Page 28 of Winter
Tommaso’s question, abrupt, irritated, took her aback. The expression on his face was something else. Anger.
Inca swallowed, remembering Hunter’s warning. “I’m sorry, Tommaso. I need to do some paperwork and I need some time alone. I did tell you I was busy until tomorrow.”
She turned away from him, reaching for the coffee pot. When she turned, he was standing right beside her. She started, and the pot smashed to the floor.
“Jesus, Tommaso!’
He held his hands up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, I was just coming to help.”
“Lift a coffee pot?” She was aware her tone was snippy. She crouched down and started to pick the pieces of glass up. He didn’t bend to help, nor did he move. As she stood to put the glass into the trash, she was aware of the closeness of his body, and that he was watching her. Her skin prickled, and she didn’t bother to hide her discomfort. Even in the soft warmth of the teahouse, she shivered.
“Are you okay?”
She didn’t answer him.
“I’ve offended you.” His tone was amused.
Inca wasn’t impressed.
“No, Tommaso, you just startled me. It’s fine.”
“Well, clearly not. I’ll leave you alone.”
He stalked out, leaving Inca to gape after him. Had that actually just happened? Where was the fun-loving, good-time man she had spent last night with? It was like he’d been body-swapped with someone else.
She was still upset later when Olly came to see her and asked her to sit down with him. She closed the teahouse for a while and braced herself.
“We have the DNA results, sweetheart. I’m afraid my hunch was correct. The murder victim was your biological mother.”
Emotions she didn’t understand rushed through her and she gave a little moan of distress. Tears came then, and Olly held her while she cried. “I’m so sorry, Inca.”
“I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said eventually, wiping her eyes, “I never knew her. But even so, I hate to think this happened to her. God.”
Olly nodded, his eyes serious. “And, sweetheart, it makes it more likely that the murders are tied to you in some way. Inca, listen, whatever you tell me now is strictly, and I mean,completely, between you and me. I won’t tell a soul, but I get the feeling you’re hiding something.”
Inca stared at him for a long moment, then closed her eyes. Olly took her hand.
“Inca … is there anyone who might want to cause you harm? Anyone?”
Slowly, Inca nodded. God, she really didn’t want to have this conversation.
Please, God, don’t let it be him …
“Yes. There is, Olly. There’s someone who would want to kill me … but I don’t know how the hell he found me. I don’t know how …”
Olly leaned forward, his face almost contorted with fear. “God, Inca, who? Who is it?”
Tears began to pour down her face again. “Olly, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry …”
“Who? Who is it?”
Inca took a deep breath in and looked at him, her dark eyes full of misery. “My husband. It’s my husband who wants to kill me …”
