Page 28 of Timeless

I knew she would panic. She would be scared I’d find out about Jack. She would be thinking I’d hurt him. God, she would have to know by now when it came to her the last thing I wanted was to hurt her. And I would never hurt our son.

But tonight, Jack wasn’t home. And tonight was my one shot at getting Amber to tell me the truth.

She gulped and opened the door wider and looked me in the eye. “Do you want to come in?” She was saying that like I’d say no.

Getting into the house had gone smoother than I expected.

“If you don’t mind. Otherwise, we can talk here.” I gave her the option. I wasn’t going to rush her. I was going to take all my time with her, to ease her into telling me.

“You can come in.” Amber opened the door and stepped aside.

“Big house,” I said, walking in. Stairs rose to the right, and there was a huge foyer and hallway to the left. The hallway was decorated in photo frames and when Amber saw my line of sight, she quickly flicked off the hallway light and walked down it.

I followed her, my eyes running over the frames. I wanted to see the pictures. I wanted to see what my son looked like. I had only gotten half a second to look at him, and people were in my way.

“You would think I’d want something smaller. But I ended up with this,” Amber said, her voice empty of any emotion.

It felt like a home. I followed her into open living area. Kitchen to left, dining table straight ahead, and living room to my right. I took in the massive L-shaped couch and recliners, all facing a television, which had a beanbag right in front of it.

I had never seen so many windows. All to my right, looking out into a backyard. Even behind the television there were floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Do you want something to drink?” She picked up her wine from beside the couch.

Amber was being polite. And it made me smile. Because I knew under her calm polite front, she was freaking the fuck out.

“Nah, I’m fine,” I said and she nodded, sitting down. I didn’t know if I was to sit next to her, or in one of the recliners. I didn’t want to spook her. But at the same time, I had to be next to her.

I decided to sit on her right.

“So, you meant it when you said you don’t drink anything stronger than wine?” I’d had our brief conversation on repeat in my head, wondering little things, like did she really not drink anything stronger than wine?

“I hit the sprits when Dad is in town.” She looked guilty about it. “He still brings out the worst in me.”

“It’s good you have a relationship with him.” The Amber I knew wanted nothing to do with her old man.

“Have to.” She seemed to be keeping the reason behind why she ‘had to’ to herself.

I had a feeling it had to do with Jack. I glanced around the room, looking for a photo. But all there was were toys, a beanbag, and coloring books.

“So, where’s your partner?” I found myself asking a question I wanted to know the answer to as soon as the boys said she would be home alone tonight. I’d gotten a glimpse of him at the party. He seemed to love her. And she seemed to trust him.

So, where was he on a Saturday night?

“Working a case. He’s been doing it nearly all month.” She seemed really flat about that. Like she missed the guy.

That pissed me off but I hid it. “He’s a lawyer, right?”

She nodded.

I smirked. “Not the kind I like, right?” I knew he worked for the offense. Which meant he was always making it his mission to make sure I did the time I was sentenced and paying for the crimes I openly committed.

“Yeah, one who can’t be brought.” Amber confirmed what I thought and knew.

I glanced at the television, which was on pause. “So, what are you watching?”

“Um, nothing.” She quickly picked up the remote and turned it off. Like she had just been caught out in something.

For some reason, whatever she had been watching was familiar to me.

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