My phone buzzes. I take a sip before I check it. The champagne is courtesy of Marly and it’s better than any I’ve ever had on my budget. I look up at Stewart. “Cheers,” I say and I hope he can read the other words in my eyes.
I check the phone. It’s an email from Rogan.
I read it and my good spirits disappear.
46
Cal
Friday
She sprints past the baggage carousel and flings herself into my arms. All the dark thoughts, which have inundated me on my thirteen-hour flight, are washed away: thoughts of Zelena and Stammo’s betrayal of me and what to do about it and the last question I still have to get answered. They all dissipate in the glow of her hug. “I am so glad to see you Daddy,” she says. I hug her tightly. I love that she called me Daddy, rather than Dad. Silly but I love it.
“I have missed you so much,” I say. We just hold onto each other.
After what seems too short a time, she tries to wriggle free but I keep holding on. I don’t want to ever let go. I want to protect her from the world. As long as she’s in my arms she’s safe. She stops wriggling and hugs me tighter and I’m safe in her arms too. A wave of tenderness washes over me. “Did you find the missing girl?” she whispers.
“Yes, sweetie.” It’s all I dare say.
But before she can ask more, I hear Sam’s voice. “Hello Cal.”
I open my eyes and the shock of seeing Sam in a wheelchair brings me back into the world. It’s five years since I first learned of her MS, not even five years ago. The disease has progressed fast.
“Hi Sam,” is all I say.
She reaches out a hand and I take it in mine. Time stops for a moment as our history replays on the screen of my mind. The tenderness I feel for Ellie seems to transfer to Sam. Maybe tenderness is the wrong word. Maybe it’s compassion or maybe it’s love. I don’t know any more. Then I become aware of Ellie watching us and the expectation in her eyes cuts into me.
I give Sam’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll get your suitcases,” I say. “Come on Els Bells, you can point them out to me.” I grab my daughter’s hand and we walk towards the carousel.
She looks up at me. “Well?” she says.
“Well what?”
“Are we going to be a family again?”
“We already are one,” I say.
“You know what I mean,” she insists.
“I do know what you mean.”
Despite her demands for an answer, I’ll refuse to give one until the turmoil in my mind resolves itself.
I’m glad he agreed to see me here. I couldn’t face intruding upon his parents’ grief. That’s what I tell myself anyway. He walks over to my table, coffee in hand, and sits down opposite me. “Thanks for seeing me on such short notice Aleksander, I appreciate it.”
“No problem Mr. Rogan,” he says. “I don’t know if I ever thanked you for rescuing me from that place. You almost certainly saved my life.”
I don’t know what to say. I just smile and nod and try to hold it in, but it all burst forth. “I am so, so sorry I couldn’t get to your sister before she…” The words stick in my throat.
He just reaches over and gives my forearm one quick squeeze. He withdraws his hand with an embarrassed look. “What was it you wanted to ask me?”
Glad of the chance to just deal with facts, I say, “Did you know Phil Jiang was part of the triad who kidnapped your sister?” His eyes go wide, giving me the answer. “It’s been bothering me ever since I learned Jiang was in on it. It just seems too much of a coincidence that the security manager at the Hilton referred you to the one private detective in Hong Kong who was part of the problem.”
“He didn’t.”
“Didn’t you tell me in the hospital that it was the security manager at the Hilton who referred you?”
“No. He referred me to Mr. Wang.”
“So who referred you to Phil Jiang?”
“Inspector Ho.”
It’s the turn of my eyes to go wide as I try and make sense of this.
Aleksander sees my confusion. “Why are you surprised?” he asks. “You told me Ho was in on it. It was him who sent the police to kidnap me wasn’t it?”
“Except that I was wrong then. Ho turned out to be one of the good guys.” And then I get it, at least I think I do. “Ho knew Phil Jiang was crooked, I think he sent you to Phil to stir things up, hoping Phil would make a mistake. Did Ho tell you to report back to him on what actions Phil took?”
“No.”
“But I’ll bet he asked you not to tell Phil who had referred you.”
“No. The opposite. Inspector Ho said to make sure I told Mr. Jiang that the referral had come from him.”
Wheels, within wheels, within wheels.
I give up. I’ll never know whether Ho was one of the good guys or one of the bad guys.
I have to try and purge my mind of this case.
And there’s only one way to do that.
The look in Tina’s eyes says it all. She throws open the door and runs into my arms. “I’ve missed you so much,” she says. We stand there in the hallway, arms clasped around each other. “Why didn’t you use your key?” she whispers.
“I didn’t know if you’d still want me to—”
“Don’t be silly.”
She looks up into my face. “I love you.” Her kiss is long and sweet.
She draws me inside and I look around her apartment.
I suddenly feel a great clarity of thought. I know what I should be doing from here on out. I want to tell her everything I know and feel but I can only think of one thing to say.
“I’m home.”
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading books 4, 5 and 6 of the Cal Rogan Mysteries series.
Reviews are the life blood of independent authors and I would really appreciate if you would take the time to swipe to the next page and do a review on Amazon (and GoodReads if you are a member.)
Very best wishes, Robert.
Cal Rogan Mysteries, Books 4, 5 & 6 (Box Set) Page 73