Clover headed back to the house as Sapphire pulled a dress out of her purse and yanked it over her head. Shifters usually carried an extra outfit.
Clover headed up to her room to get dressed, pondering what Sapphire might possibly be up to. Why was she suddenly so interested in getting close to her younger siblings, when she’d never shown any interest in them before? She couldn’t be after money. None of them had a cent to their name.
It occurred to her that Sam had also been acting strange and withdrawn. Sapphire and Sam, both acting strange. Did Sam know something? She’d had a really strong feeling that there was something that he wasn’t telling her. It was a change, as if he’d gotten some new information and he specifically felt like he couldn’t tell her.
She’d call him after breakfast and see what she could find out.
Autumn still wasn’t back by breakfast, which had Clover mildly worried. Granted, Autumn was a coyote, so she didn’t have a bear’s appetite, but it wasn’t like her to miss a meal. Shouldn’t she at least have called and checked in?
At the breakfast table, Clover’s brother and sisters were pouty and annoyed.
“What does it matter where she got the money?” Moonlight asked, stuffing sausage into her mouth.
“It matters a lot. I’m sorry to have to play the bad guy here, but she’s up to something.”
“So? Even if she is up to something, how could it hurt us to have her give us presents?” Twilight looked at her skeptically.
“I don’t know if they were stolen from somewhere, I don’t know why she’s even suddenly fascinated by you guys, I just know that none of that was bought with money she earned, and if she won’t tell me where it came from, that means she did something wrong to get it. When I’ve gotten a few more paychecks, I can buy you laptops. And you’re working for Sam — you can put some of your money towards it.”
“Or, we could… Never mind, whatever I come up with, you won’t let us.” Moonlight’s voice was sulky.
Clover rolled her eyes. “Yes, I am the evil big sister who is cruelly forcing you to be law-abiding citizens.” She set down her napkin and stood. “I have to go talk to Sam, guys. I will be back soon, and we can go to town and I’ll buy you something at the ice cream shop.”
“I’d rather have a new computer!” Twilight called after her as she headed outside so she could call Sam in private.
She called Sam on her cell phone as she headed out. It went to voicemail. Now that was different. He always answered her calls.
As she drove to the McCoy’s property, she left a message on his voicemail telling him that she urgently needed to talk to him.. When she got there she stopped by the office building first; he was in his office talking on the phone as she walked in.
He hung up quickly, looking surprised. Uneasiness ran through her.
“Hey, sunshine.” He did look genuinely happy to see her, but she still felt as if something was off. “How did I get lucky enough to have you brighten my day?”
“Well, I left you a message telling you I needed to talk to you,” she said. “I need to ask you a question.”
He looked suitably chastened. “I am really sorry. I’ve been working on something this morning. What did you need to talk about? Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. Something weird is going on with Sapphire. Do you have any idea what?”
There was a long pause before he finally answered. “If I did, I couldn’t discuss it.”
“Are you kidding me?” she yelled at him. “You claim you want a relationship with me, and you’re still keeping secrets about my family?”
Sam straightened up in his chair, his expression turning serious. “You know why I didn’t tell you what Sapphire was up to with my brother. Because if I had told you she was just pretending to be pregnant, you wouldn’t have believed me.”
“That doesn’t explain why you won’t tell me what’s going on right now,” she said heatedly.
“I’m sorry. This involves my work, and at this point I can’t tell you anything further. From what you’ve told me, you’ve washed your hands of Sapphire and have no plans to see her again or let her near your family. Why are you concerned about what she’s doing?”
“Because she keeps coming around and trying to hang out with my younger brothers and sisters, and she had all these expensive gifts she’s trying to give them, and I want to know why. And also what she’s into that she suddenly has all this money to buy stuff like that.”
He shook his head at that. “I really do not know why she’d be trying to hang around your family.” He looked genuinely puzzled. “You really need to avoid her at this point. That’s all I can tell you, and I’m telling you more than I’m authorized to.”