“There’s a gentleman waiting for you in the dispersal hut.” Mother passed her on the way to the hangar.
“Is he wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase?” Sharon asked.
“As a matter of fact, he is,” Mother said over his shoulder.
Michael was right. Uncle Marmaduke has sent someone. Sharon carried her goggles and flight helmet with one hand and unzipped her flight suit with the other. The sun dropped its ample belly over the western horizon. She opened the door to the dispersal hut.
The man was wearing a tweedy brown three-piece suit and had unruly salt-and-pepper hair, and a pair of equally unkempt eyebrows.
He held a briefcase in his lap as he sat on a wooden chair and appraised her arrival. “Miss Sharon Lacey.”
“That’s correct.” Sharon took a chair across the table from him and leaned her back up against the wall. She watched him warily.
“My name is Walter McGregor. I represent Marmaduke Lacey, your mother’s brother.”
“In what capacity?” Sharon rubbed her face. God, I need some sleep.
“The family solicitor. My father and I have represented your family for more than fifty years.” Walter reached inside his briefcase and removed a manila file.
“My family? Somehow I don’t think dear Uncle Marmaduke would include me as a family member.” She looked out the window at the setting sun and wondered at the richness of the greens.
“Quite perceptive of you. And may I say, you bear a very close resemblance to your mother. A lovely person. We were very sad to see her leave the country. Her personality was nothing at all like that of her father or brother.”
“So I’ve heard.” How come I’m not nervous? Just a few weeks ago, my stomach would have been in knots.
Walter put several pieces of official-looking paper on the table. “Marmaduke Lacey has asked me to have you sign these documents.”
“What kinds of documents are they?” Go ahead. I’ll play dumb for the moment.
“Your uncle wants you to give up any and all claims to property held in the Lacey family name.”
Sharon heard the change in tone when Walter said the words “your uncle.” She waited.
“May I ask what you do?” Walter asked.
“I’m a pilot in the ATA.”
“The Air Transport Auxiliary?”
“That’s correct.” Where’s he headed with this?
“My sons have signed up. One in the Royal Air Force. The other is in the Navy.” Walter tapped his fingers on the documents.
“I hope your sons are safe.”
Walter stared at her. “That’s exactly the kind of thing your mother would have said. And it’s precisely what your uncle didn’t ask me the last time we talked.”
“You knew my mother well?”
Walter nodded. “Yes, and I liked her very much. We spent some years together in school.”
Sharon leaned forward to look at the documents. So, Mom, how many beaux did you have?
“As I’ve said, we’ve represented the Lacey family for some time, and since you’re a member of said family, I feel I must advise you not to sign away your rights. I did tell your uncle that I would present these documents to you.” Walter reached for the papers and put them back inside the folder. “I would feel comfortable reporting to him that you respectfully declined to sign.”
Sharon frowned. “Why come all this way, then?”
“To find out if it was true that Leslie’s daughter had returned. And now I find that you’ve come halfway around the world at considerable risk. And I’m assuming that flying for the ATA must involve some risk?”
You have no idea. “You heard what happened to Linda Townsend?”
“Yes, and I’ve heard that thanks to you, she is recovering.” Walter stood and put the folder in his briefcase. “You’re putting yourself in harm’s way. My sons are doing the same. All while Marmaduke Lacey sits warm and safe in a country home and has the temerity to think that I would quietly allow you to sign away your inheritance. He really doesn’t know me very well at all. I was a friend of your mother’s.”
Sharon stood.
Walter offered his hand, and she shook it.
He said, “If you require any legal advice, I would be proud to represent you.” He handed her his business card and left.