Page 49 of See You There
Declan’s face appeared. “What’s going on?” he asked without preamble.
“Nice to see you, too, Dec,” James said, dryly.
“Luke, you said it was about Chris?” Cara prompted.
Luke pulled out his phone. “He sent me an email.”
“You’re kidding.” Wes’s fist bunched on the island.
Wes had only met Chris once when he came to the home Wes and Cara shared to take Cara to dinner. A few weeks later, Chris had returned, broken in, and stolen a snow globe David Bloom had sent to his daughter.
The snow globe had contained the clue that led them to a secure vault facility in Dublin. Inside had been a cache of photographs and papers seeming to implicate Declan in afatal car accident. The pictures appeared real, but with Wes’s expertise, he had identified the manipulations in the images.
Based on the date of the photos and the police report in the box, they believed their stepmother Courtney had used the documents to blackmail David Bloom into marrying her.
“I’ll send it to you. But in a nutshell, he’s telling me he knows I spoke to his father right before his murder, and he’s giving an implied threat against our safety.”
Wes’s face turned to stone and his arm tightened on Cara’s waist. “Send it to me. I want to check the metadata and see if it matches the computer that manipulated the photos of Declan.”
Luke waited until each of them had opened and read the email.
Declan’s eyes were stormy when he growled, “If he thinks he is getting anywhere near my family. It’s time I end this—”
“No!” James barked at his brother’s face on the computer. “We are going to do this legally. We will not be like them. It might take a little more time, but it’s the right way to do it.”
“Do you never tire of being such a boy scout?” Declan mocked.
“Do you tire of—”
“Enough!” Luke snapped. “Both of you. I wish we could just take this fucker out, too. What?” he said when James’s mouth fell open. “He’s threateningour family. He might have murdered our father. I’m all for playing by the rules but this might be beyond what the justice system can handle.” Luke’s eyes found Declan’s. “If it comes to it, we will discuss all our options. But for now…” He held up a finger to Declan’s smirking face and cast a glance over Cara’s worried one. “We need to stay as aboveboard as we can.”
Luke blew out a breath and exchanged a look with James who nodded. Sometimes twin telepathy had its advantages. “The GBI came to visit me yesterday. Elliott Keller was murdered.”
Cara gasped. “By Chris?”
“Not in person,” Declan said. “He was in New York.”
“You have someone following him?” Wes asked.
“Most of the time. But he’s given the investigator the slip a few times. He knows I’m watching.”
“That might be why he sent the email.” James pointed out. “A warning to back off.”
“Wait!” Cara waved her hands in the air to get their attention. “Why did the GBI come talk to you, Luke? Why did Chris say you are a suspect in his email? That’s ridiculous.”
“I was the last person to talk to Keller. Other than the killer, I mean. The police are covering their bases. Don’t worry,” he said, when she paled. “I have an excellent alibi.”
“What can I do to help?” Wes asked.
“Nothing!” Cara sent a warning scowl at her brothers. “He’s not hacking anyone! I just got him, and I won’t lose him now!”
Wes nuzzled her neck. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Cara’s right.” Declan’s voice sounded from the computer’s speakers. “But we appreciate the offer, Wes. It’s nice to know that at least someone in the family is willing to take risks—”
“Is that supposed to be a criticism of me?” James snapped.
“Not at all,” Declan said silkily. “You’ve made it clear how far you’re willing to go.”
