Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past) (26 page)

Callie stepped towards him and
stabbed a finger at his chest. “You can’t lose what you never had. As far as
I’m concerned, my father is Peter Price. He’s the man that brought me up, gave
me my direction and morals in life. He’s a wonderful man that would never, ever
do the things you’ve done.”

Max shuddered and wiped a hand over
his face. “Please, let me make this up to you.”

“There is nothing you can do that
could possibly correct all the harm you’ve done.” Callie turned back to Jason
and slipped her arm through his. “Go, be with your son. Although I doubt he
will want anything to do with you either, when he finds out about his mother. I
can’t say that I’d blame him.” Her voice shook. “As for me, don’t bother
getting in touch. I can assure you, I won’t want to know. Now, get out of our
way.”

Max held his ground. His jaw worked
as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t know what.

“You heard her, Max. The least you
owe her after everything you’ve done, is time to recover from her ordeal.”
Jason’s hard voice bit through the air.

Callie slumped against his side. He
wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

Max heaved a sigh, as if the weight
of the world hung around his neck. “If that’s what you want.” He glanced behind
him and cocked his head. “However, I will have to head back to the road with
you. I need to wait for the police so I can take them to Trish.”

Jason nodded sharply and waved a hand
for Max to walk ahead of them. Callie bit her lip and held her tongue. As much
as she wanted nothing to do with Max, she was grateful not to have to deal with
the police straight away.

She glanced around at the beautiful
natural habitat. It was a crime to have had such terrible things happen in a
place of such tranquil beauty. It seemed so wrong, but then nothing about this
situation could be called right. Callie’s teeth chattered together. She felt so
cold inside.

They moved rapidly through the trees,
Jason bearing most of her weight. He offered to pick her up again, but Callie
refused. It was wonderful to feel the blood pumping through her veins. Even the
aches and pains in her body were good to her right now. They told her that she
was alive and that was something she’d never take for granted again.

They broke through the trees and
reached the road. Callie stared at the car that had brought her here and
shivered. She hadn’t thought she’d see that vehicle or anything else ever
again. Her life had nearly ended here and her darling sister’s had.

Part of her would always hate Trish
for what she’d done, but another part of her felt sorry for the tormented soul
she’d been. The conflicting emotions tore at her. Callie prayed she’d find
peace with it someday, but she wasn’t sure if it was possible.

“Don’t think about it,” Jason kissed
her forehead and squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll take you to the hospital and then
back to my place. You can have a hot shower, some food, and anything else you
need. I’ll take care of you for as long as you need.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Callie
smiled and her heart turned to mush at his words.

She glanced towards Max. He stood to
one side, rocking back and forth on his feet. He stared at her, but Callie
deliberately turned away from him. She allowed Jason to help her into the
passenger seat of the van. Callie smiled at him and kissed him swiftly on the
lips.

“You know, all I really need right
now is you,” she told him quietly. “I think I can get through anything if
you’re by my side. You give me strength.”

Jason pressed a kiss to her wrist and
slammed the door shut. He moved quickly around the van and jumped into the
driver’s side. Callie could see Max hovering at the corner of her vision, but
she ignored him. She knew he wanted her to forgive him, but she couldn’t simply
condone his actions. She needed time to process everything that had happened
and all she had learned. It was not something she could rush. She snapped her
seatbelt in place and laid her head against the seat.

Callie drew in a sigh of relief as
Jason started the van and turned the vehicle around. Her head had started to
pound. She closed her eyes, but all she could see were the events of the day
running through her mind. Numbness descended over her and she wondered if she
would ever feel normal again.

Callie wiped over the kitchen counter
with a dish cloth and glanced out of the window to the street below. She
watched the many people as they strode through the streets, all moving about
their daily business. She envied them. Their lives were so ordinary and
uncomplicated, while her life had become something of a circus.

She sighed and turned to survey her
handiwork. The kitchen fairly sparkled. Jason’s flat had never been so clean,
according to him. Callie smiled wryly. Cleaning had been the only thing that
kept her from screaming out the pain she was feeling inside.

She wiped the back of her hand over
her sweaty forehead and grabbed the bucket she’d discovered in Jason’s storage
cupboard. She hauled it into the sink and added floor cleaner. Turning on the
tap, she stared at the water as it gushed into the plastic container with
gusto. Instant bubbles frothed up and the smell of alpine fresh filled her
nostrils.

Callie sighed again. Such ordinary
things had become something to relish and appreciate. They soothed her tattered
soul. The past couple of days had been harder than she’d ever imagined
possible. Max and Sandra had both tried to contact her. She simply wasn’t ready
to deal with either of them or anyone else. Talking to the police had been hard
enough. She knew the town gossips were having a field day with this one. She’d
seen enough heads turned in the direction of Jason’s window, while words were
exchanged behind hand covered mouths.

Callie didn’t know what she’d have
done without Jason. In a short space of time, he’d become her rock. He’d
brought some of her things from the B&B so she could stay with him. Jason
understood her need to hide away from the world and lick her wounds. He knew
what she was feeling without her having to explain. He gave her the space and
time she had to have in order to process everything that had happened.

Callie switched off the tap and
pulled the bucket from the sink. She stuck the mop into it, squeezed it out and
swept it across the floor. She glanced up at the sound of a key in the door.
Jason swept into the flat. He shot her a wide smile.

“Hi there, beautiful.” He slung his
keys on the table.

Callie beamed at him. She dropped the
mop and rushed to greet him. He swept her into his arms and kissed her
breathless.

“How was Doug?” she inquired
anxiously.

Jason had talked to his father the
day after everything had happened. Doug had not taken the news about Sandra
very well at all. Unsurprisingly, he’d known nothing. Even after Trish’s death,
Sandra hadn’t had the decency to explain anything to the man she’d been sharing
her life with.

“He’s not good. He and Sandra had a
huge row yesterday and he’s kicked her out.” Jason kissed the top of her head.

Callie wrapped her arms around his
waist. “I’m so sorry. How is Fay taking it?”

“She’s fine. She never liked Sandra
anyway. It’s Dad I’m worried about.” Jason grasped her hand and led her to the
sofa. “He’s been drinking rather more than I’d like. I don’t want him to do
anything stupid. He was a real mess after Mum left.”

Callie sank down beside him. She bit
her lip. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, but thanks for asking.” Jason
smiled at her grimly. “You haven’t asked where Sandra is. Don’t you want to
know?”

Callie shrugged and glanced down at
their combined hands. “Am I supposed to care about her? I know she gave birth
to me, but is that enough to inspire worry or care? Truthfully, I’m not sure I even
like her.”

She sighed and raised her eyes to the
ceiling. She wished the answers were written in the swirling pattern above her
head. Unfortunately, life was never that easy.

“Have you heard how Mitch is doing?”
she asked quietly.

Her brother was never far from her
thoughts. She wished she could visit him and talk with him, but she knew he
wouldn’t want to see her right now. He’d had the shock of his life too, and
he’d lost his mother. She could imagine all too well the terrible pain he must be
in. The last thing she wanted to do was make it worse.

Jason hesitated. Callie glanced at
him sharply. “What is it? Tell me.”

“He’s currently being held in custody,”
Jason finally informed her.

“What?” Callie gasped, horrified by
his news. “Why?”

“After he was told the truth, he
knocked Max out and tried to strangle Sandra. The police arrested him and have
been holding him for assault.” Jason leaned forward and cupped his hands
together. “He is one very angry young man.”

Callie closed her eyes briefly. “He
has every right to be angry. Why is he still being held? These are extenuating
circumstances, after all.”

“It makes no difference. Max isn’t
pressing charges, but Sandra is. Mitch will face a court hearing and possible
jail time.” Jason shook his head. “It doesn’t seem right somehow.”

Callie didn’t think her opinion of
her parents could sink any lower, but apparently, it could. “How can she put
him through that? Hasn’t she done enough to that poor guy? And how can Max let
her?” She gritted her teeth. Anger and frustration pounded through her body.

“I agree, but what can we do?” Jason
rubbed her arm, but it didn’t comfort her as it usually did.

“I can’t just sit here and do
nothing. Won’t the case be dismissed if Sandra drops the charges?” Callie bit
her lip, her mind working overtime.

“They would, why?” Jason clasped her
chin in his hand and drew her gaze to his. “What are you up to?”

Callie kissed the palm of his hand
and leapt to her feet. “Have you got Sandra’s mobile number?”

Jason nodded. “Sure, but are you sure
it’s a good idea to call her?”

Callie rummaged through the storage
cupboard and grabbed her bag. She rifled through it for her phone. “I’ll text
her. She’s been trying to speak to me since the truth came out. I’m going to
agree to meet her, if she drops the case against Mitch.”

Jason frowned. “How do you know
she’ll keep her word? Telling the truth is hardly her strong point.”

“She will,” Callie held her hand out
for the number. “I’ll check with the police before I turn up at the meeting.
She drops the case or I won’t meet with her. It’s that simple.”

Jason climbed to his feet and pulled
his phone out of his back pocket. He scrolled through his phone book, then
handed her the device. Callie quickly tapped out her message and sent it to
Sandra. Now all she had to do was wait for a reply.

*****

Callie paced back and forth in the
lobby of the Lazy Boy. Work progressed well and she was pleased with how Mike
had handled things in her absence the past few days. He must have heard the
rumours about what had happened to her, but to his credit he hadn’t given any
indication that he knew. The man was a true professional.

Callie glanced at her watch. Sandra
would arrive at any minute. She wrung her hands, her stomach full of
butterflies. This meeting wasn’t something she relished doing, but it was worth
it. Mitch had been released without charge. She hoped her brother wouldn’t land
himself in any further trouble. She wouldn’t be able to pull him out of it a
second time if he did.

The outside door opened and Sandra
appeared. Her face had aged since the last time Callie had seen her. It was as
if someone had knocked the stuffing right out of her. She stared at Callie.
Deep circles stood out under her eyes.

“I did as you asked,” she said
quietly. “Mitch is free, although I don’t see why you would bother with him. He
hasn’t exactly been all sweetness and light to you.”

Callie gritted her teeth. “I suggest
we go somewhere more private. There has been more than enough fodder for the
gossips as it is, without us adding to it. I’ve arranged for us to use one of
the sitting rooms.” She inclined her head. “This way.”

Callie led Sandra to the small
sitting room, now completely redecorated. The soft cream shades added light and
freshness to the room. The smell of fresh paint still clung to the air.

Callie sank down into an easy chair
so that Sandra couldn’t sit next to her. Her mother’s lips pursed, but she
seated herself on the sofa without comment.

“Well, I’m here as I promised.”
Callie held her arms out. “What is it that you wanted to say to me?”

“Don’t say it like that.” Sandra
cocked her head to one side. “Is it so strange that I would want to see you?
Surely you know the only reason I acted the way I did when you arrived was to
keep you safe. I don’t deserve to be punished because I did what any mother
would do to keep her child from harm.”

“I understand that.” Callie had
thought of nothing but the events that had taken place and the horrible truth
that had been revealed to her. “I don’t blame you for giving me up for
adoption. I don’t blame you for pretending that I was dead or for the way you
behaved when I first arrived. I can understand all of that and forgive it.”

“Then why haven’t you seen me since
Trish died? Why only meet me to free Mitch from jail? Can’t you see? Now the
danger is gone, we don’t have to be afraid anymore.” Sandra leaned forward, her
face earnest. “Isn’t it time we created a mother, daughter bond between us?
It’s all I ever wanted. This is our chance to know each other. I could hardly
dare to dream of such a thing.”

Callie shook her head. “A woman is
dead, Sandra. Doesn’t that bother you at all?”

Sandra shrugged and stared down at
her hands. “I can’t feel sad about Trish. She stole both my children from me.
My beautiful Sophie is lost to me forever and I never saw you grow up at all.
How can you expect me to mourn her or feel sorry for her?”

Callie swallowed hard. “I honestly
don’t expect you to mourn her. I can totally understand your feelings. But you
and Max have to take some of the responsibility for what’s happened. How could
you expect Trish to be okay with what you did to her? She found out you were
sleeping with her husband after they were married. Is it any wonder she lost
her mind?” Callie’s voice rose several octaves. She waved a hand in Sandra’s
direction. “You were sleeping with your own brother, for heaven’s sake. Can’t
you see how wrong that is?”

Sandra’s face stiffened. “You don’t
understand. Max and I have feelings for each other. We have loved each other
for years. There has never been anyone else for me. It killed me when he
married Trish.” She glanced at Callie, her face begged for understanding. “I
hated that woman for being the one to call him husband. She was the one going
to bed and waking up with him every day. It should have been me!”

Callie jumped to her feet and clasped
her hands over her ears. Her stomach twisted. She fought down the urge to
vomit. “I don’t want to hear this. It’s wrong on so many levels.”

Sandra surged to her feet and pulled
Callie’s hands from around her head. “How can love be wrong? If you love
someone, nothing else matters.”

“Of course it matters. He’s your
brother! You’re supposed to hold platonic love for him, not a relationship love.”
Callie stared hard at Sandra. She couldn’t work out if her mother had been
brainwashed by Max into this twisted affair or if she was as sick as he was.

“This is beside the point.” Sandra
turned and paced the room. “This is about you and me, not me and Max. I want a
relationship with you, Callie. Max does too. You are the physical evidence of
our love. We are so proud of you. What we both need to know is where we all go
from here. We need to discuss how we can move forward and be a proper family.”

She stared at Callie expectantly.
Callie felt weighed down with indecision. She didn’t like causing anyone pain,
but she couldn’t just ignore her own sense of right and wrong.

“I’m sorry,” she admitted at last. “I
can’t just be okay with this. The whole thing freaks me out. I think, under the
circumstances, it may be impossible for us to have any form of relationship. It
may be best all round that we forget we ever met.”

Sandra stabbed a finger at Callie. “I
don’t accept that! You must have met with me because part of you wanted to. I
want the chance to be a mother again. Please, give that to me. You are the only
living part of me and Max that’s left. I can’t lose you.”

“I can’t, I’m sorry. I met with you
because I wanted to help Mitch. I knew you wouldn’t release him unless I
intervened.” Callie slapped a hand to her chest. “I couldn’t leave him to face
court and possible jail time. Not after all this.”

“Why do you care about him? He hates
you!” Sandra yelled, spittle flying from her lips.

“I know what pain he must be in,”
Callie said quietly. “I can understand where he is coming from. How is it that
you don’t? You would have put him in jail after everything else you’ve done to
him. Didn’t Max ask you to drop the charges? Or didn’t he care either?”

Sandra’s face tightened. “He asked,
but he also understood it was my choice. Mitch almost strangled me! You have no
idea what I’ve done for that boy over the years. He completely betrayed me.”

“You slept with his father and are
the reason his mother is dead! How did you expect him to react?” Callie
demanded.