Tabitha stared at the envelope in her hand, a shiver running up her spine. Thick, embossed, official. A letter from a solicitor addressed to her cousin and best friend, Courtney Spencer. Even though she knew Courtney would flip out at another letter from another solicitor, she carried the letter into their sitting room.

“Hey, coz, here’s a letter from a solicitor, but I don’t recognize the name.” Tabitha said as she handed Courtney the letter.

With shaking hands, Courtney tried to tear open the envelope but it was too tough. With a slight groan, she grabbed her father’s antique letter opener. Shaking her head as the sharp opener slit the heavy paper, she looked at Tabitha who was watching her, a worried look in her eyes.

Dropping the letter into her lap, Courtney grabbed her auburn hair with both hands, her green eyes dark with anguish. “I can’t take anymore. Who’s suing me now? I’m the one who got hit by a man who ran a red light. I’m the one who just got out of the hospital. I’m the one with all the broken bones and concussions. I’m the one whose Dad just died. It isn’t fa--” Courtney gasped for air.

Uncomfortable in tense situations, Tabitha looked from Courtney to Sunshine, Courtney’s orange cat who hissed at her.

Tabitha’s heart beat faster. Idiot do something. Uncomfortably, Tabitha sat on the arm of the chair and stroked Courtney’s hair with shaking hands. “It’ll be okay,” She said softly.

When the sobs had died down to muffled gasps, Tabitha grabbed Courtney’s prescription Valium and a glass of water that was sitting on the table. 

“Here take this,” she said shoving the pill into Courtney’s hand.

“I don’t need this. You know I hate pills.” Her voice came in little gasps.

Tabitha sat up straight. She closed her eyes for a moment. She hated confrontations. 

“Court, if you don’t take the pill, I’m going to call the doctor.”

Angrily, Courtney pushed her hand away. “He’ll put me back in the hospital.” 

Sighing, Tabitha said, “I think he released you too soon. You broke your arm, a leg, five ribs, three fingers plus you have a concussion and myriad of bruises, abrasions and contusions. You just got the cast off your arm and leg. The least little thing upsets you.”

“What did you give me?” Courtney looked suspiciously at the small white pill.

“The low dose Valium. It isn’t a pain pill. It’s supposed to keep you calm.”

Sighing dramatically, Courtney popped the pill in her mouth, then took a swallow of water. After waiting a few minutes, she said, “I guess I might as well read the stupid letter. Let’s get today’s bad news finished, then I’ll take a nap.”

Tabitha nodded, then went back to painting Sunshine, who was snoozing in a tiny patch of sun. 

“This is the last painting I need for my one man show.” She dropped the brush into a can of turpentine and stretched, a smile on her face. 

She jerked, nearly upsetting the painting when Courtney gasped. 

“What’s wrong?” Tabitha carefully picked up the painting and set it on the top shelf of the bookcase.

“T-This is a letter from Uncle Richard’s solicitor.  He left me something.  I-I can’t believe it. Uncle Richard left me something in his will.”

Tabitha laughed. “That means Uncle Richard is dead. You won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“Tabitha, you know how awful Uncle Richard is.”

“Actually, I don’t. I’ve never even met him. He’s your uncle, not mine, except by marriage. With Uncle Richard, I don’t think that counts. At least, I hope it doesn’t count.”

Tabitha stared at Courtney. Uncle Richard had always been her bugaboo. She was so frightened of him that she turned white when his name was mentioned even though she had only met him once.

Courtney glared back at her cousin. “Not funny.” She yawned. “That awful pill has made me really sleepy.” She leaned back in the recliner, her eyes gradually closing.

Tabitha picked up the letter, then turned off their phones. Picking up her painting of Sunshine, she tiptoed into her studio. 

She put the letter on the desk with the other bills, then picked up her finest paint brush and palette. Carefully examining her latest portrait, she added some highlights to the woman’s hair and a touch of white to the tracery of the porch rail. She stood back and looked at the painting. 

“That’s perfect,” she said to herself. “If I do anything else, I’ll ruin it.”

She was reaching for her cleaning rag when someone rang the doorbell, then started pounding on the door.

Hoping to get to the door before Courtney woke up, she pulled open the door. A small man stood there, his fist upraised. Before Tabitha could say anything, he shoved past her.

Without thinking, she grabbed him by the back of his well-tailored coat and yanked him back against the door. 

“I don’t know who you think you are, but no one just walks into my home without an invitation.” Tabitha said, her voice, low and menacing.

The man looked up at her in surprise. “I am Percival Harris, Esq.”

The man was dressed in a crisp white shirt, a narrow tie that had been out of style in the 50’s, and an old-fashioned blue plaid coat with narrow lapels.

Tabitha looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Am I supposed to know you?” Her voice was cold and unfriendly.

“I take it you’re not Courtney Spencer. I sent her a letter stating that I would visit her today.”

“I’m her roommate. She got a letter from some solicitor today, but she didn’t say anything about a visit.” Tabitha tried to maneuver him back toward the flat’s front door.

“Tut, tut. That letter should have arrived yesterday.”

“It didn’t. She isn’t up to seeing you or anyone else so go away.” Tabitha hissed.

“I can’t go away. I must discuss Sir Richard’s will with her. It is an emergency.” He reminded Tabitha of a cross between a small white ferret and a rabbit with a big pink nose who was going to cry.

“If Sir Richard is dead, I can’t see why you need to talk to Courtney today. Tomorrow or the next day won’t matter to him.”

“It will matter. Everything is on a time-line.”

Forgetting about controlling her anger, Tabitha snapped, “Too bad, so sad.  Courtney is not up to being harassed by you.”

“Tabitha, who is it?” Courtney opened the door to the living room, leaning heavily on her crutches.

“It’s that attorney you got the letter from.”

Courtney’s free hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no.”

At that moment, Sunshine streaked between Courtney’s legs. He skidded to a stop in front of Harris. His tail puffed to twice its normal size. He hissed.

Harris took a step back. “Keep that beast away from me,” he demanded, placing his brief case in front of his legs. “I hate cats.”

Tabitha scooped him up, took a step back and gently tossed him onto Courtney’s bed, then she quickly shut the door.

Before Tabitha could intercept him, he hurried across the foyer, grabbed Courtney’s hand, shaking it frantically as he introduced himself. 

“We need to set up a time to read Sir Richard’s will. It’s vitally important that it be done in the next two weeks.” Without releasing Courtney’s hand, he pushed her into the living room, closing the door after them.

Seething, Tabitha reached for the door knob, but Harris had locked the door. She raised her hand to knock, then hurried into the dining room. 

Cautiously, she opened the door into the living room, slipping inside to stand behind the beautiful Chinese screen that hid the door.

“You don’t have a choice,” she heard Harris say. “Sir Richard stipulated the things that must happen before the heirs could claim their inheritance. His first requirement is that everyone meet at Mathew’s Manor so the will can be read.”

Courtney’s voice was shaking a little when she said, “I don’t want to go to Mathew’s Manor.”

“You don’t have a choice. Sir Richard was very specific.”

“I--”

“Quit fighting me,” Harris snapped. “This can’t be changed.”

Courtney gave a gasping sob. Tabitha stormed around the screen, her eyes bulging with fury.

“Get out,” She ordered. “The last time I looked, this was a free country. You have no right to barge in here and order Courtney around.” She walked to the living room door, flipped the lock. “Get out.”

“No,” Harris said with a slight smug smile. “Sir Richard was very specific.”

“Sir Richard can go to hell.” Tabitha’s voice got louder. “From what I’ve heard, that’s where he should be if he’s not already there.”

“This isn’t up to you.” Harris’ smile widened slightly.

“Wrong thing to say.” Tabitha’s jaw tightened. She picked up the phone and hit the red button on the receiver twice. Less than a minute later, there was a knock on the door. “Security,” a voice called.

Harris grabbed for the receiver from Tabitha’s hand slamming it down on the base. He glared at Courtney. “You need to listen to me. It’s a matter of life and death.”

“Get out,” Courtney said, tears streaming down her face as a knock sounded at the door.

Tabitha yanked open the door, her red face reflecting her anger. A big, burly man in a brown and tan uniform entered the room. 

“What’s the problem?” His voice was low and calm a pleasant contrast to Harris’ angry tenor. 

“Jake, this man will not leave. Please remove him.” Tabitha’s teeth were clinched.

Harris stood, his eyes glittering with anger. “You can’t do this.”

“Hide and watch,” Tabitha snapped as she pulled open a drawer in the table. Everyone could see a small black revolver which she did not pick up. She looked at Jake. “Get him out of here before I shoot him.”

Jake nodded. He reached out and grabbed Harris’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“You can’t do this. I’ll sue.” Harris jerked away from him.

“Sir, if you are difficult, I’ll call the police.” Jake pulled out a cell phone.

Harris nodded as he straightened his suit coat. “You don’t have to call the police. I’ll leave.” He pulled a business card from his pocket. “Miss Spencer, please call me as soon as possible. I need to get this resolved.”

“Put it in a letter,” Tabitha advised. “You won’t get past the front desk, if you return.”

He glared at her. “A letter sounds like a good idea. Maybe, I can make both of you understand that Miss Spencer won’t get her inheritance if she doesn’t work with me.”

Weakly, Courtney pushed herself out of the chair, grabbing at her crutches. “What I can’t make you understand is that I don’t want anything that Sir Richard might have left me.” Her words came in little gasps.

As he followed Jake from the room, Harris said, “Maybe you don’t want anything, but the other heirs might not be as understanding.” 

He turned. “If you turn down your inheritance, then they lose theirs which won’t make them happy.  We’re talking millions of pounds here. They might just do something drastic.” 

As soon as the door shut behind the Harris, Courtney looked at Tabitha in awe. “Tab, I didn’t think you had it in you to handle Harris the way you did. I’m impressed.”

Tabitha looked embarrassed. “I got angry. She twisted her hands. “The problem is, when I get angry, I really get angry and I’m afraid that someday, I’ll kill someone.” 

She looked at the gun in the drawer. “It’s a good thing it’s a fake I got for Halloween or I might have shot him.”