Page 84 of Best Laid Plans

"You'll have to ask Bailey," Alma murmured.

"You'll probably have to go to the nearest Federal penitentiary to do that," I offered.

"What?" Mama's eyes flashed fear. "What did she do?"

"I just told you she embezzled from Larue Homes, one hundred thousand dollars, and pinned it on Nova."

"Did you know about this, Alma?" Mama demanded.

Alma looked guilty as hell. "Hey, it was Anson who said he wanted to trap Nova. Bailey said she'd make sure you had proof to put her away this time. Maybe…maybe that's why she took the money, to make it look real."

"She started taking the money long before Nova came into the picture, Alma," I drawled.

"What's goin' on with everyone?" Mama shook her head as if in pain. "Bailey is sleepin' with Pete? And Alma, you stole your grandma's jewelry?"

"I didn't steal it, Mama. I just…kept it, and we made it look like Nova stole it. That's all."

"What about the security feed of her going into the library?" I asked.

Alma shrugged. "She got lost, and Pete thought we could use it."

"My, my, my, you, Bailey, and Pete have been thick as thieves, haven't you?" Mama was furious now. "Alma Marie Larue, I'm angry and disappointed with you."

"Oh, come on, Mama, you were happy to see Nova go as well."

"Of course, I was, but I wouldn't have done what you did. This is utterly despicable."

"Whose idea was it to put her in Raymond Carre's cell?" I asked, even though I could guess, and it hurt my soul.

Mama shook her head. "Raymond Carre? The Raymond Carre?"

Alma looked like she wanted to disappear right about now.

I told Mama about what Pete did with Nova, and now she was even more appalled. Mama was a racist and classist, certainly, but this was beyond the pale, even for her mercenary sensibilities.

"Bailey. She thought that if Nova was raped, then you wouldn't want her."

"And you went along with it?" Mama asked, incensed. "You wanted a young girl to be sexually assaulted, Alma?"

Alma began to cry. "It wasn't like that. I…."

"You're a monster," Mama declared. "I just can't believe this. Any of this."

"He's getting back with her again," Alma spluttered. "How do you feel about that?"

"Like it's none of my business right now, Alma," Mama remarked. "I…this is unbelievable."

I was losing my family, I realized. The people closest to me were now lost to me. In fact, I'd never had them.

I pocketed the jewelry box and rose, feeling like I was a hundred years old and very weary. "Alma, I want you out of the mansion by end of the week. No discussion. Mama, I'm selling this fucking place."

"What? No."

"Yeah," I stated with finality. "I hate this house, this whole mansion and estate nonsense."

Two years ago, Rhodes Hotel was looking to acquire old plantation homes and had approached us. Maybe there were still interested.

Mama's chest heaved, and I geared up for a fight. "Fine. But I'm taking the furniture with me to Atlanta."

---