Page 42 of Stalker

The information hit me hard. “Oh, my God. I can’t imagine what those children went through.”

“Honestly? You have no idea. I have some inkling, but the records have been sealed. Short of a court order, they can’t be opened. Given all this time, many people have retired and the children now all grown and living lives most would envy. Finding a judge to do so even if the information still existed would be extremely difficult.” He eyed me strangely.

A dog to a bone.

His earlier statement about me going to whatever length I needed to discover the truth included ruffling some feathers.

“How was the monster caught?” I asked.

“The killing of his wife was a crime of passion. He made mistakes that were eventually followed up on. From there, various clues were put together and he was convicted of several murders, sent to prison for the rest of his life. What people overlooked at the time was that Cain Demarco was the pillar of society, a doctor who had the respect of his colleagues and his patients.”

“He used his medical knowledge for torture.”

“Very good. Yes, he did and he had an innate knowledge of forensics. The man was psychotic, but brilliant.”

“Do the brothers even know?”

“I suspect they have some idea since they found each other after they were all in their twenties. What they know I’m not certain, but there are several disappearances within their foster lives that have yet to be explained. Keep in mind, they were horribly treated to the point I still can’t believe to this day they were allowed to stay in several of the homes. The system is broken, or at least it was. But the children were… difficult.”

Difficult.

He meant they’d acted out. That I understood all too well.

I had to think about what he was telling me. “You’re suggesting the disappearances were based on something one or all of the boys did in retaliation. Aren’t you?”

He shrugged. “It’s possible, but I don’t know for certain. That’s why I don’t want to tell you anything else, so you can have a fresh eye on the situation.”

“Tell me something. If they are guilty of following in their father’s footsteps, are you looking for justice for the victims, or are you looking for salvation for the innocent parties involved?”

His smile was perhaps the most unnerving aspect of the conversation. “I doubt that’s a possibility given the length of time and the various jurisdictions.”

“Are they dangerous?”

He took his time answering. “Men with power usually are, Cassandra. I won’t lie to you. I strongly suspect they’ve had a hand in the disappearances of several of their enemies. But there is no evidence to be found. Every time they’re placed under a microscope, they come out smelling like roses. It’s uncanny.”

“Since that’s what happened with their father. Brilliant and cunning.”

“Very much so. I’m not trying to ruin any innocent lives, but as you’ll read in the file, there are extenuating circumstances.”

“Is the father still in prison?”

“As far as I know, although I haven’t checked in years. I guess I didn’t want to know.”

We stood quietly for a few seconds and something dawned on me. “You wanted me to investigate this because I came from the system. Didn’t you?” Very few people knew I’d been abandoned as a baby, kept in the system until I was four years old. But I’d been blessed, adopted by an incredible husband and wife who’d never treated me as anything but their own flesh and blood.

I could tell by his hesitation I was right. While I wanted to be angry with him, I understood the reasoning.

“You hide your emotions, Cass, guarding everything about your private life, but I’ve seen the look of pain in your eyes when a family has been harmed in any way. That’s what helps make you so good at what you do. I don’t want you to lose your empathy by placing blame where it might not be due. But I do think the truth needs to come out. If the Blackwell Group is using the Obsidian Society as some smokescreen for heinous activities, then by all means, the victims deserve justice. But if I’m wrong, I need to know.”

I nodded a few times, better understanding why he’d selected me.

This was very personal to him, but why?

“I’ll do everything I can do to get to the truth, Mr. Wells. That might take me to some dark places.”

“If necessary, I understand. I trust your judgment.”

I wasn’t certain I did at this point. He gripped my shoulder and I could tell he was ending our meeting. Before I turned, I noticed another strange look in his eyes. Was it remorse or hurt?

---