Rarities Unlimited 03 - Die in Plain Sight

other place on your list. Our list,” he corrected. “First the cities, then the golf.”
    When Lacey’s parents faced Ian, it was as a unit. They weren’t happy about the compromise life had forced on them, but they weren’t going to waste time and energy fighting it.
    “My father was an art forger,” Brody said bluntly. “Lewis Marten was his specialty. Ever since I figured out what was going on, I’ve known the shit would hit the fan someday. Still, for Dottie’s sake, I’d like to keep it as quiet as possible. My wife’s family…well, they wouldn’t accept the scandal very well. Neither would our other daughters. They really take after their maternal grandmother, who regularly lectured the minister on his moral duties.”
    Lacey winced. She didn’t like to think which grandparent she took after. No doubt that was one of the reasons she’d been so reluctant to see the truth in her grandfather’s paintings.
    “Don’t even think it,” Ian said coolly. “Any of you. Lacey is as clean and honest as sunshine. Just because she can paint doesn’t mean she’s some kind of social slime.” He took her hand. “You hear me, darling?What our family was or wasn’t has an effect on us, but it sure as hell isn’t chiseled in stone unless we want it to be. Otherwise I’d be serving life for murder like one of my cousins, or be living in Guatemala with the poor-est of the poor like another of my cousins, a priest. Two brothers, and different as night and day.”
    Lacey moved closer to Ian on the couch and threaded her fingers through his.
    Dottie’s chin came up in a gesture that reminded Ian of Lacey. “I never so much as hinted that Lacey wasn’t honest. She’s our daughter and we love her.”
    “I know that, or I’d have chucked you out the hotel room the first time I met you.”
    “You can be a very rude man.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled slowly. “But I love your daughter and she’s getting around to loving me, so you’ll have a long time to get used to my manners.”
    Lacey looked stunned. Then she smiled—a slow, wide reflection of Ian’s smile.
    Dottie gave both of them a startled look. Then the older woman let out a long breath. “Well, I always knew it wouldn’t be a doctor or a lawyer. At least he’s quick and hardheaded. You need both.”
    Ian felt himself relax, just a little. The upcoming conversation wouldn’t be fun, but at the end of it Lacey would still have a family. He hadn’t been sure of that going in.
    And he’d been afraid that she would shoot the messenger, one Ian Lapstrake, on the way out.
    “When did you figure out what your father was doing?” Ian asked.
    “Do you really think the women need to hear this?” Brody asked.
    “They can decide for themselves,” Ian said.
    Neither woman got up to leave.
    “There’s your answer,” Ian said.
    Brody hesitated, then decided that since hiding the truth hadn’t worked, he might as well empty the whole bag. “I suspected, but didn’t know for sure until he shoved it down my throat about fifteen years ago, give or take.”
    Dottie looked startled, started to say something, and thought better of it.
    “I kept it to myself for years. I knew it wouldn’t help anyone and could hurt a lot of people.” Brody shrugged. “After our first two daughters were born, Dottie wanted a bigger home closer to her parents. So did I. I knew it would mean the kind of life that would help me professionally and please us personally. So I borrowed money from my father to buy this place, and I carefully didn’t ask him where the money came from. Not many unknown painters can come up with almost half a million in cash to buy a house.”
    Ian’s dark eyebrows lifted. Even thirty years ago, that was a lot of money.
    “Then one day, about fifteen years ago,” Brody continued, “Dad and I were arguing over him pushing Lacey into paint—”
    “I wanted her to spend more time with her peers,” Dottie interrupted. “Spending all her time with her grandfather instead of having friends and parties. It wasn’t good.”
    “Dad started shouting,” Brody said. “Told me painting like Lewis Marten had put the fancy roof over Dottie’s head and if she didn’t like it she could move out. Lacey had talent and he was going to see that she wasn’t flattened by the social steamroller of Dottie’s snooty family.”
    Dottie drew in a harsh, surprised breath. That was something else she hadn’t known. It was one thing not to like