Teagan
Sitting on the beach, I tried to work through all the emotions tearing me up. My reaction surprised even me, but seeing her, the woman I believed was the source of all my pain, I couldn’t help it. I felt all of it again, the helplessness, the despair. I knew she hadn’t done anything, but it didn’t matter.
The look on his face when I’d told him I hated him hurt worse. I didn’t want to hurt him, but in that moment I did. I wanted him to feel some of the pain I had lived through, wanted him to know what it felt like. I didn’t have his scars and I could see, but I had lived in hell too.
“You okay?” Simon asked as he settled next to me on the sand.
“I met Doreen.”
“Shit, that couldn’t have been fun.”
“I flipped out on Kane. Told him I hated her, hated him too.”
“I’m sure he understands. He knows at least in some measure what he put you through.”
“I should be over it. We’ve moved past that.”
Resting back on his hands, he focused on the sea. “Why? You’re human. Seeing the woman you believed was the cause of your world crashing and burning would have pissed off anyone.” His head turned in my direction. “There’s more. What’s wrong?”
“You told me I couldn’t keep putting his blindness between us, but that’s what he does. He disengages. I get it, he’s learning to live an entirely different way, but he’s still pushing me away. Not as drastically as he did before, but there’s still a part of him I can’t reach.”
“And that’s a problem.”
“Yeah, I’ve had all of Kane. I’m not going to settle for most of him.”
“That’s fair. What are you going to do?”
“I’m hoping he figures it out on his own. He can’t hold me to a standard and not follow it himself.”
“Where is he now?”
“I left him in the library.”
“I think he left. I heard the car before I came down here.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. I’d told him I’d come with him to the O’Malleys’, and then I left him alone.
Simon reached for my hand, my gaze turning to him. “What you’ve both been through—there’s no rule book, Teagan. There’s no right way to handle it. What’s important is that you’re here together, that you work through the lingering issues together. There’s nine years of baggage, sweetie; it’s going to take more than a few weeks to heal those wounds.”
“You’re right, I do know that.”
“So don’t be so hard on yourself or him. And give him some space. You could both use it. Once emotions cool, you can talk. Until then, just be glad you found each other again and are willing to make it work this time. The rest will come.”
Resting my head on his shoulder, I grinned. “I’ve said it before, but I’m saying it again. You are very wise.”
“Yes, I am.”
It was late when I felt the bed dip, felt Kane—his arm coming around my waist, pulling me back into the cradle of his body.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You’ve nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who’s sorry, sorry I put you through that.”
Turning to face him, I tried to speak, but he stopped me. “My intention was to protect you, but if I’m being completely honest, it was more than that. I was being selfish. I wanted to preserve the beauty of what we’d had. I didn’t want it blemished with the nightmare. I was so consumed by my own hell, battling my own demons, that I didn’t really think about what I was doing to you. I should have pulled you close, but bringing you into all of that would have altered all the memories of you that helped pull me through to the other side. Sounds stupid, but it’s the truth. I needed to find my way without you. I always knew the way with you, but I needed to know I could do it alone. Does that make sense?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry I broke you.”
Tears filled his eyes, and one rolled down his cheek. I wiped it away and pressed a kiss there. “I don’t hate you.”
“I’d hate me.”
“You always were very hard on yourself.”
His arms tightened around me. “Are we okay?”
“Yeah, we have some shit to work through, but I love you, so we’ll figure it out.”
He exhaled. “You have every right to be angry. You’re right. It’s on me. I’m sorry.”
Lifting his hand, I pressed a kiss in his palm. “Did you go to the O’Malleys’ house?”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry I didn’t come with you.”
“Under the circumstances, I wasn’t expecting you to.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“I did, but he didn’t have much to say—only relaying to me that Mr. Bowen wants to talk.”
I perked up at that. “Really?”
“Yep, have a meeting scheduled with him on Monday. He wanted to meet sooner, but Mrs. Marks is coming home tomorrow. I wasn’t going to miss that.”
“I bet Mrs. T is baking a cake,” I teased.
“I know she is.”
Leaning up on my elbow, I saw the grin curve his lips. “How do you know?”
“I may have asked her to, even given her some suggestions.”
“You and that sweet tooth.”
He moved so fast, pinning me under him, and then his mouth was on my neck and he started moving slowly down my body. He looked wicked when his head lifted. “Sweet.”
I laughed. He moved lower. I moaned and spread my legs wider.
“It’s so good to be home.” Mrs. Marks was settled in the kitchen. She wanted to be in the heart of the house and not alone in her room. Mrs. T feverishly cooked her homecoming meal, Simon helping, though he was doing more eating than helping. Mr. Clancy was at the table with Kane and me.
“It has been too long since we’ve all been together like this,” Mrs. T commented as she whipped egg whites for the soufflés she was making.
“You’re not wrong, Mrs. T, and I’m glad for it, because I have an announcement,” Mrs. Marks said, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. “I’ve worked with Mr. Lawson and have had papers drawn up. I’m deeding the house to Kane and Teagan.”
“What?” Kane and I said at the exact same time.
“I was doing it anyway, and, after this scare, I decided not to wait. Now, before everyone goes crazy, this is as much for me as it is for you. I want to see Raven’s Peak as an inn, but mostly I want to witness its transformation. I love this old, drafty place; it’s been in my family for a long time and it will continue to be as long as Kane and Teagan, and hopefully their children, have a part in it.”
“Absolutely, it’ll never fall out of the family. But are you sure?” I asked. I couldn’t believe she was handing over Raven’s Peak. I knew how much she loved her home.
“I had intended for my Danny to have it, but he died, and for so long I worried what would become of it, and then I was blessed with you. I remember when you both came here. Kane, when your mom brought you with her to work that first time, you were just a baby, so beautiful—from the very beginning you were a source of joy, bringing laughter back into this house. I know you think you are the lucky one, but I am the one who was blessed. You’re a beautiful soul, Kane, and I have so enjoyed seeing you grow from that small little bundle to the man before me, honored that I was there to help you along the way when your mother felt she no longer could be.”
The expression on Kane’s face gave me a glimpse of the wide-eyed boy he had been.
“And you, Teagan, arriving with such sadness in your eyes. Watching you find each other, comforting and healing your hurts, turned us from a group of old folks into a family. I would be honored for my ancestral home to go to you, because you are all the family of my heart.”
I was full-on crying, blubbering without words. Kane pulled me up against him. “You took two lost children and you gave us a home. We’d been honored to carry on your legacy,” he said, voicing exactly what I was feeling.
Mrs. Marks was crying too, and Simon was alternately handing her and me tissues. “Excellent,” she said through her tears. “Now, I’m starving, what’s for dinner?”
That night, Kane and I lay silently in bed, both of us thinking about Mrs. Marks’s words from earlier.
“I want children with you, Tea.”
Sitting up, I turned to him. His hands behind his head, his sightless gaze shifting in my direction. “Where did that come from?”
“I’ve been thinking it for a while. I want to feel my baby growing in you—our child, the blending of us, the enduring symbol of what we feel for each other.”
“I want that too. I’d like a bunch of kids.”
“Now that she’s made it official, we need to start working on the inn,” he said.
“Yeah, any idea where we start?” I asked.
“I’ve a few.” He grabbed me and pulled me down on top of him. “But first, let’s work on that baby.” And then he was kissing me. Work had never been so much fun.
“Places,” I called from my spot near the fireplace. “Simon, let me explain it to you. When the lights go out, you run. Only the murderer knows who his or her victim is. If you are the chosen one, scream loudly so we can discover your body. And that’s when the guessing on who did it begins.”
“Okay, I got it,” Simon said. He sounded cheerful. Maybe he was the murderer.
“Mrs. Marks, are you ready?” I asked. She was dressed as Miss Scarlet and sitting in her favorite chair. She wasn’t going to be moving around—the game would come back to her. She looked good, though, stronger than she had when she’d returned home a couple days ago.
“Yes, dear. I’m ready for some good old-fashioned bloodshed.”
I laughed. “That’s the spirit.”
“All right, ready and action.”
I ran, déjà vu swamping me, because damn if I didn’t feel Kane right behind me. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me close. “How the hell did you find me so fast?”
“You’re in my world now, babe. I rule the dark.”
“Oh my God, you’re so weird.”
“Maybe, but you’re about to die.”
“Again?”
“Yep.”
“And how exactly will you mete out this death? Tickling?”
“No, nothing so easy.”
Someone approached, which threw me off, since murder in our game was always a solo gig. I heard Simon’s cackle as he appeared just in front of me. In his hand was what looked like a potpie. My gaze flew to his.
“No, I’m not eating worm potpie.”
“No, doll, but you’re going to wear it,” Simon said with sinister intent.
“Death by fright, good idea, Simon,” said Kane.
“I’m filled with them,” Simon countered.
“You’re teaming up, that’s not fair.”
“Whining won’t get you out of your fate, Tea. Suck it up and take it like a man,” Kane said and glanced at Simon, like he could see him and was confirming they were ready to proceed. “You ready, Simon?”
“All good here, Kane.”
In the next second, I had worms in my hair. The sensation was so disgusting that I wish I had died of fright.
Kane
Tea came with me to visit Mr. Bowen. The smell of pine cleaner and coffee greeted us when we stepped from the cold foyer into the heated space of his law firm. The sounds of an office echoed around us: fingers tapping on a keyboard, phones ringing, a copy machine, the soft hum of voices.
“The receptionist is walking toward us,” Tea said softly.
“Kane Doyle?”
“Yes.”
“Please—this way. Mr. Bowen will be right with you.”
The noises became muffled with the soft click of the door closing, separating us from the office activity.
“It’s a nice conference room: big walnut desk, leather chairs. Oh, here he comes. He’s tall, about your height, balding, trim, sharp brown eyes. He’s wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and burgundy tie. Looks like silver-and-onyx cuff links, nice.”
“What about his shoes? Why did you leave out his shoes? Doesn’t he have feet?”
She picked up on my sarcasm and bumped me with her shoulder. “Clown.”
I grinned, couldn’t help it. She was adorable.
“Mr. Doyle. Thank you for coming.”
“Sure.”
“And you’re Teagan Harper, yes?”
“Yes, sir. Nice to meet you.”
“Please, call me Richard.”
“You’re here about Dimitri Falco, aren’t you?” I heard as he settled into his chair, the jovial tone of his voice turning flat, laced with guilt.
“Yes. We’ve talked to Mrs. Marks, so we know you and Mr. Lawson are looking to flush him out, but she’s an old woman and doesn’t need this brought into her home.”
“Agreed. I wasn’t thrilled with Larry’s plan, but we had to do something.”
“Maybe you should start from the beginning,” I said.
“I didn’t know any of this, not until Falco showed up. I want you to know that.”
“Okay.” Apprehension twisted in my gut.
“When the ice cream parlor went belly-up, Kevin O’Malley tried to sell the building and couldn’t. So not only was he not making money, but after he sold everything to cover his losses, he was still paying the mortgage and taxes on the property. He’d say now and again how he wished the place would burn down—it was something we’d all chuckle at a bit. Then there was the fire, and Kathy was caught in the inferno along with some other kids.
“Kids had been hanging there, smoking and drinking, since it closed down, the not-so-best-kept secret in town. The fact that Kathy was there was surprising, but she always had a tendency to want to fit in, to be with the cool kids.
“It wasn’t until later that I learned the truth. The fire hadn’t been an accident. It had been set on purpose. Kathy had overheard her parents talking and decided to take matters into her own hands. She had no idea the chain of events she was setting off.”
“How did you learn of it?” Tea sounded horrified and angry.
“Camille. She brought Dimitri here about a year ago. I didn’t like him from the moment I saw him. He laid it all out precisely. He’s smart—arrogant, lazy, and shiftless—but smart. Explained to me how the fire had been set on purpose. He knew this because there had been an eyewitness.”
“Camille,” I said.
“Exactly. He listed the charges Kathy would be brought up on, since there is no statute of limitations on arson. Knowing how devastated her family already was, and then dumping it on them that their daughter had done it on purpose . . . They’d have been forced to watch as she was carted off to jail, when all she was trying to do was help . . . She was just a kid. I couldn’t do it.”
“So he blackmailed you?” I had suspected the fire had been started due to carelessness. Either way, the end result was the same.
“He wanted inside Raven’s Peak. I was his means.”
“Why Raven’s Peak?” Tea asked.
“I honestly don’t think he cared as long as he had access to valuables, but Camille wanted in and created a shared goal with Falco. The fact that he blackmailed me for a job pisses me off, but what’s even more infuriating is his arrogance in believing that I would just sit back and allow him to steal from a client and a friend. His arrogance will be his downfall.”
“How do you mean?” Tea asked what I too was thinking.
“I’ve been playing him too. I stalled when he first ‘started’—didn’t want to expose Mrs. Marks to him for any longer than necessary—by claiming he needed to go through our new employee training. Falco was smart enough to go along since I do have partners and they would have become suspicious if he didn’t follow our normal hiring procedures. I gained an additional few months by insisting that he become familiar with Mrs. Marks’s file, one that was streamlined for her safety. Again my partners would expect him to study up on the cases he was taking over, and Falco was willing to play the game since he knew the outcome would be favorable.”
“You said Camille had created a shared goal with Falco. To what end?” Tea asked.
“I’m guessing to steal.”
“You didn’t want to expose Mrs. Marks to a criminal and yet you did.” Tea was seething.
“In a way, yes, but she knew what we were doing. We didn’t keep her in the dark. Larry continued to represent her, and we gave Dimitri enough rope. She was actually enjoying the intrigue.”
She would. “Enough rope?” I asked.
“Like I said, I’ve been playing him too. It was why I agreed to his demands. While he thought he had me over a barrel, Larry was having him investigated.”
“Do you have something on him?” It seemed to me that the jig was up with Mrs. Marks’ home and Raven’s Peak passing down to me and Tea.
“Yeah, in his arrogance he didn’t think we’d do some digging, but we did and found the fence he used to sell the stuff he stole from his parents. They are fully prepared to press charges.”
“Does he know?”
“Not yet, but that’s about to change.”
“Is that why you and Camille are estranged?” Tea asked.
“I spoiled her—I was trying to make up for the fact that her mother had left, but I created a monster. If she has been trying to steal from Mrs. Marks, then she was looking to profit from your tragedy, and that sickens me. My own child sickens me.”
I suspected she was a bad egg whether he’d spoiled her or not. “If Camille was using Dimitri to get the pieces she wanted, and he’s expecting to get paid, how is she funding this? A waitress salary isn’t going to cut it. Are you giving her money?”
“No, and that’s the part that doesn’t make sense. She loves Raven’s Peak. I can’t imagine she’d want to see pieces of it being sold off to strangers, so if she has no intention of buying what Falco is stealing, then what’s her motive?”
“To see Kane,” Tea said.
“I thought she was over that crush, but then, I don’t know my daughter like I thought I did.”
On the street a little while later, I stopped and just breathed deeply. What a fucking web.
“You okay?” Tea asked, her voice rounding out some of the edges.
“Yeah, a little in shock.”
“Understandable.” Her hand tightened on mine. “Are you upset about the fire being set on purpose?”
“No, why? The outcome doesn’t change whether it was intentional or not. She thought she was doing the right thing, and, having spent time with that family, I know they’re very close. I’m trying to understand Camille’s intentions.”
“So you aren’t convinced she’s trying to steal from Mrs. Marks either.”
“I don’t know. Unless she’s conning the con artist, how could she?”
“Conning the con artist, interesting. She doesn’t have the money, but she told him she did, and, based on who her father is, why wouldn’t Mr. Sleazy believe her? Who would have thought we’d have such an underbelly of crime in our small town?”
I laughed in spite of myself. “You’re adorable.”
“Why are you laughing?” She sounded almost whiny. The look that used to accompany that voice came clearly into focus in my mind’s eye.
“I don’t think one case of blackmail rates as an underbelly.”
“It should.” She sounded disgruntled but quickly turned serious. “If Camille is really after you, that scares me. Last time you thwarted her efforts, she slashed your tires.”
“You think she might try something?” I didn’t know if I agreed with Tea, but there was no mistaking her tone: She was worried.
“I don’t know, but it makes me nervous. She makes me nervous. Anyway, you’re taking this all very well.” Her voice now had an edge of hope.
I was going to need to think about Tea’s concern. She was usually pretty spot-on with people, so something wasn’t sitting right with her. She clearly wanted to change the subject, so I did. “What’s done is done. I’ve got you, and our lives are where we always wanted them to be. Let’s not dwell on what can’t be changed.”
“That’s very mature thinking, Kane, and, coming from you, eater of worm potpies, I’m impressed.”
“At least I don’t wear them in my hair.” Pulling her close, I kissed the top of her head.
“Never intentionally.” Humor flickered in her tone.
Yep, no point on dwelling, I had everything I ever wanted right here.
Teagan
We were at the O’Malleys’ celebrating Kevin and Sally’s anniversary. Kane had asked me to go with him, and I couldn’t deny that part of my excitement for the day was getting the chance to see Kane interacting with the O’Malleys, because they really were like a second family to him. Their house wasn’t a big one, but it was so nicely decorated: drawings that the kids had done as children hung on the walls, and the rooms were cozy, made for a family to settle into and be comfortable. I think I was even more moved by what I saw because I was late, and my period was never late. I hadn’t taken a pregnancy test yet. I was procrastinating just a little, because I wanted to enjoy the high of possibly being pregnant for just a little while , in case I actually wasn’t. The scents coming from the kitchen made my stomach growl—my appetite had definitely increased—a fact that was not lost on Kane.
“Hungry, Tea?”
“No, my stomach is just making noises like a small wild animal.”
“You always had a very colorful way of describing something. I’ll introduce you, and then we’ll get something to appease the small furry animal.”
“I didn’t say my stomach was furry, I said it was wild. It’s wild as in sexy, not furry.”
Then it made that noise again, and he responded by laughing. “Yep, that’s sexy.”
I slugged him, not hard but hard.
“Kane, so happy you could make it,” said Sally O’Malley. The petite woman greeted Kane with affection and love in her dark eyes. Yep, definitely a second family for Kane.
“And you must be Teagan. It is so nice to finally meet you.”
Finally. Did Kane talk about me to the O’Malleys? And then, as if she’d read my mind, she added, “Kane speaks of you so often I feel as if I know you.”
My attention shifted to Kane, whose head was lowered. Taking a play from his book, I ran my finger over his cheek and felt the heat blooming there.
“If you meet my friend Simon, he’ll tell you that I speak incessantly about Kane, but then again, since he’s my favorite person in the world, I guess it’s not really a surprise.”
His head jerked up at that, his eyes turning in my general direction. “Really?”
“Yes, but you already knew that.”
“Still nice to hear,” he whispered.
“Oh, please, you must let me introduce you to Kevin,” she said as she reached for each of our hands and started pulling us along.
Kevin was a large man, almost as tall as Kane and big in the shoulders. His wife only reached his chest; they were so opposite, and yet, watching them, there was no denying the affection.
“Kevin, look who I found. Kane and Teagan. She was just saying how Kane is her favorite person in the world. Doesn’t that sound familiar?”
Kevin grinned. You could tell he thought his wife was the cat’s meow. “Sure does.” His focus turned to me. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Teagan.” His hand engulfed mine, but he was gentle when he shook it.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Would you like a drink, Teagan?” Sally asked.
“Sure, a Coke would be nice.”
“Okay, Kane and I will get drinks. Be back in a jiff.”
Watching her go, her husband said from my side, “She wants to pry information from Kane about how things are going with you two.”
“I guessed. It’s nice he has you.”
“I wish the circumstances that brought us together weren’t what they were, but he’s been like a son to us.”
“He looks to you both as something akin to parents. Regardless of what brought you together, you are together, and you don’t treat him differently. I suspect that’s why he really enjoys your company. You see him and not his scars or his blindness.”
“So do you.”
“Yes, but I’ve known him since I was nine and been in love with him for nearly that long.”
Approval shone in his eyes. “So is it true you had Mrs. T make him a worm potpie? Do tell.”
Later, while Kane was chatting with Kevin about something, I walked through Sally’s gardens. Someone came up next to me. Glancing over, I saw it was Kathy.
“So glad you could make it,” she said.
“Happy to be here. Last time I saw you, you were in need of a job. Any luck?”
“Not yet, but I’ve gotten a few leads.” She nodded toward Kane. “How is he?”
“He’s great. Happy.”
“I can see that. I’m so glad you two are together again. I remember you in school, how you were like Frick and Frack.”
Leaning closer to her, I said, “Kane knows about the fire. Mr. Bowen told him. He isn’t upset. Just thought you should know.”
Her jaw dropped; I had never seen that in real life, but it dropped, hanging open wide enough to catch flies. “So he knows it was Camille who set the fire?”
Now my jaw dropped. “Wait. What?”
Suspicion lit in her eyes. “What exactly did he tell you?”
“That you started the fire, because you heard your parents talking and wanted to help them. Camille witnessed it. She brought Falco to her dad last year, and they threatened to tell the police you started the fire if he didn’t hire Falco.”
“Son of a bitch. I just knew it, knew she was up to something. I didn’t start the fire. She called me and asked me to come with her, to hang with her friends. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving. She was already home, already kicked out of Yale because of her grades, but some of her high school friends were home for the holiday. Since all I’d ever wanted was to hang with her, I went. She was so off that night, just ranting on about Yale, her father, you going off to school, Kane following you to Boston. It was her idea to start the fire. She wanted Kane to come. I thought it was some twisted idea she had that if he saved her in the fire, he’d grow feelings for her, especially since you were out of the picture temporarily. Once the fire got started, it burned too fast to stop it. She came to me after and begged me not to say anything. She told me to think about what would happen to her dad’s practice if his daughter was found guilty of arson, so I said nothing. Everyone thought it was my carelessness anyway.”
“And all the while she’s been lying to her father to get access to Raven’s Peak. Unbelievable.”
“What do you mean?”
“Falco’s terms for the blackmail were to get hired into the firm so he could represent Mrs. Marks and get access to her home.”
“For what purpose?”
“To steal from her, we’re guessing. It seems awfully vindictive, but having never gotten her hands on Raven’s Peak, I’m guessing she wanted to take it in pieces. But then again, the few run-ins I’ve had with Camille, she’s always been vindictive.”
“What do you mean?”
“When Kane rejected Camille’s affections when we were younger, she slashed his tires.”
“What?”
“Creepy, right?”
“I wonder if her intent for that fire wasn’t more malicious,” Kathy said, but she seemed to be thinking out loud.
“Meaning?” Chills went through me.
“Nothing specific, but knowing her better, everything she does has a purpose. Kane loved you back then, and she knew it; she’d be more inclined to make him pay for that than seeking to win his affections, especially since her happy, pampered world was crumbling around her while you two were living the dream.”
Dread and fury warred inside me. Kathy was right. If Camille had set that fire, she’d had an agenda, and I remember her threatening Kane that he’d be sorry for his lack of interest. If she’d purposely harmed him, it was likely I was going to kill her.
“She shouldn’t be allowed to get away with that,” Kathy said.
“I agree. Where is Mr. Bowen?” We both scanned the yard for him. “There he is,” I said, but I was already making my way over to him. That bitch Camille may have intentionally set out to harm Kane. The idea of it was vile, disgusting, and so completely something she would do.
“She lied to you. Camille started that fire,” I said by way of greeting to Mr. Bowen.
“What?”
“I was just talking with Kathy, and I shared with her that Kane knew she had set the fire. She remembers the event entirely differently.”
His focus sliced to Kathy. “Camille set the fire?”
“Yes.”
“Are you kidding me?” Mr. Bowen roared.
At the sound, Kevin and Kane ended their conversation, both walking to where the furious Bowen paced. Camille had cost us so much, and if she had set that fire with malicious intent, I wanted her in prison. “She isn’t going to get away with this,” I demanded.
Mr. Bowen stopped his pacing and leveled me with a haunted expression. “No, she won’t.”
In the next minute, Camille and Mr. Sleazy arrived, oblivious to the undercurrent. I would have thought her father would have told her that the secret was out about the blackmail. But maybe her lack of knowing fed into whatever her father and Mr. Lawson were working on the side for Dimitri. Sparks started flying, and though few words were said, the tension was insane. Kane’s expression set me in motion because he had clearly caught on to the meaning behind the tension: that there had been more to Camille’s involvement with the fire than just having been there. He looked like he wanted to commit murder. I went to him and wrapped my arm around his waist.
“She’s not worth it,” I whispered. And yet, even as I said that, my mind was working. She’d pay if she set that fire on purpose. Whenever I had encountered her, it always ended in a pissing contest. Her need to one up, to get the last word, could be used against her.
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“It’s all over your face. And I was thinking it too, but she is seriously not worth it.” Turning his face to me, I pressed a kiss to his lips. “Remember, you said it didn’t matter how the fire was started. It was done, in the past. And it is. Don’t let this set you back. She’s taken nine years from us, don’t give her any more.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Agreed, but killing her won’t change the outcome, and, as much fun as it would be before, during, and after her death, we’ll still be right where we are now. That said, I’ve a thought.”
“I know that tone. You have a plan?” I felt some of the tension drain from him.
“I do.”
“I’m hungry. Feed me woman,” he said, his hand finding mine. “And then we’ll discuss this plan.”
“Delighted to. I think I saw a few nice juicy worms in the garden.”
He pulled me closer and kissed my head. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being here.”
“My pleasure, Kane Doyle, it truly is. Now, let’s eat. The small wild animal that is my stomach is growling again.”
Kane and I were sitting in the kitchen with the family. We’d briefed them on what had happened at the O’Malleys’ the night before. Mrs. Marks looked about ready to launch. “If she set that fire, so help me, I will use every cent of my money to see her put behind bars.”
“I think we can do that without you needing to spend a cent.” It might not work, my idea, but I wanted to try. If Camille had deliberately set the fire, she needed to be held accountable.
“I’m listening.”
“It’ll be like Clue but better. And we’re going to need a few more players.”
Mrs. Marks’s eyes sparkled. “I’m all ears, dear.”
The best china was set, the silver on the table, and Mrs. Marks was dressed to the nines. Mrs. T had spent the day cooking as Kane, Simon, and I cleaned the house. Everything was in place; we were just waiting for our guest to arrive.
The sound of the bell sent Mr. Clancy to the door with determined strides. He pulled it open for Camille. She didn’t wait to be asked in—she walked in as if it were her home. Pulling her coat off, she handed it to Mr. Clancy without even making eye contact.
“Camille, how lovely that you could make it,” Mrs. Marks said. “Please, let’s go to the drawing room. We’ll have tea there. It’s one of my favorite rooms.”
Standing out of sight, I watched the two head down the hall. Mrs. Marks addressed Camille as they went: “Had I known you had such a love of my home, I would have asked you here more often. There is nothing I like more than talking about Raven’s Peak.”
I followed after them and stood near the entrance once used by the servants. Camille walked around the room, her fingers running over several priceless pieces. What was her endgame? Conning a con artist for works of art she really had nowhere to place seemed so odd, which was why I really believed her goal was Kane—to get close to him and win him over. Had I not returned, would she have succeeded? She took the place across from Mrs. Marks, who was serving the tea. On cue, Kane and Zeus walked into the room from the door exactly opposite to where I was standing.
“Kane.” Surprise and, if I wasn’t mistaken, longing rang in that single word.
“Camille, I didn’t know you were going to be here today.”
“Mrs. Marks invited me for tea.”
“May I join you?”
Mrs. Marks hesitated, then said, “Of course, dear.” Her solicitous reply had me biting down on my lip to keep from laughing; she was really getting into her character. “Will Teagan be joining us as well?”
I saw his eye roll from my place at the door. A little overdone in my opinion, but Camille ate it up. “No,” he said.
Camille perked up.
Mrs. Marks pressed. “You look upset. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s . . . yeah.” Kane would not be winning any awards for his acting.
“Did you and she have a fight?” Mrs. Marks put her hand to her mouth, feigning contrition. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be asking such personal questions in front of company.”
“It’s okay. Camille’s not just company.” He actually got those words out without laughing. Camille, now rather smug, leaned back in her chair and smiled deviously. I wanted to throw up.
“It’s true. Kane and I have grown rather close. Do you want to talk about it, Kane?”
He pulled a hand through his hair before resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know, as misguided as Kathy’s actions were, she set that fire out of love for her parents. Tea would have done that for me once upon a time, but I don’t think she would now. She’s different. Her life is different, but I miss that passion. To love someone enough to act so recklessly is remarkable.”
Right on cue, Simon walked into the room. Now, unlike Kane, Simon should win an award. He stopped suddenly, his eyes growing wide before narrowing. His voice was the perfect blend of surprise and scorn.
“Well, isn’t this a picture. What the hell is she doing here?” He was improvising, so Simon.
“I invited her for tea.” Mrs. Marks was holding her own, her distain coming across loud and clear. “It is my house, after all.”
“Thought you had better taste than that, Mrs. Marks. Where’s Teagan?”
“She’s not here.” This came from Camille, who was clearly not happy with Simon’s interruption.
Simon stared at Camille as if her head were sprouting a plant. “You figured that out all on your own, that’s surprising.”
I bit down on my lip so hard I drew blood; Kane was turning an unhealthy shade of red and Mrs. Marks was grinning behind her teacup. Stay on script, Simon. Moving from my spot, I waited a beat or two before I entered.
“Hey, Simon . . .” Taking a cue from Simon, I widened my eyes. “Camille, here again?”
She snarled, her lips curling up to bare her teeth. “Teagan.”
“Looking to the steal the silver?” I asked sweetly.
“Hardly.”
“Kane, don’t you look comfortable. Am I interrupting?”
“Nope, just friends having tea,” he said.
“Friends now, really? That’s a surprise. I thought you found her tedious, at least that’s what you said the other night.”
Kane’s head lowered, and Camille looked like she wanted to kill me. I moved on. “Did you enjoy the O’Malleys’ party? I did. I learned something interesting. Is it true you flunked out of Yale? It’s a real shame that Daddy greased some palms for nothing.”
“How dare you?”
“We know you didn’t get in based on your brains, I mean, seriously. A person only needs to talk to you to know you aren’t Ivy League material.”
“You think you’re so great, but you’re nothing.”
“I disagree. Unlike you, I managed to stay in college, even graduated with honors. I own my own business, I’m engaged to him, and I live in this fabulous house. All the things you wanted. In fact, I’m living your dream. That must sting a bit.”
Steam was coming from her ears, and she looked about ready to scratch my eyes out. “He should have been mine. He liked me until you showed up.”
“He defected awfully quickly, so he couldn’t have liked you very much.”
“You bitch.”
“Maybe, but I’m only speaking what I see. Speaking of which, where’s Sleazy? I mean, Dimitri. Now, he’s more your speed. So what was the plan? He steals things from here, but how were you planning on paying for them? You’ve got no money.” Looking her from head to toe I added, “And if you’re bartering for the items with your assets, Sleazy’s getting the short end of the stick.”
She launched to her feet, and I honestly believed she would have attacked me if Simon hadn’t placed himself between us.
Her next words were hissed. “So smug, but I sure as hell had a big influence in your world, no matter what you think.”
I turned cold at the venom in her words, but this was what I wanted, so I acted blasé and confused. “What do you mean by that?”
“I didn’t get the dream, but neither did you.”
My skin crawled at how callously she offered that tidbit. “Like you had anything to do with that.”
Her eyes turned to Kane. “I only ever wanted you, Kane. The house would have been nice, but I wanted you. You had nothing, came from nothing, but I wanted to offer you the world. And then she came into your life and she was all you could see. You never gave us a chance.”
“I’m hearing an awful lot of whining and jealousy, but that’s a far cry from having any control over Kane’s and my lives. Delusional much, Camille?”
“I set that fire. Set it to get Kane there.” She turned imploringly to Kane. “I had that passion, not Kathy.”
Fury burned through me. Simon held me back from attacking. My gaze moved to Kane, who stood, his body rigid with rage, then to Mrs. Marks, who was fisting her hands in her lap. “You set the fire intentionally?” I asked.
“I wanted him . . . I couldn’t have him . . .”
“So you set a fire?”
Her gaze looked a bit wild, and she turned it on Kane. “You didn’t want me. I had to make you understand.”
“Understand what?” Ominous was the only word to describe Kane’s voice.
“I always get what I want.”
In that minute, Mr. Bowen, Mr. Lawson, and the sheriff came walking into the room. Shock kept Camille from speaking. She stared at her father as if confused as to why he was there. Pain shone in her expression, so I guessed there was still someone who she actually cared about.
“Daddy, what are you doing here?”
“I always knew you were selfish and spoiled, but this? I don’t have words.”
“You’re under arrest, Camille Bowen, for arson,” the sheriff said. It grated that we could only get Camille on arson due to the time that had lapsed since the fire, but Mr. Lawson explained that arson was without a statute of limitations and, in Maine, was punishable by up to thirty years in jail. He was certain that if we got her to admit to starting the fire with the intent to cause harm to another, the prosecutor would push for, and win, the maximum sentence.
“What?” Her confusion turned to panic. “What are you talking about?”
I answered her. “You intentionally set a fire to harm Kane, a fire that almost killed him. You should be tried for attempted murder, in my opinion. You cost him his sight and caused the burns that he spent years recovering from. Did you honestly believe you were going to get away with that?”
“But . . .”
Mr. Clancy arrived at that moment to show the sheriff and Camille to the door, Mrs. Marks following, after talking to Mr. Bowen and Mr. Lawson. Simon stepped up to me as I reached for Kane’s hand.
“Well, I don’t even have words. I can’t believe she did it, can’t believe she confessed,” Simon said. His attention turned to Kane and me. “She really didn’t get that what she did was wrong. That is seriously fucked up.”
Simon wasn’t wrong. “You can say that again, but what I don’t understand is if she was after Kane all along then what was the point of the whole blackmailing ruse with Mr. Sleazy? It’s not like she needed access to Raven’s Peak, she’s been making herself at home here for years.”
“No idea.” Simon replied, but Kane remained silent.
Squeezing his hand, I asked, “You okay?”
“She’s a fucking bitch. I want a few minutes with her.”
“The sheriff agreed to it, right?” I understood where he was coming from.
“Yeah.”
“What are you going to say to her?”
“I don’t know, but something will come.”
Kane
Camille was being transported to Portland. Before she left, I had a few words to say to her, and then I intended to put her out of my mind forever. She had been brought into the visitor room of the local jail, just her and me. Zeus was with me. He helped me to find the chair.
I wished I could see her in that moment, wished I could see the expression on her face. Though I suspected it wouldn’t be as contrite as it should be, just belligerent.
“Come to gloat?” She sounded just like the spoiled child she was.
“Gloat? Have you noticed I’m blind?”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen. I thought you’d get wounded, but I never imagined you’d get trapped.”
“You fucking set a building on fire when there were people in it. It wasn’t just me you put at risk, not even just Kathy and the others—you put yourself in danger.”
“Well, I clearly didn’t think it all the way through.” She sounded dismissive, like that was of no matter.
Rage burned through me. If I’d had my sight, I would have likely reached across the table and strangled her with my bare hands. “Didn’t think it through?”
Standing up, I lifted my shirt and heard her gasp. “You did this! You intentionally did this. Have you any idea the pain associated with burns like this, the months of agony, the years of recovery, the surgeries where they take skin from other parts of your body to graft? I lived in hell for years because you didn’t fucking think it all the way through.”
Still no tears, but something sounding like remorse came through now. “I had no idea.”
“You stole nine years of my life, and not only did you make me live through hell, you put Tea through hell as well, when I attempted to protect her from the nightmare you caused. I love Tea, you know just how much I do, and yet you can sit there with barely any remorse in your voice. As if it’s all a big misunderstanding. Understand this, Camille, I’ve already been called as a witness. I fully intend to show them what you’ve just seen. Dimitri is testifying. Kathy is as well. You’re going away for a long fucking time. And once I walk out this door, I’ll forget all about you, because I have a life, a family, and Tea waiting for me. And you, you’ll be here miserable and alone. You brought that on yourself.
“Oh, and as a parting gift . . .” I pulled the Polaroids from my pocket and tossed them on the table. “So you don’t feel as if you’ve walked away empty-handed. Here are some pictures of Raven’s Peak. Hang them on the wall in your jail cell—that is as close as you’ll ever get again.”
I knew Tea was waiting for me as soon as I stepped out onto the sidewalk; I smelled her, felt her. She sounded unsure when she asked, “How did it go? You okay?”
“Absolutely. Let’s go for a walk on the beach.”
“Sounds perfect.”
We started down the street, Tea pressed up against my side, letting me feel her words before she said them.
“I never liked Camille, not from the first day I saw her talking to you outside of school. I hated her.”
“What day?”
“My first day of school—you took me for ice cream, but before, you were talking to her. It’s why I started to leave. I didn’t want you to feel like you had to hang with me.”
“That’s why? I wondered. I was only talking to her while I waited for you. I saw you come out of the school, watched you walk away, and realized my plan backfired.”
“We were so young,” she said.
“Yep.”
“I love you as much now as I did then—more.”
“You better.” But I tucked her closer and held on to those words for the entire walk home.