by Clara Lewis
Bound By Truth
The Dresden Island Series
Book 4 of 4
by Clara Lewis
Copyright © 2021 Clara Lewis – All rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Description
It’s the final showdown.
Olivia is ready to address the case that kept her on the island of Dresden for so long. The death of her sister, Poppy, weighs heavily on her mind. With newfound information, Olivia is one step closer to finding out the killer’s identity.
With the assistance of her cousin Marion, Olivia searches for answers. However, someone still wants her dead.
The answers she finds will give her peace, but the journey to getting them may cause a few cracks in the relationships she has formed.
Can Olivia remain calm and solve the case? Or will her emotions hold her back?
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 1
He’s arriving today.
Poppy couldn't contain her excitement. Finally, she had an opportunity to help her sister instead of relying on her all the time. After all, she was the older twin despite Olivia insisting on the technicalities of a six-minute difference.
Olivia always worked hard. However, the effort that the Hudsons put into maintaining their illusion of success to the rest of Dresden had weighed heavily on her.
Poppy now had the means to get Olivia out of that house. She had the resources within her reach, and best of all, she had someone as well.
He was generous and kind, but Poppy knew that it would take Olivia some time to accept him. It was late at night, and Poppy had been saying her goodbyes to everyone in the house.
First, her parents. She had said her subtle goodbye to them at dinner. They all sat around a large table and ate their food quietly. This time, though, Poppy decided to thank them for all they had done.
Her parents had frozen stiff. Not because she sounded like she was saying goodbye but rather, the fact that she had dared speak at the table. Never mind, she had said what she had wanted to say. She’ll never have to see them again.
The house was large enough for each of the girls to have their own rooms. However, for years, Poppy insisted on sharing a room with Olivia. When Marion came over, they’d all slept in the same room. It just felt safer.
Later on, that night, Poppy called Marion. Considering the time, she must have probably been asleep. She was a heavy sleeper too, but Poppy wanted to hear her voice one last time. If her plan was going to work, it was important that she come back to Olivia successful and powerful enough to take her away from Dresden.
Marion didn’t pick up, and Poppy sent her a message instead. Poppy always had something to say, so her message was more of an essay than a quick text. She thanked Marion for being the best third sister there was and that she was going to come back, not to worry.
The most difficult goodbye had to be to Olivia. Every decision and every milestone in Poppy’s life, Olivia had been there. This was going to be the last time she relied on Olivia. It would take some getting used to, but Poppy was sure that once everything went right, it would be worth it.
She hugged Olivia and whispered goodbye before getting into Mr. Barlowe’s car.
Chapter 2
Olivia couldn't take it anymore. She had called Marion, but the flight to get to Dresden took hours. In this horrible weather, she wouldn't be surprised if Marion called to say that her flight was delayed.
A little sun peeked through the clouds. It offered nothing other than light. If someone were to step outside, the cold would hit them immediately. Any area outside of Dresden must have been covered in snow already.
She had to distract herself somehow. Olivia tried to take a nap, but it was far too early for all of that. Watching TV was useless. Nothing interested her, and at this point anything she heard from the TV was just noise. It’d all just give her a headache.
She could work, but she wasn't sure if she really wanted to open that file. The other cases she worked on in this wretched town had no personal connection to her. She still felt the familiar flash of grief every single time she encountered a dead body, but this was Poppy’s case. This was different.
Opening the file containing the autopsy report and various other notes would send Olivia into a downward spiral of obsessive research. If she opened that file, this would be the last night she could ever get sleep. Not even Marion would be able to stop her.
Maybe that’s why Marion insisted on being there before Olivia was to start. With her help, Olivia wouldn't have to feel like doing everything herself. Still, Olivia was antsy. She had to do something.
Marion had commanded her not to look at the file, but she never said anything about confronting the family responsible for Poppy’s death. The moment sunlight hit the windows and illuminated the room, Olivia would drive to the Barlowes.
At the very least, she would be able to look each member of the family in the eye. She deserved to look whoever killed her sister in the eye.
For a brief moment, Olivia worried about Liam. Her chance encounters with Liam throughout the rest of the other cases she worked on had created some sort of a friendship between them. The longer she stayed, the closer they got.
With the information revealed to her, about her sister’s killer being a Barlowe, Olivia would have to distance herself from him. She couldn't form attachments. She had to be focused.
Waiting was excruciating, and Olivia regretted setting a time constrict on herself. It was wintertime; would the sun even come out?
She waited anyway. Sure enough, the sun eventually came out and warm sunlight streamed through her window. Olivia sighed and hurried to get her bag.
It was time to meet with the Barlowes.
Olivia drove along the path leading to the Barlowe estate. It had become sort of a game to her to spot a piece of wreckage that used to be her car. And there it was. Something bright red gleamed in the sunlight and Olivia stopped driving. She leaned out of the window to get a better look. This time the wreckage was part of a car door.
Honestly, they should have cleaned it up by now. Olivia resumed driving and
checked her mirrors to make sure no one was following her. She'd had two brushes with death in a short span of time and it made her a little paranoid. After all, they still hadn't found out who wanted her dead.
Olivia kept up the routine of driving slowly and checking her mirrors often until she reached the gates leading to the mansion. The guards recognized her and greeted her with smiles, which she returned.
The butler greeted her warmly as he opened the door.
“What can I do for you, miss?” he asked her.
“Thank you,” Olivia replied as she stepped into the house. “I’m looking for the family. I’d like to talk to all of them.”
The butler looked around uncomfortably.
“They’re not in the house at the moment, miss, but if I can lead you to one of the waiting rooms—”
Olivia put a hand out to stop him. She smiled in an attempt to not seem rude.
“I know my way around, thanks.”
The butler nodded and left her alone in the hallway. Her smile immediately evaporated. Olivia’s first move was to go into the library.
The house was beautiful. Everything inside complemented the entire aesthetic of the place. It was rustic and strangely cozy. It was unlike the newer houses Olivia had been in. Those places seemed cold, and she couldn't wait to leave those places.
The library had windows that gave her a view of the mansion’s gardens. Olivia took a seat closest to the windows, and it calmed her but only for a little bit.
“Mind if I keep you company?”
Olivia turned her head and faced Alice Barlowe, the matriarch of the family.
“I remember you,” Olivia said.
She nodded her head and Alice sat next to her. Neither one of them said anything for a long time. They simply watched the flowers move in the slight breeze.
“I know why you’re here,” Alice finally said.
Surprised, Olivia looked at Alice but said nothing.
“I heard one of you killed my sister,” Olivia said.
This was no time for pleasantries. Olivia wanted answers.
“It can't be you,” Olivia started. “The time line doesn't add up.”
Again, there was silence. Olivia and Alice sat on the couch and watched the garden.
“I’m also too old,” Alice replied.
Olivia turned her head to Alice and just looked for a while.
“The Barlowe men have always been different. Very few are honorable, and they have a lot of anger.”
That didn't make sense. It just made Olivia ask more questions. As Olivia opened her mouth to ask, Alice got up.
“I have a headache. I’ll be going now, but I do hope you have a good day.”
Alice called for the butler and was escorted out of the room. Confused, Olivia sat on the couch for a few more moments before grabbing her bag and storming out.
What did Alice mean?
Chapter 3
Olivia didn't go home immediately. She drove around town just thinking. Alice’s words played in her head over and over again.
What did she mean? Was she admitting that a Barlowe really killed Poppy?
After parking her car, Olivia rested her head on the steering wheel. It was only then when Olivia realized that it had gotten dark outside. She was in an empty parking lot. All of that screamed danger, considering she still had someone who wanted her dead.
Olivia exited her car and half jogged to the entrance of her hotel. She looked back just in time to see someone come out of the shadows. His silhouette was familiar now, Olivia saw it in both the instances in which she almost died. He was tall and long-legged and could have easily caught up to her if he ran but he made no move to. He simply stood in the shadows and watched her.
Olivia ran up the stairs, not daring to take the elevator just in case he decided to follow her. When she reached her room, she slammed the door and leaned on it. It took a while for her to catch her breath, and when she was calm, she rushed to get a glass of water.
Her eye caught the silhouette of another person sitting in her chair. Her heart skipped a beat, and she tightened her grip on the glass of water. It wasn't much of a defense weapon, but it could slow them down at least a little bit.
“Took you long enough.”
Olivia squinted in the dark when she recognized the voice.
“How did you find me?” she asked.
Marion stood up and walked over to Olivia. She gently eased the glass out of her hands and set it on the table.
“I know you changed rooms and probably used a different name. You have to stop using the same fake name every time. It’s highly unprofessional.”
Olivia brought a hand to her chest, which still had her heart beating wildly from the adrenaline rush. She smiled at Marion, grateful for her presence, and laughed.
“Where were you, Olivia?” Marion asked, concerned.
Lying wouldn't help. Olivia looked to the side and at the sight of her guilty expression, Marion crossed her arms.
“I went to the Barlowes,” Olivia admitted.
“Well, at least you're alive, aren't you?” Marion commented, sarcasm dripping from every word.
She didn't have to say out loud what Olivia did wasn't the smartest move.
“Well, only one of them was there, and we had a pretty weird conversation.”
Her words were supposed to ease Marion’s worry, but it had the opposite effect. Marion glared at her. Olivia put her hands up and explained the situation. After Olivia relayed Alice’s words back to Marion, Marion threw her hands in the air.
“What does that even mean?” she yelled.
Olivia shrugged.
“Oh, someone’s still following me, I think,” Olivia added. “I saw him again today.”
Marion sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Yeah, that’s going into the file. I’m still looking into that. Did you get to see his face?”
“It’s always hidden. He doesn't wear a mask or anything, but it’s as if the shadows cover his face all the time.”
Marion glowered as she updated the files.
“Well, that’s convenient,” she grumbled.
Olivia booted up her own laptop and was presented with the file that she hadn't dared open in days. Now that Marion was here, they could open it together.
“Marion, get over here,” Olivia called out.
Marion grabbed a chair and settled it next to Olivia.
“Open the files.”
The sight of Poppy’s remains caused Olivia to pause. She stared at the image until she felt Marion’s warm hand remove hers from the mouse. Olivia placed her shaking hand in her lap and nodded for Marion to continue scrolling.
The bones were fourteen years old. A fresh body would have given up more information. From there it would be easy to determine the circumstances of one’s death judging from the state of the clothes and if there were any visible wounds. In Poppy’s case, they had bones and tattered pieces of clothing.
Poppy died from a head injury. Olivia remembered the first case she had to work on in Dresden. Ruth Barlowe had been struck with a fire poker and died in quite the same manner as Poppy. All fingers pointed to her husband, Eustace Barlowe, but there was no evidence against him.
Olivia examined the pictures and the notes. As she read through the documents, she suddenly gasped and turned the screen aside. Marion, who had been looking at the remainder of the documents abruptly looked up and asked what was wrong.
Olivia couldn't answer her. She felt a lot of emotions, but mostly she felt grief and rage. Whoever murdered Poppy was cruel. Unlike Ruth who died immediately from her head injury, Poppy did not. Her wound was deep enough for it to be a serious injury, but she was probably conscious throughout the entire time.
“They made my sister suffer,” Olivia whispered as she brought her knees up to her chest. She held back tears.
Marion wrapped an arm around Olivia’s shoulders as she whispered words of comfort. Olivia faced her screen again and b
egan to read.
“Marion, have you gone through the evidence found around her body?”
“I’ve compiled them into a list. I’m sending them to you now,” Marion replied.
Olivia’s laptop pinged almost immediately, and she opened the files Marion sent. Like Ruth, Poppy had been found with all her jewelry intact. What surprised Olivia was the engagement ring that remained on Poppy’s finger. She felt like she had seen that before.
Olivia zoomed in on the image and squinted at the screen. She had definitely seen a ring like that before in a bag containing Ruth’s belongings.
“Marion, please go through the notes on the Ruth Barlowe case. I just need to check if we kept a picture of her ring,” Olivia called out.
Marion nodded, and a few minutes later she sent the image.
Olivia compared both rings, and sure enough, they looked exactly alike. She called Marion to come and look at her screen.
“Tell me what you see,” Olivia said.
“It’s the same ring,” Marion responded.
“This one belongs to Ruth,” Olivia started as she pointed at the image from the Ruth Barlowe case, “and this was found on Poppy’s body.”
Marion’s eyes widened as she realized what Olivia was implying.
“Eustace is sly. You realize that for two cases here, he was a potential suspect, but he made himself appear so pathetic that I thought he really wasn’t capable of murder.”
Olivia shrugged, but her expression was anything but nonchalant. Her eyes were focused, and she was angry.
“Turns out he’s just a good actor,” she mumbled, more to herself than to Marion.
This was only one piece of evidence. Marion promised to continue reading through the document tomorrow as long as they stayed lucid enough to work through the case. That was her way of telling Olivia to sleep well for once.
“We’ll have to go to the police tomorrow and ask about the status of this case,” Olivia stated.