“I didn’t say anything, Miss Moreau.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Lacie echoed Raven’s misgivings. “Are we sure he’s cut out for this Pinkerton game?”
“No,” Raven replied tersely. “But we have no choice.”
“And neither do I, Lovey,” he replied.
“Don’t start, Evan!” she tossed back.
“Stop fighting,” Hazel warned quietly.
“He’s going to get us thrown in jail.”
Hazel shot her a quelling look.
Raven knew clashing with her mother wouldn’t help matters but she wanted to whine and stamp her foot like a petulant child. The smug and stuffy Braxton Steele was going to be as useful as a hog with a fishing pole. Instead of pointing that out, she lowered the flame fueling her temper and focused on the situation at hand.
Braxton was unaccustomed to having himself disparaged so routinely. He might not know the ins and outs of bilking people, but back home he had a reputation for being both honest and fair in his personal and business dealings, not that Raven Moreau seemed to care. She’d accused him of being judgmental, and it was the pot calling the kettle black, because her perception of him was just as flawed.
Hazel’s voice brought him back to the conversation. “Harrison and I will arrive in Charleston probably a few days after you do. I’ll be sending a wire to the family there to let them know we’re coming. Raven, if you could somehow get me the address of where Welch will be staying while we’re there, that might prove helpful. I want to keep an eye on her.”
Before Raven could respond, a tall man with blond hair and sky blue eyes entered the room. Brax watched her face brighten in a manner she’d yet to direct his way. “Renay, welcome home,” she said.
The man gave her a kiss on the cheek and offered the same affectionate greeting to Lacie and Hazel. “Thanks. Got in a little while ago.”
He turned his attention to Brax and Harrison. “Renay Deveraux,” he said, introducing himself and extending his hand.
The Steeles introduced themselves.
“Pleased to meet you,” Renay said.
Lacie asked, “How’d things go?”
“Went well. The prize is on its way.” He looked around. “So, what have I missed?”
Hazel offered him a condensed version of the Pinkerton mission. When she relayed the part about the pretend marriage, the blue eyes shifted to Brax’s and held there a long assessing moment before seeking out Raven’s, who didn’t mask her displeasure.
“Interesting,” was his response. He studied Braxton once more before resettling his attention on Hazel. “Does the Pinkerton know how dangerous the Moreaux can be?”
“I doubt she does,” Raven responded.
“Then we need to teach her.”
“Agreed,” Lacie said.
Hazel said, “Let’s take care of family business first. After Raven and Brax find the document, we can discuss holding the detective’s feet to the fire.”
Renay asked, “Will you need my assistance in Charleston? I’ve nothing else planned at the moment.”
Raven paused as if considering the request. “Since Mama and the Charleston family will be close by, I don’t think I’ll need much assistance, but just in case, it might be good to have you in the background, Renay.”
“What about me?” Lacie asked. “I can help, too, if you need me. I’m supposed to be going to handle that Pennsylvania job but I can postpone it.”
Raven shook her head. “Keep your date in Pennsylvania. Steele and I should be okay with the players we already have on the board.”
Brax glanced over at his father’s grimly set face. The seriousness of this affair wasn’t lost on either of them, or so it seemed. The continuing conversation about taking revenge on the detective remained a concern. He wouldn’tknow his father’s feelings on that until they conversed privately, but Brax already knew where he stood. He wanted this business to be over as quickly as possible so he could return to his quiet, uneventful existence in Boston. He knew a lot depended on whether he and the prickly Raven could work together; with the clashes they’d been having, that was another concern.