Chapter 22
Win
“It was a strange job. Very secretive. But we got paid cash under the table, and it was easy. There were only a couple patients. One was a long-term case: a guy who’d been in a coma for years after an accident. The rumor was they kept him asleep the whole time he was at the facility because he was injured so badly. When he woke up, he couldn’t take it and had a breakdown. The other patient was an older gentleman who only lasted a week. He seemed to be all right when he arrived, but he quickly deteriorated. All I did was clean the floors and empty the trash. I can’t give you any legit medical details. Not that the doctor in charge ever shared anything with anyone but the lady paying the bills. Like I said, everything was a big secret.”
Rocco and I exchanged a look. It hadn’t taken him long to track down someone down from the medical facility who was willing to talk. He just waved a handful of money around and promised to keep anyone who came forward anonymous. A few people took the bait, and the most reliable one was sitting in the back of my SUV in a sketchy part of the city.
“Did you ever see this woman visit either of the patients?” I showed the former janitor a picture of my mother on my phone. I had to clear the message notifications from Channing before flashing the image. The man stared at the screen for several minutes before lighting up like a lightbulb.
“She didn’t visit them, but she picked up the body when the older one died. And she picked up the younger one when he finally woke up. I remember because she didn’t speak to anyone and hardly bothered to look at the doctor when he took her in to see the patient. After the guy in the coma went home the entire operation was shut down in a matter of hours. A group of scary men in suits came around and reminded everyone not to say a word about the facility. I wouldn’t have thought much of it, but the nurse who took care of the guy was murdered recently. I heard she was looking for a new job and reached out to the wrong people when she asked for proof of employment. We were supposed to disappear.” I frowned. Rocco stiffened and told me he would look into the astonishing claims. I didn’t need more proof. All the puzzle pieces were locked in place and revealed an extremely dark picture.
I scrolled through to a picture of Conrad and asked, “What about this guy? Did you see him at any point?”
He nodded vigorously. “That guy was always around. He was in charge of paying us and making sure everybody kept things on the down-low. He’s a nice dude. He spent a lot of time talking to the guy in the coma. I always wondered if they were related.”
I bit back every nasty thing I wanted to say about my longtime friend and forced myself to stay on topic. “When the older gentleman was admitted, did anyone mention he had a nut allergy?” I don’t know why I asked. I couldn’t help searching for something that might redeem my mother.
The custodian laughed like I’d just told the funniest joke he ever heard. “No. We didn’t even know the patients’ names. How would we have personal information like that?” He tapped a finger against his chin. “In fact, the nurse I just mentioned, she used to bring cookies and other baked goods for the staff. Her peanut butter and chocolate cookies were a fan favorite.”
I sat in stunned silence while Rocco kicked out the informant and paid him the promised reward. Once my head of security climbed back in the SUV, he gave me a concerned look. “We don’t have to keep going, Win. We can stop right here.”
“Did I not see what was happening to my family because I didn’t want to? Doesn’t that make me as culpable as my mother?”
“How could you see what was happening at home when she purposely diverted your attention elsewhere? Those things had to happen to convince you to leave the city and come home. Your mother is playing chess, and you’re playing checkers. You’re just a pawn, and everyone else on the board protects the queen. I’ve worked with you from the start. Halliday Inc. has kept your head underwater since you took over. You’re drowning, Boss.”
I sighed as I spun my phone around in my fingers. “That’s not an excuse. I should’ve done better. Should’ve been better. Maybe if I was…”
Rocco snorted and started the SUV. “Nothing would’ve changed who Colette Halliday is. You can’t take responsibility for her actions. She was up to some shady shit long before you and Archie were part of the picture.” Our eyes met in the rearview mirror. “I think you should focus on the fact that your brother may be alive. Isn’t that excellent news?”
I hummed absently and remembered that Channing had been sending messages for the last couple of hours. I didn’t get to the first one because I was in a board meeting. The second came while my attention was on the janitor. I clicked on the text and responded to Rocco. “I thought I would give anything to have Archie back after the fire. Now, I’m not so sure. The circumstances don’t feel right. My mother is clearly hiding something. She would never let Winnie be next in line if Archie could take over. She’s always resented that Winnie is far more Harvey than Halliday.” I didn’t have a good feeling about my brother’s condition. I paused to scroll through Channing’s messages and swore in surprise when I came across the pictures of the hidden doors all over my house. “Channing found the passage from the plans you located. It looks like it drops right into the interior of the cliff from my fucking living room.” I wanted to smack myself for being so obtuse. “Why did I let my mother find the contractor when I remodeled the wing? I’ve been sleeping over more secrets than I could’ve imagined.”
I felt sick inside. And guilty.
I never should’ve questioned Winnie when she told me she was scared. It was another instance where I only saw what I wanted to see because it was easier than the alternative.
Rocco chimed in from the driver’s seat. “Tell Ms. Harvey not to go exploring on her own. There is no telling what condition those hideaways are in. They’re ancient and I doubt anyone has maintained them. With erosion and the change in weather patterns, who’s to say the ocean hasn’t eroded away the supports?”
“It’s obvious you haven’t tried to tell Channing anything. If I suggest she wait until I get there, she’ll do the opposite just to spite me.” I couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at my mouth when I thought of the stubborn redhead. She was the first person who was brave enough to openly defy me.
I nearly dropped the phone when I realized Channing was doing exactly what Rocco thought she shouldn’t. I immediately called her. It rang and rang with no answer. I texted her that I was on the way and still didn’t receive a reply. I called her again, and this time it went directly to voicemail. My stomach sank and unease settled heavily in my heart.
“Channing’s not picking up the phone. I think something is wrong. We need to reach the manor as soon as possible.”
Rocco sped up the SUV and joked, “Do you think this qualifies as an emergency and we can use the helicopter without pissing off Ms. Harvey?”
It was the fastest way to get to the Cove. I was going to use it, even if I had to make it up to Channing later.
I called my mother and became even more anxious when she didn’t pick up the call. I could tell something was wrong, and I didn’t like the direction my mind was taking me. My mother had proven she could do horrendous things, and Channing wasn’t a woman who would back down from a fight. If she pieced together that my mother was behind the fire, she was going to tear the woman apart. Especially if she learned my brother survived my mother’s scheme and Willow didn’t.
In desperation, I called Conrad. He was supposed to be at the office in the city handling the follow up from the board meeting this morning. Icy fingers of fear gripped my spine when he didn’t pick up, either. It seemed like the other side was setting up an ambush and the odds weren’t in Channing’s favor.
“Drive faster. I can’t get a hold of Conrad, either. Have any of your guys who are in or around the Cove get to the manor ASAP. I want him stopped if he’s going to the house to help my mother with whatever she has planned.” I scowled out the window as the buildings blurred by. “We need to make sure Winnie is safe. I can’t afford to have my attention divided.” I messaged Alistair to give him a heads up since he was actively involved in protecting my niece. It never occurred to me that my forsaken half-brother would become one of my best allies in a war I never imagined waging.
Rocco grunted and the SUV hurriedly lurched forward. “Do you think your mother would sink that low?”
I wanted to say no, but I couldn’t. If the woman had no qualms about hurting her husband, and possibly her own parents, why would her granddaughter be off limits?
“It’s better to be safe than sorry.” My voice trailed off as I recalled Alistair’s warning that I was going to have to choose. If the decision was between my mother and Channing, I could pick with ease. Specifically, now that the depths of my Mother’s diabolical nature had been exposed. The choice was impossible between my niece and her aunt. I wouldn’t survive without either of them.
The helicopter launch pad was on top of the Halliday building. By the time we reached it, the pilot was waiting. The flight took a fraction of the time as the drive, even though we had to land at a private airstrip and drive to the manor. When we arrived at the house, there was a standoff in the pristine gardens. Rocco’s security personnel faced off against Conrad and my mother’s staff. Obviously, the highly trained security team could’ve easily stormed in, but no one wanted to hurt people who were just trying to do their jobs. Conrad stood between the two factions. It wasn’t clear if he was trying to keep the peace or provoke chaos.
I was stunned at how disappointed I felt. I had so few people I could count as genuine friends, and even fewer I let myself trust. Conrad’s betrayal burned deep.
“You take care of this mess; I’m going to find Channing.” I barked the order at Rocco and pushed through the crowd toward the steps. Conrad grabbed my arm as I rushed by.
I didn’t hesitate to swing at him. My life never required me to fight for anything. It was handed to me on a golden platter. For my niece and Channing, I was willing to do a lot of things I’d never had to do before. I rushed toward the house, but Rocco tried to stop me. I shook him off and reminded him that my mother couldn’t hurt me. I was the CEO. If something happened to me, she would lose everything attached to my bullshit title. I was literally the only person who was safe from her.
Conrad swore and clutched the side of his face that was quickly turning bright red. He gave me a pleading look that I ignored and yelled at my back,
“You don’t understand, Win. I have to take care of so many people. There is so much pressure on me. I’ll never be a CEO like you. I’m supposed to be building a family fortune. It was impossible to turn down your mom when she suggested I work for her on the side to make some extra money. It started out small. She just wanted to know what you were up to and how you were doing while we were in college. When you moved to the city, she asked me to keep tabs on you for your own good. Before I could comprehend what happened, I was doing more for her, and she was paying me more money. I was in too deep. My family relied on the extra income too much.”
I paused at the top of the stairs and turned to give my former best friend a frigid look. “It never occurred to you to ask me for help? I thought we were friends, Conrad. I would’ve done my best to keep you from sinking under the pressure from your family because I know exactly how that feels.” I narrowed my eyes and asked, “Do you think there are no consequences for helping my mother keep quiet about what happened to Archie and my father? Even if my mother manages to get away with all the terrible things she’s done, you won’t.” Conrad looked stunned. I couldn’t imagine he was na?ve enough to believe my mother would watch any back but her own.
I left my former friend to Rocco for clean up, and I dashed through my childhood home. It felt so empty and creepy with all the staff outside. I heard waves crashing on the cliffs behind the house and, for the first time, the familiar sound felt ominous.
My first stop was my wing of the house. The place was a wreck from Channing’s search. When I saw the trapdoor underneath my desk, I felt like a fool. I was sitting on top of the worst Halliday secrets and had no clue. I felt thoroughly violated. It felt like my mother forced me to come home not only to control my every move, but also to laugh at me and lord over me about how little I understood my place and my family.
Instead of following Channing’s cookie crumbs into the bowels of the house, I ran to the burned wing. Rocco had said that he would want to see his loved ones, first and foremost, if he came back from the dead, and it resonated with me. If Archie was indeed alive, I was sure he would feel most comfortable in the last place he got to hold his wife and daughter.
I kicked in several locked doors until I saw proof Channing was here. Her phone was on the floor of Winnie’s nursery, and the notifications from all my missed calls and texts were going crazy on the screen. I picked it up and charged into the hallway. I was stunned when I saw that the space looked almost the same as when Willow and Archie lived there.
I started calling Channing’s name, pushing open all the doors that led to different rooms along the way. After five minutes of searching, I heard a faint beeping sound and a low moan coming from the primary bedroom. It was the area that had taken the most damage during the fire. It was where my brother and Channing’s sister were supposedly found. The space was completely off limits after the tragedy, but as soon as I opened the door, I saw how well lived-in everything appeared.
A pair of running shoes were tucked under the edge of the bed. A hoodie was hanging on the back of the door. Discarded snack packages and empty drink bottles were scattered about. The lights were low, but the medical equipment gave everything a soft glow. It would be a comfy vibe if it wasn’t for the grotesque doll on the large bed. I instantly recognized all the items stolen from her stay in my suite.
While I grappled with my shock over the macabre scene, another moan came from the floor next to the bed.
“Channing!” I yelled her name and leaped across the distance, trying to reach her. “Are you okay?” She was prone on the floor and completely still. I didn’t see any blood or bruises, but her hands were scratched and there was a large red mark on the side of her neck. I quickly surmised she’d been drugged.
I bent over to pick her up. She was limp as a noodle in my arms. Her rust-colored eyelashes fluttered, and she kept making sounds of pain. I needed to get her out of this fucking house as quickly as possible.
When I turned to leave, I noticed someone in the doorway.
I always thought I would recognize my little brother under any circumstances. We shared a special bond. I was the only one who supported him when he left and when he returned.
The person blocking me barely looked human, let alone like my kind-hearted, sweet younger brother. Archie may have survived my mother’s murderous plans, but the cost was astronomical.
It wasn’t the burn scars or the deformed facial features that threw me off. It wasn’t the thin frame or the missing patches of dark hair. He’d been through hell and back, and it was easy to see. The biggest change was his eyes. They used to be a gentle, soft gray. A color closer to Alistair’s than mine. They once were warm and welcoming, full of endless optimism. Now they were cold and nearly devoid of life. They looked right through me with zero recognition.
Those were the eyes of someone who’d lost everything and would do anything to get it back. Including turning his deceased wife’s sister into a morbid substitute.
“Archie…” My voice broke and tears stung my eyes. I wasn’t sure what to say. I doubted there were any right words for this situation.
“Where are you taking my wife? I just got her back. Give her to me.” The words were slurred and choppy. Archie didn’t use my name in his confused demand. I wondered if he even knew who I was.
“This isn’t Willow. It’s her sister, Channing. This is Winnie’s aunt. You’re confused, little brother. I’ll help you remember. I’ll help you with everything.”
The twisted, misshapen facial features shifted to frown at me. “She’s mine. So is Winnie. You can’t have them. Mom promised me I would get my family back when I came home.”
I wanted to dropkick something. That woman was always at the center of every fucked-up scenario.
“I’ll bring Winnie to see you, Archie. I’ll make sure you get everything you want, but you can’t take Channing. She’s mine. I’m sorry about what happened to Willow, but they aren’t the same. Don’t listen to anything our mother promises you. She’s been lying to both of us for a long time.” I took a deep breath and held Channing close to my chest. She was still limp and lifeless, but the soft moans stopped, and her eyelids were fluttering. “Mother started the fire. Do you remember?”
I wasn’t sure how Archie’s mental state was after all the trauma he’d suffered. I hoped I might trigger his memories with the right prompt.
Before my brother could respond, a muffled bang echoed throughout the large estate. I wanted to run, but I was hesitant to hurt my younger brother.
“Gun.” Channing whispered the word so softly I barely heard it.
At first, I thought she was trying to tell me that Archie had a gun. I should’ve known. My innocent, simple little brother would never have the heart to shoot someone, no matter how damaged he was. My mother, on the other hand — she didn’t have a heart at all.
I was certain of the fact as she stepped around a frozen, befuddled Archie and pointed a weapon directly at me.