Page 26 of Smuggler's Cove

“SoHo Grand,” Madison said, sniffling.

“Isn’t that a bit pricey, considering the circumstances?” Lincoln quizzed her.

“Mom said to use her card. Unless they throw us out on the street, we are registered.”

Lincoln checked every few blocks to see if anyone was following them. Traffic was beginning to build as people began their commute from work. Even if someone were following them, they, too, would be stuck in the daily transportation torture.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived in front of the hotel and were greeted by a bellman. Madison gave him their room numbers, and they followed him to the elevator, as he wheeled their remaining possessions to the twelfth floor. Lincoln thanked and tipped him. Again, Madison was impressed with the maturity of her little brother. He was eighteen going on thirty.

“What do you want to do about dinner?” Lincoln asked.

“Room service?” Madison answered quickly. “We can watch our family be humiliated on the five o’clock news.”

“Do you think they’ll hound us at school?” Lincoln asked.

“I am going to the dean’s office first thing. By then they will know what is going on, and I will inform them that I still plan on attending classes.”

“I’ll do the same thing.” Lincoln nodded. “I am going to unpack. See you in thirty.” Lincoln took his bag to the room across the hall.

Madison placed her suitcase on the rack, unpacked, and hung her clothes in the closet. She changed into one of the two tracksuits she brought, moved to the desk, and phoned Sidney. “Hi, Sidney. It’s Madison.” She slumped down on the bed, hoping she might hear some good news.

“Hello, Madison. How are you and Lincoln holding up?”

“Okay, so far. We went to the apartment and got some clothes. We are at the SoHo Grand right now.”

“Good. You know the routine. Do not speak to anyone. ‘No comment’ is your only comment. Do not engage in any conversation regarding this matter.”

“With anyone?” Madison wanted to be certain what the limitations were.

“Not if you can help it. Your family is one thing, but the less said, the better. You do not want any of your friends called as witnesses.”

“Witnesses to what?” Madison was genuinely confused.

“Your lifestyle, for one,” Sidney explained. “They are going to be showing how extravagantly you lived.”

“But . . .” Madison was still unclear. “It was my father, not me, my brother, nor my mother.”

“You and your brother are going to be okay.”

“But Mom?” Madison’s heart sank.

“It is going to take a lot of convincing that your mother knew nothing about your father’s business.”

“But she didn’t.” Madison’s voice got louder. “He was barely around.”

“Yes, but she was living under the circumstances of your father’s income.”

“Is she going to be arrested, too?” Madison thought she might faint.

“Not likely. But she will be asked to give a deposition.”

“When?” Madison started to doodle on the pad next to the phone.

“We don’t know that yet.”

“Do you know where she is?” Madison asked.

“I can’t say.”