Family Man

salesman, and you know your way around the investment business. Once I got to thinking about it I realized that con job you pulled on Darren had your fingerprints all over it. So did that deal you cooked up with Fraser Stanfield.”
    “I realized you were on to Stanfield when you fired him.” Atwood's eyes slitted. “You're the one who cued Darren that he was being conned, aren't you?”
    “Katy asked me to help him out of a jam,” Luke said, watching Atwood intently, “so I did.”
    “Katy always was too soft for her own good. You probably won't believe it, but the truth is, I felt sorry for her back at the beginning.”
    “But what the hell, you had your plans, didn't you, Atwood? You were roaring ahead with your schemes to destroy Gilchrist, and Katy was just another road kill on the highway that led toward your goal.”
    “I needed her as a way into the family circle,” Atwood admitted. “I used her, but not nearly as badly as you did.”
    “What the hell's that supposed to mean?”
    Atwood smiled coldly. “At least I didn't drag her into an affair and then abandon her at the altar the way you're going to.”
    “Katy knows I wouldn't use her to punish Justine and the others.”
    “I doubt it. She's woman. Any woman who's been left at the altar would be a fool to trust the man who abandoned her there. But it doesn't really matter what Katy thinks. The only thing that counts is what Justine believes. She'll never trust you with control of Gilchrist again. And without you the company will die.”
    “You're very sure of that.”
    “I know you Gilchrists. I know how you think.” Atwood motioned with the gun. “Into the living room. We're going to sit down. I don't feel like spending the next couple of hours standing here in the hall.”
    There was a scratching sound at the front door. Zeke whined urgently.
    “If that dog gets inside, I'll kill him,” Atwood said. “Give me too much trouble and I might just put a bullet in you, too. It wouldn't bother me to cripple a Gilchrist.”
    Luke walked down the hall ahead of Atwood. The clock on the mantel read eight. By now he should have been in the car on his way to Seattle. He still had time, Luke reminded himself.
    Not much, however.

    Eden was fastening the tiny row of pearl buttons on the back of Katy's wedding dress when the door of the church afteroom opened without any warning. Darren stuck his head inside. He looked dark and dashing in his black tux and black bow tie. He also looked upset.
    “You're not supposed to be in here.” Liz waved him out of the room. “Go on, get out of here. It's bad luck or something.”
    “It's bad luck for the groom,” Katy murmured. “And since when is a semiprofessional shrink worried about luck anyway?”
    “You can't be too careful,” Liz sniffed.
    Eden glowered at Darren. “Go take care of Luke.”
    “That's just it. I can't,” Darren said. “Luke isn't here.”
    “What on earth?” Maureen put down the bouquet she had been fussing with and stared at him. “Where is he?”
    “That's the problem. I don't know. When he didn't show up at my apartment an hour ago I figured there had been a miscommunication. I thought maybe he'd driven straight here to the church. But I've checked. No one's seen him. There's no sign of his car.”
    “Did you call his cottage in Dragon Bay?” Eden demanded.
    “Yeah. No answer.” Darren looked at Katy. “Christ, you don't think he'd really do it, do you?”
    “Abandon me at the altar?” Katy smiled reassuringly. “No. Don't worry, Darren, he'll show. Maybe he ran into traffic on the interstate.”
    Darren ran his fingers through his black hair and scowled. “He allowed for traffic problems. Luke always allows for that kind of thing.”
    “Oh, my God,” Maureen whispered. “Don't tell Justine. Not yet, at any rate.”
    Eden looked stricken. “What are we going to do?”
    “Finish getting me dressed,” Katy said calmly. “I refuse to walk down the aisle with the back of this gown hanging open.” She met Eden's stark gaze in the mirror. “Relax, Eden. He'll be here.”
    “Oh, my God,” Maureen said again. “He's going to do it. Justine was right after all. He's set this whole thing up to punish the family. There's no telling what he's been doing to the company. He's probably made certain it's on the edge of bankruptcy.”
    “He'll be here,” Katy said again. “Would someone please help me with this dress?”
    The three Gilchrists looked at each