Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past)

by Danielle Rose-West

  “I’m sorry, Callie. Please don’t ask that of me. I can’t betray my sister by revealing something that should only come from her.” His eyes held a silent apology.

  Callie nodded and grimaced. “I’m the one who should apologise. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “It’s only natural that you would.” Max sighed. “I wish I could give you the information that you seek. However, I can’t betray my sister that way. She’ll be mad enough that I’ve visited with you.”

  “It’s fine. I understand.” Callie shoved down the desperate need to shake him until the answers spilled from his lips. She didn’t want to lose the only member of her family that was willing to speak to her by being rash.

  Max glanced at his watch. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay longer today, even though I would love to. Maybe we could meet up again soon?” He rose to his feet and Callie followed suit.

  “I would really love that, Mr Fuller.”

  “Uh-uh, it’s Uncle Max to you.” He wagged a finger at her, a huge smile plastered to his face. He reminded her of a large teddy bear.

  Callie held the warm feelings his words evoked close to her heart. “Uncle Max,” she murmured.

  It sounded so foreign and yet so right as it tumbled from her trembling lips. Her uncle’s eyes filled with tears and he tentatively drew her into his embrace. Callie held herself slightly stiff. The smell of soap and sunshine mixed together with a hint of cigarette smoke as she breathed him in. Max awkwardly patted her back before he stepped back.

  “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I do understand that you don’t know me as yet.” Sorrow crossed his features. “It’s just that I feel I know you already.” He stared into her eyes. “I saw you when you were born, you know. Before Sandra gave you up for adoption. I’ve carried that image of your tiny form for many years and wondered every day what had become of you.”

  Tears fell from Callie’s eyes at his words. “It means so much to me that you’ve said that. At least someone has thought of me. It’s more than my own mother has done.”

  Max gripped her arms gently. “She has, Callie. Trust me, I’ve seen it held inside her every day since she let you go. She would have wanted to keep you, had things been different.” He swallowed hard. “Believe me when I say that she gave you up for your own good. Not by her own choice.”

  “What do you mean?” Callie scrutinised him closely. A strange expression crossed his face that she couldn’t quite interpret. A slight flicker in the depths of his eyes made her feel that he was hiding something from her.

  “It’s nothing. I’ve said too much.” He stepped away from her. “Forget what I said, please.” He waved his hand as if he would wipe away his words as if they had never existed. Callie couldn’t forget what he’d said that easily.

  “On the contrary, I really don’t think you’ve said enough. What do you mean?” Callie stepped closer, closing the gap he’d created. “Is there something I should know?”

  “Only that your mother really did and does love you very much.” He moved rapidly to the doorway and turned at the last moment. His fingers closed around the door frame and his knuckles turned white. “I just want you to know that she sacrificed a lot when she gave you away. It wasn’t done lightly or selfishly. I think you should know that.”

  Callie opened her mouth to question him further, but he raised his hand. “We’ll see each other again soon. I promise.”

  She raced forwards, clutching her ribs. “Uncle Max, please wait.”

  He was already half way down the corridor and didn’t turn around. Callie contemplated chasing after him, but she didn’t want to ruin the first positive connection she’d had with her real family. She sighed and headed back to her chair.

  What was Max hiding from her? He’d said her mother hadn’t given her up by choice. That love had been her motivation. Callie shivered. Had something happened all those years ago? Was it to do with her father? Was there more to her family’s hostility towards her than met the eye?

  Callie clutched her head with her uninjured hand. So many questions rolled around with no answers. Her wandering thoughts made it feel like her head would explode. No matter what, she had to find a way to see her mother as soon as possible. Sandra had the answers she needed and Callie was determined to ferret them out of her. Come what may!

  *****

  “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.” The childish voice penetrated through Callie’s restless sleep and pulled her towards wakefulness.

  “His Love to guard me through the night, and wake me in the morning's light.” Callie’s eyes popped open.

  A giggle drew her eyes to the corner of her room. Her heart skipped in her chest and her breath caught. The little girl sat on her dressing table’s chair. Her small hands played in her curls and she smiled shyly at Callie. There was a soft glow around her small form, as if she was lit from within.

  Callie sat up slowly in her bed, her eyes never leaving the small face. “Who are you?” she breathed out softly. Was she dreaming?

  “You must beware. Trouble is coming.” The child stuck a fat curl into her small mouth. She cocked her head to one side as she stared at Callie.

  Callie shook her head slowly. “What kind of trouble? What are you warning me against?”

  “Death. It hovers over you.” The girl pulled her curl out from between her lips and examined Callie closely. “You must take care. I couldn’t bear for anything bad to happen to you.” Her small face crumpled and her eyes shimmered.

  Goose bumps raced along her spine and spread out over Callie’s entire body. A sense of foreboding crawled up her spine. “What are you talking about? Please, tell me.”

  The child climbed to her feet and skipped towards Callie. She leaned forwards and cupped her small hands around Callie’s face. It was like being encased in ice. Callie shivered, but couldn’t pull away. The small girl held her spellbound. She couldn’t remove her gaze from the light brown eyes before her.

  “I will guard you, just like I promised.” The child kissed her cheek. “I will do better next time.”

  Callie gasped at the burst of overwhelming love that enveloped her. She had never felt anything as powerful and pure as the sensations that flowed through her. She clasped a hand to her heart and her eyes overflowed with tears. Through her blurred vision, she watched the child step away from her. The girl pointed to the door of Callie’s bedroom.

  “Beware. Remember, keep your guard up. Trust no one.” The girl gradually faded, until Callie could see nothing but a glowing light in the room. Finally, that too disappeared and all that remained was the smell of roses that filled the air.

  Callie snapped on the light by her bedside. She glanced at the door, wondering why the child had pointed it out to her. A white rectangle of paper caught her eye where it lay on the carpet. Someone had pushed something under her door.

  Callie slipped from her bed. The cold night air wrapped around her and made her shiver. She folded her arms around herself for warmth. Callie padded across the bedroom to retrieve the paper. She picked it up gingerly and realised she held an envelope. Callie licked her dry lips and examined it closely. There was nothing written on the smooth white surface, not even her name. She ripped it open and pulled out the contents.

  Callie realised she held a photograph. Puzzled, she frowned and turned the picture over in her trembling hands. She screamed and clasped a hand to her mouth. Terror held her immobile. Her brain struggled to comprehend what her eyes were seeing.

  The picture was of a body stretched out in the morgue, complete with a tag over one toe. It was like something from a crime drama on TV. She had no idea who the body belonged to, but someone had attached her face to the corpse. Her own eyes stared out at her from the grotesque spectacle. It looked chillingly real, as if she were seeing a portent for her own death.

  Who had done such a thing? Callie shivered again, only this time the cold wasn�
��t responsible. She stared at the picture until her eyes hurt. Was this just an attempt to scare her or was there something more behind it? The night she’d fallen down the stairs flowed into her mind. Someone had pushed her that night and now this.

  It would appear that someone wanted her dead and they weren’t afraid to let her know it. Why anyone would want to harm her was beyond her comprehension. The room swam and Callie clutched at her head. It would seem her little guardian angel was right…………she was in trouble and she had no idea what she was going to do about it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Callie stepped down from the bus and made her way towards Jason’s garage. She stifled a yawn and rubbed at her bleary eyes with her good hand. She hadn’t slept a wink after the ghostly encounter and the mysterious midnight delivery to her room. Questions pounded around in her head with no answers in sight. They just left her with a dull headache.

  Callie had contemplated cornering Sandra over this latest development, but she had no evidence that it had anything to do with her family. The person behind this campaign of fear could be anyone, including Lucinda. The whole situation left Callie with a sick dread in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t bear to think that someone hated her to the point that they wished her deadly harm. It was inconceivable.

  She had phoned the police first thing that morning. The officer she spoke to requested that she bring the photo to the station and make a statement. So far the investigation into the stairs incident had turned up nothing. Nobody had seen or heard anything, and there had been no incriminating evidence left behind by the perpetrator. The officer hoped something would show up on the photo, but Callie could hear the doubt in his voice. Still, she had to do something. She would speak to Jason and then make her way to the police station.

  As much as she’d like to think otherwise, Callie couldn’t shake the notion that the threat to her safety was far from over. If she hadn’t been pushed down the stairs, she would have dismissed the whole thing as a sick prank. The incident on the stairs coupled with her ghostly visitor painted a sinister picture. After all, the girl had told her that death hovered over her. That wasn’t something she could dismiss easily.

  Callie shuddered and pulled her coat closer around her. She stumbled down the small side street that led to Jason’s garage. She really had no other choice. She would speak to Jason about her car and leave as soon as it was fixed. Surely she could manage a few days without any mishap befalling her and once she returned home, she would be safe.

  Callie entered the garage forecourt, her footsteps drowned out by the loud clangs of men at work and the sound of a radio blaring out. She scanned the area, but could see no sign of Jason among the mechanics. Her heart sank. What the hell was she going to do now? She had to find him.

  “What do you want?” Callie turned around and found Mitch standing behind her. His hostile glare chilled her to the bone.

  “I came to speak to Jason.” Callie refused to cower in front of him. “Is he here?”

  Mitch tightened his grip on the wrench in his hand. Callie swallowed hard. His hardened expression made her nervous. Could he be the one behind the threats to her? Her heart skipped a beat.

  “He’s not been at work for the past couple of days, thanks to you.” Mitch’s unfriendly tone didn’t soften in the slightest.

  Callie sighed. Mitch obviously knew about the incident between Mr Cunningham and Lucinda. It appeared he was holding her responsible. Great! “Can you tell me where to find him?”

  “Why? You want to ruin his life even more than you already have?” Mitch stepped closer to her and stuck his face within inches of her own. “Seems to be a speciality of yours. Ruining people’s lives.”

  “I don’t see how you can blame me for what happened with Jason. If you want to point fingers, how come you’re not sticking it in his ex’s direction?” Callie held her ground. How dare he place responsibility for Lucinda’s actions on her shoulders!

  “You always think you’re in the right, don’t you.” Mitch stabbed his thick finger at her chest. “Sandra has to see you and answer all your questions, the rest of the family have to put up with you being here, and Lucinda has to face the music for her indiscretion. Tell me, who made you God?”

  “That’s not fair.” Callie gritted her teeth. “Did you ever stop to think how you would feel, if it was you who’d never met your real mother?” Callie struggled with the anger that surged through her. This was so unjust. “You have no idea how it feels to know your own parents gave you away. How dare you judge me! You’re just stuck in your own narrow little view point. I’m sure you’d feel different if you were in my shoes.”

  “Whatever!” Mitch turned his back, but Callie wasn’t done with him. She grabbed hold of his arm and held on tight. Mitch glared at her over his shoulder.

  “That’s just a lame cop out because you know I’m right!”

  “You tell yourself whatever you need to.” Mitch gripped her fingers and pried them from his arm. “Nothing gives you the right to hurt this many people. You aren’t wanted here. The sooner you realise it and leave, the better.”

  “Perhaps you should check with all your family members, before you come to the conclusion that nobody wants me here.” Callie forced her voice past the giant lump that lodged itself in her throat. “Max is your father, isn’t he?”

  Mitch froze, his face so stiff it could have been carved from stone. “What has my father to do with anything?”

  “He came to see me yesterday.” Callie almost stopped speaking as a dark anger rolled over Mitch’s features. She forced herself to continue. “He welcomed me as family. If he can, why can’t you?”

  “I don’t believe you. My father would never go against the rest of the family that way,” he snarled. “Especially not for a nasty little bitch like you.”

  Callie’s body shook from the magnitude of his anger as it whipped through her with the force of a tornado. What the hell was wrong with him? He seemed hell bent on painting her as a villain, no matter what. It seemed unlikely that she would ever change his mind, so why was she putting herself through this?

  “Don’t believe me then. I’m past caring! Why I would ever dream of bothering with any of you is a mystery to me.” Callie threw her hands up in the air. “To be honest, I only came in here to sort out my car as soon as possible. You should be thrilled to know that I’m leaving the first chance I get. You can pass it on and throw a party. Maybe now you will tell me where I can find Jason!”

  Mitch stared at her with a stunned expression. His mouth opened and closed a few times. If Callie hadn’t been so completely fed up, she might have found it amusing.

  “Really, Mitch, didn’t your father and I teach you better manners.” A feminine voice drew Callie’s attention. She glanced behind her. A middle aged woman with short, sandy blonde hair approached them. A smile lit the woman’s face as her gaze flowed over Callie.

  “Hello, my dear. You must be Callie, Sandra’s daughter. I’m Trish Fuller, Mitch’s mother.” She held out her hand and Callie shook it tentatively.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Callie marvelled that the moody Mitch could have parents like Max and Trish. They were so warm and friendly.

  “Mum! You can’t be serious. What’s with the welcoming committee?” Mitch glared at his mother.

  “Come now, dear. You can’t always side with your grandmother on everything.” Trish wagged a finger at her son. “You should give your cousin a chance.”

  “Don’t call her that! She is not my cousin and I don’t want to give her a chance.” Mitch bit out. His jaw muscles jumped as he gritted his teeth. “She’s a menace or have you already forgotten how she’s split up Jason and Lucinda?”

  “I rather think Lucinda did that all by herself.” Mitch opened his mouth, his eyes blazing at his mother. Trish rolled her eyes and held up a hand. “I don’t want to argue about it, dear. I only dropped in to bring you your lunch. You left it behind again.” She handed the bag she ha
d draped over her arm to Mitch. “We’ll leave you to it. Maybe you can think over what I’ve said instead of just dismissing it.”

  Mitch grunted and grabbed the bag she offered him. He threw one last glare at Callie before he stalked away.

  “He’s rather stubborn, I’m afraid.” Trish told Callie, her eyes on her son as he disappeared around the corner. “He listens far too much to his grandmother’s opinions. I wish now that I’d never left him with her so much when he was small. Unfortunately, I had to go back to work after he was born and couldn’t afford child care. Oh well, hindsight is a great thing.” She laughed wryly. “If I’d known then what I do now, I would have found the money somehow!”

  Callie didn’t really know what to say. She shifted on her feet as she regarded Trish. The woman noticed her discomfort. She smiled and laced her arm through Callie’s.

  “It’s okay, dear. I know all this must be so overwhelming, but you shouldn’t give up on getting to know your real family.” She patted Callie’s hand and tugged her forward. Callie allowed herself to be led to the exit. They stepped out onto the street and headed back towards town.

  Callie sighed. “As much as I wish that were possible, I’ve decided to head home as soon as my car is fixed. Could you possibly tell me where I might find Jason?”

  Trish squeezed her fingers. “I can give you his home address. You could try him there. He was pretty cut up after Lucinda’s little stunt and I believe he’s holed up in his flat since it happened. Never did like that girl.” She wrinkled her nose as if she could smell something nasty. “It would be a shame for you to leave so soon, though. Sandra is bound to come round. So will Mitch, given time and my magic touch.”

  Trish wiggled her fingers as if casting a spell. Callie laughed. “You are so kind. Thank you.”

  “For what, dear? Welcoming a member of our family?” She grinned widely. “It’s the least we should be doing.” She cocked her head to the side as she regarded Callie. “So, do you think you’ll stay a while longer?”