Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past) (20 page)

“Don’t be silly, dear. It’s not your
fault. I just don’t get why he wouldn’t have said anything to me.” Callie could
see the hurt in Trish’s eyes and she felt dreadful for having been the one to
put it there. “I’ll have to chat with Max about it when he gets home. It really
isn’t your problem, dear. Don’t worry about it.”

“We should get going.” Jason climbed
to his feet. “We’ve kept you long enough and it’s getting late. Thanks for your
time, Trish.”

“Yes, thank you for being so kind.”
Callie allowed Jason to help her to her feet, relieved he’d brought the visit
to an end. “I can’t express how grateful I am that you told me about Sophie.”

“You’re welcome, dear. I’m just sorry
that we both had a bit of a shock this evening.” Trish gathered their brandy
glasses in her hands, still seeming rather flustered.

Callie slowly walked behind the woman
as they headed back to the hall. She slipped her shoes and coat on before
stepping out of the front door. The icy cold air nipped instantly at her nose,
but Callie was too happy to be back outside to care.

“Don’t be strangers. Do visit again.
I’ve enjoyed your company, despite our topic of conversation.” Trish smiled,
but her lips wobbled slightly.

Callie promised to visit again. She
and Jason headed back towards his van.

“That was a strange old evening,”
Jason commented. He jammed his hands into his pockets.

“What do you make of it?” Callie
asked him. “Do you really think Sandra told everyone I was dead?”

“I see no reason why Trish would lie
about something like that.” Jason unlocked his van and they both climbed in.

“Nothing about this makes any sense.”
Callie scrubbed at her face with one hand, her mind awhirl with the information
she’d heard. “Why would my long dead aunt visit me from beyond the grave? Why
would my own mother tell her family I was born dead, except for Uncle Max? He
knew about my adoption. Unless he was lying.”

“Why would he?” Jason frowned.

“I don’t know. Maybe he only told me
that to make me feel better or perhaps it was something else. There is a mystery
here and I have no idea what it is or how to solve it.” Callie propped her arm
up against the window. She’d ended up with more questions than answers.

“I think we should start with what we
can verify.” Jason clipped his seatbelt into place and started the engine. He
drove slowly out onto the road. “We can check out the cemetery. Trish said
there was a grave stone for you there, so it should be easy to find. We can at
least then ascertain that she was speaking the truth about Sandra claiming
you’d died.”

Callie shivered. “I’m not sure I’m
brave enough to face that. It’s too close for comfort.”

“I can do it for you, if you like.”
Jason flicked on his indicator and slowed the van down. He turned neatly onto
the main road.

“Would you? I would be so grateful.”
Callie blew out a relieved breath. “After that photo I received, I think seeing
my own gravestone would be a step too far.”

“I’ll go tomorrow and call you with
what I find.”

“What then?” Callie was at a loss.
“Even if we find the grave, what does it mean?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it
out.” Jason flicked a reassuring grin in her direction before turning his eyes
back onto the road.

Callie’s heart flipped in her chest.
Every glance, every smile, and every caress that Jason gave her, left her wanting
more. The kiss they’d shared earlier rose up in her memory once again and her
body heated. He was so incredible in every way. She’d never dreamed he would be
such a support to her. Callie knew she’d told him she wanted to be friends, but
her whole being cried out for his love.

Callie glanced away from him. It hurt
to be this close to him and yet be so far apart. In that moment, she knew
without any doubt that she’d fallen helplessly in love with him. Her vision
blurred. No matter how she felt, Jason wasn’t ready for another relationship.
Lucinda had seen to that.

Callie gazed out the window at the
stars twinkling in the sky and gulped back her tears. What the hell was she to
do now?

Jason stared at the TV screen, but he
saw nothing. The past few days had been a drain. It had taken everything in his
arsenal to prevent Sandra from severely punishing his sister over the album
incident. His dad had been set to back Sandra up until Jason had informed him
of what she’d said to Fay. World war three had broken out after that.

Fay had stayed with him for a couple
of days until things calmed down between Doug and Sandra. Jason had half
thought they’d split up, but somehow they’d reached a compromise. Sandra
wouldn’t punish Fay if Doug forgave her outburst. Peace had been restored,
although he wondered for how long.

Jason rubbed his tired eyes and
pointed the remote at the set. He pressed the power button and the TV went
blank. What was the point of attempting to follow a programme when his mind was
elsewhere? Jason sighed and glanced at his phone. He re-read the text Callie
had sent him. She was picking her car up tomorrow and that was the real reason
for his inability to focus on anything else.

Although it made no difference, Jason
still wished he hadn’t been able to fix her car so quickly. She couldn’t leave
town anyway, he reassured himself. Cunningham had seen to that. Jason wasn’t
sure why he still worried that she’d disappear on him, but he did. It was
stupid and it made no sense. She was just a friend. It shouldn’t matter.

Jason climbed to his feet. He picked
up his nearly empty mug and wandered into the kitchen. Jason tossed the remains
in the sink and washed the mug out. It had been four days since they’d been to
Trish’s house together and he realised he’d missed Callie’s company. What did
that mean? He was afraid to dig too deeply into that question, unsure he was
ready to answer it.

Jason sighed and shoved his mug back
on the rack by the kettle. Guilt ate at his insides as he thought about the
second half of her text to him. She’d wanted to know if he’d been to the
cemetery yet. He’d been so snowed under at work that he hadn’t found any time
to check it out as he’d promised.

Jason glanced at his keys where they
sat on the kitchen table. Although it was late, a promise was a promise. He’d
have no time tomorrow and now was as good a time as any. It would give him a
reason to spend longer with Callie when she picked her car up. He laughed at
himself and shook his head. What the hell was wrong with him?

Jason swiped up his keys and coat. He
was out the door and in the lift before he could think better of the idea. The
church wasn’t all that far from his flat. It wouldn’t take him long and Callie
would be so grateful.

Jason strode out the front door of
his building. He unlocked his van and swiped his torch from the glove
compartment before he strode down the street towards the old church.

It took him ten minutes to reach the
cemetery. He slipped in through the open gate and clicked on his torch. Jason
stared round at the numerous headstones. He hadn’t thought this through
properly. It wouldn’t be a simple task to find what he was searching for.

He pulled up the collar on his jacket
and plunged himself into the undertaking. The minutes passed by, turning into
an hour and then two. Finally, Jason stumbled over a small headstone. He
flicked his torchlight on the carved words and his heart skipped a beat. He’d
found it.
Callie Marie Fuller
.

Jason crouched down and traced the
words with a trembling hand. His stomach twisted and bile rose up into his
throat. A cold sweat broke out over his skin. He hadn’t realised it would
affect him to see her name on the gravestone. It chilled him to the bone.

Jason climbed to his feet and snapped
off his torch. Trish had told the truth. Callie really had been declared dead
to her family. What kind of person would do something like that? Jason thought
of his father. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of Doug being with someone that
could lie about something as serious as this. Should he tell Doug what Sandra
was capable of?

Jason rubbed his face with one hand.
As much as he racked his brain, he couldn’t think of one single reason why a
mother would pretend her child had died and even hold a funeral for her baby.
It made no sense and seemed to point to a very sick mind.

Jason exited the cemetery, worry
dogging his heels. He wondered if he should call Callie or see her tonight. A
glance at his watch dissuaded him. It was already half past midnight. He stuck
his hands in his pockets and began the trek back to his flat, his mind filled
with questions.

He turned onto the street where his
garage was situated. It was well lit with street lights and the silvery moon
overhead. Jason was a few feet from the garage forecourt when he heard a noise.
He stopped short, straining his ears for the slightest sound. A clanking noise
rang out in the silence of the night. His sharp gaze noted the fence to the
garage forecourt stood open.

Jason inched forwards slowly and
quietly, adrenaline pumping in his veins. Someone was messing around where the
cars were parked. He peeped round the corner. Two legs poked out from under
Callie’s newly restored car. Jason’s jaw hardened. He thought of the two other
incidents that had befallen Callie. Was this the person responsible? Jason
grimaced. He had no doubt whoever this was, the car was in the process of being
sabotaged.

His heart pounded in his chest. Anger
leapt through him and his hands balled into fists. “Alright, whoever you are,
you’ve been caught red handed. Get out from under that car this instant!”

A squeal rang out. The person froze,
then slowly slid forward on the creeper. Two familiar eyes stared out at him
from the darkness. Jason’s jaw dropped.

“Lucinda? What the hell are you
doing?” Shock held him in place. He simply couldn’t believe his eyes. “Please
don’t tell me that it was you all along trying to harm Callie. How could you do
this?”

Lucinda shook her head. “You don’t
understand! Please, Jason, let me explain. Don’t phone the police. I’m sorry!”
She sobbed hysterically.

“That’s not going to wash this time,
Luce. This is serious. Get out from under that car and explain yourself.” He
pointed to the ground in front of him. “Although I can’t think of one single
thing that you can say that will make this okay!”

Lucinda sniffled. “Alright. I’m
coming.”

She shifted and gave a small,
terrified scream. “Oh no! I’m stuck. Oh God, Jason, help me!”

She jerked, her fingers frantically
fiddling with something under the car. Jason emitted an irritated groan. “Stop
putting this off, Luce. Your theatrics won’t work this time. Move it!”

Suddenly a deafening roar filled the
silence. Jason flew backwards through the air. His vision filled with a wall of
fire as it lit up the night all around him. Horror rose up as the flames closed
around Lucinda and swallowed her whole. Her terrified screams filled his ears
and then he hit something hard and solid behind him. Pain exploded in his head
and the world went black.

*****

Jason groaned and shifted his
position in the hospital bed. His lungs hurt to breathe. He coughed
uncontrollably and grabbed the water glass from the bedside table. The cool
liquid soothed his throat as it slid down, alleviating some of the rawness
slightly.

He placed the glass back on its spot
and settled back into the pillows. He hoped the doctors would say he could go
home. Jason hated hospitals, especially after Adam’s death. The smell alone
turned his stomach. He didn’t see the point in staying in longer than one
night. He was relatively unharmed, considering the circumstances. The skin
across his face felt raw from the heat blast and he had some minor burns
according to the doctor. Some of his hair had been singed off too, including
his eyebrows. He imagined he painted quite a sorry picture, but he’d been
lucky. It could have been so much worse. If the fence hadn’t shielded him
somewhat, he may not have been so fortunate.

His mind drifted to Lucinda and pain
lanced through him. He could still see the expression on her face as the fire
consumed her. He closed his eyes, grief tightened his chest as though someone
had placed a heavy weight on it. What had happened to change her so much?

Jason still couldn’t believe she
could stoop so low as to place a bomb under Callie’s car. How had she even
learnt how to do that? When the police officer had reported what had happened
to him, Jason had made the man repeat the information three times. Even then,
it had been beyond comprehension. He’d thought he’d known Lucinda so well;
turns out he hadn’t known her at all.

The events of the night rolled
through his mind over and over again, as if they were on a continuous loop. If
he hadn’t made the decision to check the cemetery last night, it would be Callie
he’d be mourning today. The thought was unbearable. He hadn’t realised Callie
had come to mean quite so much to him, but she had crept under his skin far
deeper than he could have imagined. That fact terrified him. He didn’t want to
feel this way.

“Is it okay for me to come in?”

The object of his thoughts stuck her
head around the door. Her long red hair swept over her shoulders in a messy
disarray and her eyes were red rimmed as if she’d been crying for hours. He’d
never seen her quite so dishevelled except for that first day they’d met. Warmth
surged through him at the sight of her. He really liked the tousled casual look
on her. He wished it wasn’t so. It put him at a total disadvantage and that
made him uncomfortable.

“Of course. It’s great to have some
company.” He smiled, hoping his face didn’t look as strained as it felt.

Callie sauntered in carrying a large
bag of grapes in one hand. She lifted them up with a sheepish smile. “I know
they’re somewhat cliché, but I didn’t know what else to bring you.”

Jason waved away her concern.
“They’re fine. At least they will help soothe my throat.”

“Where’s your dad and sister. I
thought they would be here.” Callie glanced around as if she expected them to
pop out of the walls or spring out from under the bed.

“They were here a majority of the
night. I sent them home for some sleep a couple of hours ago.” Jason grimaced.
It had been one hell of a night. “How did you know I was here? Did Fay or my
dad call you?”

Callie shook her head and perched on
the edge of the chair next to the bed. “The police came to see me this morning.
They told me about my car.” She clasped her fingers together and stared down at
them. “I can’t believe what they said was true. Surely Lucinda didn’t hate me
that much that she would want to………….I can’t even bring myself to say it.”

Her voice broke. Jason held his hand
out to her. He couldn’t ignore her obvious need for comfort, no matter what his
own feeling were. He could deal with being close to her and not lose his heart,
right? Callie flicked her gaze to his face before sliding her hand gently into
his. Her skin was as soft as silk.

“I can hardly believe it myself.”
Jason struggled to pull his mind back to the topic they were discussing. He
stared at their combined hands. The sight made him feel warm all over. This
wasn’t good! He cleared his throat. “I thought I knew Lucinda, but this was
something I never thought she was capable of. It would seem we found your
culprit after all.”

“I’m sorry, Jason.” Callie squeezed
his fingers. “I hope you don’t mind me showing up here. I thought you may not
want to see me after what happened. I wasn’t sure if I should come, but I
couldn’t stay away. I had to see with my own eyes that you were unhurt.”

“Why would you think I wouldn’t want
to see you?” Jason frowned, then quickly smoothed his brow when the skin stung
painfully.

“I thought you might blame me for
what Lucinda did. After all, it was me she wanted to get revenge against.”
Callie shuddered and glanced out of the window. “She’s wrecked a great deal of
the garage forecourt and some of the building, did the police tell you?
Thankfully, you were shielded slightly from the blast because of where you were
standing. I hate to think what could have happened.”

Jason could feel her trembling.
“Callie, it wasn’t your fault. Hell, I’m surprised you’re not blaming me. After
all, it was my crazy ex-girlfriend that could have barbecued you in your own
car.” He rubbed her wrist with his thumb. “If I hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t
have known what she’d done. You would have picked that death trap up today.”

Callie shuddered again and drew in a
shaky breath. “I can hardly bear to think of it. Why would she do something
like that? I can’t imagine anyone going to such extremes.”

“I don’t know why we’re so surprised.
After all, she pushed you down the stairs and then tried to run you down.”
Jason cocked his head to one side and regarded her seriously. “Each time, she
was bent on harm. Is it such a stretch to realise she would plant a bomb?”

“I guess not. It just seems worse
somehow. A body can survive falling down the stairs or even being hit by a car.
A bomb, that’s different. She meant to ensure that I wouldn’t walk away from
that one.” Callie straightened in the chair, her body shaking visibly. She
shook her self, as if trying to shake off the terrible thoughts. She glanced at
Jason, a hesitant expression on her beautiful face. “I have to ask, how is it
that you were there to stop her? It was so late at night. Surely you weren’t
working at the garage.”