by B. B. Reid
Mitch wouldn’t go too far. His first attempt to kill his sons and brother for money may have failed, but he would try again. The only question remaining was which one would Mitch come after first this time? He used me as a pawn the first time. Would he do so again? He knew where I lived, and it could very well be my aunt who steps through the door next time.
With Keiran gone I had a chance to keep everyone safe. I was going to put him away once and for all.
I just needed to find the chink in his armor.
* * *
Instead of going home after school, I decided to pay Keenan a visit. The last time I was there, he was still very much close to death, and with Sheldon still being an emotional wreck, I figured I could step in. He had become a friend, too.
“Hi, handsome.”
Keenan startled at the sound of my knock followed by my voice.
“Lake,” he questioned. What are you doing here?”
I paused in the doorway and rethought my decision to come. His voice wasn’t cold or angry, but it wasn’t exactly welcoming. He sounded sad most of all.
“I wanted to visit a friend, and I’m sorry, but you agreed to be my friend, so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” I walked in and took the chair next to his bedside. He eyed me and then looked at the object I held in my hand. I had almost forgotten about the flowers I held. I thrust them awkwardly in his face, and he took them reluctantly, though I could tell he was fighting back a smile.
“I hear roses are your favorite.”
“Actually, I prefer daisies and walks in the park, but this will do for now. Besides, how can I say no to someone so beautiful?” he flirted.
Normally, I would scold him, but I could only feel hope all of Keenan wasn’t lost. Going through as much as he had could really change a person. Sometimes for better, but often, it was something much worse. I could only hope that, for Keenan, it was the former.
After a couple of hours watching the stale television shows the hospital provided, and then completing several crossword puzzles, I finally decided to ask the question at the back of my mind.
“So when are they letting you out of here?”
He piped up a little at the mention of leaving the hospital. As energetic as he always was, I knew being cooped up in a hospital had to be driving him crazy.
“It’s not prison, pretty girl. I actually spoke with the doctor today. They want to run more tests, but I should be released by the end of the week. I’ve been ordered to bed rest so it looks like I’ll only be getting a change of scenery. The doctors warned I’m not out of the woods yet. The patch on my lung won’t hold forever.”
The air in the room was stifling at the reminder of Keenan’s death sentence. Keenan made his mistakes—daily in fact, but he didn’t deserve to die. He still had so much to live for—even though he wouldn’t agree now, but something told me he wasn’t ready to die either. Judging by the hard look on his face, I knew it to be true no matter what he said.
I doubted Keiran would let his brother die anyway. No, he would find a way.
“So, are you back now?” Keenan broke the silence.
“Yes. I figured with your brother going to jail, I had the all clear, but imagine my surprise when he didn’t go to jail after all.” As soon as I said the words, I realized my attempt at humor was poorly chosen. I watched the change of emotion cross Keenan’s features. I thought he would defend him or express his anger over me turning his brother in, but his response was unexpected.
“My brother,” he repeated harshly. “He’s not my brother. He’s not my cousin. He’s not my anything. He’s a fucking mother murderer.”
“Keenan—”
“So it was you who ratted him out, huh?” There wasn’t anger or accusation in his tone. He sounded proud, and his eyes held respect in them as he gazed at me.
“Yes, but—”
“Good. Don’t let him make you weak again. Don’t let yourself be weak again. My brother—” He paused and ground his teeth. “Keiran is dangerous. I don’t doubt that, but he also has a thing for you. I saw it years ago. Everyone did but you. That thing might not be so good for you. It could get you killed. By him or his enemies.”
“It’s hard to believe he’s only eighteen, right?” I laughed dryly.
“He’s turning nineteen in a couple of months if that helps.”
“And you, you’re turning eighteen,” I teased. “I guess that makes me the only adult in the room.”
“Why aren’t you already in college?”
“I was held back in the second grade because of my dyslexia. It was before I was diagnosed, though. My parents were devastated at the thought of me being learning impaired.” How I wish they could see me now…
“It’s almost like it was fate…”
“What do you mean?”
“You being held back, your parents disappearing… Maybe it was fate.”
“You think fate would be this cruel?”
“I just found out my father isn’t my father, my real father wants me dead, and my brother who I thought was my cousin, killed our mother. Yes, I think fate is beyond cruel. It’s fucking evil.”
Wow… Point taken. I didn’t know the extent of Keenan’s anger before, but now it was very much apparent as I watched the play of emotions on his face.
It hit me.
How could I have missed it? It was something I should have seen before.
All the jokes, the whoring, and the troublemaking were all cover-ups. Keenan was just as affected by his past as Keiran was—he was just better at hiding it.
Keenan was tormented.
“Keenan, I’m sorry about what happened to you. I—”
His dry laugh was humorless as it filled the air, cutting me off. “That’s your problem, you know that? It’s what has made you a target all these years. Stop apologizing and stop cowering. My fucked up past has nothing to do with you. You didn’t cause my mother to leave, and you didn’t cause my fucked up brother to kill her. She’s his mother too, you know. Where the fuck does he get off?” A tear slid down his cheek, and he angrily wiped it away.
Seeing him so broken and pained weighed heavy on me and I couldn’t bring myself to stay any longer.
* * *
I walked into my home after visiting Keenan to find a strange man in my house for the second time—not counting when Mitch broke into my house to leave a creepy birthday card.
I was either prone to the idea of being caught unaware or the fact he was relaxing on the couch, holding a coffee cup that read ‘I love Jax Teller’ on the front.
“Um, who are you?”
Before he could answer, my aunt came down the stairs. “Oh… Hi, honey. Where have you been?” she questioned.
She was flustered, and I then got the feeling I had walked in on something. Their attempt to look innocent was overdone.
“I was visiting a friend. Did I interrupt?” I couldn’t conceal the surprise I felt even if I tried.
“Of course not. Uh, Lake, this is Jackson. Jackson, this is my niece I told you about.” He stood up to shake my hand. He was tall with medium brown hair and a muscular build, and I couldn’t help but admire how gorgeous he was even with the jagged scar on his right cheek. It only boosted his appearance making him look dangerous and rugged. I wondered what type of work he did that might have led to that scar. Maybe he was ex-military. He definitely fit the profile.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.” I looked at my aunt.
“Finally?” I asked and then turned back to Jackson. “I’m sorry, she never mentioned you.”
“Jackson was the private investigator I hired to help me find your parents while I was gone.”
“How did you have time?”
“My book tour was actually only a week long.” I couldn’t conceal the hurt I felt finding out that she told another lie. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry I lied to you. I didn’t want to say anything until I had some information.”
I felt the familiar ache that came whenev
er my parents were brought up, but this time, it wasn’t followed by anger. “That’s okay, Aunt Carissa. I know you meant well.” I turned and shook Jackson’s hand again. “Thank you for taking care of my aunt and for finding out what happened to my parents. I can’t thank you enough.”
“No thanks necessary, Lake. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“So what’s going on?” It was the only way I could ask what he was doing here if she’d already found the answers to my parent’s disappearance without coming across as completely rude.
“Our investigation is still ongoing.”
“But you said my parents were murdered.”
“Yes,” Jackson spoke up. “But we still have to find the person who murdered them.”
“If you don’t know who murdered them, then how do you know they were murdered?”
“Are you ready to hear—”
“No.” I cut her off while taking a step back. “I don’t want to know.”
I needed to retreat fast, but Jackson’s sharp eyes held me captive. He looked like Keiran did when he was assessing me and calculating what to do next minus the heat.
“Okay, honey. Whenever you’re ready. Jackson will be staying in town for a while at a hotel, so he’ll be around a lot.” I nodded silently and turned to go.
“Lake,” he called before I could escape.
“Yes?” He pulled out a card and handed it to me. His full name and number was engraved in bold writing on the front.
Jackson Reed: Special Investigations.
“If you ever need anything, please, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Why would I need to call?” It was genuine question meant to gauge just how much he saw when he studied me moments ago. Having him here could be bad, but not because he could be dangerous. More because I had the feeling he really was good at uncovering secrets.
“I’m not sure, Lake, but I’m hoping you’ll tell us before it’s too late.”
Chapter Sixteen
Lake
The police station was fast becoming a familiar place to me. The next morning, before school began, I walked into the station with new determination and a goal in mind.
Some of the people moved about in a chaotic manner while others were stagnant, pouring over files, or dealing with frantic citizens and arrestees. I quickly signed in and made my way to the detectives’ desks where they talked amongst themselves. They were so engrossed in their conversations that they had failed to notice me until I was standing practically on top of them.
“Lake,” Detective Wilson greeted, noticing me first.
“How’s it going, Lake?”
I took in the detective’s face and noticed the haggard lines of fatigue and sleepless eyes as they stared back at me. Something told me they weren’t getting very far in the case that now made national news. It would only be a matter of time before Aunt Carissa caught wind. She normally stayed away from the news, preferring fantasy to facts. In fact, the only television she could be caught dead watching was the sci-fi channel and the Sons of Anarchy.
It also didn’t help that Keiran was the golden boy of Six Forks. Not many people were willing to believe he was involved in the grisly murder of Anya and Trevor though many still kept a wary eye. The nature of the act committed made even his most loyal fans cautious. Anya had always made it a point to tell everyone she was his girlfriend, and when Keiran barely blinked or showed remorse over her murder, it raised eyebrows. The history between Keiran and Trevor, once it came out, didn’t help either.
If Trevor hadn’t made bail, he might have been alive today. Would the same happen for Keiran?
It was still a mystery as to how he made bail after being initially denied.
Could it have been his family? It was a testament to how far his money and family connections went; the same family that no one has seen or heard of outside of John.
What happened to the good ole days when money bought you a car instead of getting you off from a double murder and a string of other crimes committed?
“I know you aren’t getting very far in the case… I think I can help.”
“How could you help?”
“Besides his two friends and his brother, I am the only one who can get close to him. I can get evidence.” The detectives were shaking their heads before I could finish. I thought they would jump at the opportunity.
“We can’t risk it. You’re testifying when this case goes to trial. That’s enough.”
“And if it isn’t? What if he’s never tried? He managed to get out on bail.”
The detectives said nothing as they studied me silently. I showed all the signs of distress but was too desperate to scare. I’d managed to give in to him once… twice already… and now he was back to threatening my family again.
“Has he threatened you? Approached you?” Detective Daniels questions. “We can place you under witness protection…” He was already reaching for the phone.
I panicked and did the worst thing I could do—I lied. “No.” I regretted it as soon as the word was spoken. “He hasn’t threatened me.”
Two sets of eyebrows lifted at my hesitation. I knew I hadn’t sounded believable, but what else could I do?
If I were placed under witness protection, I would never get the answers I needed. I would be carted off to some undisclosed location, far away. Keiran would think of a way out of being tried, and where would that leave me? Besides, he threatened my godparents. I couldn’t leave them unprotected, and I couldn’t tell the detectives he threatened them either. They would place me under protection for sure.
“What if I can get you the information you need without setting him up or getting close to him?”
“Naturally, we are inclined to use any information we can get so long as it’s done legally.”
“How are you planning to get this information?” Detective Daniels questioned. I could see the suspicion in his eyes.
“By using my wits.”
* * *
As soon as I had left the station, I headed for school and phoned the one person who could help me get the information I needed. “Jesse, we need to talk. Can you meet me?”
“Sure, but what is it about?” He sounded hesitant and nervous, but I shrugged it off thinking he may have been distracted or busy.
“I need your help digging up more information on Keiran.” An extended silence fell over the line so I checked the connection. “Jesse?”
“I don’t know…”
“What do you mean?” Just a few weeks ago he was insisting on helping me and now he was hesitating? Something was up.
“The guy is under investigation for a double murder. Do you really think this is the best time to piss him off by playing detective?”
“Just a few short weeks ago you were insisting I do something about him.”
“That was before he murdered two people, Lake. It’s obvious he is something much more than your average bully. I just don’t want you getting hurt.”
“If I don’t stop him, he will hurt more than just me. Please, Jesse. I don’t know who else to ask.”
I could hear him take a deep breath and release it. “Lake, I have something to tell you. It’s about Keiran.”
“Yeah?” My heart was already racing but from what? Anticipation? Fear?
“I saw him while he was in jail.”
Whatever I had expected him to say, it wasn’t that. Why would Jesse visit him in jail?
“W—wh—why?” I stammered. Not only was my heart racing now, but my mind was racing at a catastrophic speed, as well.
“He asked me to.”
“And you went?” The hitch in my voice was a testament to the turmoil I was currently feeling.
“I didn’t exactly have a choice. His henchman paid a visit to my home. I’m just glad my family wasn’t here.”
“Who?” Oh, God, did he send Mario?
“Keiran called him Q.”
Quentin! I never would have thought Quentin would be involve
d in something like that. He was the silent and brooding type, but he didn’t give me the impression of a criminal. The realization of how far Keiran was willing to go had me reeling. It wasn’t until Jesse’s next revelation that I lost it.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“He threatened my family if I told you. I hadn’t realized how dangerous he really is, Lake. I’m sorry for pushing you before. I had no clue what you were really up against.”
I swallowed down the guilt that rose up. Jesse’s apology reminded me of what I was asking him to do. His reluctance now made sense, but it also strengthened my resolve and my need to fight back.
Keiran was done collecting victims.
“Jesse… We need to do this. He’ll hurt our families if we don’t.”
“What can we do? This guy is like a cat. He always lands on his feet, and it’s like he has nine lives or something.”
“He’s not invincible, Jesse. His lives will run out sometime, and he has weaknesses, too. It’s about time we found them.”
When he released a reluctant breath, I knew I had him. “All right. Give me a week or two.”
* * *
I was on edge all day, and it had everything to do with Keiran never taking his eyes from me. Even during the periods when we didn’t share a class, he always seemed to be around before and after each class. I knew him well enough by now to know he was making his presence known.
He may not be able to approach me, but this was still his kingdom. He had eyes and ears everywhere so I constantly found myself in the vicinity of a henchman or two. Yesterday, we each issued threats, and it seemed as if we were both intent on keeping them. Other than watching me during class, and each time we passed in the hall, he proceeded to ignore me while I failed to reciprocate.
By lunch, I was too freaked out to be able to endure sitting through lunch in the cafeteria surrounded by him and all his faithful followers. It seemed as most people were slowly but surely getting over his involvement in Trevor and Anya’s death. The cafeteria might have been bearable if Sheldon wasn’t skipping to hide God knows where and Willow hadn’t disappeared to argue her way into a better grade. This might have been the third time this week. I think she was also looking for reasons to skip lunch and avoid Dash.
