Chapter 116
Chapter One Hundred-Sixteen
Robin
The whole day spent lounging around with Jay and Harper turns out to be a lot more relaxing than I first thought it might be. Mostly thanks to how full we all were after lunch.
Harper put the big flat screen TV on and proceeded to flip channels non-stop until Jay told him to pick something and stick to it. I was grateful to avoid the headache it was going to give me.
The shows and movies Harper picked for us to watch were a mixed bag.
Everything being so big and in full color took a bit of getting used to, but it was nice to be snuggled up with them, resting my head against Jay’s shoulder while Harper pulled my feet into his lap to rub them.
It was so comfy, I couldn’t stop myself from drifting off.
Waking up to see the movie has changed and the lights have been dimmed, I realize I’m lying down where Jay was sitting before, and Harper is laying down facing the other direction, his legs behind me on the couch. Sitting up, I notice the TV has been muted, too.
Harper’s sound asleep. He doesn’t stir, even when I lift the sheets and get up from the couch.
I can hear talking in the bedroom, so I guess Jay’s on the phone.
I walk over to the fridge and take out a bottle of water.
Opening it, I stay by the kitchen counter.
I take a few sips and close the bottle, setting it down on the table.
It’s probably dinner time. I shouldn’t be thinking about food, after all I ate at lunch, but my stomach does grumble so I guess I could probably eat again soon.
Jay steps out of the bedroom and nods at me.
I put my finger to my lips and motion to the couch where Harper’s still sleeping.
He motions to me to come to the bedroom.
My stomach flutters.
I know he’s not beckoning me over to start something, but I can’t help the way his gesture makes my body feel. If he did want to take me to bed, I wouldn’t say no.
I leave my water on the table and follow him into the bedroom.
He stops a few steps inside the room.
I close the door behind me as I wait for him to explain why he brought me in here.
He seems a little pensive before he lifts his gaze to mine.
“I answered your phone again.”
The admission only surprises me because I didn’t think anyone would call, besides one of our Alphas, maybe. I don’t know why he’d be looking at me like that if the call was from Falcon or Shayne.
“Um, okay?” I answer.
“It was a Detective Waterman.”
I blink. “Did she … What did she say? Can I call her back?”
“She didn’t tell me much. She did say she had a new lead that you would want to know about, and she said she would come by Goldcrest tomorrow to speak to you, after she checked it out.”
“A new lead,” I murmur, knowing that can only mean one thing.
“I’m not sure what she meant,” he goes on. “But I’m assuming you have some idea?”
I nod slowly. “I guess I didn’t think about telling any of you about it because I didn’t really think she would ever find anything, but now …”
I move over to the bed and perch on the edge of the mattress.
“That detective you spoke to, she was investigating my mother’s disappearance.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand.” He moves to kneel in front of me.
“I don’t remember much about my mom,” I admit. “Because she died when I was young. I was told she got sick, I think. My memories are fuzzy. But the problem with the Ivan Hamilton case is that my mom’s body hasn’t been found, and there’s no evidence of a murder.”
“Shit. Robin, I’m so sorry.”
I shrug, but even thinking about it hollows me out inside.
My mother lost her life and the man responsible may never pay for her death.
“If that detective called, it’s probably because she found a possible location to search for a body. That’s the main reason she would have to talk to me.”
There’s no other way to take that information she dropped.
It’s what I’ve been waiting for, but now that I’ve got it …
I don’t know how to feel.
“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I’m okay.”
I can hear myself saying those words, but it doesn’t feel like me.
Jay puts his arms around me and hugs me, his head against my belly.
Even his touch feels muted, like I’m not really sitting here with him.
My mother is dead. I’ve known that for a long, long time.
Since I was three, or four years old.
So, why does it feel like I’ve only just found out she died?