Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past)

by Danielle Rose-West

  “Mama, what are you doing?” Sandra gripped her mother’s arm. “Callie already said she wouldn’t leave until she’d finished her work here. I don’t see what fixing her car will achieve.”

  Mrs Fuller grabbed Sandra’s hand and firmly removed it from her arm. “She’ll leave. I’ll make sure of it.” She turned her hard gaze to Jason. “Well? Can I rely on you to do as I request?”

  Jason shrugged insolently and leaned against the reception desk with one foot casually slung over the other, just to annoy her. He knew she hated what she considered sloppy manners. “Sure. It shouldn’t take more than a few days, once I get the replacement engine delivered.”

  Mrs Fuller’s eyes narrowed on him and her lips thinned out. He was surprised when she held her tongue. “See to it. I would like it fixed before the end of the week. If you manage that, I will pay you a substantial bonus.” She brushed past him and headed for the door. “Come, Sandra.”

  Sandra dabbed at her red eyes and followed her mother like a docile puppy. Jason gritted his teeth. He’d never seen his father’s partner so lacking in spirit. It was as if she were a different person when her mother was around.

  They swept out of the building like departing royalty. Jason gazed down the corridor they’d come out of when he’d arrived. Callie had to be somewhere down there. He strode down the hallway, his feet thudding heavily on the threadbare carpet. He glanced into several rooms before he finally found the one she occupied.

  His heart squeezed in his chest at the sight of her slumped over her chair as if she’d had the stuffing completely knocked out of her. She stared into space, her eyes wide and glazed over. A tear slipped down her pale cheek, but she didn’t seem to notice. He didn’t want to pity her, but he did. He was sure it was an emotion she wouldn’t welcome.

  “Ah-hum!” He cleared his throat and she jumped.

  “What do you think you’re doing sneaking up on me like that?” Callie quickly wiped her cheek with the back of her hand and glared at him.

  “Sneaking? In these?” Jason lifted one foot to show her the heavy work boots he was wearing. He grinned at her. “I think an elephant would have an easier time sneaking around than I do in these things.”

  Her lips twitched and a sparkle lit her eyes. “Now that you mention it, I can see that you’d be no match for an elephant.” She sat up in her seat. “What did you want?”

  He lifted his hand and waved the paper he held in her direction. “I did promise to bring you a quote over for the repairs on your car.”

  “So you did,” the smile disappeared from her lips, “but since you only promised me that when you wanted me to stay away from my cousin, I didn’t think you’d follow through.”

  “Ah, yes…………..about that.” Jason shifted on his feet and clasped the paper in front of him. “It wasn’t anything personal. I just didn’t want to land my dad in hot water. Surely you can understand that?”

  She pursed her lips and picked up a pencil. “Of course. I’m just a stranger that you picked up on the side of the road when she’d broken down. You owe me nothing.”

  “You could say it like you mean it.” He crossed the room and sat down opposite her. He folded his hands over his stomach and balanced one foot on the opposite knee.

  Her eyes flicked up at him, anger lighting their golden depths. “I can’t sound like I mean it when I don’t.” She leaned forward. “He’s my blood relative. I had the right to know. You purposely made it sound like he was the son of a family friend!”

  “My hands were tied.” Jason held his hands out in supplication. “It doesn’t mean I agree with the way they’re behaving.”

  “You don’t?” Her voice sounded hesitant. Jason stared hard at her. Was that the slightest hint of trembling he could see in her lips……….the tiniest trace of raw hurt deep in her eyes?

  “No, I don’t. I’ve said it ever since Sandra said she didn’t want to see you. I’ve not been able to understand why she’s refused.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his leg. “You are her daughter, after all.”

  Callie glanced away from him and stared out the window. “For one moment before she left, I almost thought I could see something different in her eyes. That maybe she regretted her words to me.” A small break in her voice tore at him. It was obvious this was severely hurting her, even if she was trying to pretend that it didn’t.

  Jason dropped his eyes to the table as his mind drifted back over the conversation he’d witnessed just a few minutes ago. He picked at some dirt that still clung under his short fingernails. A mechanics hands never seemed to be completely clean, he noted absently. “I don’t know if I should tell you this or not. It may do more harm than good.” He broke off and glanced up at her.

  Callie jerked her attention back to him. “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

  She set her pencil down and folded her hands in front of her. He could see the whiteness of her knuckles where she held her hands so tightly, it was a wonder he didn’t hear her bones crack.

  “When I arrived here, I ran into Sandra and her mother leaving the building.” He cleared his throat, unsure if he should be telling her any of this.

  “And.” She sounded impatient.

  Jason hesitated and gazed out of the window at the trees as they blew back and forth in the wind. Did he have the right to interfere this way? Should he tell her what he’d witnessed? Unbidden, the face of a dark haired young woman rose in his mind’s eye. If he’d spoken honestly to Jenna after his brother’s death, maybe he’d have saved her from the awful breakdown she’d suffered.

  “Please, if you know something, you have to tell me.”

  Jason could hear the pleading in Callie’s voice. He couldn’t be sure how things would turn out with Callie if he told her, but he didn’t think he could keep quiet this time around. He would tell her and let her decide what she did with the information.

  “Sandra was crying.” Jason returned his gaze to her in time to see her incredible eyes light up with hope. “I don’t know if it means anything,” he hastened to add, “but she didn’t seem happy with what went on in here. I think Mrs Fuller had more to do with it than Sandra did.”

  “I knew it! I thought the exact same thing.” Callie thumped the table. She blew out a long breath and regarded him with her head cocked to one side. “What made you decide to tell me? You didn’t help me before.”

  Jason shrugged. “It seems to me that Sandra wants to know you, despite what she’s been saying. You obviously want to know her. The rest of her family shouldn’t get in the way of that. Besides, I kept my council about something I should have spoken up against once before.” He swallowed hard. “It was a mistake and someone was really hurt by it. I don’t want to repeat that kind of mistake again. I don’t know if this will harm or help, but I couldn’t just say nothing.”

  She leaned over the table and grabbed his hand. “You don’t know what it means to me that you’ve told me this.” Her voice was thick with the unshed tears he could see shimmering in her gaze.

  Jason squeezed her fingers. His heart expanded in his chest at the gratitude he could see reflected in her eyes. He was sure he’d done the right thing…………at least he hoped he had.

  His throat grew thick in response to her deep emotion. “You are most welcome.”

  For several moments, he couldn’t tear his gaze from hers. Something seemed to pulse between them, a strange kind of understanding. He’d never experienced a feeling of such closeness with another human being in his entire life.

  Jason pulled his hand from hers, uncomfortable that he would feel this way with a woman other than Lucinda. It seemed disloyal somehow. Callie flushed a deep red and sat back in her seat.

  “So, are you going to give me your quote or leave me guessing all day long?” Her words were sharp, but her face was soft. A smile lingered on her delicate lips.

  Jason cleared his throat. “Of course, here you go.” He slid the paper across the table to her. “Yo
u should know that Mrs Fuller has offered to foot the bill for the repairs. She really wants you out of here.”

  “She mentioned as much before. I want to make it quite clear that I’ll pay for my own repairs, thank you very much! Don’t you dare take a penny from her!” Callie’s lips thinned. “I will not be bought off by her or anyone else!”

  Jason grinned at her furious tone. Callie kept a cool façade, but he could see the fire burning deep inside her whenever her temper was roused. Her cheeks fairly glowed with it.

  “As you wish.” He gave a slight inclination of his head in a mock bow. She glared at him before she turned her attention to the paper he’d given her. He waited patiently as Callie appraised the quote. At last, she folded the paper and stuck it into her sketchbook.

  “Actually, it’s a pretty good quote. I have to say, I’ve done some research on the net and I was expecting it to be a lot steeper.” She pulled her lips through her small white teeth. “I hate to say it, but you’ve surprised me. I’m actually impressed.”

  “That must have hurt.” He threw back his head and laughed.

  Jason held his sides and roared even harder at the disgusted, disgruntled look she shot him. She held it for all of ten seconds before she dissolved into laughter with him. The combined sounds of their mirth bounced off the walls and echoed back to his ears. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so hard.

  Jason wiped moisture from his cheeks and gathered himself together. “So, do you want me to go ahead with the replacement engine?”

  Callie nodded, wiping at her own face and breathing hard. “Please. I really love that car. I would hate to have to replace it………….unless you think it would be better to get another car?”

  Jason faked passing out in his chair. “You’re asking me for advice and trusting that I’ll give you the right information? What has happened, Miss Price?”

  Callie smiled. “Maybe I’m willing to revise my opinion. It would seem there are some honest mechanics out there, after all.”

  Jason grinned back at her. “In that case, I would say that this car is worth keeping. It has no rust and is easy to maintain and get parts for. It’s actually a great car, especially if your insurance company are willing to foot some of the bill for replacing the engine.”

  “I’ll get onto them and see what they say. Either way, I’m happy for you to go ahead with the work. How long do you think it will take?”

  “Not sure. It really depends on how quickly the supplier can deliver me the new engine. I’ll keep you posted.” Jason climbed to his feet. “I’d best get going. I should ring my contact tonight, so I can get the ball rolling.”

  “Thanks for coming.” Callie rose to her feet and stepped closer to him. She held out her hand and he enfolded it into his much larger ones. “And an even bigger thank you for telling me about Sandra. I can’t tell you what that meant to me.”

  Jason shrugged, feeling awkward. “It was nothing.” He patted her hand briefly before dropping it. “What will you do about it?”

  She sighed. Her breath fanned his face gently. “I don’t know yet, but it gives me hope. If I can find a way to speak to her alone, maybe she’ll open up to me. I have to at least try……….for my own peace of mind.”

  “Well, good luck with it. From my experience, the Fuller’s are a stubborn lot.” He shook his head doubtfully.

  “Ah, but you forget…………I am a Fuller in my DNA.” She grinned at him cheekily. “They haven’t met stubborn until they’ve met me! I don’t give up on what I want without a fight!”

  *****

  Callie shifted in the bed and hit her pillow with her fist. She’d managed to clean the bathroom to her satisfaction, but the bed was impossible to deal with. She rolled over and tried to adjust her position. As soon as Mr Cunningham arrived back on the weekend, she was going to insist on relocating. How was she meant to work when she was exhausted from lack of sleep?

  A loud banging at her door made her heart leap in her chest. She sat upright with a jerk and held her breath. Who could be knocking at her door at this time of night? She didn’t even think there were any other guests on her floor.

  Callie held her breath. Should she answer it? Worry held her immobile. The banging came again. The door shook with the force of it.

  “Who’s there?” she called out warily. No reply reached her ears.

  Callie climbed out of bed and pulled her dressing gown on. She wrapped the warm material around her body and tied the belt. Another knock, more like a pounding, sounded at her door.

  “Alright, alright. I’m coming!” she yelled.

  Who the hell could it be and why wasn’t she receiving any answer? Maybe someone had taken ill during the night and was seeking help. Perhaps the person hadn’t heard her call out. Panic could do that to someone. Callie hurriedly stuffed her feet into her slippers and rushed to the door. She grabbed the handle and pulled it open. She gazed down the corridor in stunned surprise. There was nobody in sight.

  “Hello? Did someone need some help or something?” She stepped out of her room. The soft sound of crying reached her ears from further down the corridor. Callie jogged in the direction she could hear the sound. Someone had to be in desperate need to go banging on doors in the middle of the night.

  “Hello? Do you need help? Should I call someone for you?”

  Callie paused by the stairs. Movement from the hallway below her caught her attention. She glanced down and her heart skipped several beats. She clutched at her chest. The child she’d seen so many times now, stared up at her. Her small face contorted with fear and she reached her tiny hand out towards Callie.

  “Get away from there. Quick!” The whispered cry echoed in Callie’s ears, sending icy fear through her veins. A soft sound behind her tripled her anxiety. Callie’s heart pounded in her chest. She started to turn around when someone shoved her hard between her shoulder blades.

  Her scream ricocheted out and back to her ears. Panic gripped her as she tumbled forwards. She twisted to the side in a vain attempt to protect herself. Her shoulder and back hit the unforgiving staircase and pain exploded in her body. She tried to catch hold of the banister to break her fall, but her fingers found nothing but air.

  Callie’s terror escalated as her legs flew over her head on her continued wild descent. Fear pounded through her and pain roared from every part of her body. Just when she thought it would never end, she reached the bottom.

  Callie couldn’t move. Her breathing rattled in her chest as she struggled to draw air into her lungs. Spots danced in front of her vision and her head spun. Her gaze drifted to the top of the stairs where a figure hid in the shadows, staring down at her. Finally, darkness pulled her down into its blissfully ignorant arms.

  Chapter Twelve

  “That’s your excuse for not calling me for the past two days……….you were busy!” Jade’s incredulous voice rang through Callie’s sore head. She held the phone slightly away from her ear.

  “What can I say? I’m sorry. This is the first time I’m meeting my blood relations, so just cut me some slack, okay?” She felt bad lying to Jade, but it was for the best. If she told her friend the truth, Jade would arrive in Devon before Callie could say ‘don’t come’.

  “I left you a ton of messages! Couldn’t you at least have answered one of them? Just a text would have done me! I’ve been worried sick.”

  Guilt slammed through Callie for the worry she heard in Jade’s voice. It tore at her and she winced. “I’m really sorry, Jade. Please forgive a selfish and obsessed friend who should know better.”

  “Well……………as long as you’re okay, I guess.” Jade sounded reluctant to let Callie off the hook. “I was on the brink of coming to Devon to check up on you. If you leave another gap like that, I’ll be there on your doorstep demanding answers in person!”

  “I hear you. It won’t happen again.” Callie shifted her position in the hospital bed she was lying in and held back the cry of pain that threate
ned to burst out of her lips. “I really must go. I’ve got a meeting with my client soon. I’ll call you tomorrow?”

  “Make sure that you do!” The phone went dead.

  Callie closed her eyes and slumped back against her pillows. The past two days had passed in a sea of pain. She’d been aware of little else. According to the doctors, she fractured two of her ribs, sprained her wrist, and was bruised from head to toe. She was lucky she hadn’t broken her neck! At least the doctors had told her they were satisfied she was out of danger. She’d had quite a concussion! Callie felt like she’d fought ten rounds in a boxing ring………..and lost!

  She shivered as her mind drifted back over the incident. Someone had deliberately pushed her down those stairs. It was a terrifying notion, but one she couldn’t simply bury her head in the sand and ignore. The question that tormented her was why? What would drive someone to do such a thing? She could have been killed.

  At first, she’d wondered about Sandra or her grandmother, but she’d dismissed it just as quickly. They both wanted her to leave town. Why would they risk her being injured and forced to stay longer? Unless they thought it would scare her into leaving. That was a sobering theory.

  Callie clutched at her pounding head, confusion roiling through her. She should leave the investigating to the police. She’d given them a statement that morning. The officers had promised to question the guests at the B&B and would search for any evidence left at the scene of the crime. Callie hoped they were able to turn up something. She didn’t feel very safe knowing that someone had plotted to push her down a flight of stairs.

  The door of her room opened and snapped her out of her dark musings. Mr Cunningham swept in as if he owned the place. He glanced around the room with a slightly wrinkled up nose. He held a bunch of drooping flowers several inches from his immaculate suit. Callie would bet anything he’d picked them up on a sale. Probably cost no more than a couple of pounds. She always believed it was the thought that counts, but this didn’t appear to have much of that either.