“You won’t figure it out,” said Royce.

“I might.”

“Not this. And I don’t want you snooping around.”

“I won’t snoop,” Alec agreed. He’d respect his client’s wishes. “But I might think.”

Royce gazed at the silent screen where an elevenish Stephanie was taking yet another spill. “Suppose you can’t stop a man from thinking.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Aw, hell.” Royce heaved a sigh and sat back down.

Alec gave him a moment. “How bad can it be?”

Royce scoffed out a harsh laugh. “My father was a murderer and my mother was adulterous.” He paused. “We’re being blackmailed by her lover’s brother. The lover was also the murder victim.” Another pause, and Royce’s voice went lower. “That’s how bad it can be.”

Alec’s brain filled in the blank. “And Stephanie is your half sister.”

Royce drew back sharply, his expression confirming the truth.

Alec shrugged. “That’s the only possibility worth twelve million dollars.”

“She’s never going to know.”

“You can’t keep paying him forever.”

“Oh, yes, we can.” Royce grasped the back of his neck. “My grandfather paid until he died. Then McQuestin paid. I took over a couple months ago.”

Though it went beyond the bounds of his contract, Alec felt an obligation to be honest. “What are you going to do when he ups his price?”

It was obvious from Royce’s expression that he hadn’t considered that possibility.

“You’ll eventually have to tell her, Royce.”

Royce shook his head. “Not if we stop him.”

“And how are you planning to accomplish that?”

“I don’t know.” Royce paused. “Got any ideas?”

Two

Last night’s cookhouse burger hadn’t measured up to Royce’s talents, but it had filled Stephanie’s hunger gap. And at least she’d avoided one more screening of Stephanie Hits the Dirt Across America.