No wonder Deacon had been so angry with Jordan. Her uncle had encouraged her to ditch school, giving her beer and cigarettes when she was fourteen. Deacon had had better parenting skills at less than half Jordan’s age. ‘That’s quite a load for a little boy to carry.’
‘It was, but he never complained, not until we were forced to move in with Aunt Tammy and Uncle Jim.’
‘I thought you and Greg lived with them
after
your mother died.’
‘We did then too. Deacon also lived with us then, but for only a few months. He graduated high school and left for college. But when Mom was alive, before she remarried and had Greg, it was Deacon and Mom and me living with them. Mom nearly worked herself to death for a year after our father died, but we still couldn’t pay the rent. It was Uncle Jim’s house, but Jim had to move us out so that he could rent to someone else. Tammy later told me that they’d covered Mom’s rent for months before he moved us out, but Deacon and I didn’t know that then. Deacon hated him for evicting us, for making Mom cry. But most of all, I think, because Jim treated him like he couldn’t take care of us, like he was just a kid.’
‘He
was
just a kid.’
‘I know. Looking back, Jim was trying in his own rough way to give Deacon back his childhood, but Deacon didn’t see it that way. I’m still not sure he does.’
Deacon’s need to take care of Greg now was making even more sense. ‘How long did you live with them?’
‘Four years. Then Mom met Bruce. I think we were all a little afraid she’d jumped into marriage with Bruce because she was desperate to get away from Uncle Jim, but it turned out better than any of us could have imagined.’
‘Bruce was a good stepfather, then?’
Dani smiled. ‘The best. He was the dad he didn’t have to be but was. He even adopted us. For the first time Deacon had a true father figure. I mean, Jim took us in but we never forgot that it was only because of his kindness that we weren’t homeless. Bruce . . . loved us. Wanted us. We were a family. When he and Mom died, it was like . . . well, like your whole life you got old crusty bread, then someone gives you a steak dinner. But then they take the steak away and you have to go back to eating crusty bread. The bread sustains life, but it’s not the same.’
‘And it’s almost worse because now you know what you’re missing.’
‘Yeah. But at least Deacon and I had the time with Mom and Bruce as a loving family. Greg never got that. Tammy’s nurturing, but Jim can be . . . well, hard to live with.’
‘Adam grew up with Jim, too,’ Faith murmured. ‘Which may explain a lot.’
‘Adam’s a good man,’ Dani said loyally. ‘Although I can understand how you might think otherwise right now. He called me last night after the two of you talked. He was very worried about Deacon being led astray again.’
Again? Who led him astray the first time?
Faith was tempted to ask, but knew the answer needed to come from Novak himself.
Dani had bitten her lip as if she’d said too much and wished she could take it back. ‘Adam’s been worried about you counseling offenders,’ she added hurriedly. ‘I sent him a link to the victim forums, but I don’t know if he read them. Sometimes he cares too much and it gives him tunnel vision. He gets very protective of his family, Deacon especially. But that’s his wrong to right. I’ll get my bag and fix you up.’
‘Wait, Dani. Why Deacon especially?’ This was a topic she felt more comfortable pushing with Dani than Deacon.
‘Deacon wasn’t always the big strong guy he is now. When he was young, he was skinny and shorter than other boys his age. He was nerdy and geeky and way too smart. Plus, we looked different.’ She tugged at the white streak in her hair. ‘
Now
, this is cool.
Then
, not so much. It’s hard being the different kid.’
‘And Deacon’s eyes made him even more different. He was bullied?’
‘Unmercifully. Adam, on the other hand, was big even then, just like Uncle Jim.’
‘Adam took up for Deacon?’
‘Unfailingly. Deacon hated the arrangement, but he hated getting the snot knocked out of him even more. Adam taught him to fight back, but that just made things worse. It was looking pretty bleak until the summer before Deacon went to high school. We moved into Bruce’s house, changed to a new school. That same summer, Deacon hit a growth spurt.’
‘The bullying stopped?
‘No, not really. It just changed. He was all long legs and beefy arms and big shoulders, but he was still a geek. He still had different hair and eyes. He just was able to fight back better. He fought a lot. Was in the principal’s office a lot. Then he finally found a way to deal.’
‘The whole coat, hair, sunglasses persona?’
‘Exactly. The coat was a gift from Bruce. I think that man understood us better than anyone else ever had. Maybe ever will.’
I’m not so sure about that.
Faith had wondered why Novak would want to be so visible, but he wasn’t. Not really. ‘Deacon created the person he wants everyone to see. Because if he could manipulate the perception, he could keep people from hurting him.’
Dani smiled. ‘I’ve always hoped Bruce wouldn’t be the only one who understood my big brother. Let’s get that gash closed up. And then I want you to lie down and get some of that rest I ordered last night.’
Cincinnati, Ohio, Tuesday 4 November, 8.45
P.M.
‘Novak, wake up.’ Bishop tapped Deacon’s shoulder. ‘We’re here.’
Deacon opened his eyes, needing a second to orient himself.
Here is where? Oh right.
The mansion in front him was his first clue. They were sitting in front of Jeremy O’Bannion’s estate in Indian Hill, one of the ritziest burbs of Cincinnati. Less than a half-hour from downtown, it was an area that Deacon’s family had never had cause to visit.
Bishop brought the car to a stop and pointed to the stately old plantation-style home at the end of a driveway holding a Bentley and a Rolls-Royce. ‘That’s it.’
Deacon noted the dark sedan parked further down the street – the agent watching Jeremy’s mansion, which was the picture of simple, understated wealth. ‘Jeremy looks like he’s doing just fine, despite being cut out of Granny O’Bannion’s will. What little I turned up on him said that his ex-wife is wealthy. Her name is Della Yarborough.’
Bishop whistled. ‘The Yarboroughs are
old
Cincinnati money.’
‘Like Alda Lane’s husband?’
‘Take Lane’s net worth and add a few zeros,’ Bishop said. ‘I don’t know how much of her money Jeremy got in the divorce versus what he earned on his own by being a surgeon, but he’s clearly invested well. What else?’
‘Faith remembers him “looking” at her when she was a little girl.’
‘Oh no,’ Bishop said softly. ‘Tell me he didn’t do what I’m thinking.’
‘She said he never touched her. She told her father about the inappropriate looking. Her father had disliked Jeremy before that, and afterwards, he wouldn’t allow her to be alone in the same room with him. She had Jeremy unofficially investigated years ago.’
‘Hm. Not surprising. I take it she didn’t find anything?’
‘She said there was no indication that he’d ever had a single complaint. He does charitable work in the city, used to be part of Doctors Without Borders. He started teaching when he was injured in a car accident years ago and lost the use of his right hand.’
‘Lots of car accidents in this family,’ Bishop observed.
‘True. I confronted Faith about her mother’s death, Scarlett. The family made up the accident story because they were “more Catholic than the Pope”, and suicide wasn’t just any sin; it was the
big
sin.’
‘Suicides weren’t given church burials back then,’ Bishop murmured.
‘Exactly. I tried to get more information, but she got so upset that I stopped.’
Bishop raised a brow. ‘You’ve gone squishy, Novak.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Let’s do this.’ Despite the fact that the sun had set two hours before, he slid on his shades just in case he needed to throw Jeremy off balance, and he and Bishop walked to the door through an immaculately kept garden.
‘There’s a guest house in back,’ Bishop murmured. ‘I saw it on Google Earth. Plenty big enough to store two hostages.’
‘Maybe we’ll go for a stroll when we’re done.’ Deacon rang the bell.
The door was opened by a blonde in her mid twenties. ‘May I help you?’
‘I’m Special Agent Novak and this is my partner, Detective Bishop. We’d like to speak with Dr O’Bannion.’
‘He’s not available.’ The woman started to close the door.
Bishop flipped out her badge with one hand and held the door open with the other. ‘He’s here,’ she said flatly. ‘Please tell him to come to the door.’
Panic skittered across the young woman’s face. ‘What is this in reference to?’
‘That’s between us and Dr O’Bannion,’ Bishop said. ‘May we come in?’
‘No,’ the woman said. ‘You can’t.’
‘Hailey?’ a male voice interrupted. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘You’ve got visitors, Dr O’Bannion,’ Hailey said, keeping her chin down but her eyes up.
Deacon ceased paying attention to the woman when the man approached. It was Jordan O’Bannion, but not. Jeremy and Jordan looked alike. Moved alike. Except for the mustache that this man wore, they were the same.
Twins.
‘Did we know they were twins?’ Deacon murmured so that only Bishop could hear.
‘I didn’t,’ Bishop murmured back. ‘Faith didn’t think to mention it?’
Deacon thought back to that conversation next to the family cemetery. Right before he’d held her against him for the first time.
Twins, actually. Jordan and Jeremy
. ‘She did, but she didn’t say they were identical.’
Jeremy stopped in the doorway, his left hand on the young woman’s shoulder in a gesture that was more fatherly than romantic. ‘What seems to be the problem, Detectives?’
Deacon’s gaze dropped from the man’s face to his hands.
Gloves.
Jeremy wore skin-colored gloves that appeared to be made of thin leather.
‘He’s a special agent,’ Hailey said softly, pointing to Deacon.
‘I see,’ Jeremy said in a way that told Deacon he was being actively appreciated. A tactic to throw him off his game, he was certain.
‘I called yesterday,’ Deacon said. ‘We’d like to talk to you about a situation that’s arisen.’
‘Oh. Well I have to confess that I didn’t get your message myself. My partner gets my voicemail for me. What’s happened?’
Deacon wanted to frown but did not. Jeremy had not only received his message, he’d returned it. ‘May we come in? I’d rather not have this kind of conversation on your doorstep.’
‘Show them into the parlor, Hailey. Perhaps they’d like some refreshment.’
They were escorted through the foyer, in which Deacon immediately recognized both the curving staircase in the entryway and the design of the wallpaper. The interior of the house had been modeled after the house in Mount Carmel. A glance at Bishop confirmed that she’d seen the resemblance as well.
Jeremy sat in an overstuffed chair and gestured to the sofa with his left hand. He slipped his right hand – also gloved – in his pocket. ‘You mentioned a situation?’
‘Yes, one that revolves around your family home in Mount Carmel,’ Deacon said, pasting a pleasant expression on his face as he and Bishop sat.
Jeremy’s eyes grew instantly frosty. ‘You’re mistaken.
This
is my family home. Right here.’
‘Jeremy? Is everything all right?’ The question came from a man in his early forties who rushed into the room looking as if he expected to have to save Jeremy, presumably from Deacon and Bishop.
Deacon swallowed his sigh. While this man’s face looked nothing like Peter Combs’s, he was built like him. Same size and shape. One more bruiser to add to the possible suspect list.
‘I’m fine, Keith. Please join us.’ Jeremy patted the arm of his chair. ‘These officers have come to ask me questions about the old O’Bannion homestead.’
Keith fixed his gaze on Deacon’s face. ‘You’re the one who called last night. I expected you to
call
for an
appointment
. Dr O’Bannion is a busy man.’
It was Keith who had left the voicemail, Deacon realized. ‘
I
expected that my message would have been returned by Dr O’Bannion himself, as it regarded the safety of his niece.’
‘Faith? What’s happened to her?’ Jeremy looked up at Keith. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because I don’t care about
Faith
or any of that group of bottom-feeders that call themselves your
family
,’ Keith gritted out. ‘I didn’t realize it was urgent.’
‘I believe I used the word “urgent” in my message,’ Deacon said mildly.
Keith’s cheeks turned a dull, angry red. ‘I’m sorry, Jeremy. I’d hoped I could deal with the detectives for you.’
He has a temper
, Deacon thought.
Good to know
.
‘Well, we’re here now,’ Bishop said, her tone neutral. ‘I didn’t get your name, sir?’
Jeremy’s chin lifted a fraction. ‘This is my partner, Keith O’Bannion. He’s privy to all my business. He can hear whatever you have to say to me. What’s this about Faith’s safety?’
‘She’s
not
your family,’ Keith hissed and Jeremy patted his knee.
‘I know, I know,’ he murmured soothingly. ‘But she was just a child when all of that happened. She had nothing to do with any of it.’
‘She got the
house
, Jeremy,’ Keith protested under his breath. ‘It should have been yours.’
Jeremy looked up at Keith, speaking to him as if they were the only two in the room. ‘Yes, she did. And yes, it should have been. But if I had gotten it, I would have had to fight Jordan to keep it, so it’s for the best. We don’t need the house, Keith. And we don’t need the money.’