Chapter TenAt Abra's words, Rafferty clutched his aching belly with its sudden onset of shock-induced indigestion, and slumped on the settee. 'Tell you about it?' he said. 'What's the point? From the sound of things Ma's brought you pretty well up to speed.'
Abra shook her head, gazed at him steadily, and said, 'No. When I showed her the blackmail letter, she said I should speak to you about what happened in April.'
Her face seemed to take on a feminist, 'I will survive', harmony, which sent Rafferty's already down-plunging hopes reaching Titanic depths. Especially when she added in sad tones, 'Which is what I'm doing.'
As his dinner sunk more stone-like than ever, Rafferty began to splutter. 'I can explain.'
'Can you?' Abra's expression left reason to doubt this. She looked sad. And h
