“Shh-shh.” Ginger Dave nodded in Adam’s direction and stood upright.
“I need to tell you all something, but you’ve got to swear not to let it go any further than this room.”
“Of course not, boss,” Les said.
“It’s about Frances. Now, we’re all aware how private she is, and there has been a lot of banter about her sexuality over the last few months, but...”
“So she is batting for the same team then, boss?” Cal cut in. “It’s no biggie, anyway.”
“The thing is...” He shook his head. “...thanks, Cal, but, the thing is—Frances is married.”
They all smirked at each other, as though surprised.
“I never expected that,” Julie said.
“Frances prefers to keep her private life just that—private. But she’s agreed for me to explain to you that she married Steve six years ago.”
“She’s a dark horse,” Les said.
“Sadly, soon after their wedding, Steve had a car accident and has been paralysed from the neck down ever since.”
They gave a collective gasp.
“That’s not all, I’m afraid,” he continued. “Frances told me this morning that her husband contracted an incurable infection, and he doesn’t have long to live.”
“Oh, no!” Julie cried.
“Poor girl,” Ginger Dave said, running a hand though his hair.
Cal sat down heavily on his desk, his milk-chocolate skin suddenly pale. He and Frances were close and Adam knew this bombshell would probably affect him the most.
“She had her reasons for not telling any of you.”
“Why? What are they? I don’t understand how she could come to work day in and day out and not let on something this massive was happening to her.” Les almost sounded miffed.
“She didn’t want to be treated differently. I told her that wouldn’t have happened, but then found myself behaving different with her all day. I’ve even taken her into two cafes today! Usually, the first few days of an investigation, we eat on the hop, if at all.”
“Only because you care. We all care about her. We’re like family here,” Julie said.
“I know we are, and because of that, work is the only place she could come and be treated normally. I’m not saying I agree, but I do understand.”
“So is she taking time off now?”
“No, not yet. She promised once we locate Muldoon she will, but for now she wants to be kept busy.”
“How long does he have?” Les was no stranger to death. His wife died the year before after a long and debilitating battle with cancer.
“Not long at all.”
“Poor, poor, girl.” Julie’s eyes brimmed with tears.
“That’s exactly what she doesn’t want. Now she knows I’m telling you but wants nothing to change, and, believe me, that’s difficult. But we need to try our best to honour her wishes. She is going to need us soon enough. I suspect his passing will hit her harder than she thinks.”
Everyone nodded in agreement except Cal who hadn’t uttered a word.
“You okay, mate?” He’d never seen Cal so serious or quiet before.
He nodded, slowly.
“Don’t take it personally, Cal. She wanted to tell us, but the longer she left it, the harder it became.”
“I get it. I’m just devastated for her.”
“I know you are, mate. We all are. Okay, why don’t you all get off home? Be here for a briefing in the morning at eight sharp.”
Cal stayed behind as the others packed up their things and headed out the door. He slid off the desk and returned to his seat, his stooped shoulders a dead giveaway to how dejected he felt.
“You alright?” Adam asked.
Cal shrugged. “I feel cheated. Is that selfish?”
Adam barked out a laugh. “I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling like that. But I do know she’d have told you if she could.”
Cal looked up, close to tears.
“I went around there today,” Adam said. “I met Steve for the first time and the situation is shocking. I honestly don’t know how she’s managed to stay focused. She’s tougher than the lot of us put together. And from what she said, we’ve kept her sane. The banter and laughs have helped her cope.”
“I want to hug her. Can I hug her? Or will she spit the dummy?”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that. She thinks the world of you, Cal. So don’t go beating yourself up about it. None of us sensed what she was going through. You haven’t lost your touch.”
Calvin was a great assistant, always one step ahead of them in the office, and he mothered them all. He seemed more sensitive and intuitive than most blokes his age.
“Thanks, boss.”
Chapter 15
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Amanda shrieked, dropping to her knees. She began gathering all the mementos and newspaper clippings into a pile and throwing them into the box beside Mary.
Mary didn’t say a word. She just stared, horrified, at Amanda.
Amanda’s stomach did a loop-de-loop. “This is my private stuff, Mary. I wouldn’t go snooping about in your things, would I?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered.
“Tell you what?” But Amanda knew exactly what she was talking about.
“They molested you.”
“You were supposed to be looking for photographs. This is none of your business.”
“They molested both you and dad and made you sleep with each other.”
There was no point denying it. The newspapers didn’t mention her and Andrew by name, but Mary had worked everything out.
“Why would we possibly tell you something like that, Mary? You’re a child. Children should be protected from ever having to know this kind of thing even happens.”
“Everything makes sense now.”
“What does?”
“Why my dad did what he did. I don’t blame him now.”
“Don’t talk like that, Mary. Killing those people made him no better than them. He should have just got on with his life and focused on all the good things. If he had, he’d still be alive today.”
“If they hadn’t molested him, they would all still be alive today. They caused it!”
Amanda almost slipped up and said, yes, but you wouldn’t, but stopped herself just in time. “Look, you’re upset. It’s a lot to take in. I intended to tell you, but not until you were older.”
“Am I the baby?”
“What baby?” Amanda froze and stared at her.
“I’m not stupid. I worked out the dates, and the paper said you were in labour when they found you.”
Amanda rapidly shook her head trying to think of something to say.
“Well, am I?”
“The baby was taken from me at birth. I never discovered whether it was a boy or a girl. No, you are not my daughter.” Saying those words broke her heart, but how could she allow Mary to find out the truth? To discover she was born out of rape and incest, that her father was either her uncle or her grandfather? How messed up was that?
Amanda pushed the box back into the cubbyhole under the stairs and pulled Mary into her arms.
“I’m not a little kid,” Mary eventually said through her tears.
“I realise that now, and I promise we can discuss it. Just not today. I think we’ve both had enough upset for one day, don’t you?”
Mary nodded.
The front door swung open and Adam ducked in out of the blustery rain. He slammed the door and shoved his briefcase onto the stairs and turned, startled to see them watching him.
“Oh, hello, you two. What you doing down there?” he said.
They laughed, and Amanda pulled Mary to her once again. “We’re putting the world to rights, aren’t we, sweetie?”
Mary nodded, smiling through snot and tears.
“Where are the brats?”
“Fed, bathed and both sound asleep for once. I bet you’re dying for a cuppa
, aren’t you?”
“Could murder one, but you two go through to the lounge and I’ll bring you one. Fancy a hot chocolate, Princess Mary?”
“Yes, please.”
They got to their feet and Amanda shoved Mary in the direction of the lounge. “Go on through. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Once alone, Amanda rummaged around in the box once more and produced three old photographs before following Mary into the lounge.
Mary sat on the sofa and Amanda knelt beside her. She handed Mary the photographs. “These are the only ones left of your dad from our childhood.”
She took them, and Amanda’s heart nearly broke as she watched the raw emotion play across her face.
“Is this you?” She pointed to the image of Amanda and Andrew.
Amanda nodded and smiled. “The only one of us both together. Even once I found him again we never managed to get another photo taken.”
“I look like you.”
Amanda’s stomach flipped again as she took the offered image from Mary. “Yes. There’s a strong family resemblance. Look at our mum, your grandmother. We are all very like her.”
Mary scrutinized the photo of her dad at around three or four years old, sitting on her grandmother’s knee.
Amanda and Andrew were both very much like their mother with the same blonde hair, pale blue eyes and full lips. However, she hoped Mary wouldn’t notice that she looked more like Amanda with the same translucent skin and dark smudges under their eyes.
Mary sighed when she looked at the third photo. It showed Andrew, aged fifteen, taken just before he vanished. The edges of the image were tattier than the others because Amanda had slept with it clenched in her fist for the first few months, convinced her dad and his cronies had disposed of him in some awful way.
“So you’ve got the start of your family tree now. I’ll find a better one of me from when I moved in with Sandra. Then there’s Emma and Jacob and the photos of your mum and dad in frames in your bedroom. You can either use the photo of your real grandmother, or Sandra, or even both.”
“Would Sandra mind?”
“She’d be delighted. She already thinks of you as her granddaughter.”
Adam appeared with two mugs. “Here you go, my gorgeous ladies. What you got there?”
Mary handed the photos to Adam. “I’m doing a family tree at school. Auntie found these of my dad.”
“Is that you, Mand?” he asked, a smirk playing at his lips.
“Shut it, you.” Amanda shot him a death stare.
“It’s cute. I’ve never seen any photos of you before.”
“Sit here, Adam.” Mary moved to the other sofa so he could sit beside his wife. “Can I have some photos of you?” she asked.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” He placed his cup on the coffee table and sat down. “You want some photos of me?”
Mary nodded.
“Well, I might need to visit my mum if you want one of me as a kid, but it can be arranged.”
“Is your mum still alive?”
“Don’t say it like that, you cheeky sausage. I’m not that old.” He feigned shock and then hurt.
“I didn’t mean that.” Mary’s cheeks flushed.
“Don’t you remember meeting her at the wedding?”
“Oh, yeah. The one with the blue hair?”
“We don’t mention the blue hair. Goodness knows what got into her to do a thing like that.”
“I thought it looked cool. I told Charlotte about it in school.”
“Tell you what. It’s high time we paid my dear old mother a visit. Do you want to go next weekend if I can get some time off work?”
“Yes, please. All of us?”
Adam nodded. “She’ll be in her element to have a tribe of kids to feed and fuss over.”
Amanda smiled gratefully at him.
She suddenly felt blessed. Not only had Adam taken her on with all her baggage, but he’d become a wonderful father figure to all the children.
She stroked her stomach as the baby within kicked her hand. “Oh, hello,” she said, smiling.
“Is he kicking?” Adam said, placing his hand where hers had been.
The baby gave another huge kick and Adam’s eyes lit up. “Blimey, mate! We’ll have you playing for England if you keep that up.”
“Can I feel?” Mary asked.
“Of course. Come on,” Amanda said.
Mary rushed over and dropped to her knees beside the sofa.
Amanda guided her hand and pressed firmly. Everyone waited in silence. “Come on, babba. Say hi to your sister.”
A strange expression crossed Mary’s face.
Amanda suddenly realised her mistake. “Oh, I mean cousin. I’m sorry. It’s just that I think of you all as brother and sisters.”
Mary smiled and nodded. “Me too.” Suddenly Amanda’s stomach rolled, and Mary squealed with delight. “I thought it would be like a little kick. That felt like something out of Alien.”
“That’s what I thought when I first felt it,” Adam said.
Amanda laughed. “When have you been watching scary movies, missy?”
Mary blushed. “When I stayed at Charlotte’s last time. Her mum said it was okay.”
Amanda hugged her, and kissed her forehead. “Do you want to help me finish Adam’s dinner?”
Mary nodded and helped her to her feet.
“We’re going to have to install a crane if you get any bigger,” Adam said.
Amanda picked up a cushion and whacked him with it.
“Alright, all right, I give in.” He laughed.
Chapter 16
Adam could tell he’d walked in on something heavy but presumed Amanda had given Mary a dressing down for going to her friend’s without permission yesterday.
After dinner, he and Amanda settled on the sofa and Mary went to her room.
“So what’s happened this time?” He nodded to the seat Mary had vacated.
“Oh, Adam. You’ll never guess what she did. I told her I had some photos of Andrew in a box under the stairs, and she only went through all my stuff while I was putting the kids to bed.”
“What stuff?”
“All the newspaper clippings from the trial. They didn’t name us but they didn’t need to. She worked it out. I should never have told her where the boxes were. Never!”
“What did you say?”
“What could I say? She’s not stupid, but there’s more.”
“I don’t get you.”
“She read the clippings and came up with the million dollar question.”
“What do you mean?”
“She asked if she was the baby I gave up for adoption.”
“Fuck me, Mand. I hope you convinced her otherwise.”
“I think so, but can you imagine my reaction? I almost died on the spot.”
“Come here.” He pulled her head to his chest. “She must see how ridiculous that is. She already had a Mum and Dad.”
“I’m sure you’re right. But imagine if she...”
“Shhh, we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. I promise.”
“I’m sorry, by the way,” she said.
“Sorry? What for?”
“I was a grump to you on the phone earlier. I didn’t mean it.”
“It’s all right, and I didn’t mean to stand you up. I’ve had a day from hell.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
Adam stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. “We discovered another double murder—the same guy. A young girl we interviewed yesterday and her dad. Killed in their beds last night.”
“Shit, babe. I wish I’d checked the news before I packed a sad.”
He laughed and squeezed her shoulder in her ticklish spot.
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she squealed until he stopped. “Go on. I’m listening.”
“We found them, me and Frances.”
“Her name’s Holly. I hate you calling her Frances.”
“It’s
what she wants to be called.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I thought you were listening?”
“I am. Go on.”
“Well, the killer left his calling card again. It was disgusting.”
“You mean...”
He nodded and laughed when she heaved. “We’re concerned for his ex. She’s not able to lie low. Her dad’s in the late stages of cancer and can’t be moved.”
“Oh, my goodness!”
“The house is under surveillance for a couple of nights, but to be honest we’ve got no leads. Not really. And then there’s Frances—Holly,” he corrected himself, making a face at Amanda.
“What’s wrong with Holly?”
He rubbed his eyes and sighed. “Her husband’s dying.”
Amanda gasped. “How? I mean...how?” She sat upright.
“Here’s the biggy. He was paralysed in a car accident years ago. Fran—Holly, didn’t want to tell us in case we felt sorry for her. But now he’s had some complications and has an infection. He’s not got long to live.”
“Poor Holly! Can we do anything for her?”
“Apparently not. She agreed, after nagging her all day, to take some time off once we find our killer. But the truth is we’re no closer to catching him.”
He groaned as his phone began ringing from the kitchen.
“Oh, no. What time is it?” she asked as he got to his feet.
“Ten past ten.” He strode to the kitchen and was surprised by Cal’s name flashing on the display. “What can I do for you, mate?”
“Boss, are you watching the news?”
“No. Why? What’s happened?”
“Natasha Barker’s only gone and given an exclusive interview—she’s slated Miles Muldoon and Sally Kemp.”
“For fuck’s sake!” He flicked the TV on, but he’d missed it. “I’ll have to watch it on catch-up. What did she say?”
“That Sally Kemp drove him to murder—that he was weak and she’s the puppet master behind him.”
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