Sins of the Father

by Melissa Barker-Simpson

  She had been waiting on that day too, but instead of the hospital, it was her apartment. She paced the living room floor, impatient with the wait. It didn’t occur to her to worry. It should have. Gray disliked tardiness in others and never arrived late for anything in his life.

  She distinctly remembered the sound of a car pulling up outside, recalled her excitement as she hurried forward. But where she had expected Eric to come bounding through the door, she was met by a solemn knock. It was completely out of place, and even before she saw the two uniformed police officers, she knew something was wrong.

  "How much longer do we have to wait?" Rebecca cried out in frustration. It brought Alicia back to the present with a deep sense of foreboding.

  She stood; glad to be able to shake off the memory. “I’ll go find out.” Her glance moved from Rebecca to Stuart. He still had an ear glued to the phone. “Give me one minute.”

  She went to the nurses’ station and waited to catch their attention. It didn’t take long. She was recognised wherever she went; it was par for the course. But the speculative glances seemed so out of place in this environment that she felt a flush of irritation.

  “Look, forget who I am for a moment. Is there anything you can tell me about Jack Murphy’s condition?” Nicely done, Al. That’ll win you some fans.

  “Perhaps I can help with that.”

  She turned towards the voice and felt her irritation evaporate. “I’d appreciate that, thank you, doctor. Jack’s wife is just over here.”

  He motioned for her to go ahead. “Shall we?”

  Alicia surveyed his mood as they walked towards the waiting area. He looked tired and drawn, but also faintly optimistic.

  “How is he, doctor?” Rebecca was on her feet the moment she saw them approach.

  “The surgery went well. He lost a lot of blood and there are some internal injuries, but he’s strong.”

  “Oh, thank God.” Rebecca hugged Alicia hard, laughing at the grunt of surprise. “Did you hear that, Al? You were right. He’s going to be okay.”

  “Of course he is.” Alicia’s relief was so potent she wanted to dance Rebecca around the room.

  “The next twenty-four hours are critical, but I’ve every hope he’ll pull through.”

  Stuart was beside them now. He held out a hand to the doctor. “That’s really great news. Thank you.”

  “Yes, thank you so much.” Rebecca made a valiant attempt to pull herself together. “When can we see him?”

  “I’ll arrange it as soon as I can.” He smiled kindly at her. “If you have any questions, I’ll be back in a little while to check on him.”

  They watched him walk away, each lost in their own thoughts. Alicia still felt the edge of fear, but it was easier to ignore now that they had hope.

  “I’m so glad he’s okay, Becky,” Stuart said, leading her back to the seating area.

  “It’s good of you to come...to bring Al to the hospital.”

  “She needed me so I’m here…for the both of you. It’s in my job description.” He winked at Alicia. “The shock of it all will wear off soon enough and she’ll be taking control.”

  “Oh, that’s nice. Can you say Diva anyone?” Alicia said, enjoying how it felt to laugh now they had reason to. “Seriously though, Stu, if you need to get back I’ll call you as soon as we have news.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “See what I mean?”

  “I’m just trying to...”

  “Relax, Al. You’re right. I’m needed elsewhere. I’ve already started damage control but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

  Rebecca sighed. “How long before the vultures descend?”

  “It was bound to happen. We’ll protect you as much as we can.” Alicia squeezed her hand in sympathy.

  “Anything you need, Becky, anything at all.” Stuart stood and they followed suit. “You too, Al. Call me if you need me.” He hugged them both. “And tell Jack I said hi, okay?”

  “Done. Thanks, Stu-pot, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Alicia smiled when he waved the comment away.

  “Job description, remember.”

  Rebecca’s sigh was wistful as she dropped down into her seat. “Steady, focused and dynamic, with the heart of a lion,” she mumbled.

  “That’s one of his better descriptions. What brought it on?” Alicia was looking after him down the hall.

  “Just feeling sentimental, I guess. You have to appreciate what you have, especially when you come so close to losing...well, you know...” She shrugged self-consciously.

  “I do, on both counts.”

  She felt a rush of emotion when she spotted Sarah round the corner; even the sound of her approaching footsteps was soothing. It was a sound Alicia recognised. Her best friend had a unique personality - every part of her was distinctive, right down to the walk.

  Sarah held her gaze. The emotion flickering in them conveyed more than her words ever could.

  “I came as soon as I heard.” She pulled Alicia close for a hug, leaving one arm slung over her shoulders when she turned to Rebecca. “Becky, my sweet, I’m so sorry about the accident.” Sarah pulled her into their embrace; squeezing them both hard. “Is there any news?”

  “He’s out of surgery. We’re just waiting to see him.” Rebecca’s voice was muffled, probably because she was tangled up in all of Sarah’s hair. The mass of curls flowed past her shoulders and seemed as alive as the woman herself. The colour, a deep auburn, added to the fiery effect.

  “That’s fantastic news. I was worried there for a while.”

  Alicia laughed. “You were worried.”

  “Yeah, but I’ll be okay.” Sarah threw her a wink, her green eyes flashing with mischief. “You two, on the other hand, don’t look so good. I’ll go round up some coffee.” She looked from one to the other, shaking her head.

  “I’ll come with you. I need to make a quick call.” Alicia brushed a finger down Rebecca’s nose. “Hang in there. We’ll be back soon.”

  She linked her arm through Sarah’s so they walked down the corridor arm in arm. The steady tap-tap of Sarah’s heels reminded Alicia of ancient typewriter keys. It brought a smile to her face.

  Sarah nudged her hip as they ambled along. “How are you, hon?”

  “Better now I know he’s okay.”

  “I spoke to Dad on my way here. He’s worried about you, but that’s nothing new.”

  Greg Munroe, Sarah’s father, was one of Gray’s closest friends. “He’s my first phone call. I’m betting Stu’s contacted him by now. I think I scared him earlier.”

  “They’re both worry warts, especially Dad. You know how he gets when one of his girls is in trouble.” She nudged her again, this time with an elbow. “But you’ve gotta love them.”

  “Indeed you do.”Alicia shoved back, smiling when they began a playful game of to and fro to the rhythm of Sarah’s clicking heels.

  “I’m sure this won’t surprise you, but the press are camped outside.”

  Alicia sighed, conveying her thoughts pretty well. “I think Becks is preparing herself for it.”

  “She needs to. I found a weasel sneaking around the ward. Needless to say he has now left the building.”

  “I wish I’d been there to witness that little confrontation.” She stopped when they reached the coffee machine. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Sweetie, you couldn’t keep me away.”

  “I know.”

  They exchanged a goofy look, one that never failed to make Alicia laugh. “You grab the coffee and I’ll phone Greg. I could be a while.”

  “In that case I’ll see you back there.”

  Alicia walked further down the hall. Some of the other visitors had recognised her. It was because of such scrutiny the media were now making a home in the foyer.

  ***

  A few hours later, she walked into Jack’s room with a feeling of trepidation. Despite what the doctor said, she was still fighting the fear of losing him. She moved forward, pus
hing aside the wave of panic when she saw the machines monitoring his progress.

  His face looked swollen and bruised; the stark white bandages covering his head highlighted the shadows under his eyes – it broke her heart.

  She wanted to touch him but she was afraid he would feel pain even as he slept, so she settled for a feather-light kiss on the dressing.

  “He was mumbling your name earlier,” Rebecca whispered, observing her from where she sat.

  “He was?” She could see a tuft of dark blonde hair poking its ways free. He looked like a boy.

  “It sounded like he was dreaming.”

  Alicia sat down in the vacant chair and put her hand in his. “I can’t stand to think of him in pain…all this equipment. I hope it looks worse than it is.”

  Rebecca glanced at the machines and away again; she didn’t think it could look any worse. After a moment, her eyes drifted to the window behind Alicia. “Where’s Sarah?”

  “She had a few things to take care of. She can’t resist organising things – she likes to take care of people.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  “How do you think this happened, Becks? Jack isn’t careless. I can’t understand how…”

  “I know. It’s been driving me crazy too.”

  Alicia let out a breath. “I’m just glad we didn’t lose him.”

  “Me too, I don’t know…I’m glad too.” She rubbed her hands over her face.

  “Did you see Sam out there?”

  “No.” Alicia frowned. Sam Morton was Jack’s agent. He was hard to miss with his unconventional style and oversized entourage. Alicia didn’t like him very much, but she knew Jack trusted him so she kept that to herself.

  “He wants to make an official statement to the press and to liaise with the hospital about their response.”

  “Just make sure you vet his statement. He has a habit of embellishing things.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Alicia didn’t miss the irritation in Rebecca’s voice. She cursed herself for her lack of sensitivity. “Nothing, I’m just saying you should be happy with what goes to print.” She didn’t elaborate. It was not the time to question Sam’s work ethic.

  “Any chance Sarah will deal with that too?” Rebecca asked, hopefully.

  “She’ll do anything you ask, Becks. If it helps I’ll hunt her down right now.”

  “That would be great. I can’t think of anything but Jack right now.”

  Alicia was already on her feet. She bent to touch her lips to Jack’s bandages. “I’ll round up more coffee too.” She dropped a kiss on top of Rebecca’s head.

  “Thanks.”

  She paused at the door to look back at her brother. The rise and fall of his chest was enough to satisfy her that he was putting up a fight.

  Chapter 2

  "Can you believe this?" Alicia stormed into Stuart’s office and threw a paper on his desk. Startled, he stared down at the front page.

  'LOVE HURTS'

  Jack Murphy, star of Blind Spot and

  The Last Strike, was involved in a car

  accident last night. As he was undergoing

  major surgery, the two women in his life

  were at logger-heads. Not surprisingly,

  Alicia Gladstone, one of the ladies in

  question...

  Stuart's voice trailed off. “It’s nothing they haven’t said before, Al.” He struggled to understand her reaction. “They’ve speculated about your relationship for months.”

  “I know that. It just makes me so angry that they spin lies instead of reporting the accident in its own right. Why do they always have to dress it up? Jack nearly died, period.”

  "He’s going to be okay, Al. Getting yourself worked up by things printed in the tabloids isn’t going to help.”

  Alicia sighed and dropped into a chair. "You’re right. I know you’re right. I’m just tired of it, that’s all."

  "You need some rest. Have you been at the hospital all night?”

  “Yes. I didn’t want to leave in case he woke up.” She closed her eyes for a moment, surprised at how easy it would be to drift off in Stuart’s office chair. “But I’m okay right here.”

  Stuart laughed, knowing too well that she would be happy to recharge her batteries in the hard-backed chair. “Get out of here and get some sleep. Everything else can wait.”

  She opened one eye and looked at him suspiciously. “Okay, what is it?”

  “It can wait, honey. There are a few decisions we need to make about the film, but the problems will still be here when you wake up.”

  “I don’t suppose we have the option of postponing until Jack recovers?"

  "Are you crazy? We have too much invested in the project.”

  Alicia felt irritation prickle her skin. “I know how much we’ve invested, and forgive me for being over-sentimental right now, but I wrote the part for Jack. Making the film without him feels like we’re kicking him when he’s down.”

  Stuart fought to control his temper. He moved to the front of his desk and perched on the edge. “I know how you’re feeling, I do, really. But we have to be realistic, and Jack would understand that.”

  She forced her tired limbs to climb out of the chair so she could walk over to kiss his cheek. There were so many things he could have said. She deserved it all.

  “I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair. I didn’t engage my brain. Let’s talk about it when I’ve had a little shut eye.”

  “I’ll arrange the meeting for this afternoon. We’ll figure it out, Al. Trust me, okay?”

  “Always. Thanks for taking care of it.”

  She’d inherited a considerable amount of money when Gray died. The biggest part of which she’d used to establish a production company in his name. Their newest production, Breathless, would be the fifth venture for Gray’s Films.

  “That’s what I’m here for. Now scram before I set you to work.”

  Alicia made a face. “I’ll bring my rational brain to the meeting. See you in a few.”

  As it turned out, she had to wait a little longer for that rest. The whole crew knew about the accident so she spent the next twenty minutes fielding questions and offering reassurance about the future of the project. A large majority she’d worked with before. They were like a family, dysfunctional but ready to lend a hand in times of need.

  When she was alone she let the exhaustion settle. The only thing she wanted to do, besides get some sleep, was take a long, hot shower, followed by a stiff drink to ease the tension in her body.

  As she shrugged out of her jacket, her eyes fell to an object on the coffee table. The postcard hadn’t been there when she left – it looked out of place on the polished oak surface.

  A feeling of unease crept up her spine. Nobody entered her trailer uninvited, except for maybe Sarah. The doubt took hold even when she considered the possibility her friend had left the note.

  A quick scan of the words confirmed her suspicions. The message was short, but it had the desired effect. YOU’RE NEXT.

  The chill that started to run through her was quickly chased back by the anger heating her blood; fear was no match for the outrage at those three simple words.

  Someone was trying to provoke a reaction, and by bringing Jack into the equation, they were pushing exactly the right buttons.

  You might be jumping to conclusions. “Like hell,” she muttered, arguing with her own conscience. The only thing she didn’t know for certain was whether they had timed it for effect.

  “Son of a bitch.” Her own voice jolted her alert.

  What if they’re still here? Alicia did a full three hundred and sixty degree turn. There weren’t many places for someone to hide – one large living space and a bedroom with en suite.

  It took less than a minute to check the bedroom, including a search of the cupboards; she refrained from going through drawers. The image of her creeping across the room clutching a kitchen utensil brought on a wave of hysteria.

 
; What’re you going to do, cook them an omelette?

  She let out a relieved breath, clearing her thoughts. There was only one thing to do, she realised, and that was to show the note to Stuart. With one last longing glance towards the shower, she rushed out.

  He looked surprised when she entered the office. A quick study of her face turned his expression to one of worry. “What is it?”

  “Someone left me a little message.” She stepped towards his desk and dropped the paper on the highest pile – there wasn’t another free space.

  He stared down at it and then back to her. “What the hell is this?”

  “It’s a note someone kindly left in my trailer.”

  Stuart stared at her, registering the implications. “Someone’s been inside your trailer? My god, Al, this insinuates that...we need to call the police.”

  “I suppose we do, or security. It could be a prank.”

  He looked at her with exaggerated patience. “Nobody would leave this as a prank so soon after Jack’s accident. This is a serious threat.”

  “I know. But I don’t get it…the security in this place is tight. I mean, how did someone get through without identification?”

  “That’s a good question and supports my point. If someone went to that much trouble we have to involve the police.”

  “I’m not arguing with you. They need to know what this implies about Jack’s accident.”

  They had come so close to losing him, and for what, so a pissed off fan could hit home with a deadly message?

  “Let me take care of it.” He could see the signs of strain around her eyes from the past few days. “Why don’t you lie down for a while?”

  “I don’t think I’d sleep now, but I could use a shower. Let me know when they get here, okay.” She started back towards the door.

  “Why don’t you use my facilities?” he motioned over his shoulder towards the living quarters. “If they’re still on set...just humour an old man and stay close for a while.”