Chapter 63
HARPER
Ienter Alex’s penthouse to the sound of a ringing phone. After Kat’s illness, I began taking it everywhere with me, but with the new protocols in place at St Clair, all personal mobiles are banned on-site until further notice, so it has to stay at home.
I snatch it up.
“Hi,” I say breathlessly.
“Rebel.” Kat’s voice comes over the phone.
“Hey, sis. How are you and Jax?” I say, unable to keep the mischief from my voice. The fact that my sister has finally opened herself up to Jax is fantastic news. He’s always been like another brother after spending so much time at our house while I was growing up.
“I have some news,” she says. “We’ve set the date.”
I squeal, making her laugh, and I’m glad Alex is still at the office.
“There’s been a cancellation at the venue.”
“You mean the hotel in the Maldives?” I say. “That’s fantastic. When?”
“Three weeks.”
My heart sinks.
“Kat…”
“Before you say anything, Pen and Elijah have been working on the logistics. With Kris in attendance, we have the perfect cover to get you in and out. Although from the way the investigation is going, it may be unnecessary,” she says, her excitement very un-Kat-like.
“I…” My eyes fill with tears, my throat clogging. The thought of being with my family after seven months.
“Harps.” Kat’s voice catches, and my phone beeps as she switches me to a video call, her fingers touching the screen. I mirror the movement.
“The staff at the resort are all under legal contract, as with all Frazer hotels. We’re even chartering the seaplanes to fly the guests out, employing our own pilots. Your identity will not be compromised, I promise.”
Her excitement is palpable, and the thought of seeing her and the rest of my family…
“Rebel, I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought you’d be in any danger, you know that.”
“I do.” I sigh. “Are they any closer? Everything seems to have gone silent.”
“Pen can’t say much, but I do know she and Elijah have been kicking up a storm this end.
The good news is they’ve finally uncovered some photographs from that night.
It’s hard to believe that, despite only seven years having passed, the investigation has been much more difficult than anyone anticipated.
People have changed or deleted their accounts. ”
“I suppose they can’t simply ask to see photos. Too many questions would be asked,” I say. “I’ll speak to Dan and Mitch, see if they’ve heard anything.”
“So can you come?”
I drop back against the sofa and exhale loudly.
“I’ll come,” I say. “I can’t not be there to see my big sister marry the love of her life. I also need to check Jaxson is sure he knows what he’s doing.”
“I definitely do,” Jax’s voice comes over the line, his face popping onto the corner of the screen. “I’m champing at the bit to make an honest woman of her.”
“TMI,” I say, chuckling. “I shall definitely be there to cheer you both on.”
“Speaking of Pen, how is baby Amelia doing? Sounds like you had a busy afternoon.”
“She’s amazing. Pen is a natural, and Elijah is a gooey mess with regard to his second daughter. Lottie, well, I’m sure you can imagine how taken Lottie is with her baby sister.”
I grin, but my eyes burn. I’d been here, set to join in the baby shower festivities remotely, when Pen had gone into labour. Baby Amelia arrived a little earlier than expected. What with the birth of the twins and now Amelia, I’m missing so much.
Kat’s face takes on a serious expression. “We’ll get you home, Harps. I promise. And when we do, this will all seem like a bad dream.”
“I know,” I sniff. “It’s just… I miss you all so much.”
Today, more than most. The relaxed atmosphere at St Clair is gone. Everyone is looking at everyone else with suspicion.
“We’ll get you to the wedding,” Kat says firmly, making me smile.
One thing I know about my sister is that when she sets her mind to something, it will happen.
“I can’t wait,” I say.
“Me neither, little sis.”
“I still can’t believe you’re marrying Jaxson,” I tease. “All those years of hating him.”
She grimaces.
“I don’t think I ever hated him. I felt too much, and that was the problem. When I thought he’d betrayed me… that nearly broke me.”
“More than Zach?” I ask.
She smiles. “My relationship with Zach was and continues to be, complicated. His lies and deceit were soul-destroying. I lived with a man who lied to my face and to my family every day we were together. But things happen for a reason. I’ll always believe that.”
“You’re sounding more and more like Mum,” I say.
“Heaven help me,” she says. “But I think there’s something in it. What doesn’t break us makes us stronger.”
“I’m holding you to that,” I say.
“You are strong, little sis, stronger than all of us.”
“I don’t feel it,” I admit.
“Maybe not, but look at you… You could have broken, but no, you’ve got a job. You look like you’re thriving.”
“I wouldn’t say thriving, but I’m enjoying the anonymity,” I admit. “And people here, they like me for me, not because of my last name.”
Kat shakes her head and laughs.
“Everyone has always loved you,” she says. “You’re a very lovable person.”
I harrumph.
“You would say that,” I tell her. “You’re my sister. You’re biased.”
“Somehow, I don’t think anything I say will make you see it, but just know, you’re not telling me anything I don’t already know. You’re a good person, little sis.”
I stare at her for a moment. All those years of rebelling, of driving my siblings and mother crazy with my antics.
Kat smiles as if reading my mind.
“Kris will be in contact about wedding travel plans.”
I hear the elevator.
“I have to go,” I say quickly. “Love you both.”
“Who were you talking to?”
“A friend and her fiancé. They’re getting married. She was inviting me to her wedding,” I say, not wanting to risk Kat and Jaxson’s wedding being leaked to the press, and Alex putting two and two together.
He smiles, but it’s hollow. There’s no mistaking the dark circles under his eyes.
“That’s great news. Are you going to go?”
“I’d like to… You look tired. Any news?”
He sinks down onto the sofa next to me, pulling me into his arms, and I force my muscles to relax.
Shit, why did I lie? Why didn’t I tell him it’s my sister’s wedding? This is the problem when things are sprung on me… too many lies to keep up.
“Nothing. Whoever it is, he or she has covered their tracks well.”
I lift his hand and press my lips into his palm.
“You’ll catch them. I have every faith.”
The same way, I can only hope and pray that The Seamstress and her team can catch the man who murdered my father and who appears set on ruining my life.
I look up at the man next to me and realise he has fallen asleep, his head tipped back, his eyes closed and his breathing soft and gentle.
I go to move, but his grip tightens. That’s when I realise that whoever murdered my father has failed.
My life is pretty damn amazing, and I intend to keep it that way.
I just have to hope that when the truth finally comes out, this wonderful man next to me understands.