The last two days, Mallory Avenue had been unbearable with gossip.

First, the Gantts rushed out, boasting they might be able to get 20 million from Ray. Then word flipped: the 40 million was apparently post-divorce money; Ray had no obligation to split the money at all.

And the Gantts, who had been strutting like kings through the neighborhood, had all retreated into their shells. No one had come forward to contradict the new story. People assumed the latest rumor must be true.

"Heh, looks li