Conspiracy (Alex and Cassidy Book 4)

by Nancy Ann Healy

  “I’m listening,” Alex said. Eleana gauged Alex’s demeanor for a moment. “I swear, I’m listening,” Alex promised.

  “She’s worried.”

  “About losing you,” Alex guessed.

  “Probably. She knows that part of our life is over, Alex. She might not like it, but she does know it. She also knows that she will always be part of my life. I need you to understand that too. Wherever we are going, I need you to know that I don’t regret my past with Claire.”

  “Eleana…”

  “No. You need to hear this. I don’t approve of what she’s done—most of it, in fact. And, if she chose to compromise us, I would do whatever was necessary,” Eleana said flatly. “That means you, Cassidy, Jonathan—any of us.”

  “I believe you, Eleana. What I think isn’t important.”

  “Yes, it is,” Eleana disagreed. “Like it or not, you are the one everyone looks to.”

  “I don’t think….”

  “It’s true, Alex. Even Jonathan. I don’t know what is happening with Claire. That’s the truth. I do know this is about more than me.”

  “Eleana, Claire is not someone to fight for the greater good. She likes the game too much.”

  “Maybe so,” Eleana agreed. “She does have a heart, Alex.” Eleana heard Alex’s doubtful sigh. “I know you don’t believe me, but she does.”

  “It’s not about whether I believe it,” Alex said. “It’s about her track record.”

  “I get that.”

  “You really think this is some new leaf she wants to turn over? To what end? To win you back?” Alex asked.

  “No. I told you that ship has sailed. She knows that.”

  “What then?”

  “I think it has to do with her father,” Eleana said.

  Alex took in the information and nodded. She took a sip from her coffee cup and pinched the bridge of her nose. Fathers seemed to be able to provoke strange reactions from their daughters. Alex had dealt with Admiral William Brackett more often than she was comfortable with. Edmond had maintained that The Admiral, as he was called, might not act as Alex would, but that William Brackett was committed to the same cause. Alex had her doubts.

  Alex could see a great deal of Edmond in Eleana. Knowing her own father, dealing with James McCollum for less than twenty-four hours, and observing William Brackett, it was easy to see that Edmond Callier was the idealist among the men. She’d witnessed genuine tenderness in the man, something she could scarcely recall in her father. It left Alex to wonder just what kind of impression William Brackett had left on Claire.

  “Did she say why?” Alex asked.

  “No, but, Alex? The look in her eyes? She acts as if she hates him.”

  “Maybe she does,” Alex commented.

  “Yeah, maybe. She’s afraid of him.”

  Alex nodded. She filed away the information for later. “Well, we will have to see why that might be. Right now, I have to deal with my father-in-law. Interested?”

  Eleana nodded. “I’ll be in after I get some coffee and something for Claire.”

  “We’ll be in the study,” Alex told Eleana as she left.

  Eleana poured herself a cup of coffee and took a seat at the table. “I just need a minute,” she mused aloud. “What is it about The Admiral, Claire?” she wondered. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Chapter Twelve

  “You can’t expect any of us to trust you,” Krause told McCollum. The older man nodded. “To tell you the truth, I’m not sure there is anything you can say that will redeem you in Alex’s eyes.”

  “I don’t expect that anything I say will,” McCollum said. “If anything, it will probably do the opposite.”

  Alex walked into the study and nodded. “Good bet,” she said. “All right. Let’s hear it,” Alex demanded.

  “What do you want to know?” McCollum asked.

  “We could start with why you decided to play dead for twenty-five years, but since I think there is someone else you owe that explanation to, I will settle for what the hell you are doing here now.”

  “If you want to understand that, then I will need to answer that first question,” he told her.

  Alex grimaced. “Fine. I think you could give Cass the courtesy of hearing this story,” she said.

  McCollum’s temple twitched, but he nodded his assent. Alex took a deep breath and made her way from the room. She could feel the tension pulling at her muscles. Her body’s rigidness reminded her of her days in recovery after being injured in Iraq. It was painful to breathe. Physically, emotionally and mentally, Alex felt as if she had been stretched on a rack for hours. She leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

  “Alex?” Cassidy walked into the hallway and saw Alex leaning against the wall. She picked up her pace and grabbed hold of Alex’s arm.

  Alex opened her eyes and painted on a wan smile. “I was just coming to find you.”

  “Why do I not like the sound of that?” Cassidy asked.

  “Your father is about to explain some things. I wanted you to know that…”

  Cassidy smiled. “I don’t need to know.”

  “Cass…”

  “I’m serious, Alex,” Cassidy said. “I know you don’t understand. You need to know the whys. Short of him telling me that he had amnesia for twenty-five years, I really have no interest.”

  “Maybe it would…”

  Cassidy leaned in and kissed Alex’s cheek. “Maybe someday. Not today,” she said. “You go.” Cassidy chuckled and shook her head ruefully.

  “What is it?” Alex wondered.

  “Oh, I was just thinking how things change. I always wondered what it would be like if my father had been around to interrogate you. Here you are interrogating him.” Alex reached for the bridge of her nose and Cassidy captured her hand. “You go,” Cassidy repeated. “Do what you need to do.”

  “I’m more worried about what you need right now,” Alex said.

  “Time.”

  Alex nodded her understanding. “Are you sure?”

  “I am. Go on. You can fill me in later on what you think I need to know.”

  Alex kissed Cassidy on the forehead. “I promise, I will try not to make it a long day,” she said.

  Cassidy watched Alex head back toward the study. Alex’s gait was slower than normal, almost as if she wanted to postpone the inevitable. Cassidy waited until she heard Alex close the door to the study before heading for the kitchen. She was surprised to find Eleana sitting at the table.

  “Hi,” Eleana greeted Cassidy quietly.

  “Morning,” Cassidy offered the younger woman a smile.

  Eleana thought it best to tread lightly. “How’s Mackenzie?” she asked.

  “Sleeping,” Cassidy replied. “She was up quite a bit in the night. Finally passed out.”

  “Ear infections suck,” Eleana said.

  Cassidy laughed. “They do. Today should be better. How are you?”

  “Me? I’m fine. I think I should be asking you that question.”

  “I’m all right,” Cassidy said assuredly. Eleana looked down at the table. Cassidy shook her head. “Oh, don’t you dare start,” Cassidy warned playfully.

  “Start what?”

  “Walking on eggshells around me,” Cassidy said as she poured herself a glass of juice.

  “We’re just worried about you.”

  Cassidy sat down across from Eleana. She reached over and took Eleana’s hand. “I know, and I love you all for it, I do. This is something I have to deal with in my own time,” Cassidy said. “And, that might take an exceptionally long time,” she admitted. “I honestly can’t even think about him right now. And yet, that seems to be all I can think about.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Not really,” Cassidy replied. “What am I supposed to tell my mom?” Cassidy asked helplessly.

  Eleana hung her head. In all of the emotional upheaval and chaos of the last few days, she had yet to consi
der that inevitable dilemma. “Maybe you shouldn’t,” Eleana said softly.

  “I’ve considered that. I’ve considered a lot of things in the last fourteen hours. Some of them might surprise you,” Cassidy told her friend.

  Eleana chuckled. She had to give Cassidy credit. No matter how conflicted Cassidy was feeling, she was endeavoring to put Eleana at ease. “Oh, I don’t know. I can imagine some pretty wild things,” Eleana said. “I was involved with Claire for over ten years, remember?”

  Cassidy laughed. “Puts my life in perspective,” she said with a wink. She heard Eleana’s sad sigh. “I’m kidding,” Cassidy said. “Look who I was married to before Alex,” she pointed out. “Talk about self-centered.” Cassidy watched Eleana turn a light shade of green. “Eleana?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Right,” Cassidy answered sarcastically. “What is it?”

  “Cassidy, I really don’t think….”

  “Do you consider us friends?” Cassidy asked.

  “Of course.”

  “Good, because so do I. So, let’s have it. What aren’t you telling me?” Cassidy wondered.

  “I don’t think Jonathan has even told Alex yet.”

  “I see.”

  Eleana sighed. “I don’t even know…”

  “I understand.”

  “Cassidy, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Cassidy nodded. “I know. Something tells me whatever it is, it’s not your fault. So?”

  Eleana was positive that both Jonathan Krause and Alex would disagree with her decision. At the moment, she did not care. Cassidy was her friend. In many ways, Cassidy had assumed the role of an older sister in Eleana’s life, and Eleana welcomed it. “I don’t know how to tell you this.”

  “Just tell me,” Cassidy suggested.

  Eleana struggled to inhale a full breath. She exhaled it slowly with her words. “When we found your father, he wasn’t alone.”

  “Who was he with?”

  Eleana looked at Cassidy as if to beg forgiveness. “Congressman O’Brien.”

  ***

  Cassidy burst into Alex’s father’s study and all eyes immediately turned in her direction.

  “Cass?” Alex looked over at her wife. She could see the light trembling of Cassidy’s hands.

  Cassidy looked at her father and shook her head, then she looked at Krause and repeated the same action. Finally, she looked at Alex. “Sorry, to interrupt your—what exactly is this?” Cassidy asked pointedly.

  “Cass?” Alex called gently. Her worry was increasing by the second. “What is…”

  “Alex, have either Pip or my father told you about the company my father was keeping?”

  Alex shook her head and looked at the two men across from her. “Jonathan?”

  “I can’t believe she told you,” Krause muttered.

  “No? I’m glad she did. Seems mourning is a waste in my life. Who else should I expect to see rise from the dead?” Cassidy asked.

  “Jonathan?” Alex asked again.

  “I was getting to it, Alex. Last night was not the best time,” he said honestly.

  “Getting to what?” Alex asked suspiciously.

  McCollum answered. “It’s not Jonathan’s fault,” he said.

  “No, it isn’t,” Cassidy agreed. “So? What were my dead father and my dead ex-husband chatting about?”

  “What?” Alex bellowed. She looked at Cassidy and Cassidy nodded. “You’re telling me O’Brien is alive?”

  “Not anymore,” McCollum said.

  Cassidy let out a disgusted sigh. “This is a bad dream.”

  “Look,” McCollum said. “I had to know what he knew,” he explained. “Cassie, he’s not who you thought he was.”

  “I’ve known that a long time, Dad,” Cassidy replied.

  “I mean that…”

  Cassidy put her hands up. “Maybe I should, but I really don’t want to know. So? Is he really dead now or should I expect him at the door soon?”

  “He’s dead,” Krause said. “Trust me, Cassie. He’s dead.”

  Cassidy shook her head and walked out of the room.

  “What the hell?” Alex looked at Krause.

  “I didn’t think she’d find out before we talked,” Krause said.

  Alex nodded. She was certain that was true. “I’ll be back,” she said. “Watch him,” Alex pointed to McCollum.

  “Shit,” Krause groaned.

  “She was going to find out sooner or later, better sooner,” McCollum offered.

  “Maybe. It’s just us,” Krause said. “Who the hell was Christopher O’Brien?”

  “Good question, Jonathan, an asset—just like you, just like me.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I told you, I don’t know who placed him. I do know who created him.”

  “Created him? What the hell are you talking about?” Krause asked.

  “Lynx, Jonathan. I’m talking about Project Lynx.”

  “Why do I have a feeling I am not going to like this at all?” Krause asked.

  “Intuition is an excellent attribute,” McCollum said. “Because you won’t.”

  ***

  “Cassidy,” Alex called up the stairs as she took two at a time.

  Eleana was sitting beside Claire’s bed. She heard Alex’s voice booming up the stairs and looked away from Claire toward the upstairs hallway. “Oh shit.”

  “What?” Claire asked.

  “Nothing good,” Eleana said. “Eat that toast.”

  ***

  “Cass!” Alex practically jumped in front of her wife.

  “Not now, Alex.”

  “Cassidy…”

  “What do you want me to say?” Cassidy asked angrily.

  “I didn’t know. And, to be honest, I don’t blame Pip for not telling me about O’Brien last night.”

  “I don’t blame Pip for any of it,” Cassidy said.

  “I will find out what is going on, I swear.”

  “I don’t know if I want to know what is going on, Alex.”

  “Cass, this is it, whatever your father has been doing, it’s the reason John was assassinated. It might explain Carl…”

  “I don’t care,” Cassidy said bluntly, leaving Alex stunned. “Those answers won’t change any of the facts.”

  “No, but…”

  “There is no but,” Cassidy replied. “This is what you do. I get it. Get your answers.”

  “Don’t you think that if you knew what…”

  Cassidy took a breath and calmed herself. “I love you, Alex. Maybe, maybe I do need the answers. I told you, not now. The reality is enough for me to try and swallow. What do I tell Mom? I can’t even begin to imagine how to cover this with Dylan.”

  “Maybe you won’t have to.”

  Cassidy shook her head. “You know better than that. The truth always comes out. Look at us. Just look.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Alex asked. “Just tell me and I swear I will do it.”

  “Quit.”

  “Is that really what you want?” Alex asked.

  “Yes, and no,” Cassidy answered honestly. She reached up and cupped Alex’s face in her hands. “You can’t quit now. I would never ask you to. I need to step away from this for now.”

  “Are you leaving?” Alex asked fearfully.

  “What?”

  “Me? Are you leaving me?” Alex asked.

  Cassidy smiled. “Never,” she promised. “You’re right, I will need answers. I do want to know who he was.”

  “Your father?”

  “Both of them,” Cassidy said. “He was my husband, Alex. He’s the father Dylan knew. I need to know. I just can’t…”

  “I think I understand. I’ll figure something out, okay?” Alex asked. Cassidy nodded. “I’m sorry, Cass. If I could make it go away…”

  “I know. Time, Alex. Just give me some time.”

  Alex kissed Cassidy tenderly. “I’ll figure it out.”

  “I know,” Cassidy sa
id.

  ***

  “What the hell was that?” Claire asked Eleana.

  “My fault,” Eleana said sadly.

  “Your fault? How is that?” Claire wondered. Eleana would not meet Claire’s gaze. “El? Come on, it’s me.”

  “Okay, look…”

  “El, I have never once betrayed your confidence,” Claire said assuredly. “Never.”

  “I know you haven’t. When we found Cassidy’s father, well….O’Brien was there.” Claire was dumbfounded. “Claire?”

  “No, that’s impossible. I was on the phone with him when the car,” Claire’s thought trailed to silence.

  “Claire?”

  Claire closed her eyes as if someone had struck her. She pressed the heels of her hands to her forehead and sighed. “Jesus, Cassidy must be—I can’t even…”

  Eleana smiled. “See? It is in there?”

  “What?” Claire wondered.

  “Your heart,” Eleana said.

  Claire chuckled. “Where is he now? O’Brien, I mean?”

  “Dead.”

  “You sure about that? Doesn’t seem to stick to the men in Cassidy’s life—no offense.”

  Eleana rolled her eyes. As quickly as Claire showed compassion, she masked it again behind her bravado. “I’m positive. I watched McCollum shoot him.”

  “Well, good riddens.”

  “Claire!”

  “I mean it, El. O’Brien was a son of a bitch, trust me. There’s a reason I kept him close.”

  It was not a secret that Claire and O’Brien had been lovers. That was part of Claire’s game. She controlled people with her charm and when needed, with herself. It was another reason that Eleana could not consider a life with Claire Brackett. Eleana had accepted the terms of their relationship for years. That did not change the fact that it had always hurt her deeply.

  “Really?” Eleana asked suggestively.

  “Oh, please. He should have been the poster child for Viagra,” Claire declared.

  “What?” Eleana couldn’t help but laugh. Claire shrugged and took a bite of her toast. “I think we’ll cut back on that medicine,” Eleana commented.

  “Why? I’m not stoned, El. I was just being honest.”

  Eleana laughed. “You certainly are one of a kind,” she said as she placed a kiss on Claire’s head. “Time for me to face the music,” Eleana said.