‘Please take a seat,’ she motioned for Olivia and Theo to sit on the sofa opposite her.
‘You look like your father,’ Mrs Talbot said after a moment of staring at Olivia.
‘Pardon?’
‘You’re Charlie Connell’s daughter aren’t you? ’ She tilted her head curiously; ‘I’d heard all the West girls always take their family name rather than their father’s name.’
‘It's a bit of a weird family tradition,’ Olivia murmured.
‘You take after your mother there’s no doubting that, but you’ve got a lot of Charlie in you too.’
‘How did you know my father?’
‘He was a friend of my Jimmy,’
‘He knew James?’ Olivia repeated slowly.
‘That’s right, matter of fact my Jimmy was best man at your parent’s wedding,’ she smiled fondly in remembrance. ‘Come up through high school together, thick as thieves they were the three of them.’
‘Three of them?’
‘Charlie, Jimmy and Tommy,’ she chuckled lightly. ‘They met in middle school and from that moment on they were inseparable.’
‘Tommy?’
Mrs Talbot nodded her head in the direction of the fireplace where several dusty framed pictures sat on the mantle. Olivia rose slowly and wandered over, moving a portrait of a young smiling James Talbot out of the way. Her attention fixed on a picture of three grinning young men, with their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders, wearing swimming trunks and standing by an old wood cabin in front of her lake. They looked so young and innocent, barely more than eighteen years old. She picked the picture up and wiped a layer of dust off with her finger, the young man to the left was unmistakably her father and for a moment her heart clenched at the sight of the man she had once loved. Beside him stood James Talbot and as her eyes fell on the man next to him her mouth fell open in shock.
‘Tommy,’ she turned back to the old lady, ‘Thomas Walcott?’
‘What?’ Theo said as Olivia handed him the picture, ‘Chief Walcott?’
‘That’s right,’ Mrs Talbot nodded, ‘went into law enforcement, was only a deputy when my Jimmy passed.’
‘So,’ Olivia rubbed her temples trying to organise her thoughts, ‘James originally came from Mercy.’
‘That’s right, born and raised,’ she replied, ‘we moved to Salem in the spring of 1993, when his father got transferred because of his job. Jimmy was living at home at the time because he had lost his job so he had to move with us. He wasn’t too pleased about that let me tell you, your dad had already married your mom and was busy with you. They didn’t see each other as often as they’d like but Tommy and Jimmy, they were real close and they both took the separation hard.’
Something in her voice when she spoke about the two men had Olivia looking back at the picture again. Although all three boys had their arms around each other’s shoulders her dad was the only one looking directly at the camera, Jimmy and Tommy were looking at each other.
‘Who took this picture?’ Olivia murmured thoughtfully.
‘I believe your mama did,’ Mrs Talbot said. ‘That was the summer they all turned eighteen, your mom and dad had not long starting walking out together.’
‘So she knew him too,’ Olivia continued to stare thoughtfully at the picture. ‘Mrs Talbot, I don’t mean to pry and I certainly don’t want to seem insensitive but I get the feeling there was more to Tommy and Jimmy’s relationship than just friendship.’
Mrs Talbot pursed her lips as she regarded Olivia and Theo appraisingly.
‘Please Mrs Talbot, I’m not trying to stir up trouble I just need the truth. I need to know what happened all those years ago.’
‘Why? What possible good can it do now?’
Olivia turned to Theo and he nodded.
‘Because they never caught the killer and the murders have started again.’
‘Are you in danger?’ the old lady asked gravely.
‘I don’t know,’ Olivia shook her head, ‘but I’m tied to it somehow. I need to figure out what happened twenty years ago.’
Mrs Talbot sighed.
‘I guess there’s no one left to protect anymore.’
‘Tommy and Jimmy were lovers weren’t they?’ Olivia asked softly.
‘Yes, they loved each other and Charlie, he kept their secret.’
‘My dad knew?’
‘Of course he did,’ she replied sadly, ‘He covered for them so they could be together. Stolen moments….that’s all they had…stolen moments.’
‘Why didn’t they just come out?’ Olivia asked, ‘Homosexuality was no longer illegal by then.’
‘It may have been legal but in a small town like Mercy?’ Mrs Talbot scoffed. ‘They wouldn’t have been accepted, though I think my Jimmy would’ve have taken the chance even if it meant losing his father.’
‘His father?’
Mrs Talbot shook her head.
‘Don’t misunderstand me, my husband was a good man, older than me and although I learned a lot from him he came from a different generation. He would never have accepted Jimmy’s sexuality. In fact Jimmy didn’t even tell me.’
‘But you knew?’
‘A mother always knows Olivia,’ she sighed. ‘He didn’t need to say a word for me to know his heart and after he died I found letters between him and Tommy hidden in his room. He wanted to come clean and tell their families even if it meant losing them but Tommy wouldn’t. His career was important to him and coming out as openly gay wouldn’t have helped him none.’
‘Mrs Talbot what happened the night Jimmy died?’
‘I can’t really help you with that,’ she shook her head sadly; ‘I don’t know what happened.’
‘Can you just tell us whatever you remember?’
‘He was going to Mercy to see Tommy; they were supposed to meet that night. He didn’t tell me but I knew. Your father was the only other person who knew Jimmy was going to be in Mercy that night.’
Olivia sucked in a breath.
‘He kissed me goodbye and told me,’ her voice cracked slightly, ‘told me he’d see me soon.’
‘Mrs Talbot,’ Olivia breathed sadly.
‘That was the last time I ever saw him, his father identified his body and we had him laid to rest in Mercy cemetery.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Olivia replied sincerely.
‘Not long after the funeral your mother was killed. Tommy came to see me, he told me what had happened and he was ranting I’d never seen him like that before. He was convinced your father had something to do with Jimmy’s death.’
Olivia stiffened.
‘What do you believe?’
‘Your father loved my Jimmy like a brother, I knew Charlie, I thought of him as another son. I would never have believed he would hurt Jimmy, but then again I would never have believed he would hurt your mama. He was so in love with Isabel West, he looked at her like she was pure sunlight.’ She shrugged tiredly, ‘guess you never really know someone do you?’
‘Mrs Talbot, why did you agree to speak with me?’ Olivia asked curiously.
‘Olivia, I have chronic emphysema and now they’ve found a tumour. I’m dying, I’ve made my peace with what happened to my son, Lord knows I’ll see him soon enough.’
The little old lady fixed her penetrating gaze on Olivia and when she finally spoke her voice low and sincere.
‘But I truly hope for your sake that your father had nothing to do with Jimmy’s death.’
Chapter 15.
Olivia left Mrs Talbot’s house in a quiet and introspective mood. She barely said a word on the drive back to Mercy, or when they dropped Louisa’s car back to the medical centre and left the keys with the parking attendant. Theo watched her silently waiting for her to come out of her pensive mood.
As they stood outside the medical centre’s parking entrance Olivia pulled out her phone to call a cab but Theo closed his hand over the phone forcing he
r to look up into his eyes.
‘Let’s take a walk.’
Sighing she nodded slowly, dropping her phone back into her pocket.
‘Do you want to talk about it?’
‘What is there to say?’ she shrugged.
‘How about how you feel?
‘What’s the point?’ Olivia frowned, ‘it won’t change anything. I had hoped that going to see Mrs Talbot would give me some answers, all it’s done is raise more questions.’
Theo took her hand as they began to walk down towards Main Street.
‘I suppose at least we know now why Chief Walcott hates me.’
‘Unfortunately that also makes him much more dangerous,’ Theo looked grim. ‘He is trying to work within the law at the moment but sooner or later he is going to lose patience and when he does…’
‘I know,’ Olivia let out the breath she’d been holding, ‘unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it right now. You know I can appreciate that he loved James, I can appreciate how much pain it caused him to lose the love of his life, I can even appreciate how much it hurt to think your best friend was responsible, but right now I’m having trouble feeling bad for him. I was just a kid at the time, I had nothing to do with it and there is no solid evidence to suggest I had anything to do with the killings now, but he still won’t leave me alone.’
‘The sins of the father,’ Theo murmured.
‘You’re not kidding,’ Olivia rolled her eyes.
He looked down and noticed her limp had become more pronounced.
‘Is your ankle hurting?’
‘Yes, I think I’ve just been on my feet too long.’
Suddenly someone called her name and they both looked up. Olivia’s face broke into a big smile as she let go of Theo’s hand and hobbled forwards.
Jackson handed his new bartender another box and turned to lock his car as Olivia approached.
‘Olivia,’ he smiled, ‘I thought that was you. I thought I told you not to be a stranger.’
‘Hello Jackson,’ she glanced up at the pub, ‘how’s things?’
‘Slowly getting back to normal.’ He turned to study Theo as he approached and held out his hand, ‘Jackson Murphy.’
‘Theo Beckett,’ he nodded taking Jackson’s hand warily.
‘So you haven’t been by...because?’ Jackson turned his attention back to Olivia.
‘It’s been…’ she shrugged, ‘it's complicated.’
‘I’ve heard,’ Jackson nodded, ‘Olivia darlin’, I hope you’re not staying away because of the town gossip, believe me for every moron there at least two who are of sound mind and body. Not everyone thinks you’re out nefariously murdering the hardworking citizens of Mercy.’
‘If only that were true,’ she smiled.
‘Just because our police department seems to have its head up its own arse, Jake not included of course, doesn’t mean you should hole up at that big house by yourself.’
‘She’s not by herself,’ Theo replied.
‘I see,’ Jackson smiled, ‘Well I tell you what, why don’t the pair of you come in for dinner, Owen’s on fine form tonight and we have an excellent steak and Guinness pie on the menu.’
‘I don’t know,’ Olivia eyed the pub nervously.
‘It’s alright Olivia,’ Theo took her hand. ‘You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but you really should walk in there with your head held high, you haven’t done anything wrong.’
‘That’s the way of it,’ Jackson clapped Theo companionably on the back.
‘Well it is true that Jackson’s cook, is a genius in the kitchen,’ Olivia smiled at Theo.
‘Aye, that he is,’ Jackson laughed, ‘but don’t be after telling the man himself as he’s already an ego the size of Dublin.’
Olivia laughed.
‘Fine, we’ll stop by for dinner.’
Theo looked up at the Irish pub; he’d never seen anything so colourful. The wooden exterior was painted a dark green with burgundy panels and golden coloured arched windows. A traditional sign swung back and forth in the early evening breeze bearing the name The Salted Bone.
Olivia tugged at his hand, throwing a small smile his way as he followed her through the door. The interior was just as warm and welcoming with deep cherry coloured wood and brass fixtures everywhere. A hearty fire roared in the hearth taking the November chill out of the air and giving off a cosy intimate feeling.
The door banged behind them and every eye in the room turned towards them. Olivia fought a nervous urge to laugh out loud.
‘Come on Olivia love, pay them no mind,’ Jackson smiled encouragingly, ‘the novelty will wear thin soon enough.’
She limped over to the bar; she had abandoned holding Theo’s hand and was hanging onto his arm as if her life depended on it. Whether it was from nerves or the fact her ankle was now hurting like a bitch she couldn’t say.
‘What the hell is she doing here?’ a hysterical female voice screeched.
Olivia turned in the direction of the voice to see the familiar attractive red-haired barmaid come slamming through the door from the kitchen.
‘Kaitlin,’ Jackson warned.
‘She has no right to be here!’
‘She has every right, she has done nothing wrong,’ Jackson replied calmly.
‘You don’t know that,’ Kaitlin hissed, ‘you know what they’re saying about her, what that sick bitch did to Adam!’
‘That’s enough!’ Jackson snapped, ‘we do not cast stones under my roof!’
‘I can’t believe you’re taking her side!’
‘Kaitlin,’ he sighed in exasperation.
‘No!’ she yanked off her apron, ‘there’s no way I’m staying in the same room with her. You can stick your God damn job!’
She threw her apron in his face and spun around, storming back out of the door she come from.
‘I’ll deal with her,’ Shelley appeared next to Jackson squeezing his arm reassuringly and sending a sympathetic look at Olivia.
Jackson turned to look at Olivia watching the colour drain from her face. Her shoulders were set rigidly and her spine looked as if it had been set in steel. Theo gazed down at her in concern.
‘Jackson,’ she murmured uncomfortably, ‘I don’t think this was a good idea.’
The silence in the pub was almost deafening as Jackson turned on the rest of the patrons making sure he had their attention.
‘Right, now that I seem to have everyone’s attention let me make one thing clear. Olivia had nothing to do with what happened to Adam or Brody, nor was she involved in Lucas Campbell’s disappearance. There is no evidence against her and frankly the way she has been treated by the police is nothing short of disgusting. As for those of you who have been gossiping about her behind her back you should be ashamed of yourselves. So let me be blunt so there can be no mistake, Olivia is more than welcome here and if any of you have a problem with it you can leave.’
When no one moved and a few even had the good grace to look slightly guilty Jackson nodded and turned back to Theo and Olivia.
‘Come on; let’s get you settled at a table,’
Olivia hobbled after Jackson, closely followed by Theo as he led them to a cosy little booth next to the fire.
‘Just the thing for a cold November eve,’ Jackson smiled, ‘now what can I get you to drink?’
‘A beer please.’
‘The same,’ Theo nodded as Jackson’s gaze fell on him.
‘And to eat? Would you like to see the menu or hear about the specials?’
‘Actually,’ Theo replied, ‘the Steak and Guinness pie sounded good.’
‘Excellent choice,’ Jackson smiled widely, ‘that’ll be served with colcannon and I must say Owen has a fair hand with it, it’s the best I’ve ever had and for you Olivia darlin’?’
‘I’m not in the mood for pie, what’s the special for tonight?’
‘That’ll be Dublin Coddle
,’
‘What’s a coddle?’
‘Dublin Coddle,’ Jackson laughed easily, ‘it's a simple but hearty dish. It’s basically a bacon, sausage, potato and onion hotpot.’
‘That sounds good,’ Olivia nodded.
‘Lovely, I’ll be back with your drinks in a moment,’
‘Are you alright?’ Theo asked once they were alone.
‘Yeah I guess,’ Olivia exhaled as she shrugged out of her jacket, ‘it was really nice of Jackson to stand up for me.’
‘Mmm yes it was nice of him,’ Theo murmured.
‘What?’ Olivia eyes narrowed suspiciously, ‘what’s that look for?’
‘Nothing,’ he shrugged as Jackson dropped their drinks to their table and disappeared again.
Olivia took a sip of her beer and lifted her foot under the table to rest it on the seat next to Theo. She sighed in relief as the pressure eased.
‘How is your ankle feeling?’
‘It's not too bad now,’ she leaned back into her seat, ‘I just need to rest it a bit.’
Theo stroked her ankle gently underneath the hem of her jeans.
‘It's swelling again,’ he frowned.
‘I thought it was,’ she groaned, ‘my sneaker’s starting to feel a bit tight. I probably shouldn’t have walked on it so much today.’
‘You know, you could’ve just called Jake and let him speak with Mrs Talbot.’
‘Is that what you would’ve done?’ she raised one brow questioningly.
‘That’s not the point,’ he replied stiffly.
‘Yes it is,’ she answered crossly in return. ‘You know Theo I appreciate people care but I will not be kept in the dark and I will not be coddled. Jake’s most basic instinct is to protect me, even from myself and I won’t have that. I won’t have people making my decisions for me.’
‘Stubborn woman,’ Theo muttered.
‘Yes I am,’ a small smile curved her lips, ‘You have to understand Theo, I love Jake like a brother but he doesn’t know what this feels like. It’s one thing knowing that your father killed your mother in a crazy fit of passion or whatever the hell it was but it’s another thing entirely to think he is a cold blooded serial killer. I want to know the truth.’
Mercy (The Guardians Series 1) Page 26