Chapter 17
Olivia left Mrs. Talbot’s house in a quiet and introspective mood. She barely said a word on the drive back to Mercy or when they dropped Louisa’s car back at the hospital. Olivia pulled out her phone to call a cab, but Theo closed his hand over the phone, forcing her to look up into his eyes.
“Let’s take a walk.”
Sighing, she dropped her phone back into her pocket as they set off down the street. They walked side by side companionably with Theo waiting for her to speak. By the time they approached Main Street and she still showed no signs of doing so, he finally broke the silence.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“What’s the point?” Olivia frowned. “It won’t change anything. I had hoped that going to see Mrs. Talbot would give me some answers. All it’s done is raise more questions. Although, I suppose we at least now know why Chief Walcott hates me.”
“Unfortunately, that also makes him much more dangerous.” Theo looked grim. “He is trying to work within the law at the moment, but sooner or later he is going to lose patience, and when he does…”
“I know.” Olivia slowly let out the breath she’d been holding.
“There’s nothing I can do about it right now.
You know, I can appreciate that he loved James.
I can appreciate how much pain it caused him to lose the love of his life.
I can even appreciate how much it hurt to think your best friend was responsible, but right now, I’m having trouble feeling bad for him.
I was just a kid at the time. I had nothing to do with it, and there is no solid evidence to suggest I have anything to do with the killings now, but he still won’t leave me alone. ”
“The sins of the father,” Theo murmured.
“You’re not kidding.” Olivia blew out a frustrated breath as they crossed the street.
He looked down and noticed her limp had become more pronounced. “Is your ankle hurting?” He frowned.
“I think I’ve just been on my feet too long.” Suddenly, someone called her name, and they both looked up. Realizing they were approaching the pub, Olivia’s face broke into a smile at the sight of a familiar face and she hobbled forward.
Jackson handed his new bartender the box he’d been unloading from his car and waved as Olivia and Theo approached. “Olivia.”
“Hey, Jackson.” She glanced across to the pub. “How’s things?”
“Difficult.” He gives her a sad smile. “Losing Adam was hard.” He held out his hand to Theo. “Jackson Murphy.”
Theo nodded, taking Jackson’s hand warily. “Theo Beckett.”
Jackson turned his attention back to Olivia. “So, you haven’t been by... because?”
“It’s been…” She sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“I’ve heard.” Jackson commiserated. “Olivia, darlin’, I hope you’re not staying away because of the town gossips. Believe me, for every moron there are at least two who are of sound mind and body. Not everyone thinks you’re out nefariously murdering the hardworking citizens of Mercy.”
“I really wish that were true.”
“Just because our police department seems to have its head up its own ass—Jake not included, of course—doesn’t mean you should hole up at that big house by yourself.”
“She’s not by herself,” Theo interrupted.
“I see.” Jackson’s mouth curved. “Well, I tell you what, why don’t the pair of you come in for dinner? Owen’s on fine form tonight, and we have an excellent steak and Guinness pie on the menu.”
“I don’t know.” Olivia eyed the door to the pub nervously.
“It’s alright, Olivia.” Theo took her hand. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but you really should walk in there with your head held high. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“That’s the way of it.” Jackson clapped Theo on the back.
“Well, it is true that Jackson’s cook is a genius in the kitchen,” Olivia said to Theo.
“Aye, that he is.” Jackson laughed. “But don’t be after telling the man himself as he’s already got an ego the size of Dublin.”
Olivia chuckled. “Fine, we’ll stop by for dinner.”
Theo looked up at the Irish pub. He’d never seen anything so colorful. The wooden exterior was painted a dark green with burgundy panels and golden-colored arched window frames. A sign bearing the name The Salted Bone swung back and forth in the early evening breeze.
Olivia tugged at his hand, and he followed her through the door. The interior was just as warm and welcoming with deep cherry-colored wood and brass fixtures everywhere. A hearty fire roared in the hearth, taking the November chill out of the air and giving off a cozy, intimate feeling.
The door banged behind them, and every eye in the room turned in their direction.
“Come on, Olivia, love, pay them no mind,” Jackson said encouragingly. “The novelty will wear thin soon enough.”
She limped over to the bar, her ankle now hurting like a bitch.
“What the hell is she doing here?” a female voice screeched.
Olivia turned to see the familiar, attractive red-haired barmaid standing by the door from the kitchen.
“Kaitlin,” Jackson warned.
“She has no right to be here!”
“She has every right. She has done nothing wrong,” Jackson replied calmly.
“You don’t know that,” Kaitlin hissed. “You know what they’re saying about her. What that sick bitch did to Adam!”
“That’s enough!” Jackson snapped. “We do not cast stones under my roof!”
“I can’t believe you’re taking her side!” The woman’s eyes filled with hot tears.
“Kaitlin.” Jackson sighed.
“No!” She yanked off her apron furiously. “There’s no way I’m staying in the same room with her. You can stick your goddamn job!” She threw her apron in his face and spun around, storming back through the door she’d come through.
Shelley appeared next to Jackson, squeezing his arm, and sent a sympathetic look toward Olivia. “I’ll talk to her.”
Jackson turned to look at Olivia, watching the color drain from her face. Her shoulders were rigid, and her spine looked as if it had been set in steel. Theo gazed down at her, his face a mask of concern.
“Jackson,” she murmured. “Thanks for the invitation, but I think I’ll just head home.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort.” He scowled.
The silence in the pub was almost deafening as Jackson turned to the rest of the patrons, making sure all eyes were on him.
“Right, now that I seem to have everyone’s attention, let me make one thing clear.
I believe that Olivia had nothing to do with what happened to Adam or Brody, nor was she involved in Lucas Campbell’s disappearance.
There is no evidence against her, and frankly the way she has been treated by the police is nothing short of disgusting.
So, let me be blunt so there can be no mistake.
Like any of you, Olivia West is more than welcome here, and if you have a problem with it, you can leave. ”
When no one moved, and a few even had the good grace to look slightly guilty, Jackson nodded and turned back to Theo and Olivia. “Come on, let’s get you settled at a table.”
Closely followed by Theo, Olivia hobbled after Jackson as he led them to a cozy little booth next to the fire.
“Just the thing for a cold November eve.” Jackson stated. “Now, what can I get you to drink?”
“A beer, please.” Olivia gave a weak smile.
“The same,” Theo confirmed as Jackson’s gaze fell on him.
“And to eat? Would you like to see the menu or hear the specials?”
“Actually,” Theo replied, “the steak and Guinness pie sounded good.”
“Excellent choice.” Jackson beamed. “That’ll be served with colcannon, and I must say, Owen has a fair hand with it. It’s the best I’ve ever had. And for you, Olivia, darlin’?”
“I’m not in the mood for pie. What’s the special for tonight?” she asked.
“That’ll be Dublin coddle.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“What’s a coddle?”
“Dublin coddle,” Jackson laughed easily, “is basically a bacon, sausage, potato, and onion hotpot.”
“That sounds good.”
“Lovely. I’ll be back with your drinks in a moment.”
“Are you alright?” Theo asked once they were alone.
“Yeah, I guess.” Olivia exhaled as she shrugged out of her jacket. “It was nice of Jackson to stand up for me, but I really wish it wasn’t necessary.”
“Yes, it was,” Theo muttered.
“What?” Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that look for?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged as Jackson dropped their drinks onto the table and disappeared again.
Olivia took a sip of her beer and lifted her foot under the table to rest it on the seat next to Theo. She sighed in relief as the pressure eased.
“How is your ankle feeling?” Theo asked.
“It’s not too bad now.” She leaned back into her seat. “I just need to rest it a bit.”
Theo eased up the hem of her jeans and frowned. “It’s swelling again.”
“I thought it was,” she groaned. “My sneaker’s starting to feel a bit tight. I probably shouldn’t have walked on it so much today.”
“You know, you could’ve just called Jake and asked him to speak with Mrs. Talbot,” Theo pointed out.
“Is that what you would’ve done?” She raised one brow.
“That’s not the point,” he replied.
“Yes, it is,” she answered crossly in return. “You know, Theo, I appreciate that people care, but I will not be kept in the dark, and I will not be coddled. Jake’s most basic instinct is to protect the people he cares about and I get it, but I won’t have people making my decisions for me.”
“Stubborn.”
“Yes, I am. I love Jake like a brother, but he doesn’t understand what this feels like. It’s one thing knowing that your father killed your mother in a crazy fit of passion, or whatever the hell it was, but it’s another thing entirely to think he is a cold-blooded serial killer. I need the truth.”
“Even if it puts you in harm’s way?”