“Okay.” Was all Ian could say because he was expecting the worst at this point. Sandy turned her laptop toward him, and the images of two bloodied bodies filled the screen. Keith was right he’d seen some pretty severe injuries in his life, and some were just as bad as what he was seeing in front of him.
“They were murdered over three weeks ago,” it was the first time Sandy had spoken since she’d walked into the house.
“Am I supposed to know these women?” Ian hoped not.
“No, but here’s what they looked like before that.” Sandy clicked on a few more keys and pictures of two attractive women popped up on the screen. The thing that made him tense was their resemblance to Sandy. It made his stomach lurch.
“Do you need a glass of water, bro?” Keith was familiar with Ian’s reactions.
“Yeah.” Ian sat down and plowed his hands through his hair. Keith placed a glass in front of him, and Ian sipped it slowly.
“You ready to listen to all this?” Keith asked. Ian nodded, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know.
“We’re pretty sure Scott Coates is responsible for this, and it’s a message to Sandy that he’s coming for her.” Keith started to pace.
“Keith, for the love of God. Can’t you be a little less dramatic.” Sandy sighed. Ian didn’t think his brother was being dramatic at all.
“Sandy, I’m telling him the facts. He needs to know, and we’ve got to put a plan together to make sure you and anyone you care about is safe. That includes him and the girls.” That statement had Ian covering his mouth and holding up his hand as he hurried out of the kitchen. He got in the bathroom, but he managed to keep everything down by splashing water on his face and taking several deep breaths.
“You okay, Doc?” Sandy asked when he entered the kitchen a few minutes later. He nodded because he wasn’t sure it was safe to speak at that point.
“This is the plan, bro. One, you and the girls either stay with me or at Sandy’s place. Our security is much better than yours, and there’ll always be at least two of my guys close. Two, I want you carrying at all times.” Keith braced his fisted hands on the table in front of him. “I know you can shoot, but it’s no good if you don’t have it close.”
“I don’t need a gun, Keith. I can protect myself and the girls.” Ian didn’t want to carry a gun all the time.
“You can’t block a bullet with your hands or a kick,” Keith growled.
“I’m not carrying a gun.” Ian stood up and faced his brother.
“Bring up the picture of that bastard,” Keith told Sandy, but he kept his eyes trained on Ian.
Ian heard Sandy click on the computer keys again and turn the laptop toward him again.
“Look at that picture. Memorize that face. That’s the asshole who’s out to kill Sandy. He wants to do what he did to those girls, to the woman you love but he’s a sly bastard. So, if you don’t realize it’s him then he could get to her before you get a chance to drop kick his ass.” Keith pointed to the smiling man on the screen, and at first glance, the man looked harmless. Like someone, he could probably be friends with, but Ian knew the truth, and the smile suddenly looked sinister and taunting.
“Do you know where he is?” Ian met Sandy’s gaze. She shook her head, and he walked around his brother and crouched down in front of her. “Do you want me to carry a gun?” Ian didn’t give a fuck what Keith said. She’d asked him not long ago if he knew how to shoot.
“I’d feel better if you did.” She cupped his cheek, and he covered his hand with hers and kissed her palm.
“Then I will. For you and the girls.”
“Hi, Uncle Keith.” Lily’s sleepy voice had them all turning toward the kitchen door.
“Hi, Lily.” Keith closed the laptop even though the only picture on there was Scott.
“Did you want something, sweetheart.” Ian quickly went to her and lifted her in his arms.
“I’m thirsty.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at Sandy.
Ian carried her while he pulled a juice box out of the fridge. Lily took it and sipped it like she hadn’t had anything to drink in days. She reached out to Sandy and Ian placed her on Sandy’s lap.
“Are you sleeping over tonight, too?” Lily asked when she finally put down her empty juice box.
“I think so.” Sandy glanced back and forth between Keith and Ian.
“Of course, she is.” Ian glared at Keith daring him to disagree, but his brother just crossed his arms over his chest.
“You sleeping over too, Uncle Keith?” Lily asked, and Ian chuckled at Keith’s expression. He seemed to have a nervousness around the girls.
“I’ve got some things to do at home. I won’t be staying tonight.” Keith answered.
“Why were you looking at a picture of Carter?” Lily pointed at the laptop. “He’s in heaven with mommy.”
“That wasn’t Carter, honey that was someone we are trying to find,” Sandy explained, and Lily must be confused.
“That was Carter, but he had longer hair in that picture.” Ian tensed, and Keith stood up straight. Sandy’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head.
“Are you sure that’s Carter, Lily?” Keith asked, and the little girl nodded. Keith opened the laptop and pointed to the picture still on the screen. “This man was the man married to your mom?”
“Yes, didn’t you hear me a second ago?” Lily shook her head and looked at Sandy. “I think he might have something wrong with his ears.”
“My ears work fine. Lily, you need to be sure.” Keith bent down to Lily’s level, and Ian was worried his overgrown brother was going to frighten her.
“You can be really cranky sometimes, you need to eat more fiber.” Lily leaned toward her uncle and Ian had to try to hold back his laughter. “But if you don’t believe me, I can show you.” With that statement, she jumped down from Sandy’s lap and ran out of the kitchen. Ian was about to follow her, but she returned a few minutes later holding a wooden box that looked like an old chest. Stickers and colorful beads covered the top and sides.
Lily put the box on the floor and used a small key to open it. Ian watched her as she searched through the little chest. His daughter seemed to be having trouble finding something. She sat down and pulled it between her legs as she took everything out one by one and placed it carefully next to her side. Ian glanced at Sandy. She was watching Lily like the little girl was about to pull out the best treasure in the world. Keith didn’t look as impressed, but that was his brother.
“I know it’s in here. Mommy gave me the picture and told me to keep it with the rest of my treasures.” Lily seemed to be speaking mostly to herself.
“Do you want me to help you, Lily?” Ian asked.
“Oh no, Daddy. These are my secret treasures.” Lily’s eyes went wide as she explained how her mom told her only the two of them could look in the chest and Grace when she was older.
For what seemed like forever Lily pulled one thing after the other out of the box. It was starting to look as if the thing had no bottom. Ian sat back against the wall and pulled his hands down over his face. Sandy leaned over with her arms resting on her knees and her hands clasped together. Keith sat on the chair and rested his chin on his fist looking as impatient as ever.
“Here it is.” Lily squealed and held up a folded photo waving it in the air. Keith jumped up and almost yanked it out of the little girl’s hand.
“That was rude.” Lily furrowed her brows and glared at Keith.
“Sorry, kiddo. This is really important.” Keith seemed genuinely apologetic.
“I’m Lily and just ask next time.” Lily shook her head as she carefully put everything back in the chest.
Keith opened the picture and studied it. Ian glanced over his brother’s shoulder to get a glimpse of the photo. It showed a smiling Colleen holding Lily’s hand and her other hand on a very pregnant belly. Four men stood next to her one was Gerald. The other two Ian didn’t know, but the man with his
arm wrapped around Colleen gave him chills. Lily was right.
“Lily, come here and tell me who all these people are in the picture.” Keith crouched down on the floor. Ian was puzzled because Keith seemed to know some of them.
“You have really bad manners.” Lily closed her box and stood up.
“I’m sorry.” Keith sighed. “Could you please come here and tell me who all these people are?”
Lily stood next to Keith and looked down at the picture. She pointed to everyone and called each of them by name.
“That’s Mommy, that’s me, that’s Uncle Gerry, That’s Carter, That’s Carter’s friend, I don’t know his name. He smelled really yucky. That’s the man that did the wedding.” Lily looked up at Keith.
“Thanks, Lily.” Keith had apparently learned Lily was waiting for him to use his manners. “Can I keep this picture for a few days?” Lily looked up at Ian, and the panic in her eyes made his heart hurt.
“I don’t have any more pictures of mommy.” Lily’s eyes were filling with tears, and before Ian had a chance to comfort her, Sandy was on her knees and taking Lily’s hands in hers.
“I promise you I’ll make sure Uncle Keith brings that picture back to you,” Sandy said.
“You promise?” The sadness in Lily's voice made Ian's chest hurt.
“I promise.” Sandy crossed her heart with her finger.
“Okay, Uncle Keith.” Lily looked up at Keith and gave a weak smile.
“I think it’s time to go back to sleep.” Ian didn’t want the little girl hearing anything that Keith and Sandy were about to say. Lily nodded, and Ian picked her up and brought her back to the living room where Evie was still sleeping soundly.
“Daddy, is everything okay?” Lily whispered when Ian tucked her in.
“Everything will be okay, honey. Don’t you worry.” Ian kissed her on the top of the head, and her eyes fluttered closed.
Ian stood and stared down at her for a moment. Was everything going to be okay? Did Colleen know what kind of man she married? What had she been involved in and had that got her killed? If anyone could find out, it was his brother.
Chapter 20
Sandy knew what it was like to only have a few pictures of people who had passed away. She had lots of pictures of her mother, but she only had one picture of her friend, Tessa and she kept that in a safe place. She’d scanned it to make sure if something did happen to the photo that she would always have it.
When she made that promise to Lily, she meant it. Keith stood there staring at the picture as he held his phone to his ear. Sandy still hadn’t looked at it, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to. She was almost afraid of who she would see.
“Bring Gerry over to Ian’s house and take an overnight bag ‘cause you’ll be staying here tonight.” Keith listened for a minute. “I need him here.”
“Just hold on a sec there, bro. I don’t want Lily seeing him yet.” Ian walked into the kitchen. Keith held up his finger as he continued to listen.
“Okay, come in through the back of the house because we don’t want anyone to know he’s here,” Keith said.
“Have you looked at the picture yet?” Ian glanced down at Sandy, took her hand and pulled her up from the chair. Automatically she wrapped her arms around him, and he hugged her tightly to his body. It was as if being in his arms made every muscle and nerve in her body calm. She closed her eyes as she rested her cheek against his chest. The steady thud of his heart was even more calming, and she almost forgot about everything. Almost.
“No.” He must have sensed she didn’t want to talk because he hugged her and kissed the top of her head.
“Okay, Sandy. I need you to look at this and see if you know any of these guys before Gerry gets here.” She heard Keith say right after the beep of his phone meaning he ended the call.
She opened her eyes but didn’t move. Keith tilted his head to the side. Keith had to know how hard this was for her. Scott or Carter or whatever his name was a monster, and she wasn’t the only one to have fallen for his tricks.
“Come on, kiddo.” Keith held out the picture, and before she reached for it, Ian took it from Keith’s hand and held it up in front of her.
The first thing Sandy saw was the woman. Obviously, Colleen. She was beautiful and certainly looked happy. She glanced to Colleen’s left and saw him. Scott was smiling like he was the happiest man in the world. She stared at him for a moment and then looked behind him where Colleen’s brother stood with what seemed like a forced smile. Sandy scanned to the left of Scott, and her heart felt as if it stopped. She knew the other two men in the photo. One of them intimately. She grabbed the picture from Ian’s hand and held it closer. Just to make sure she wasn’t mistaken.
“I can’t believe it.” She said.
“Can’t believe what, kiddo?” Keith was now looking over her shoulder.
“I know them.” Sandy pointed to the two men.
“Who are they?” Ian asked.
“Remember the guy I told you talked to me at the club when I went back to find Dennis?” Sandy looked up at Keith. He nodded.
“That’s him.” She pointed to the man stood right next to Scott.
“You said you knew them?” Keith said. Sandy looked at Ian and felt ashamed for the first time in a long time.
“That’s Dennis.” Sandy pointed to the other man. “He wasn’t dead.” She walked from between Ian and Keith. She stood in front of the window trembling, and it pissed her off because she hated feeling weak.
“This is not making any fucking sense,” Keith said.
It wasn’t making sense to her either. How did these guys know each other and the way they all looked in the picture was as if they were friends? Lily said that the man who told Sandy Dennis was dead smelled funny and the man Sandy knew as Dennis officiated the wedding. She had everything spinning through her mind making her dizzy. Then she felt him slip his arms around her waist and pull her against him.
“We’ll figure this out,” Ian whispered in her ear. Sandy turned into his arms and pressed her forehead against his chest.
“I’m going to tell you something, but you can’t say anything to Keith or anyone.” Sandy raised her head and stared into his eyes. Keith had gone out back to meet with Gerry, and she was assuming Smash since Gerry was staying him.
“I promise.” Ian crossed his finger over his chest, and she smiled.
“I’m scared.” She whispered. “Not for myself but for everyone I love. Scott’s crazy. He must be to do what he did.”
Ian pulled her into his arms and tucked her head under his chin.
“Keith will make sure everyone is safe,” Ian whispered. “And I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Just as she thought, Smash walked in behind Keith and Gerry through the back door. Smash looked more like a high school kid with his shaggy blonde hair and clean shaven face. He was probably the one she talked to the most besides Keith.
“Hey there Sandy, Ian” Smash gave her a half smile.
“Hi, Gage,” Sandy gave him a quick smile.
“Nice to see you, Smash.” Ian reached out and shook hands with him but managed to keep Sandy close. Since most of Keith’s employees relocated to Hopedale, they were all familiar with Ian and the rest of the O’Connor family. The only one that wasn’t living in the town at the moment was Lane.
“Gerry, I need you to look at this picture and tell me who the guys are.” Keith wasn’t wasting any time, and she was glad.
“This was taken after Carter married Colleen or who people thought was Carter.” Sandy watched as Gerry studied the picture. His face fell a little and Sandy had no doubt it was because he was looking at his sister. “She was so happy that day.” Gerald’s voice cracked a little, but he tipped his head back and took a deep breath.
“I know this is hard, buddy but we need to know who these guys are.” Keith pointed to the two men in the picture.
“The guy next to Carter is Lefty. Like I said before I don’t know his real na
me. All I know the guy always stunk to high heavens of weed and body odor. The other guy was the one who performed the wedding.” Gerald shook his head. “I can’t remember what they called him but from what that cop from Manitoba told me he was the real Carter.”
“Dennis?” Sandy asked.
“Yes, Carter told me the guy went by his second name. Well, the guy I thought was Carter. This is so fucked up.” Gerald plopped down on one of the chairs and dropped his head. “I should’ve stopped the wedding, but I was so desperate to find out what happened to Luke. I know he didn’t kill himself.” He covered his face with his hand and propped his elbows on the table.
“You’re right, you should’ve made sure Colleen wasn’t mixed up in this,” Keith told him, it made Sandy want to smack him in the back of the head. Keith wasn’t known for being empathetic.
“Jesus, Keith, could you be more of an ass?” Smash shook his head and glanced over at Sandy.
“Shut up, Smash, he knew what Luke was involved in, and he was aware these guys were up to no good. What you didn’t know Gerry is, the guy you thought was Carter, is a fucking cruel bastard. He’s been raping and torturing women for years. Probably more than we know. He’s also the one that killed someone I cared deeply about and took another mother away from her little girl.” Gerald’s head slowly lifted, and he met Keith’s eyes.
“We need to know what you know, Gerry,” Ian said as Sandy felt his arm tighten around her.
“I know he’s real smart, and he’s crazy. If I knew what Colleen did with that USB, it would help. All she said was she’d hide it in her secret treasure chest.” Gerald almost tipped over the chair when Keith jumped up from the seat across the table and turned to Ian.
“You don’t think….” Ian said, and Sandy knew what they were both thinking.
“Get that box,” Keith said a little louder than he should have. Ian turned to leave the kitchen, but Sandy stepped in front of him.
“You can’t touch that box without asking Lily.” Sandy glanced back and forth between the two brothers.
“Are you fucking nuts? Everything we need could be in that box.” Keith stared at her as if she’d grown another head.
Dangerous Secrets (O'Connor Brothers Book 3) Page 17
