allerton didn’t feel the need for more sophisticated equipment on his island. If they bought that, Reaper had some swampland to sell.
“I can certainly understand your skepticism. After the FBI asked me to fly to Sherguevil Island to meet my parents, I was appalled to find out about your accusation that I am a thief, that I had stolen something of importance from the island.
“It isn’t an accusation when I have the proof.” Allerton’s expression became even more condescending.
“I would love to see the proof, as I have no memory of the incident, or what was taken.” Ginny dropped her hand from his to splay her hands out in confusion.
Again, Reaper heard the ring of truth in her voice.
“Maybe, if I could see the footage or am told what I’ve been accused of taking, it would help spark a memory.”
“There is no footage. Unfortunately, the incident happened out of camera range. And what was taken is a historical artifact that I am not at liberty to disclose, which was pilfered by you.”
“I’m unable to deny the allegation, as I do not remember the incident. I wish I could. However, unless something changes that does spark my memory, I’m at a loss as how to make amends. If you want money for it, I can give you my lawyer’s phone number, and we can work out a figure that would make you happy.”
“Why would you offer to pay for something when you don’t believe you took the artifact?” Allerton asked, trying to corner Ginny into admission.
Ginny tilted her head to the side. “Obviously, you have to have some proof. Why else would the FBI have sent a team of men to escort me?” Ginny swung back, placing the ball again in his corner. “I’m a law-abiding citizen. It makes me sick to my stomach that apparently I once was so lacking in morals as to steal. I am a Christian. It goes against my faith to steal. You say I stole a historical artifact, many have religious meanings. If I stole something that does, I would be devasted. Money won’t make up for what is stolen, but even if I did steal it, which I truly hope I didn’t, the artifact is missed by the person it was taken from, and maybe they can purchase another copy or something else that has the same meaning when we come to an agreeable price.
“The artifact belonged to me, and it was priceless. You don’t have enough money to compensate me for the item that you did, in fact, steal.”
Reaper had had enough.
“When I was in the Navy, I dealt in securing and retrieving historical artifacts. The fact that you are being vague and refusing to give details about the supposed artifact is giving me the impression it could have been stolen, besides the fact you are unable to produce the authentic receipt from your seller. I won’t allow Ginny to become a scapegoat.”