A half step toward the door and his quiet voice stopped her. "I didn't say that." Alanna turned to eye him warily. "I only admitted that I used them to get you here. Which is not the same as admitting that I know nothing"
"Well, do you?" she challenged, tired of the cat and mouse game.
"Sit down, Alanna." Rolt walked from the bar, a stubby glass in his hand.
"No," she refused unequivocally. "I want to know about my parents and I want to know now." There was an unmistakable threat in her voice.
His mouth twitched as though he found her barely suppressed anger amusing, but it was a fleeting movement. He walked away from the sofa, and sauntered back to his desk.
"You said your father told you that he was concerned about your mother. She has a bad heart, I believe." He paused in front of the table to glance at Alanna.
"Yes." She volunteered no more than that.
"Indirectly it's the reason why he's worried."
Alanna tipped her head to one side, definitely skeptical.
"What is the direct cause?" she asked.
"How familiar are you with your father's financial situation?" countered Rolt.
"I know they're quite comfortably fixed," she said with a haughty coolness. "Between the sale of his stock to your company and the remainder he kept, their future is adequately provided for."
"It was at the time of the sale."
That statement drifted in the air before its impact finally settled on Alanna. The haughtiness left as she searched the bronze mask. She was motionless as she tried to read between the lines. His implication sent shivers of apprehension down her spine. Slowly she began walking toward him.
"What are you saying?" The demand was breathy, lacking in strength.
"Your father never was a very good businessman or manager. Part of the money from the stock sale he invested in some solid securities. The rest went into some speculative stocks. Unfortunately they were unwise choices and he lost. Trying to recoup his losses, he cashed in the others and invested the proceeds in more risky issues. They were no more successful than the first. To put it simply, Alanna—" Rolt paused for effect "—there's no money from the stock sale."
"Oh, no, poor daddy!" she murmured to herself. Lifting her gaze, she said, "He still has the income from his stock here in the taconite plant."
"Yes, he has that, but it isn't large enough to maintain his present standard of living. If your mother had another heart attack, it would probably wipe him out completely. The house is already mortgaged. And he was at the bank this past week to apply for a loan, using his stock here as collateral."
The color drained from her face. The whole dismal picture, and its horrible repercussions, began to take shape. If her father received the loan and was unable to make the payments, the stock would be taken and his only source of income as well.
"He wanted to sell the house," Alanna said in a frozen voice. "That's why he was saying all these things to mother. And she wouldn't even consider it"
"At this point, selling the house would only buy him a little time. He should have done it a year ago," Rolt stated matter-of-factly, "before he mortgaged it."
"I don't understand." Alanna brushed a bewildered hand across her forehead and eyes. "How could it have happened? Without any warning?"
"Your father had ample warning," he pointed out dryly.
"There must be something that can be done," she said desperately, then began listing solutions aloud. "We can sell the house, of course. Mother won't object once she learns the situation. We'll move somewhere smaller, cheaper. I can get a job. For that matter, daddy can probably find something. He's intelligent. He still has his health."
"He's already tried to find work, but there aren't many positions open to a man of his age. Face it, Alanna, he's only been at the top thanks to his father. Forgetting the age factor, he simply doesn't have the experience."
"It isn't daddy's fault that he inherited the company," Alanna protested.
"And as for you working," Rolt continued, "are you suggesting that you'll support them for the rest of your life?"
She didn't hesitate. "I don't see why not. They supported me."
"What about marriage? Are you going to forgo that? Your husband might not be so understanding when you take over the responsibility for your parents' debts and their welfare. Your father owes a considerable amount."
"He'll understand." She was thinking of Kurt, strong, wonderful Kurt.