Hidden Talents

much money it will take to get you to leave all of us alone.”
    “I'm not interested in all of you, only in Caleb.” She probably shouldn't be baiting Phyllis like this, Serenity chided herself. But it was difficult to be polite under the circumstances.
    “I am only too well aware of your mercenary interest in Caleb, Miss Makepeace.” Phyllis's voice sharpened with tension and anger. “But your so-called ‘interest’ in him is tearing this family apart.”
    “I'm not sure that the glue that holds your family together is very strong in the first place. Raising a boy with the notion that he has to pay for the mistakes of his parents is not a good way of making him feel loved and wanted. It's also not a smart way of ensuring that he develops any real affection for his family.”
    “Damn you,” Phyllis snapped. “The private affairs of the Ventress family are none of your concern. We did our best for that ungrateful boy in spite of what his father did to the family.”
    “And you never let Caleb forget it for one minute, did you?”
    “Caleb was strong-willed, even as a youngster. He needed to be reminded frequently that he must not make the terrible mistake his father made.”
    “Fat lot of good it did to keep drumming that into him.”
    “I am hoping that Caleb's lapse in judgement regarding you, Miss Makepeace, is merely temporary. I do not wish to discuss it further. Now then, as I said, Franklin and I have discussed the issue of money. Franklin has already paid a total of ten thousand dollars to keep your pictures out of the public eye. We are willing to make it worth your while to disappear from Caleb's life.”
    “First blackmail threats and now an offer to buy me off. I'm not sure what to say. I have to tell you, Mrs. Tarrant, where I come from, people don't do things like that. It's considered tacky. Good-bye.”
    Serenity slammed down the phone, cutting off Phyllis's outraged yelp. She sat on the edge of the desk, fuming, for several seconds. Then she grabbed the receiver again and dialed information.
    “What city?” the operator asked.
    “Ventress Valley. I want the number for the home of Roland Ventress.” Serenity waited, afraid that she would be told that the number was unlisted.
    It wasn't. She grabbed a pen, jotted it down, then dialed it swiftly.
    “Ventress residence.”
    “Dolores, is that you? It's me, Serenity Makepeace.”
    “Miss Makepeace.” Dolores sounded startled and anxious. “Good heavens, I wasn't expecting to hear from you. I thought it might be Mrs. Tarrant again. Has anything else gone wrong? I've been so worried. It's been pretty dreadful around here.”
    Serenity clutched the receiver. “I was calling to see if by any chance Mr. Ventress has made plans to come to dinner tomorrow night.”
    There was a short, depressing pause. Dolores sighed. “No, I'm afraid not. At least, he hasn't said anything to me about it.”
    “I want you to give him a message, Dolores. Tell him that we're still expecting him. Tell him that he has the power to change the future just by showing up here for dinner tomorrow night. Tell him…oh, heck, I don't know what else to tell him.”
    “I wish I could do something to help, Miss Makepeace. This is just so unfortunate. Mr. Ventress is a fine man, but he and his grandson are both too proud for their own good.”
    “Too proud.” Serenity slid off the desk and stood beside it, thinking swiftly. “That's it. The one thing the Ventresses have in common is that stubborn pride of theirs.”
    “That's a fact.”
    “Listen, Dolores, tell Mr. Ventress that Phyllis and Franklin have tried to buy me off and it won't work. Tell him that if he wants to deal with me, he'll have to do it face-to-face over dinner tomorrow night. Tell him he can't hide behind his niece and nephew.”
    “Mr. Ventress would never hide behind Mrs. Tarrant and her brother,” Dolores said loyally.
    “That's not the way it looks to me,” Serenity said. “I got the distinct impression that he's using them to do his dirty work. Tell him that, Dolores. If he wants to convince me otherwise, he'll have to come here to Witt's End and face me like a man.”
    Dolores sighed. “I see what you're trying to do, but it'll never work.”
    “It's worth a try. Give Mr. Ventress the message. Oh, and Dolores…?”
    “Yes?”
    “It's a long drive for a man his age. Do you think—”
    “Don't worry,” Dolores said. “If this works, Harry will drive Mr. Ventress to Witt's