Chapter August 3rd, 1969

My fatherwasn’t at the breakfast table this morning, and my mother was crying. When Iasked what was going on, she pushed the Sedgefield Oracle across the tabletowards me.

The mainheadline read:

Local manmakes killing!

No, Joaq DuMaille hasn’t escaped and been getting up to his old mischief.

This news wasfar, far worse than that.

Beneath the main headline was thegut-wrenching proclamation:

3000% profitmade by local jeweler on the piece of land formerly known as the Ol’ BradleyPlot.

I didn’t havethe stomach or fortitude to read any further.

To think whatI went through to get that money from Joaq Du Maille - I had danced with death.And for what? Just to see it all squandered away by a deceitful two-timingmiserable excuse for a father and husband. I hope he feels bad. I hope he feelsreally, really feels bad!!!