Page 70 of Charlie
“You were here. Charles just told me.”
“Aye, my da and I stirred the pot last night. We told Conor that there’s a videotape to prove he was in Liverpool the night Sandra died.”
“But I thought you didn’t have that tape.”
“We don’t. It disappeared with Jim when he tried to blackmail Conor, but we came up with a story about a shop owner who has a security tape.”
“Youlied?”
“Aye, but it’s more like getting’ creative and puttin’ a bit of pressure on the target. Ye’d be surprised how many times it helps the investigation along. Criminals get stupid when they’re paranoid.”
“But if you think he’s a killer why would you provoke him? What if he comes after you?”
“Me?” Kit got quiet.
“Yes, Kit. If he made Sandra kill herself, what makes you think he couldn’t do the same to you? I swear, I’m not staying one second longer in this house than I have to. Not when I know what he’s capable of.”
“Ye’re in the house?”
“Yes. Charles moved me in here last night. I’m sleeping with the children. I was going to text you, but I haven’t had a moment to myself.”
“This is excellent. Keep yer ears and eyes open and report back to me.”
“That’s the plan. But I have to take a shower now. Just be careful, Kit.”
“Aye, and the same to ye.”
I showered in record time to compensate for the minutes I’d been whispering on my phone with Kit.
At the breakfast table, only the children, Conor, Charles, me, and five of the residents were present.
Conor was quiet and ate without conversing.
“Is something troubling you,” one of the Portuguese twins asked him.
I expected him to say it was nothing, but he put down his cup of coffee and pushed his plate of toast away. “Yes, somethingistroubling me.”
Right away, everyone around the table fell silent.
“It seems that the timing of my session on how to deal with haters and critics was the universe sending me a reminder that I need to be strong and that trouble is coming. As you all know, I firmly believe that our souls have lived many lifetimes and that we’ve each experienced events that were designed to teach us about forgiveness, grace, patience, love, and other virtues. I’ve never been afraid of dying as I know it’s not the end, but merely the beginning of a different life.”
I listened intently, drawn in by his calm voice, which was low and yet filled the room.
“Rumors are circulating that I was somehow involved in Sandra’s suicide.”
Nathan dropped his knife and stared at Conor.
“The only armor I have against these nasty lies is this letter that Sandra wrote to me before she decided to move on to her next life.” He held up a piece of paper that had been next to his plate and passed it to Nathan, who sat across from him. “I want you all to read it so that you’ll see that Sandra was sick from depression and had given up on life.”
Nathan’s eyes ran over the letter before his hands fell down.
“Can I see it?” Atlas held a hand to Nathan’s back and took the letter when Nathan put it down on the table. One by one everyone at the table read and passed the letter along. When it reached me, I read it in silence like the others.
Dear Conor,
I’m so sorry to write you this letter. I know you’ll be disappointed that despite all the hours of friendship and support that you’ve given me over the years, it still wasn’t enough.
Somehow, I thought that coming back to Liverpool with Nathan would be better, but it’s been worse. If anything, it has proved to me what a useless mother I am.
