Something missing

First published 1993.

"It's a bit late to play the devoted nephew!" Mr. "I'm-in-charge" Sarrizen might be able to pull the wool over his great-aunt's eyes, but not Charlie's! Faces didn't lie, and his was the sort that belonged to a buccaneer or a highwayman-not a loving nephew. Facts don't lie, either. Hadn't Charlie written the wretched man five letters-all of them begging him to come and visit his dangerously ill relative? Admittedly, he'd eventually shown up. But that only proved he was interested in his great-aunt's wealth, not her health. Which made it all the more galling when he found out about Charlie's pretend engagement to his cousin and accused her of trying to take advantage of his great-aunt!