Three for the Money

Christine Lyman almost had it all. From a life of poverty and the disappearance of her high school sweetheart, she met, fell in love, and married Stewart Lyman, bank owner and the richest man in a small town across the state line. He was driving through her area and stopped for lunch, becoming intrigued by the young and pretty waitress with the soft smile and the ash–blond hair.Her challenge now is the well–being of their six–year–old deaf son. After struggling with sign language, she and her husband reluctantly enroll him in a school for the deaf in the neighboring town of Oakton. The child is unhappy with being away from home, unsuccessfully attempts to run away.Christine drives to her husband's bank to discuss this with him, but he is tied up in a board meeting. When the secretary is called into his office, she asks Christine to sit at her desk to answer the phone. Looking around the lobby, Christine spots a familiar face. He is her long–lost boyfriend who disappeared only days before their planned wedding.The young man glances across the room, and their gazes lock. He turns to flee the bank. Her recognition has ruined their chance of robbery. But when he reports this to his partners, the older man thinks otherwise. "How many old girlfriends with authority do you have working in banks? We can force her to get us into the main vault for a much larger haul than the penny–ante money in the teller's cages."Thus begins a deadly spiral of intimidation, threats, kidnapping, and murder as the young woman fights to protect herself and her deaf son from her ex–boyfriend, his current and very vindictive girlfriend, and their older mentor in crime.

-- Vera LaFleur