by Bowes, K T
“Don’t you dare!” The bile in his voice halted her musings and Hana’s eyes widened in fear at Lincoln’s tone. “You tell no one what I just said. Nobody. Do you understand me? They’ve had ten years to exonerate me and haven’t. I’ll do it myself. Pania was alive when I left, but I went back for my wallet and when I got there, she lay on the floor with the back of her head caved in.”
“So you still say you’re innocent.” Hana pressed her back against the counter as Lincoln crossed the kitchen in three big strides. His rigid body seemed to suck the oxygen from the room as he towered over her.
“Why do you think the township funded my defense, woman? You think it was out of kindness?”
“I thought they wanted to help you get off the charges.” Hana’s face paled and Lincoln shook his head, his laugh spiteful.
“Get real! They needed me to stay quiet and take whatever came. I refused to go on the stand in my own defense, Hana! That was the deal. They decided my marriage was over and I may as well serve the time without ruffling the feathers of our precious township any further. They didn’t want the cops scratching harder and finding out the truth. They sacrificed me, Hana. I lost a decade of my life for a quick shag that cost me twenty bucks.”
“So the other members of your gentleman’s club made you take the blame?” Hana’s voice wavered with realisation. “And you think one of them killed this woman?”
“I don’t think it; I know it!” Spit escaped from Lincoln’s lips and Hana resisted the urge to wipe her cheek. He’d invaded her personal space to the point of discomfort.
“Is that why you’re back?” she asked, her voice trembling as the second male of the day made her feel afraid in her own skin. “To get revenge.”
“Sure am.” Lincoln’s handsome face curled into a sneer.
“Why are you telling me this?” Hana’s eyes widened as the tall man brought himself back under control and ran a gentle finger down her cheek.
“Because you’re gonna help me, Hana Du Rose.”
“But I know nothing.” Her mind wandered back a decade to the trauma of her first husband’s death and everything that happened afterwards. She shook her head. “I lived in Hamilton ten years ago. I didn’t know I’d met Logan before or that he’d been looking for me. I can’t help you.”
“Oh but you can, Hana and you’re going to. In fact, I think you’ll want to.”
“No, I don’t.” Hana shook her head. “I don’t even know who the other men were in your horrid little gang.”
Lincoln smiled, the grimace of a desperate man. “There was a fifth person who remained anonymous. Only the two dead ones knew his identity and you’re gonna find out who he was.”
“How?” Angered, Hana shoved at Lincoln’s chest to make him move backwards. “How can I find out?”
“Ask.” His eyes glinted like granite in his tanned face, instilling terror into Hana with his next sentence. “Ask Logan why he paid such a big portion of my defense costs. Ask why he got Liza to pull strings and get herself assigned to my case. Ask him, Hana. I think we’d both like to know the answers.”
“But I’ll have to tell him the truth about why I want to know.” Her voice wobbled with emotion, her chest tight and painful.
Lincoln shook his head. “You do that and I’ll tell him I walked in on you and Asher.”
“He won’t believe you.” Relief flooded through Hana at the ludicrous suggestion. “My son’s older than Asher. He’ll know you made it up.”
Lincoln shrugged, not caring that he threatened to ruin her life in the exoneration of his own. “But it’ll be there festering like a sore in your marriage, Hana. He’ll never be quite sure that you’re telling the truth again. If you’re willing to take the risk; go for it. If not, do your job and I won’t bust up your happy family.” He turned and walked from the kitchen and she heard the front door slam behind him. He’d peeled potatoes for her and then stabbed her in the heart with the knife.
Chapter 46
An Unusual Trade
“Spaghetti Bolognese, yum.” Logan paused in the middle of washing his hands to lean across and kiss Hana’s cheek. She tried to stop her shoulders tensing and failed. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Hana moved away, setting the mince and spaghetti on the table separately.
Wiri smacked his lips and grinned at Phoenix. “My pa calls it spaghetti bollock naked.”
“Hey!” Logan stamped on the mutiny with a well-placed glare and his shout frightened the life out of the small boy. Wiri glowered at his empty plate and Phoenix patted his arm in sympathy. Then she poked her tongue out at Logan’s back.
“Phoenix Du Rose, that’s enough!” Hana chided her. “If you two can’t behave, you can go straight to bed; I don’t mind.”
“You said you’d make shepherd’s pie.” Wiri shot her a glare of betrayal. “Like my ma makes for me. It’s my favourite.”
Hana nodded, guilt budding in her chest. “I know, baby. I’m sorry but I forgot to buy more potatoes.”
“But I bought them.” Leslie stopped dishing up the food and went to the pantry, peering into the basket they kept the vegetables in. “Where’d they go?”
All eyes fixed on Hana and she felt her temperature spike. Mac kicked his legs in his high chair and reached for the plastic bowl in her hand, making it clear he wasn’t impressed with the delay. “They weren’t nice,” Hana lied. “I peeled them but they weren’t good enough.” She glared at Leslie. “Check the bin if you like. The bag is by the front door ready to go out although I’ll be the one to walk it around the side of the house; as usual.” Hana pushed a mouthful of mince and squished spaghetti between her son’s lips and his pupils dilated with pleasure.
“I put bags in the bin. I can reach.” Wiri’s lips parted in a grin of evil proportions and he narrowed his eyes to slits and looked sideways at Phoenix. She smiled back at him like a getaway driver who thought they all just went for pizza and didn’t hear gun shots.
“Is there any for me?” Caleb walked through the kitchen door balancing on his crutches. A clean cast encased his leg and he looked happier.
“Yep.” Phoenix patted the chair next to hers and smiled at him. “Nonie, Caleb’s got empty puku. He wants some of dis.” She tapped her fork on the plate and laughed at the sound.
“I got a new cast.” Caleb sat down and smiled at Phoenix. “Surgeon said I’m a quick healer. I’ve got a week in this one while he double checks the X-rays and then I go back to the fracture clinic. I might get a different moon boot so I can walk more.”
“How did you get to the hospital?” Hana pushed food into her son at speed as he swallowed and opened his mouth for more, his slender fingers wiggling in midair.
“I took him there and gave him the money for a bus home.” Leslie glared at Logan in challenge and Hana’s husband ate his dinner and made no comment. “Quicker he heals, quicker he’s gone,” she mumbled under her breath. Hana cringed, but the men ignored her.
She felt relieved when the baby turned his face sideways, so the spoon wiped a smear of red Bolognese across his cheek. “Mac’s done. Please excuse me and I’ll sort him out for bed.”
“Don’t he want purini?” Leslie sounded indignant at Mac’s denial of the sweet delights hiding in the back of the fridge.
“Mmmmnn! I do!” Wiri pushed his last mouthful in and slammed his cutlery onto the plate. He glanced back at Hana. “Fanks for that, Ma. I liked it better than shepherd’s pie, anyway.”
“You’re welcome, Wiri. No thanks, Leslie. He’s tired; I’ll take him upstairs so he can get a head start before the others come to bed.” She exited from the kitchen feeling Logan’s grey gaze drilling holes in her spine.
Upstairs in the bathroom the little boy slapped the water beneath his palms, giggling at the sensations it created. “You’ll be too big to sit in the sink soon, little man,” Hana cooed, stroking his damp hair back from his forehead. “Then what will I do?”
“Take him in the shower like y
ou did with Phoenix.” Logan perched on the side of the bath and peered down at his cowboy boots, appearing engrossed in the view.
Hana glanced back at the door, a gap showing the hallway bathed in a glow from the lights downstairs. “I locked that.”
Logan shrugged. “I unlocked it.”
“Ugh!” Hana managed to hold onto Mac’s shoulders as he gave the water an almighty slap and soaked her. He watched her reaction and laughed, attempting to repeat it and causing a tidal wave. Logan reached across and pulled the plug. Mac squealed as the water sucked at his skin and then looked confused as the last drips trailed between his toes. The expression in his green eyes asked what the hell just happened?
“What’s going on, wahine?” Gentle hands moved Hana’s long hair aside and he tutted as he saw the welt around her neck.
Hana rolled her eyes, knowing the futility of lying to her perceptive husband. “I can’t tell you.”
Logan raised an eyebrow and took the swaddled child who snuggled into the warm towel with a look of contentment. “Why? Did you say you wouldn’t?”
She shook her head. “No, but there was a threat attached.”
“Who put their hands on you, Hana? Was it that kid downstairs? If it was, I’ll kill him.”
“No, no.” She raised a hand to placate him. “Not Caleb; he wasn’t here.” She squirmed, busying herself with mopping puddles off the floorboards with another towel. “But I’ve got a problem and don’t know what to do.”
“You could tell me.” Logan kissed his son’s downy amber head and watched Hana struggle. “We promised not to keep secrets from each other.”
She sighed. “I know, Logan! I’m meant to ask you some questions otherwise he’ll tell you that he walked in on me and Asher.”
Logan snorted. “What? You killing him?”
“No.” Hana widened her eyes and Logan pulled a face of disgust.
“And I’m what? Meant to believe it?”
“I guess so. He said he’d make it convincing.”
Logan sat on the side of the bath and helped Mac get his thumb free, so he could push it between his rosebud lips. “So did he walk in on you and Asher?” His eyes blazed a path though her soul and she sat down on the floor opposite and leaned against the wall. “How long before the kids come up?”
“Ten minutes maybe.” Logan jerked his head towards her throat. “You look like someone throttled you. Who was it?”
Hana held up both hands, palms facing him. “I need you to not go off the deep end,” she pleaded. “I can’t tell you if you’ll race off and kill people.”
Logan shook his head in exasperation. “Why do you always say that? I don’t kill people, Hana.”
“Maim them then!” she bit. “You can’t.”
“I’ll ask you one more time, Hana. Who put their hands on you?”
She inhaled and her words emerged in a rush. “He did walk in on me and Asher, but the kid tried to strangle me. I opened the door thinking it was Leslie, but he came back looking for Caleb and the drugs. He searched the house and messed stuff up.” She raised a finger. “I cleared up afterwards, but he broke your expensive aftershave. I’m sorry. The bedroom smells like a rugby changing room.”
“Gee, thanks.” Logan’s eyes filled with irritation. “I thought you liked that scent. You bought it for me in Paris.”
“I love it, but not all in one hit.”
“Now I’m really pissed. I loved it too.” Logan let Mac loll back in his arms and Hana watched as his muscles dug through his shirt. “I need to sort Asher out.”
“That’s not all.” Hana chewed her lower lip.
“Are you okay?” Logan leaned forward and peered at her throat. “That looks sore. Did you ice it?” He spoke the words like a rational man but rage blossomed in his grey eyes. His irises turned to pewter.
Hana sighed. “Yes.”
“So who’s blackmailing you? Evidently someone walked in on Asher throttling you. And explain that weird text you sent me. Why do you think Linc’s having an affair with Anahera?”
“I went to see her and found him with his arm around her. He followed me here and walked in on Asher strangling me. Asher wanted to check Mac’s bedroom and I didn’t want him near the baby. I got in the way. Lincoln chased Asher off but wouldn’t let me call the cops.”
“Strangling you?” Logan’s jawline hardened and his pupils obscured his irises altogether. “I’ll kill him. And Linc. Why didn’t you call me?”
“Lincoln took my phone downstairs and then waited for me.” Hana swallowed. “He’s back to prove his innocence and he wants me to do it for him. He asked me to find out if you killed the woman because he says he didn’t.”
“Why would I kill her?” Logan’s brow furrowed.
Hana inhaled. “There were four local men including Lincoln who went to the murdered woman for sex. He knows a fifth became involved, but only two of the men knew his identity. Those two died while Lincoln served his sentence. He thinks you might be the fifth man.”
“Me?” To Hana’s surprise Logan laughed. “I’m insulted. I’ve never paid for sex in my life.”
Hana peered at the floor and her stillness alarmed him. “I hope not.” When she looked up at him again, his expression of disbelief told her everything. She shook her head and sighed. “But you said if I died then you’d hire a hooker.”
Logan’s mouth opened in surprise. “I joked, Hana! You know that thing couples do where one of them laughs?”
Hana wrinkled her nose. “I can’t always tell with you. Sometimes it sounds like a joke but you look serious.” She sighed. “You’re gorgeous. You’d never need to pay. But Lincoln’s not ugly; not on the outside. What makes someone like him pay a prostitute?”
Logan inhaled and his chest looked strong and safe. Hana scooted across the bathroom floor on her bottom and pressed her hand against it, seeking the security she always found there. “Promise you didn’t sleep with her?”
“I said I didn’t.”
“No, you said you didn’t pay. It’s different.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “I didn’t do either, Hana. Te tātea o te tāne is too precious to waste on casual sex. I told you that before. My seed is sacred.” He stroked Hana’s cheek. “And I didn’t kill her either.” He shook his head and the dark waves escaped onto his forehead, obscuring his eyes. “So she was te kairau? I didn’t see that under my nose.”
“I don’t think you were in New Zealand full time when it started. Did you even know the dead woman?”
“I remember flying back and forth a fair bit during that time so I might have been here. I needed to stop Alfred wrecking everything, so I flew home every six weeks during the school holidays and then came back for good around the time the cops arrested Linc. Yeah, I knew her; we all did. Are you sure you’ve got this right? Anahera’s sister was a prostitute?”
Chapter 47
Creating Her Own Monster
“Anahera’s sister died?” Hana’s jaw gaped open. “Wiri’s aunty?”
Logan nodded and pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. Mac’s head lolled backwards and he sucked on his thumb with tiny noises. “Yeah. Pania was older than us. Michael got sweet on her for a while before we went to boarding school. We came home for the holidays and she’d gone loco; running around with the farm boys and pregnant at sixteen. My ma wouldn’t let us near her; said she was out of bounds.”
Hana snorted. “Yeah. I’ve seen out of bounds to your brother. Isn’t that what turns it into a challenge?”
Logan grimaced. “Half-brother.” He spat the words with venom, the correction aimed more at the unfairness of life than at Hana. “Yeah, he had a go. Of course he did. Every menstruating female within a ten kilometre radius was fair game to his ego; he wasn’t fussy.”
“Why ten kilometres?” Hana contemplated the riddle without success.
“He only owned this old bicycle.” Logan’s lips quirked into a sad smile. “He always said a round trip under tw
enty was worthwhile, but over and it better be fantastic.”
“He’s such an ass!” Hana commented, her brain already working. “Could he be the mysterious other man?”
“I don’t know Hana.” Logan patted his son’s bottom through the towel. “Can we get a nappy on this kid before he does something I’ll regret? I want you to leave this alone. I’ll deal with Linc.” His brow furrowed. “And bloody Asher.”
Hana exhaled and leaned back against the bath. “That was easy. All the times I kept things from you because I expected you to kick off. I never realised how reasonable you could be.” She rubbed her neck and frowned. Logan stroked his son’s little toes as they peeked from the towel, his brow knitted in concentration. Hana watched his jaw work through the skin and her heart sank. “Well played, Logan. You almost fooled me.”
“I’m good.” He kept his tone light but the smile he offered Hana failed to reach his eyes. “Let’s get these kids to bed shall we?”
“Don’t do it, Logan. Please.”
He snuffed out a laugh and stood, giving her a look she knew well. “What? I’m just gonna put a nappy on my boy.” He left her sitting on the floor of the bathroom and she heard him chatting to the other children as they pounded upstairs. Phoenix burst through the doorway, already peeling herself out of her dress.
“Zip, Mama?” she asked, turning around so Hana could slide the fastener free. The happy girl stripped naked in seconds and bounced on the spot while Hana started the shower running.
“In you get.” Hana lifted her over the side of the bath and smiled as her daughter stood under the deluge, her pretty face tilted upwards to meet the spray. “You’re like your father,” Hana whispered. “You face life head on.”
“Head on?” Phoenix called, spitting out the water which strayed into her mouth. “I got head on.” She patted her damp curls with a small hand and Hana smiled.
“Yeah, so you do. Come on missy. Hurry up and soap yourself so Wiri can come in.”
“I don’t need a shower; I’m clean.” Wiri pushed through the doorway with his pyjama bottoms over his head. Phoenix pealed with laughter and covered herself with shower gel. She looked like a foamy snowman until she rinsed off and then she raised her arms to Hana.
