
"Hello?" The woman who answered the phone pronounced the word with a Northern accent, but the undertone was one that could almost be called sultry.
Tommy Lee took a deep breath. If he didn't know better, he would have called her Miss Charlotte. The only thing missing from her voice was a Southern drawl.
"Is this Kathy Dunstad? Kathryn Bennett Dunstad?"
"Yes it is, but I don't recognize your voice."
"I'm sorry. I had to be certain I contacted the right person. My name is Tommy Lee Harris. I'm a private investigator with the law firm of Goodson, Reynolds, Seaton and Clay of Raleigh, North Carolina. We represent the estate of your birth family."
"Estate?" Kathy asked.
"Yes, estate. Perhaps we could arrange for a meeting this afternoon at my hotel?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Harris, I'm not in the habit of meeting strange men in hotel rooms. You could be anyone."
"I assure you this is no hoax. I do understand your reluctance to meet with me. Is it possible to arrange to meet this evening for dinner? Of course, you can bring your husband with you."