Kaylyn paced around the perimeter of the room, not really wanting to hear Cole’s conversation. She ended up at the doorway, just as Jonah and Mr. Roarch finished up.
“How’s she doing?” Jonah whispered.
Kaylyn shrugged. She wasn’t sure it was even possible to answer that question.
“We all need to go to the hospital and get checked out.”
“I’d feel better if tonight at least made sense. It’s all like a freaky nightmare, with no sense of time or order. And how did the entity take over again when I had the necklace?”
Jonah reached for her right hand, and held her branded palm up for her to see. “You had the necklace in your hand.”
Kaylyn’s eyes widened and he showed her his own hand with a matching brand. “It took a lot of energy to get past the charm.”
“No wonder my hand burned when I took the flashlight.”
“We broke your connection with the entity, so you should be safe. We’ll keep an eye on you for a while just to make sure.”
“That should be pretty damn easy, since I can’t ever get away from you.”
Jonah leaned his side against what was left of the doorframe. He attempted a smile, but it looked more like a painful wince. “Think you can drive my car?”
“I learned to drive a standard when I was twelve,” Kaylyn nodded. “But I don’t think I can carry you down the stairs, so you’re going to have to manage that feat on your own.”
Cole dried her face as she grabbed the flashlight and approached Jonah and Kaylyn. “I figured we were heading to the hospital. Daniel’s meeting us there.”
“Well, boss, are they ever letting you out of here?” Kaylyn asked, leaning against the foot of Jonah’s hospital bed.
“Yeah, how’d you get done so fast?”
“Fast?” Kaylyn huffed. “An hour and a half to get a few stitches and have my wounds cleaned. I’m good as new… aside from the scratches and sleep deprivation. And this dandy little burn on my hand in the shape of a cross.”
Jonah held up his palm. “I can match that. And Cole?”
“She’s with Daniel. They’re…” Kaylyn’s eyes fell on the blanket over Jonah’s feet. “I wasn’t doing well with all the….”
“Emotion? You can say it.”
“Yeah…” Kaylyn kept her eyes down as she moved to the seat near the window. “So are they admitting you, or what?”
“No, they’re pumping me full of pain meds and going over X-rays. Are you just going to hang out in here now?”
“Unless you want me to go wander the halls, I figured I’d be a dutiful employee. At least if I am an employee?”
“Yes. You’ll be fully reinstated. On one condition—if something is going on that affects your ability to do your job, you tell me and we work something out.”
Kaylyn shoved her hands deep into her pockets. “Yes, sir.”
“Don’t give me that shtick, Kaylyn. I want your word.”
Kaylyn opened her mouth, but the words were blocked by her thoughts. “And you’ll take my word?”
“If I expect you to trust me, I have to trust you. You’re not in this alone. If you want to keep your job, you’ll take that into consideration.”
“I’ll be straight with you,” she said, on the verge of a whisper.
“I’m sure you’ll try.”
Kaylyn huffed and rubbed her forehead. He really does know you too well. “What about Emerson?”
“The doctors said he’d make a full recovery, but suggested that he find a less stressful hobby in his retirement.”
“So…”
“If you push it, Aicil will probably fire him, but I think he was trying to protect you.”
Kaylyn scratched at the seam of her jeans. “I just want to be done with it. Getting him fired wouldn’t make anything right.”
A pair of dress shoe clad feet shuffled behind the curtain. “Imagine my surprise,” a man with grey streaked brown hair stepped around the barrier, “when I hopped on a plane and found out, mid-flight, that you were all being admitted to the hospital.”
“Probably about as surprised as I am to see you here. You didn’t say anything about flying in.”
Even if Kaylyn hadn’t seen a picture of Jonah’s father earlier, it was impossible not to spot the family resemblance. When he looked her way, she dropped her gaze to the bed. She had no idea how much Jonah had told him, or—even worse—what would prompt him to take a four-hour flight from Alberta to check on them.
“I came across some information that would best be delivered in person.”
“Maybe I should step out,” Kaylyn said, moving away from the bed.
“You should stay. And maybe sit down.” Jonah said.
“Why? What now?”
“You should sit down, because you look like you’re ready to pass out… again.”
Kaylyn had to admit—although not aloud—that her legs were threatening to spill her onto the tiled floor, but instead of moving back to take a seat, she braced herself against the bed railing.
Mr. Troyer pulled a thick envelope from the inside pocket of his coat and handed it to Kaylyn. “You’ve probably figured out the jist of it by now, but you deserve to have all of the details.”
“The details? All of this is about me?”
Mr. Troyer nodded. “Your birth, your parents… there isn’t a lot there, but you were a newborn when the record was created.”
“Fuck.” Kaylyn collapsed on the foot of the bed.
“I thought it should be your choice whether or not to read it.”
“Would you?”
“It doesn’t change who you are. It doesn’t change your family.”
Kaylyn took a deep breath, but she couldn’t seem to stop her body from shaking. “Thanks, Mr. Troyer.”
“Nathan,” he glanced at Jonah as if the two shared some silent comment. “And how are you feeling?”
“Great.” Jonah’s voice rumbled more than usual. “And I’m not being as sarcastic as you would imagine.”
“I think they’re feeding him the good stuff.”
“It would appear so.” Nathan pulled up a stool and took a seat. “Then, I guess I should wait until you’re more coherent to ask how you feel about remaining in charge of the office here.”
No, Kaylyn thought, don’t wait to ask. They wouldn’t send another new boss after just a couple of weeks. Or did they intend to give the office back to Carlisle?
“I get an option now?”
His father nodded.
She tried to keep her hands from tightening around the envelope. She may not have agreed with his sudden takeover, but he’d believed in her enough to put his own career and life on the line for her—a girl he barely knew. A girl who made a hellishly bad first impression.
“Maybe it is the pain meds talking, but I’ll stay. It may not have been my first choice, but I imagine it will be interesting here.”
Nathan grunted. “As long as it’s not as interesting as Paris. I recommend you all stay out of trouble for a while.”
Kaylyn bit her lip, more to hide the slaphappy smile that threatened to erupt. She was now more curious than ever to find out why Jonah had been transferred. As Jonah and his father continued the conversation, Kaylyn stared off at the white envelope in her lap.
Jonah patted her wrist, “Kaylyn?”
She jumped, but even looking around took effort. “Sorry. I’m exhausted.”
“Do Cole and Dan have somewhere to stay?”
“Yeah, I heard them talking about… something.”
“Maybe you should try to catch them and get a ride home.”
Kaylyn moaned, slid off the bed, and plodded toward the door. Nurses were gathering the laundry from the room where she’d left Cole and Dan, so she turned back to the nurses’ station.
“Cole Anderson?” She pointed to the empty room.
“You’re her sister?” A nurse asked, sliding a chart into a basket. “She left about ten minutes ago.”
Pe
rfect. She reminded herself that cussing out the nurse wouldn’t be beneficial. “Thanks.”
She heard multiple voices in the room before she peeked around the curtain. “I’ve been abandoned… again.”
Jonah was out, but the nurse was disconnecting his IV and monitors.
“We should be ready to go soon,” Nathan said.
Ready to go, but where the hell was she supposed to stay? Surely, Nathan expected to stay with his son. And she wasn’t well versed in the protocols involved with an employee staying with her boss.
“I already know,” Nathan whispered, “Jonah told me that you’re staying with him.”
“I really wonder whether the two of you can hear my thoughts.” She tried to look up at him, but her tired eyes refused to focus against the lights.
Nathan chuckled quietly. “I’m sure if we could, you’d know it.”
“Comforting.”
“You’re new to this. You’ll learn that half the battle is figuring out what people aren’t telling you. Figuring out what is really bothering them. There’s a big difference between working the cases full time and working them a few hours a week, in between classes, with an experienced investigator.”
“Yes, it is.”
“You’ll get the hang of it,” he promised.
Skye Callahan was born and raised in Ohio and has seen enough unbelievable stuff to feed a lifetime of paranormal stories. When not writing or working at the dayjob she hangs out with her ethnomusicologist husband and pet ferrets, reads, and takes long walks through the cemetery.
She'd love to hear more from you!
Skye Callahan's Newsletter: Be among the first to hear about new releases, like the second book in the Darkness Bound Series-Beyond the Divide.
My first shout out goes to my hubby, without his support and patience, none of this would have been possible. I’m thankful to have family and friends who have always encouraged my love of writing.
Next, I want to thank my Beta Readers, who got a taste of Fractured Legacy in it’s early raw state. Pepper Winters, my partner in writing torture. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be half as productive without having you around to push me. Dawna Raver and Chelle Bliss, it was an honor to share my writing time with you, thanks for being around to help me sort out problems and discuss ideas. Tina Moran and Millie Burns, thank you both for taking time out of your schedules to help me develop my story, I appreciate your suggestions and encouragement.
My book wouldn’t have been complete without the beautiful cover designed by Joy at Indie Author Services as well as the editing by Lindsey and production help from Jade provided through Black Firefly.
Fractured Legacy (Darkness Bound / Frqactured Legacy #1) Page 16
