Chapter 52
KAT
Dad’s old desk and table are covered in archive boxes. We move forward, pulling the lid off the closest one.
It’s full of files and tapes. Picking up one of the files I flick through its contents, sinking slowly into the desk chair, my heart rate accelerating.
Jax picks up the next file, doing the same.
“Is this what I think it is?” he says, picking up another file, and then another.
I hang my head, taking shallow, audible breaths.
Jax drops to his knees before me.
“Hey,” he says, cupping my chin with his hand, lifting it up until my eyes meet his.
I pinch my lips together and close my eyes, shaking my head, unable to look at him.
Dad, what did you do?
“Kat?” I can hear the concern in Jax’s voice.
“He spied on them,” I say, swaying slightly.
I open my eyes and watch as he lowers the folders to the floor, taking my hands in his.
“You don’t know it was him,” he says.
“Why else would he have these files? Why would they have been hidden in a concealed room?”
“I’m about facts, not jumping to random conclusions. There has to be a logical explanation, Kat.”
I love his optimism, but the evidence speaks for itself.
“Someone tried to hide these files, Jax. That’s Sir Leonard Crawley. What’s the betting these boxes contain information on the rest of the men he’s been connected with?”
My brain floods with more and more questions. Did Dad hide the files, or did someone else do it after he died, and if so, why? My chest tightens painfully. Do they have anything to do with Dad’s death?
I pull out my phone and dial. I don’t wait for the other person to speak.
“Did you know?”
“Kat?”
“Elijah, did you know?”
There’s a pause.
“Kat, you may want to back up and explain what the hell you’re talking about. Did I know what?” Elijah says.
“Did you know our father was a bloody spy?”
“Kat. Slow down, what do you mean, did I know our father was a spy? Where are you?”
“We’re in the suite.”
“Who?”
“Jax and I.”
“Don’t leave. I’m on my way. And Kat, have you spoken to anyone else?”
I pause, my body temperature rising.
“Brother, you just answered my question,” I say, my tone icy. “I’ll see you when you get here, and you better have a bloody good explanation to hand.”
Disconnecting the call, I stare at the phone in my hand.
“I’m going to kill him.”
“Who? Elijah?” Jax asks, looking confused.
He takes in my tense muscles, pulling me onto the floor and into his lap.
I wrap my arms around his waist before resting my head on his chest. Slowing my breathing to match his steady heartbeat.
“You think Elijah knew?” Jax asks quietly.
“He knows something. He’s on his way over. We’ll soon find out.”
He rubs circles on my back until I begin relaxing in his arms. Dropping my head forward, I allow myself to absorb some of his strength.
When I finally start to feel human again, I lift my head and push myself up. Jax follows suit.
My eyes lock on the piles of boxes, all containing files.
A numbness descends, encasing my body.
Dad, what the hell were you involved in?
My throat thickens, as I know for a fact, it’s not going to be anything good.
There’s a knock at the door. I’ve already cancelled housekeeping, explaining the carnage of the spare room is not something I feel like doing today.
I throw open the door to my elder brother and best friend.
I step aside and let them in. Elijah and I are caught in a staring match.
Pen harrumphs and scoots past Elijah, disappearing into the spare room. Jax follows her.
She reappears a moment later, all colour gone from her face.
“Shit,” Elijah says, running a hand down his face. “Are you sure?”
“Ninety-nine point nine,” she says.
“Stop,” I snap, holding up a hand. “Will someone tell me what the hell is going on. I’m hanging on by a thread and am about to seriously lose my shit.”
Jax appears behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He pulls me back against his chest, his presence soothing some of the irritation bubbling inside me.
“I need to make a call,” Pen says.
I’m moving before I can stop myself, grabbing her phone out of her hand, and flinging it onto the sofa. She stops and stares at me, her shoulders tensing.
“Kat,” my brother hisses, taking a step towards me.
“No calls,” I say. “Not until someone explains what the bloody hell is going on.”
Jax moves, picking up Pen’s phone and passing it to Elijah.
Pen nods slowly, her expression grave.
“Kat, you’re going to want to sit down for this one.” She turns to Jax. “Can you make some coffee, a herbal tea for me?”
Jax turns, his gaze flicking to me. I nod, earning myself a smile before he disappears into the kitchen area.
I glare at my brother but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he turns and enters the spare room, only to reappear minutes later, his stance is one of defeat.
“You’ve been busy,” he says, brushing a thick line of white paint dust from his jumper.
Pen motions for Elijah to take a seat on the sofa.
“Can you speak in front of Jaxson?” Elijah asks Pen.
Pen shrugs. “He’s seen what’s here. It will all come out soon enough.”
“Stop. What the hell is going on? And why are you asking Pen if she can talk?” I hiss at my brother.
Elijah and Pen clearly know more than either of them has let on. I know they were involved in the capture of Sir Leonard, but that was an accident. Elijah had pissed him off protecting April, and he exacted his revenge. Revenge, our baby sister is paying the price for.
How is Dad tied up in all this? And what does Pen know?
“Pen?” I ask, slightly surprised when she can’t meet my gaze.
Jax takes that moment to reappear, carrying a tray full of drinks.
“I can leave,” he says, taking in the atmosphere.
“Like hell,” I spit.
Elijah chuckles, and I shoot him a look that has him swallowing whatever he’s about to say.
Jax sits down next to me, taking my hand in his and squeezing it. A warmth spreads through my body, knowing he’s here, by my side.
Pen begins, her voice monotone. She tells me a fantastical tale of how she was caught hacking and, to avoid jail, was recruited by a government agency to use her skills to infiltrate various dark-web groups.
I stare at the woman I’ve called my best friend for the past eighteen years, and wonder who this stranger is.
“How was Dad involved in all this?” I whisper.
“Your father kept me out of jail. Introduced me to the group I would be working with.”
I choke on the lump that has filled my throat.
“How?”
Although I think I already know the answer.
Pen looks to Elijah, who’s turned an unhealthy shade of grey.
“Your father was also part of that same government agency.”
I lean forward and sink my head into my hands.
“He was recruited to help apprehend a group of men working outside the law. A group who were fastidious in keeping their identities hidden. Your father came across them unexpectedly and agreed to help.”
“Why?”
Why would Dad risk everything?
“These were bad people. Involved in people trafficking and drug supply chains. You name it, they had a hand in every aspect of the underworld.”
“The files?” I say, locking eyes with Pen.
“Are the files we thought were lost. We assumed they’d been taken.”
I sit upright. “Taken?”
She goes to look at Elijah.
“Don’t look at him. Look at me. Enough of the half-truths, Pen. When did you assume they were taken?”
Pen’s eyes glisten in the light, her throat bobs.
“The night he died.”
A tear tracks its way down her cheek, and I follow its path.
Jax squeezes my hand.
“But Dad died in a car accident. A hit and run.”
Another tear follows the first. Elijah wraps an arm around Pen’s shoulder, pulling her into him.
My eyes flick to my brother. “You think Dad was murdered?”
“Not think, Kat,” he says, his voice both low and quiet. “We know he was.”
I make it to the en-suite just in time, throwing myself against the toilet bowl as I lose everything I’ve eaten this morning.
Comforting hands scoop up my hair, holding it out of the way, as my stomach retches until there’s nothing left but the pain. I drop my forehead onto the cold toilet seat.
The cool face cloth, placed on the back of my neck, eases the churning in my stomach, but does nothing to help the gaping hole that has been ripped open in my chest.
Dropping sideways, I lean against the wall.
Jax drops down next to me, pulling me into his side, running his fingers through my hair in the way he knows I love.
I rest against him, all my fight gone.
We sit in silence.
My head is buzzing, yet empty. Thoughts appear and disappear, nothing sticks.
Elijah’s words replay over and over.
We know he was.
I look up as Elijah appears in the doorway.
“Is she okay?”
“How do you think she is?”
Jax is angry. His arm tightens around my shoulder.
“You just dropped the bombshell that your father was murdered.”
Elijah sags against the doorframe.
“How long?”
My voice is hoarse.
“What?” Elijah asks.
“How long have you known?”
I look up. My brother looks drained, as drained as he did the day Lottie went missing.
“Since Crawley died. He mentioned something about Dad. Pen confirmed it much later when I asked her.”
“But Pen has known all this time?”
Elijah straightens. “Don’t blame Pen, she was doing her job, she was protecting us.”
I push up off the floor and move to the sink, washing my face and brushing my teeth, before spinning on my brother.
“Who gave her the right to make that decision?”
Pen appears at Elijah’s shoulder, placing a hand on his arm.
“It’s okay,” she says to him, before turning to me.