Page 47 of Bed of Thorns

“Wait a minute. Let me see if I can put this together. He was provided with an alternate name in order to maintain some sense of anonymity, almost like witness protection but one developed for people who have enough money to make almost anything happen. Right?”

“I can tell you that you are as astute as Adam mentioned.” Walters lifted a single eyebrow, waiting to see my reaction.

“I’m not certain I like this, Mr. Walters. I enjoyed the friendship I had with Adam. Hell, I think the man saved my life, but no matter what I was shoved into prison for, I’m no criminal. I won’t use dirty money.” I headed toward the door. As much as I wanted to ruin my father, I’d find another way.

“Hold on, now. I didn’t mean to mislead you. Just hear me out.”

I waited, cocking my head. I wasn’t an honorable man. I wasn’t a good man. I wasn’t certain I would ever be an honorable man, but I refused to become a dark and twisted individual just like my father.

Stop lying to yourself.

I remained tense from the nagging of images that would never allow me any peace.

He seemed to sense my impatience as well as my interminable disgust, his features softening before moving to the other side of his desk. He opened a drawer, pulling out a file that was at least an inch thick. I found it interesting that he stared at it, obviously contemplating what he was going to say.

“I know about everything that’s gone on in your life.” His words held no emotion, just stark cold reality.

“My record speaks for itself.”

“It’s what isn’t in your record that troubles me, as it did Adam.”

“Meaning what?”

“A portion of the information was sealed. Were you aware of that?”

I thought about what he was saying and finally shook my head.

“It’s a fascinating read, the events tragic.”

“How would you know?”

He laughed, lifting his head to stare into my eyes. “Edmond, I’m not exactly the man you were led to believe.”

“Go on.” My hackles were raised. What the hell was this really about? I didn’t like games of any kind, although I was aware that in order to act on my plan, I’d need to become a chameleon of sorts.

“I run a very powerful organization. As such, that allows me certain privileges unavailable to the majority of men and women in our traditional society.”

“You speak in riddles, Mr. Walters. I prefer truth.”

“Of course you do and I wouldn’t expect any less. It would appear you were railroaded, Edmond. Now, Adam had told me as much from everything you shared with him.”

I bristled. My conversations with Adam had been personal. Private. For him to expose any details pissed me off. I was beginning to feel the same rage that I’d worked on suppressing building to the point I wouldn’t be capable of controlling my actions. “Get to the point. I will not be used as some pawn.”

“You need to learn patience, Edmond. That is a virtue that will take you far. Often waiting for the right moment, the perfect indication of weakness in others, will take you leaps and bounds over the competition, finding those truths you so desperately seek.”

More riddles.

I moved closer to the door. “I have reasons for my lack of patience, Mr. Walters. That includes several years of my life being stolen from me.”

“Yes. I do understand.” He took another thoughtful moment. “Do you recall the details about the incident you relayed in your original statement you gave to the police?”

I opened my mouth to answer quickly, then realized at least some of my memories were unreliable. “Some.”

“You were very detailed in your description of what happened that night. Now, I’m no criminal prosecutor, but given the extreme, vivid details you provided, that should have given the jury reasonable doubt if nothing else. Instead, your deposition was squashed, neither the jury nor the judge provided the details. I find that… disconcerting.”

“Why would they do that? Why?”

“That is what troubles me the most; however, that may be the reason your charges were reduced to second degree manslaughter instead of murder in the first degree. I’m only speculating, but perhaps whoever was determined to make you the guilty party felt compelled to give you a chance at life.”

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