It could all be a coincidence. I know how many Grahams there are. I’ve done my research. But there aren’t many in this part of the country. He’s the first I’ve met.
Kenzi runs toward the woods, pulling me from my thoughts. She’s not carrying any clothing. “You’re never going to believe this!”
“They got to them, I know!” I point to where the cops and construction crew are working to pull out the two policemen, one of whom might be my dad.
She gives me a double-take. “They did?”
“That’s not what you were going to tell me?”
Kenzi pulls her attention from the workers back to me. “Jack’s alive!”
“My uncle? Or yours? And why does this matter when my dad could be over there?”
My aunt puts her hands on my shoulders. “My brother has been in the house this whole time!” She glances back in the direction of the house.
“Since we moved in?” I try to process what she’s saying, but Kenzi’s not making any sense.
“No! Before that. Since he was a kid. He’s been locked in a secret room.”
“That isn’t possible.” I shake my head. “The house was abandoned for five years. Nobody could survive that long locked up.”
“Think about it.” Kenzi squeezes my shoulders. “Your grandma has been sneaking in. Why else would she be so adamant about returning? Traveling through a dangerous tunnel? Sneaking out of the facility?”
I step back and lean against a tree for support. “This is all too much. In the matter of about an hour, I’ve discovered that the detective could be my dad and now this. What else do you want to throw at me? Grandpa’s really alive too? Or maybe my mom?”
She frowns, pain in her eyes. “I’d do anything to bring them both back, but we both know that can’t be done.”
I close my eyes and take several deep breaths before looking at my aunt again. “You’re saying a grown man has been living in our house since we moved in?”
“Yes, and just as we’ve been unaware of him, he’s had no clue about us being there either.”
A chill runs down my spine. “Where has he been staying? Where’s the secret room? On the third floor? That would explain a lot of the sounds. Or has he been in his old bedroom? That would explain people seeing the light coming on at night.”
“The room is attached to the office.”
Her words take the breath from me. “Down in Grandpa’s office?”
“Right. Doesn’t explain anything. In fact, it makes it all creepier.”
I arch a brow. “How?”
She looks away. “My childhood imaginary friend had the same name as” —she hesitates— “well, as a girl who died.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Jack accidentally killed her.”
I struggle to find words. “The giggling?”
Kenzi picks at a nail.
I start to say something.
But she stands up straight, looking past me. “He’s out!”
“What?” I whip my head around fast enough to give myself whiplash.
Sure enough, three men are pulling out the detective. My dad. Maybe my dad. “I have to see him!”
She grabs my arm. “Don’t say anything to him yet.”
“I won’t. It’s clearly not the right time.”
Kenzi breathes a sigh of relief. “We’ll talk to him, get it all figured out. I promise. But we—”
“That’s fine. I don’t care. I just want to see him!” I race over, darting around an officer trying to keep me away from seeing my dad for the first time. Sure, I’ve seen him before, but never with the knowledge I now have.
He’s been so close my entire life. If my mom had been a criminal lawyer, their paths might’ve crossed. She could’ve told us the truth herself.
As soon as I get close enough, I see three other men hoisting him up out of the hole. His pants are shredded and bloody. I cringe. My own legs ache at the sight.
He waves at me and smiles. “I’m fine.” Then he pulls away from the others. Takes a step. Stumbles.
The other men grab him before he falls, and two medics race over with a stretcher. Everyone helps him on.
I dash over. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Kenzi catches up. “Graham!”
“I’ve never been better.” He winces and reaches for his leg. “Actually, I have been better. But this isn’t going to keep me down.”
I frown. “You got hurt trying to keep us safe.”
“All in a day’s work.”
“You mean vacation?” Kenzi lifts a brow.
“Technically, yes.” The corners of his mouth twitch, and there’s a gleam in his eye as his gaze meets hers.
She puts her hand on his and starts to say something, but the medics whisk him away as the other officers pull out my dad’s partner. He’s dirty but doesn’t appear bloody.
Kenzi rests a hand on my shoulder.
I turn to her. “He could’ve died. Before I could’ve talked to him.”
“But he didn’t. I’ll give him a call later and see when we can visit. Sound good?”
“I guess that’s the best we can do for now.”
“Yes. He needs to recover before we hit him with this.”
I hate to admit she’s right. It’s not fair to him.
“Now, are you ready to meet your uncle? It’s high time he sees the light of day.”
I’m not sure I’m up for it, but I agree anyway. My uncle Jack has probably been through worse than both of us combined.
31
Kenzi
My heart races as I lead Ember to the house. If I’d been thinking, I never would have left Mom with Jack. She’s already hidden him away from the world for three or four decades, what’s going to stop her from moving him? If she wants my brother all to herself, she could have already left with him.
Ember catches up with me. “Why are you running?”
“No time to explain!” I weave around officers and medics in the yard and turn the knob on the back door.
“He’s been there for all this time, what’s the hurry?” She gasps for breath.
“That’s exactly the problem!” I race down the hall toward the library. It’s the shortest route.
“Huh?”
“I’ll explain later.” I hope we’re not too late. What if I’ve failed my brother? I actually have a living sibling, and I can’t risk putting him in harm’s way.
I offer up silent prayers as we near my dad’s office.
The shelf that opens to the hidden room is closed.
My heart sinks. But it isn’t necessarily bad news.
Jack could still be in there.
“Where’s the hidden room?” Ember looks around.
“Here.” I pull on the book titled Jack.
Creak!
Ember gasps as the shelf moves. “Whoa! It’s like Scooby Doo.”
I just nod and wait for it to stop. “This way.”
We hurry down the little hallway and come to Jack’s room.
He’s still watching the movie Mom put on for him.
My mom is nowhere to be seen.
He turns to me. “Kenzi.”
“It’s so good to see you, Jack. Is Mom here?”
He shakes his head. “She left with you.”
Relief floods me. I don’t know what she’s doing, but I’m not going to let Jack remain locked up another moment.
Jack gives Ember a quizzical glance then turns his attention back to the movie.
I clear my throat and nudge Ember closer. “Jack, I have someone I want you to meet.”
He turns back to us, tilts his head. “Claire-bear?”
The air leaves my lungs. He knew our sister?
Ember shakes her head. “I’m Ember. Claire was my mom.”
I wince at her speaking of Claire in the past tense, but it doesn’t faze Jack.
“Ember.” Jack smiles. “You’re like my Claire-bear. All grown up.”
“How old
was Claire when you last saw her?” Ember asks.
He looks deep in thought and scratches his smooth chin.
Who has been keeping him shaved? Mom or him? But that’s got to be one of the least important questions to ask.
Jack turns back to the movie.
“How old was Claire?” Ember asks again.
“Maybe he doesn’t remember, or it might stress him out,” I whisper.
Her eyes widen. “Oh. I didn’t think of that.”
My brother turns back to us. “Don’t remember. She was my Claire-bear.”
Tears sting my eyes, and Ember wipes hers.
I clear my throat. “Jack, do you want to leave this room?”
He turns to me, his brows furrowing. “I can go?”
“We’ll take you out there.”
Jack looks around. “Did Mom say it’s okay?”
I grit my teeth. “She’ll be happy for you to get some sunlight.”
His mouth gapes. “I want to go outside!”
Ember leans closer to me. “Was he always like this, or is it from being locked up for so long?”
“From what your grandma said, he’s always been like this.”
“So sad. I can’t believe she kept him in here like an animal!” Her brows draw together.
“You and me both.” I put my hand on her arm. “Let’s focus on getting him outside, then we can talk with her.”
Ember’s expression tightens. “I just can’t believe it. Are all the Brannons horrible? The way our ancestors treated their servants, the science experiments, now this. Grandma’s behind it! Grandpa had to have known. Didn’t he?”
“I would assume so, but maybe she hid it from him too.”
“This place is right off his office! The one I was almost never allowed in.”
My body tenses. “I know. I rarely came in here either. Now we know the real reason.”
Her face reddens. “I don’t want to be a Brannon anymore!”
“Why don’t we calm down and talk about this?”
“There isn’t anything to discuss!”
I take a deep breath, glance at my brother who is back to watching the movie, and give Ember a hug. “This is all a shock, I know. But keep in mind, we’re not all monsters. Jack seems sweet, you’re good, and so was your mom. We can make the Brannon name into something better. But let’s focus on Jack. He’s been in this room for at least thirty or forty years. We need to get him outside.”
She wipes tears from her eyes and nods. “You’re right, but if it turns out the detective is my dad, I’m changing my last name to Felton. I’m done with all of this!”
“Okay. But remember, we need to give Graham some time to recover before we bring this up.”
“I know.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Actually, you know what? I can’t deal with any more change in my life. I don’t want to talk to him about this.”
“You don’t?”
“No.” She crosses her arms.
I start to say something but then remember how stubborn I was as a teen. If I try to convince her otherwise, she’ll just dig her heels in deeper. And besides, she’ll probably change her mind five times before making an actual decision. “Okay. It’s all up to you.” I turn to Jack and raise my voice. “Did you say you’re ready to go outside?”
“Outside!” He bolts to his feet and grins. “Are we really going?”
“We are. Do you need anything?”
He wrings his hands together and looks around. “Do I? Is it snowy?”
My heart aches. He doesn’t even realize it’s summer. I shake my head. “It’s a beautiful summer day. But there are a lot of people in our yard and house right now. Is that okay with you?”
Jack pulls on his hair. “Like a party?”
Ember and I exchange a glance. She nods to him. “Yeah, but a party with police officers and medics.”
His mouth forms an O shape. “Policemen? I love policemen! Can I meet one?”
At least he isn’t fearful of people. I smile. “Sure. They’re really nice. I bet we can find someone who will be really happy to meet you.”
“Oh boy! Let’s go.” Jack hurries over and gently wraps his hand around my arm. “I want to meet the policeman.”
I nod for Ember to walk on the other side of him, and we manage to get down the narrow hall single file, linked together.
When we step into Dad’s office, Jack whips his head around. “Is Dad here?”
“No, sorry.”
“He’s been gone a long time.”
“Yes, he has.” I consider how to proceed. Mom may not have even told him Dad died. Probably hasn’t, since Jack expects to see him.
Conversation sounds down the hall.
My brother tugs on my arm. “Policemen, Kenzi! Let’s go.”
Jack’s so gentle, it’s hard to believe he ever killed anyone—even accidentally. It makes me question my mom’s story. Did she make up the whole thing about him killing Billa? Could she have been covering up the fact that she killed the girl? She knew that was my imaginary friend’s name.
I don’t have time to consider it further, as my brother is now dragging me down the hall, waving to the two cops standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
Whit turns down the hall from the direction of the tunnel. He arches a brow. “Who’s this?”
My brother lets go of my arm, races over, and shakes his hand. “I’m Jack!”
I hurry over to them. “He’s my brother.”
Whit’s brows draw together. “I wasn’t aware you had a brother.” He turns to Jack. “Did you just get here?”
“Yeah. I was in my room.”
A medic comes over to me. “We’re ready to leave, unless you have someone else we need to look over.”
“Actually, could you check out my brother?” I introduce him to Jack, and the medic checks his vitals.
Whit gives me a confused glance. “Do you mind explaining? Felton gave me a solid briefing on your case, and I was under the impression your brother was a big fat question mark.”
“He was. I actually just found out he’s alive. Been living in a secret room off my dad’s office this whole time.”
“What? How long?”
I shrug. “Thirty or forty years.”
“Let me see the secret room. Is it anything like that tunnel?”
“No, not at all. It looks fairly well-kept.”
He nods. “I suppose that isn’t surprising. He looks in decent shape. Why don’t you show me?”
“Maybe Ember can show you. I don’t want to leave Jack.”
Whit holds my gaze. “Was he being held against his will?”
I frown and glance over at my brother. “I’m not sure he understood what his living situation was.”
The sergeant pulls out a pad of paper and makes notes before nodding to Ember. “Show me the secret room.”
Then the two of them head to my dad’s office. I lean against the wall and watch the medic with Jack. He’s chatting happily and seems to be enjoying himself. I look around for my mom, but she appears to be staying out of the way.
Probably doesn’t want to get in trouble now that we know about her keeping Jack locked up.
The medic waves me over. “He’s in great shape. Anything in particular you’re concerned about?”
“No. I appreciate you taking the time.”
“Glad to help.”
Jack loops his hand around my arm again. “Can we go outside now?”
I glance over toward the office. Can’t see Ember or Whit, so I send my niece a text to find us out front.
My brother oohs and ahhs at the front yard and takes a special interest in Mom’s garden. I stay close and keep him engaged in conversation.
The sergeant comes out before too long and pulls me aside.
I motion for Ember to stay close to Jack.
“Where’s your mom?” he asks.
“I don’t know.”
“Does she have a cell phone we can call?”
; “No. She didn’t have one in the retirement home, and I haven’t gotten her a new one.”
He leans a little closer. “Just to let you know, I’m going to have to take her in for questioning.”
“Are you going to arrest her?”
“Can’t say, but between this and her prints on the knife, we’re going to need to hold her until we get some questions answered. What are you going to do with your brother?”
I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”
“He obviously has special needs.”
“Right.” I take a deep breath. “And he’ll need a full medical and mental evaluation.”
“Glad to hear you’re already thinking about that. Is he going to stay here until you get that taken care of?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to send him anywhere unless it’s absolutely necessary. It would be a painful adjustment for him. And I think it’s best for the three of us to be together, you know?”
Whit nods and hands me a card. “If you need anything, give me a call. I know Felton has been taking care of your case, so I’ll take his place while he’s out of commission.”
“I really appreciate that.”
I rejoin Jack and Ember. We spend a long time in the elaborate garden stretching from the front of the house to the backyard. It will take a lot of work to restore it to its former glory.
After a while, a commotion sounds near the front door.
Ember throws me a questioning glance.
I motion for her to stay with Jack, then I race to the front.
Whit is escorting my mom to a police cruiser.
I should be crushed, but I’m overcome with relief. For now, I just want to enjoy watching my brother explore the property.
I’ll worry about getting answers from my mother later.
32
Kenzi
My heart races as I look around the empty table. Conversation sounds in the background from other tables. Other people speaking with their jailed loved ones.
Not that I’m feeling much love for my mother at this point. I have to wonder if she ever felt anything for me at all. Between the lies and the criticisms, it seems unlikely.
But that isn’t why I’m here.
All I want is answers. That’s it. Then I’m walking away and hopefully never looking back.
Family Secrets (Brannon House Book 2) Page 17