Page 178 of Summer After Summer

“We better get back, then.” Sophie helps him up. “Come along, now. I’ll explain everything in the car.”

Charlotte stands and I walk to her and hug her. “I’m so sorry, Charlotte.”

“I thought this was it, you know? My chance at happiness.”

“I know.”

“I should’ve seen through her.”

“We were both taken in. That’s a good thing.”

“How can it be a good thing?”

“Because I don’t want to be the sort of person who’d suspect anyone who’s nice to me of being a con artist.”

Charlotte laughs through her tears. “All right, good point.”

“Besides, this is all Ash’s fault.”

“What? How?”

I glance at Fred, who’s pretending not to listen. “It’s complicated, and I’m mostly joking. I’ll tell you some other time.”

Everyone starts to file out, but I linger behind. Fred is standing over Barry as he works on his laptop, giving the wiring instructions, making sure they’re carried out correctly.

“All done,” Barry says.

“You’ll file the papers now?”

“Yes, I’ll do that now and bring the formal set to the party?”

“Why don’t you bring them by tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, of course.”

“And you’ll be cooperating with the police.”

“The police!”

“If that’s what the family decides.”

He’s shaken. It’s hard to know how much Barry knew about what was going on, but the fees, that for sure he knew about. He busies himself, closing his laptop, taking the papers, and leaves.

And now it’s just Fred and me.

“Thank you,” I say.

“For what?”

“Taking care of the paperwork. And trying to tip me off in the first place a couple of weeks ago.”

“Did I do that?”

“You know you did. I was just too stupid to listen.”

“I didn’t know anything for certain … not all of the financial shenanigans.”

I search his face. “But you knew something. Something you didn’t tell me.”

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