Georgia giggled at the confounded look on Austin's face. "It was Sharon who convinced Mathew to take the plea. She went to see him in jail and told him if he didn't take it, she would use his money to hire detectives and dig up all his other crimes. We think he killed the first Georgia Marie James too."
"Really?" Austin asked. "Jackie's report said they found her obituary, but her death was ruled an accident."
"That's not all," said Laura. "Sharon told Mathew that she would especially be interested in crimes in states that had the death penalty. That's what convinced him."
"Wait, if you saw Mathew kill your mother, why didn't you turn him in?" Austin asked Sharon.
"We had something else in mind," Sharon answered.
Laura giggled. "The biggest mistake Mathew ever made was putting half-sisters in the same boarding school."
Again, Austin looked at Sharon and then at Georgia. "The two of you planned this whole thing?"
"Not all of it," said Georgia. "You were not part of the plan."
Austin narrowed his eyes. "But you did plan to take the inheritance all along."
"No," Georgia argued. "When I saw Sharon come in at the ball, I knew we had Mathew's money. That was enough. I intended to leave as soon as…"
"She's telling the truth," Sharon interrupted. "I bought her a ticket home while I waited for my flight in New York, but her phone service was cut off and I didn't have any way to let her know. You talked her into taking the inheritance."
Georgia gently stroked the sleeve of his suit jacket. "You see, it all started when I was six. My first day at school, Sharon socked me in the eye."
Sharon giggled. "'Tis true. Her English was deplorable and she deserved it. Besides, I was the oldest."
"By two months," Georgia scoffed. "For years, we hated each other, and then one day…" She stopped when she saw the disturbed look on his face. "Austin, whatever you are thinking, you are wrong."
He narrowed his eyes. "Tell me this, at least."
"What?"
"Do you love me?"
Georgia tipped her head to the side. "Most of the time."
Sharon giggled, and walked Laura toward the dining room. "Let's see if we can find something to eat. May I call you mother too?"
"Of course you may. I loved having you at the house."
"I loved being there, Mother." When Sharon looked back, Austin was kissing Georgia and holding her so close, she doubted anything would ever come between them again.
~ The end ~