Sins of the Father

by Melissa Barker-Simpson

  “Understandable, I’d be James’ slave if I could.”

  “Did I ever tell you I’m a pretty good cook?” He took her hand as they continued their walk in the garden.

  “You happened to mention it,” she said, grinning slyly. “But I have a better use for those hands right now!”

  Brad roared with laughter when she wiggled her brows. She had a way of surprising him. “What time is Sarah due in?” He cast a glance over his shoulder and felt a small thrill that they couldn’t see the house. More to the point, they were beyond the perimeter of a stationed surveillance camera, unless they moved a few feet.

  “Oh!” Alicia slapped her forehead in comic fashion. “I completely forgot. Larry Edwards called. He wants to do the interview this afternoon instead. He’ll be here with his crew at 3pm.”

  “Okay, I’ll make sure the guys are expecting him.” He stopped walking and pulled gently on her arm so that she spun around and landed against his chest. “I’ll take care of it as soon as I’ve done… this.” He lowered his mouth to hers, plunging his fingers into her hair.

  Alicia pressed herself against him, shocked by the ball of lust gathering in her belly. The needs he stirred in her spread until they clutched, threatening to consume her.

  “Oh God, I want you,” he breathed against her mouth.

  And just like that she came undone. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him backwards, further into the garden. More than once, she lost her footing, but finally her back hit the cold wall she’d been aiming for.

  “Alicia...” Brad was grasping for control. They were out in the open, hidden or not.

  “Please, Brad, I want you too. I want you now.”

  He groaned against her mouth. She was everywhere. It was impossible to think, to ignore the distant voice in his head that told him it was wrong to take her this way, but he had to have her. He could feel her body vibrating against him. She wanted him too.

  Alicia wound her arms around his neck and slid her hands into his hair. She was still reeling from the sudden and violent needs that were wracking her body. One moment they had been taking a walk in the garden, the next she wanted to claw at him like an animal. It was a little frightening.

  The hands that were busy heating the fire inside her suddenly stilled, and Brad tore his mouth away from hers on a curse. “Alicia… I’ve never wanted anyone this much in my life, but I can’t do this. I need to be able to protect you, and I can’t protect you like this.”

  The heat vanished, making her shiver. “I... please step back, I need some air.”

  The hurt in her eyes tore at him. He wanted to tell her how difficult it was, that given a few more seconds he’d have damned responsibility and taken her right there. But she wasn’t ready to hear it. The hurt turned to shame and that was worse somehow.

  “I don’t normally behave this way,” she said, almost to herself.

  “Alicia, stop. Look at me.”

  Her eyes flicked up to his, and when she read all that was in them, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She chose laughter.

  Brad simply stared at her as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “I can’t believe we just did that…like a couple of horny teenagers.”

  He grinned at the description. That was exactly how she made him feel. She never failed to take him by surprise.

  He bent to rest his forehead against hers. “You make me crazy, so crazy that when I have you all to myself tonight I’m...” He straightened again, turning his attention to the path. “Someone’s coming.”

  Alicia covered her mouth with her hand, stifling another giggle at almost being caught.

  He took the other hand and led her back to the path, just as Sarah came around the corner with Detective Potts.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Gladstone,” Potts said, nodding in Brad’s direction.

  “Hello, detective, I hope this visit means there’s been a break in the case?”

  “We may have a lead.” The detective looked from Brad to Alicia. “Does the name Johnny Sommers mean anything to you?”

  “No, should it?” She felt Brad tense beside her.

  Potts shook his head. “Not especially. Perhaps we should go up to the house and I can tell you what I know.”

  Alicia waited for Brad to say something, to explain his reaction. When he didn’t, she gestured with her hand. “Let’s go.”

  Sarah fell into step behind her, Potts slightly in front and Brad bringing up the rear. She resisted the urge to smooth down her hair.

  Alicia entered the kitchen first, gesturing for Potts to take a seat at the long island in the centre, as she moved to the cupboard. She busied herself for a few moments collecting her thoughts, as well as the cups.

  “Can I get you a drink, detective?”

  “A coffee would be great.” He sat on a stool and watched her prepare the coffee. The large machine made him drool in envy, the type that produced coffee on demand. It would go down a treat at the station, if he could think of a way to sneak it into the budget.

  As she poured, Alicia glanced briefly at Brad. He was thinking about something, she could see the way his jaw clenched, a sure sign that something was bothering him.

  “Okay, tell me what you’ve found out,” she said, sliding a cup across the counter.

  “We received a friendly tip,” Potts began, aiming a smirk in Brad’s direction. “Involving a young man named Johnny Sommers.”

  “He was one of your mother’s lovers,” Sarah added, placing a hand on Alicia’s shoulder.

  “Okay.” She was proud of the fact her voice didn’t shake, despite the feeling of dread in her stomach.

  The detective sighed a little at the interruption. “Johnny Sommers was born John Henry Meeks. He was severely injured in a car accident about fifteen years ago.”

  Alicia sucked in a breath. “The one Helen was in?”

  “Yes, Helen Fairfax was also injured in the collision. Johnny Sommers never fully recovered. He was in a care facility until twelve months ago.”

  She felt a wave a nausea wash over her. “He died.”

  Detective Potts merely nodded. “His father, a Mr Paul Meeks, financed his care. We’re hoping to bring him in for questioning in order to pursue a line of enquiry.”

  “You think he’s the one?” Her stomach churned uneasily. She’d known it would all come back to her mother.

  “It’s a possibility.”

  Sarah squeezed Alicia’s hand. “He disappeared six months ago – went off the rails when his son died and nobody’s seen him since.”

  She ignored the exasperated look Detective Potts threw in her friend’s direction. There was something else. She could see it in his face. “What else?”

  He covered the look of surprise with a smile. It was almost friendly. “We have, of course, interviewed several people who knew Paul Meeks and could attest to his behaviour at the time of his son’s death. It appears he suffered a breakdown following his son’s accident and has been receiving treatment on and off for years. We have been unable to question his psychiatrist to work up a profile.” He didn’t normally divulge so much information about a case, but he suspected Sarah knew all there was to know about Paul Meeks already. She made it her business to know. He wasn’t particularly interested in the how.

  “And by unable to interview, you mean he or she is dead.”

  Again, he nodded, as though he’d been perfectly clear in the first place. “The official cause of death is heart failure, but there is enough doubt to reopen the case.”

  Brad felt his temper rising. He’d shown amazing constraint listening to the way Potts fumbled his way through the information. He liked the guy well enough, but he had an odd technique when it came to dealing with a victim, and it was starting to piss him off. He wanted answers and he was tired of waiting.

  “Okay, let’s cut to the chase. It’s more than a possibility Paul Meeks is our guy, so what do we know about him and how can we get ahead of the game?”


  Detective Potts shot him a look. “Okay, Morgan, take a seat and I’ll tell you where we’re at.”

  Alicia relaxed to enjoy the show. There were politics at play that she knew nothing about. The Detective clearly respected Brad enough to tolerate his interference; there was a history between them.

  “We’ve interviewed a number of people, but have been unable to paint a reliable picture of the man he was after the accident. All we know for sure is that he spent a few months in a psychiatric facility, and then basically gave up his previous life to care for his son. He even moved closer to the care home to make his commute easier. We didn’t get anything from his work colleagues; he was a ghost, people worked with him for years and didn’t even know him.”

  “There is someone you could talk to. You might even find the answers you’re looking for.” Brad was riding on an image of choking the information out of her.

  “I have an appointment with Ms Fairfax in an hour,” Potts said, a little smugly. “Care to tag along? You might be useful.”

  He only hesitated for a second. He knew he’d have a better chance of getting what they needed from her, because he knew exactly which buttons to press. “I’ll make the arrangements and update the team. Give me twenty minutes.” He saw the concern on Alicia’s face, and was about to reassure her, when Sarah got there before him. She was way ahead as usual, so he slipped out to make the call.

  Alicia listened to the questions Sarah threw in Detective Potts’ direction. He didn’t seem to mind Sarah’s demands, perhaps he even expected them.

  It was, in an odd way, easy to make small talk with him. She’d seen his sense of humour surface more than once in the past, so it didn’t surprise her he was an amiable guy when he let his guard down.

  After his second cup of coffee and some pretty clever dodging around the intricacies of the case, Detective Potts thanked them for their cooperation and left.

  A few moments later, she heard the door open and close and knew Brad was back just by the changes in the air. She went out to meet him, ignoring the childish kissing noises Sarah was making.

  Brad watched her approach, fighting an unexpected feeling of panic. ‘You shouldn’t be leaving her,’ a little voice mocked inside his head.

  “What’s wrong?” She could sense his emotions in a way no one but his family could; more than that, she saw him every bit as clearly as he saw her.

  “I think I’ll let Potts fend for himself, it’s not a good idea to leave right now.”

  She arched a brow. “So you’d send him into the lion’s den?”

  His grin was warm and appreciative. “He’s a big boy.”

  “It’s right that you stir things up a little. You know she’ll be more vulnerable then.”

  “That was my motivation, but-”

  “No buts, I’ll be fine.” She studied him a moment. “You’re not telling me everything.”

  “I knew it had something to do with her, and yet I didn’t push hard enough for the answers. I know her history, I knew about Sommers, and I should have raised it as a red flag.”

  Alicia shook her head. “From the byplay I witnessed earlier, I’d say your team had a hand in piecing things together, so give yourself a break. Now you need to finish it, so go. Do what you can.” When still he hesitated, she laid a hand on his arm. “Brad, you’ll be gone no more than an hour or two. I’m safe here.”

  “Okay.” He let out a breath, stepping closer for a moment just for the contact. “Okay, you’re right. I’ll be back soon.” He kissed the top of her head. “JJ is on his way in. He’s right outside running things through.”

  “Thanks. Good Luck.”

  He crossed himself and backed out of the door with a chuckle when she made a scary face.

  Alicia stood where she was for a moment, feeling a multitude of emotions and not really knowing what to do with them.

  “Wow, I’m practically on fire with the heat you two were giving off – hot, hot, hot.” Sarah was standing in the kitchen doorway, flapping a hand dramatically in front of her face.

  “You’re lucky you didn’t find us in the garden five minutes earlier,” Alicia said, feeling the laughter bubble in her throat.

  “Oh my God, tell me you weren’t doing the vertical shuffle out there.” Sarah rushed forward to pull Alicia back into the kitchen.

  She allowed Sarah to manoeuvre her onto a stool, feeling giddy and light-headed. “Let’s just say I almost seduced him into a very awkward position...no pun intended.”

  Sarah clapped her hands together, her big green eyes dancing merrily. “What happened?”

  “He came to his senses and defended my honour.”

  Sarah put a hand to her heart and sighed. “Oh, man, that is so...heroic.”

  Their giggles were cut short when they heard JJ call out to them from the door, and then started again as soon as they looked one another in the eye.

  Sarah linked her arm through Alicia’s and pulled her off the stool. “Come on, we’ll get you ready for the interview and you can tell me all about last night.”

  When JJ spotted them coming through the hall arm in arm he was instantly suspicious. They looked like two schemers plotting some poor man’s demise. “Jonathan Jukes reporting for duty, ma’am,” he said, offering a quick salute.

  “You’ll be glad to know that there’s plenty of left-over food in the kitchen, and an endless supply of coffee. I have to go plot and scheme with my friend here,” Alicia said, winking at him.

  “Ha!” He shook off the feeling she could see right into his head. “Have fun. You know where I am.”

  Their light, feminine laughter followed him as he walked towards sensory heaven. He was only sorry the rest of his team couldn’t share the goodies.

  Chapter 22

  The modest three-storey building held many secrets, and for Brad, the memories which formed his childhood. They shot at him, hitting with a force that took his breath: his mother leaving in an ambulance; his father coming home alone; his brother moving out; Helen moving in. Like controlling a film inside his head, he pressed pause and centred himself.

  “You okay?” Potts asked, stepping around to join him at the curb.

  “I’m fine. Let’s do this.”

  They moved forward, shoulder to shoulder, unconsciously closing in – joining ranks.

  Brad steeled himself when he saw the door swing open. Then she was there, looking older than he remembered, but every bit as cold.

  “Bradley, how lovely to see you,” Helen said, her eyes sparkling in challenge. “And who is this?”

  “I’m Detective Potts, ma’am. I believe you were expecting me. May we come in?”

  “Yes. Please, come in.” She stood aside, her eyes never leaving Brad’s face. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll just grab another cup, I’m only set for two.”

  It was like a stage to her; something she had in common with the crazy son of a bitch they were hunting. It should have pissed him off, but he’d grown accustomed to her games long ago. She’d known he would come.

  “There’s no need, ma’am. I’m good.”

  “Very well.” She looked mildly disappointed. “Please, take a seat.”

  “As I said on the phone, Mrs Morgan, I’m here to discuss an ongoing investigation concerning your daughter, Alicia Gladstone.”

  “I think we both know she hasn’t been my daughter for many years.” There was ice in her voice now, set to chill. “Why don’t you stick to the questions you came here to ask, and leave my relationship with Alicia out of it?”

  He’d touched a nerve, that much was clear. “With all due respect, ma’am, this may be happening because of your relationship – the blood connection. We have reason to believe that a gentleman by the name of Paul Meeks is involved.”

  “That sounds like an accusation and I resent it.”

  Brad ignored the warning look from Potts. “Let’s cut the crap, Helen. We don’t have time to waste on your misunderstood heroine routine.”

  “Now
, Bradley, is that any way for a son to speak to his mother?” she answered sweetly, just to piss him off.

  “I’m no son of yours and I never was. Unlike Alicia, I had a choice in that.”

  She laughed lightly. “So you grew a backbone whilst you were gone.”

  “I’m just too big for you to push around anymore.” Brad saw something cold flash into her eyes before she controlled it.

  “Under all that bravado you’re just the same lost little boy you always were.”

  “And you’re the same old Helen. I told the good detective here you wouldn’t cooperate. We’re wasting our time.”

  She only smiled and turned to Potts. “Forgive the outburst, Detective, our Bradley was always prone to hysterics. What is it you want to know?”

  “What can you tell us about Paul Meeks?”

  “From what I can remember he was an uptight workaholic who was stuck in a loveless marriage. I relieved a little of his stress for awhile.”

  “Is that before or after you were linked to his son, John Henry Meeks?” Potts asked, feeling distaste on his tongue.

  “Ah, poor, sweet, Johnny, he was so needy. Like a little puppy, who followed me around with those adoring eyes.”

  “So your relationship with John Meeks had ended?”

  “Yes and no. As far as I was concerned, it was over. But Johnny had a hard time accepting it.”

  Brad couldn’t help feeling sympathy for the boy. The pieces were starting to fit together. “Did Johnny know about his father?”

  “It’s what we were arguing about the night of the accident. He was crazy. I thought he was going to kill us both.”

  Both men exchanged a look. The lack of remorse for a man who spent the rest of his days in a medical facility was astounding.

  “Did you see Paul Meeks again after the accident?” Potts asked.

  “No, but I didn’t expect to. I heard his wife left him and sold the theatre.”

  “The theatre?” Potts and Brad said together.

  “Yes, Sommersville Theatre. It belonged to his wife but they ran it as a family business. I think that’s why Johnny worked so hard to impress his old man.” She threw a smug look in Brad’s direction. “Alicia isn’t the only one who can bury her past. The Sommers were one of the most influential families around. They couldn’t wait to get rid of that theatre and wash their hands of the whole business.”