Lies That Bind

by Shirley Wine

  ‘Yeah, even though I knew Dad would get mad if he knew.’

  ‘You aren’t the first kid to eavesdrop, Otto, and you won’t be the last. I’ve done it a time or two, myself.’

  ‘You have?’

  Rio chuckled softly. ‘Yeah, it’s not the end of the world.’

  Otto heaved a huge sigh, relieved that Rio wasn’t angry or shocked.

  ‘What were they fighting about, kid?’

  ‘I dunno.’ Otto scuffed a foot against the footrest of his wheelchair.

  ‘You don’t know, or you don’t want to say?’

  Otto thought he was about to throw up. ‘Dad knew something about Grandpa. He was really, really mad.’

  ‘Who, your dad?’

  ‘No, Grandpa. Now I’m scared.’

  ‘There’s no need to be scared, Otto. I’m here to help your Uncle Luke keep you and Rose safe.’

  Otto looked at Rio, and the smile on the big man’s face made the tight lump in his belly go away.

  ‘What were your dad and grandpa arguing about? Do you know?

  ‘What Dad knew about Grandpa—something bad, I think. I heard Dad tell Grandpa that he had a duty to report it.’

  ‘Do you know what they were talking about?’

  ‘No.’ Otto shrugged and scrunched up his face. ‘But when Dad said he was going to report it, Grandpa told Dad he’d see him dead first.’

  Rio sat back on his heels, frowning. ‘And then you had that crash?’

  ‘Yeah, and now I’m scared.’ Otto gripped Rio’s big hand. ‘What if me and Rose end up dead like Mum and Dad?’

  Rio leaned forward and pulled the boy into a tight hug. ‘Rest easy, kid, that’s not going to happen.’

  Otto clung to the big man. ‘Do you think I should tell Uncle Luke?’

  ‘Yes.’ Rio held Otto away from him and looked directly into his eyes. ‘Your uncle needs to know this, and so does the crash investigator. Do you want me to come with you when you talk to the crash investigator?’

  ‘Would you?’ Otto asked then blurted out the other thing worrying him. ‘Grandma keeps ringing Rose. She wants us to go and live with them.’

  Rio’s hands tightened on his shoulders. ‘Don’t worry, that’s not likely to happen.’

  ‘But Grandma says the magistrate will make us go and live with them.’

  ‘There’s more involved than you understand.’ Rio’s voice was a reassuring rumble. ‘You see, your mum and dad appointed your Uncle Luke as your and Rose’s guardian. The magistrate will need proof that your uncle is not a good guardian to overrule your parents’ wishes.’

  ‘You think?’ Otto was almost too scared to believe Rio. ‘That isn’t what Grandma told Rose.’

  ‘If your grandparents do challenge your uncle’s guardianship, the magistrate will ask you and Rose where you want to live.’

  ‘Really?’ Otto stared at Rio, his heartbeat racing. Could it be that easy?

  Rio stood up and hooked his thumbs in his trouser pockets. ‘The best thing you can do, young Otto, is to tell your uncle and the crash investigator what you overheard. And don’t you waste your time worrying about living anywhere else but out here on Whitby Downs with your uncle.’

  Otto heard heavy footsteps a few moments before Uncle Luke strode through the doorway.

  ‘Is the crash inspector here?’ Luke asked without any preliminary greetings.

  ‘He is, and he’s talking to Rose. Brooke is with her.’ Rio put a hand on Otto’s shoulder. ‘Otto needs to talk to the crash inspector too, Luke, but first you need to hear what your boy’s just told me.’

  ‘About what?’

  Uncle Luke frowned as he looked from one to the other and all Otto wanted to do was sink under his chair. His heart beat so fast he thought he was going to throw up.

  ‘Otto overheard an argument between his dad and his grandpa the night they crashed.’ Rio gripped Otto’s shoulder. ‘And he also needs to tell you about the threats his grandma is making.’

  Uncle Luke’s eyes narrowed to glittering slits as he scowled.

  Rio crouched beside Otto’s wheelchair and looked directly at him. ‘You can trust your uncle, Otto. He loves you and your sister and remember: he has your back—’ Rio looked up at Uncle Luke, ‘—don’t you?’

  Uncle Luke crossed the room. ‘Always, Otto. As I told Rose last night and I’m telling you now, you and Rose can tell me anything. Do you trust me?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’ As he looked from his uncle to Rio, the heavy weight sitting on his chest went away. ‘Rio says I need to tell you about the argument I overheard Dad having with Grandpa.’

  ***

  Anxiety clutched at Luke as he looked from Otto to Rio. The man Logan Sinclair had recommended that he employ as his housekeeper had worked his way seamlessly into his household, so seamlessly that Luke’s original suspicions had been completely erased. Now, as he encountered Rio’s keen, dark gaze, Luke’s cop instincts flared into virulent life.

  Who was this man? Was he friend or foe?

  Luke’s gaze fell on Otto.

  The expression of utter trust on the boy’s face as he gazed up at Rio stirred a latent memory in Luke. He could hear Ian, as clear as yesterday—you can rely on a child’s instincts, Luke. Children have a real sense of nefarious intent; they will seldom lead you astray. Luke’s suspicions eased. He crouched beside Otto’s wheelchair and looked directly into the boy’s troubled eyes. ‘Tell me about this argument you overheard.’

  Luke braced for an answer he was sure he wasn’t going to like. As he watched the boy screwing up his courage, the knot in Luke’s gut tightened. What had the child overheard that had him so frightened and Rio in a tizzy?

  Voices echoed down the hall.

  Luke rose from his crouch as Brooke and Rose walked into the kitchen, and behind them, a man.

  He watched the trio through narrowed eyes. Brooke looked uncomfortable. The man caught her arm and turned her around to face him as he whispered in her ear.

  A feral roar of jealousy and possessiveness clawed at Luke.

  He stepped forward, but was forced to stop when Rio caught his arm and shook his head.

  Brooke said something Luke didn’t catch.

  The man’s hand dropped as if he’d been stung; his colour heightened as he looked up and saw Luke watching them.

  What the hell is going on here? Luke intended to find out and stepped forward, hand outstretched. ‘Luke Calloway.’

  ‘Jackson Dwyer.’ The man grasped Luke’s hand and shook it firmly. ‘Chief accident investigator.’

  Luke nodded; he’d guessed as much. He dropped his hand and glanced at Rose.

  Her pinched white face had him crossing to her side and sliding a strong arm around her slender shoulders. ‘You okay, sweetheart?’

  The girl nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. ‘I am now.’

  ‘You’ve finished?’ Apprehension twisted Luke’s gut in knots. His anxious glance flicked from Rose to Brooke.

  Rose pulled away from him, turned away and ran down the corridor. A door slammed.

  Luke looked at Brooke and she shrugged as their gazes met and held. Hostility radiated from her in waves; her dark eyes glittered with anger as she glared at him and then at the detective.

  Luke was gripped by a fierce surge of emotion, a mix of anger and jealousy. Who was this man, and what was he to Brooke? It was as obvious as the nose on his face that they knew each other, something that set Luke’s teeth on edge. Did they have a history?

  I’ll be damned if I like the idea of yet one more man from Brooke’s past emerging from the woodwork … not one little bit …

  Dwyer, after a quick veiled glance at Luke, approached Otto, leaned down and spoke to the boy. ‘You must be Otto McLellan.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Otto nibbled on his lower lip a moment before he blurted out, ‘Rio says you need to hear about the fight my dad had with Grandpa.’

  Otto’s words jerked Luke to attention.

  Damn! I hoped to ha
ve time to talk to my boy before he talked to the cop.

  My boy …

  With a shock of recognition, Luke looked at Otto. Sometime during these past trying weeks he’d come to regard his nephew as his boy. When had this happened?

  Fighting down these unfamiliar emotions, Luke looked at Brooke.

  She was staring at Otto and frowning. He gave her a questioning glance, and when she shrugged and spread her hands, it was obvious to him that she was as much in the dark as he was.

  His gaze landed on Dwyer, but the man’s gentle manner with the boy eased some of Luke’s tension even as it raised yet more questions. The detective’s manner with Otto was at odds to the way the man had looked at Brooke.

  Luke hoped like hell his own expression was unreadable as he gripped Otto’s shoulder in silent support. ‘How about we move this to my office?’

  Otto smiled up at him, his expression one of such total trust that Luke’s heart melted. This kid possessed courage in spades. Luke knew he would move heaven and earth to protect this boy and his sister. He had to swallow hard to dispel the moisture burning at the back of his eyes.

  ‘That’s an excellent idea,’ Dwyer said, his tone treacle-smooth.

  As he caught the man’s assessing gaze, Luke quickly got his measure. In the course of his police career, he had met a few too many officers like Dwyer. Unless he was wide of the mark, he’d bet his last dollar that Dwyer would do whatever was necessary to protect his career. This insight increased Luke’s wariness. Did this explain the antipathy he’d sensed between Dwyer and Brooke?

  ‘After you.’ Luke indicated that Dwyer precede him.

  With one last glance at Brooke, Luke walked beside Otto as the boy expertly manoeuvered his wheelchair into the hall. He’d have to wait to find out what the hell had gone down between Brooke and the cop. As for Otto, why hadn’t the boy confided in him long before now? What had he overheard? Luke opened the door to his office and ushered Dwyer and Otto inside, and braced himself for whatever bombshell Otto was about to drop.

  He needed to keep his wits about him and his reactions concealed.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Brooke chewed on her lower lip as she watched the two men and Otto leave the kitchen. Her gut churned and her mind raced in turmoil.

  ‘You okay?’ Rio’s deep voice was curiously gentle.

  How can I answer when my past is colliding with my present?

  She shrugged, avoiding his eyes.

  ‘Would you like a coffee?’

  Brooke shook her head. Food or drink would choke her. ‘I need to go and see about my dad.’

  Without waiting for a response, she fled, desperate for privacy. In her bedroom, she leaned back against the door and closed her eyes. How could fate be such a capricious bitch?

  Jackson Dwyer. Why couldn’t the crash investigator be some other cop, anyone except him? She shuddered.

  So much for my bright new beginning with Luke.

  What had possessed her to rub Dwyer’s nose in his failures? She, better than anyone, knew he had a vindictive streak a mile wide and wasn’t choosy about how he exacted revenge. She sighed, staring at the ceiling. And he was alone with Luke.

  Fool! I’m a fool. I handed him the means.

  What could she do? Nothing. She knew Luke held doubts about her integrity. Dwyer wouldn’t need to say anything much at all to solidify those doubts.

  She sighed heavily.

  It was too late to regret ever meeting Brad Thornton or to wish she’d never entered that cursed chess tournament.

  Misplaced pride, Buttercup, misplaced pride.

  ‘Regrets are useless,’ she whispered. Lord knows, her dad had told her this often enough.

  She heard Frank’s unmistakable shuffling gait in the hall outside. Had she conjured him up with her bleak thoughts? A nervous giggle greeted that thought. The knock on her door snapped her out of the self-pitying moment. She took a slow, deep breath desperate to appear calm before she opened the door.

  ‘May I come in?’ he asked.

  ‘Of course.’ She stepped aside, watching warily as he shuffled across the room and sat in the wicker chair near the window. She perched on the edge of the bed.

  ‘That detective come yet?’ he asked.

  She nodded, fighting down nausea. ‘It’s Jackson Dwyer, Dad.’

  ‘Bloody hell! That skunk’s here?’

  ‘He is.’

  Frank glowered at her. ‘So why are you hiding?’

  ‘I needed some time out.’ She avoided her dad’s shrewd gaze.

  ‘Have your wits gone begging, Brooke?’ He rose, shambled across to the bed and with his good hand, lifted her chin and made her look at him. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong. Now, more than ever, you need to stand straight and tall.’

  ‘I’m scared.’

  ‘For sure, but why let Dwyer know he has you rattled?’

  She curled her hand around her father’s. ‘What will he say to Luke?’

  ‘You can’t control what Dwyer says to Luke, or anyone else.’ Frank’s rheumy eyes softened. ‘Luke does not strike me as stupid. He’ll take his cue from you. You were not at fault in that debacle. So why act as if you’re guilty?’

  Seeing the unconditional love in her dad’s eyes made tears sting the back of hers. ‘Thanks, I needed to hear this.’

  ‘Did Dwyer know you were here?’

  ‘No, and he was shocked.’

  ‘Then he’s not aware that I’m here, either?’

  ‘I guess not.’ She gave a shaky laugh.

  ‘Then let’s go give that man a real surprise.’ He chuckled. ‘Do you remember what your mum said when you were afraid?’

  ‘Fake it till you make it.’ She managed a watery smile.

  Her dad gave her an awkward one-armed hug. Brooke looped her arm through his and they walked side by side back to the kitchen. As they entered, Rio looked up from putting a tray of nibbles down in front of Rose. Brooke gave the girl a swift look, but she was obviously over whatever had caused her to run earlier.

  ‘You must have heard the kettle boiling. What can I get you two?’

  ‘I’m ready for that coffee now, Rio.’

  ‘The usual for me,’ Frank said with a lopsided smile. ‘Invalid’s pap.’

  Rose giggled. The sound warmed Brooke’s heart. She’d watched the girl struggle throughout that harrowing interview and it was a relief to see her sunny smile return.

  ‘Are you laughing at me, Rosie girl?’ Frank asked gruffly.

  ‘Only when you’re being a funny one.’ Rose grinned at Frank.

  As Brooke watched them share a moment of playful banter she saw in the girl’s wide gamin smile a hint of the beautiful young woman Rose would become. The fierce rush of protectiveness she felt for the young teen caught her by surprise. It fired her determination to do whatever she could to help Luke retain custody of this girl and her brother.

  Brooke couldn’t claim to know Duncan and Margaret McLellan, but what little she’d learned wasn’t reassuring. She feared that their drive to undermine Luke’s guardianship wasn’t about the children, or their best interests, but something else entirely.

  A sound in the doorway caught her attention and she turned just as Otto raced through the door and across the kitchen to Rio.

  ‘How did it go, kid?’ Rio hunkered down to the boy’s eye level and rested a hand on his wheelchair.

  ‘Okay I s’pose.’ Otto shrugged, his bony shoulders almost reaching his ears. ‘What’s to eat? I’m starving.’

  Rio chuckled, stood and rumpled the boy’s hair. ‘You’re always starving.’

  ‘Uncle Luke wants you to take him and the cop some coffee.’

  Brooke flinched. That Dwyer was spending time alone with Luke was the last thing she wanted to hear.

  ‘What do you want to drink, young’un?’ Rio’s deep voice was almost drowned by a rumble of thunder overhead.

  Brooke frowned as she watched them. Was it her imagination or was Rio inordinately co
ncerned about Otto?

  What does Rio know that I don’t?

  ***

  As Otto and his wheelchair disappeared through the office doorway, Luke very slowly turned to look at the cop. Dwyer packed away his recording equipment and studiously avoided making eye contact with Luke. The silence in the room shrieked with tension and unanswered questions.

  ‘Where will you go from here?’ Luke was first to break the silence. ‘I take it you’ll be bringing McLellan in for questioning, pronto?’

  The detective looked squarely at him. ‘You, better than anyone, know I can’t divulge any details of an ongoing investigation.’

  Luke’s fist clenched convulsively. I do know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

  Dwyer sighed and his impassive expression softened ever so slightly. ‘Look, Mr Calloway, I understand your position and I do sympathise. If this involved my family, I would be just as antsy.’

  ‘I want that bastard nailed.’

  ‘Do you?’

  ‘My bloody oath,’ Luke muttered, struggling not to squirm under the other man’s hard, piercing gaze.

  ‘Then take a step back, man, and let us do our job.’

  A soft knock on the door signalled Rio’s arrival with the requested coffee.

  ‘Come in, Rio, and thank you.’

  Luke was too aware of the housekeeper’s questioning expression as he carefully put the tray on Luke’s desk.

  Rio looked from Luke to Dwyer. ‘Did young Otto tell you about the argument he overheard between his dad and his grandfather the night of their crash?’

  ‘He did,’ Dwyer responded, his voice noncommittal.

  Luke frowned as he leaned back in his chair until the front legs were a few inches off the floor. It was unlike Rio to insert himself in a conversation, and Luke was curious as to why he would do so now.

  ‘Did the kid also tell you that he’s terrified?’

  The legs of Luke’s chair hit the floor with a loud thud. What has Otto confided in Rio that he hasn’t shared with me or the detective?

  ‘Otto’s afraid? Of what?’ Luke leaned forward, skewering Rio with a fierce look.

  ‘That kid is afraid that he and his sister are going to end up dead. Like their parents.’

  The breath left Luke’s lungs in a resounding whoosh.