By Virtue Fall (The Shakespeare Sisters Book 4)

by Carrie Elks

  Thomas backed away, his hand covering his jaw where Ryan had punched him. Juliet was standing next to him, her eyes wide, her gaze shooting from one man to the other. The look of horror on her face was a kick in the gut. She felt so removed from him, as though his lapse of judgement had built a wall up between them.

  His hand was throbbing like a bitch, too. He cradled it as he backed away, his eyes seeking out Juliet’s even though she was trying to avoid catching his gaze.

  ‘You bastard.’ Thomas rubbed his jaw. ‘You’re gonna pay for that. Did you see that, Juliet? You’re a witness, right? He hit me. Jesus Christ.’ He let go of his jaw, and scrambled for his phone. ‘I’m calling the cops. Nobody move.’ Blood was running from the corner of his mouth, where his teeth must have jolted into the soft skin inside his cheek.

  ‘Please don’t … ’ Juliet reached for Thomas, but he stepped away. Ryan stood on the spot, watching the two of them, trying to work out what the hell he could say to put things right.

  He’d promised her he wouldn’t get involved. She always said she could stick up for herself. The last time he’d tried to stand up for a woman – his mother – she’d turned on him. The thought of Juliet doing the same made him feel sick.

  ‘Send them over to my place when they get here,’ Ryan said. ‘They’ve probably got a whole list of real crimes to solve, I don’t think they’ll be blue lighting their way out here.’

  ‘I’ve got friends on the force. I’m sure they’ll make it here fast.’

  Of course he did. Men like Thomas Marshall had friends everywhere. The sort you paid for with money or favours. The kind of friends Ryan had spent his life avoiding – though they’d have come in pretty handy right about now.

  ‘Thomas, put the phone down. Surely we can sort this out.’ Juliet reached for him.

  He ignored her completely, turning until his back was towards them as he spoke rapidly down the phone. Ryan couldn’t make out the words above the sound of blood rushing through his ears, but from Juliet’s expression it wasn’t good.

  She caught his eye again, and it made him want to run over and take her in his arms. She looked shocked and angry. As if she couldn’t quite believe what he’d done.

  He couldn’t quite believe it either.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he mouthed at her.

  She shook her head. When she looked away he could see the tears glinting in her eyes.

  ‘You should go home, Ryan,’ she said, still not meeting his gaze. ‘I’ll send the police over when they get here. Let’s not make a show of this for the neighbours.’

  ‘What about Marshall?’ He inclined his head at Thomas’s back.

  ‘I think I’ll be safe with him. He’s hardly going to do anything if the police are coming, is he? I’ll take him inside and clean him up.’

  The thought of her doing anything with that asshole was enough to make his blood boil. He wanted her to tell Marshall to leave, for her to ask Ryan to protect her. He wanted her to look at him the way she had last night.

  Not like this. Never like this.

  ‘London I—’

  ‘Just go, okay?’ she interrupted him. ‘Don’t make this any worse than it already is.’

  His chest was aching from all the emotions fighting inside him, ones he couldn’t quite name but were making his heart pound like a marathon runner. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to punch Marshall again, or just scream out in frustration.

  ‘If he touches one hair of your head I’ll be over here like a shot. Just call me.’

  ‘I can look after myself,’ she said again. ‘I don’t need your help.’

  And wasn’t that the truth? Any other time he’d be rooting for her, glad that she could stand up for herself. But right now, he wanted her to need him, the same way he needed her.

  There wasn’t anything else to say. He took one last look at Juliet. She was searching frantically through her bag for her keys. She didn’t want him there, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to stay and watch her let Marshall into her house.

  So he turned around and started walking down the steps. He’d barely made it to the driveway before Thomas called out again.

  ‘Better line up a babysitter, Sutherland. Your ass is gonna be in jail before the afternoon is out.’

  ‘Shut up, Thomas. Get in the house.’ Juliet’s voice was as terse with Thomas as it had been with Ryan, but somehow that gave him no satisfaction. He squared his shoulders, covering the hundred yards between their houses with long, heavy strides. Though the air around him was chilled, it felt as oppressive as a hot, humid day. Heavy and pressured, just like his thoughts.

  His truck door was still open, from when he’d run over to check if she was okay. He reached in and grabbed his keys and his wallet, and the papers strewn across the passenger seat.

  The papers he’d just signed to sell his shares, along with the proposal to buy the wharf. He could just take the money and run. Grab Charlie and leave. He owed Shaw Haven nothing. He owed his family nothing. And as for Juliet, he had no goddamned idea who owed who.

  The first thing he did when he walked into the house was call his lawyer. The second, once he’d splashed his face with cold water and slammed his palm against the cold wall tiles until it hurt, was an altogether different call. One he made from the living room, staring out of the window that overlooked Juliet’s yard. He stared aimlessly as he waited for the call to connect, scratching his chin and wondering how the hell things had gone so crazy so fast.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Sheridan, it’s Ryan. I need your help.’

  25

  Come, let’s away to prison;

  We two alone will sing like birds i’ th’ cage

  – King Lear

  ‘So you admit you hit him?’ The cop leaned back, frowning. ‘Why did you do it?’

  ‘Don’t answer that.’ Frank was already pissed. Mostly because Ryan freely admitted to punching Thomas Marshall. What was he supposed to say? No doubt Thomas’s face was bruised, as was Ryan’s hand. Plus there was at least one witness that Ryan never intended to have up on the stand. He wasn’t planning on fighting this. He just wanted to get out of here.

  The cops picked him up just after lunchtime. The cruiser pulled up outside Juliet’s house, and two uniformed guys went in, spending around an hour doing who knew what in there. After that, they followed the same path Ryan had taken earlier, crossing the front yards of the two houses until they came to his door. He opened it almost as soon as they knocked.

  They took him down to the station straight away, and put him in a cell until Frank arrived later in the afternoon. And for the past hour he’d been sitting in this small room, his large body almost too big for the orange plastic chair they’d given him, answering the same questions over and over, until he was getting bored of his own voice.

  ‘I hit him because he was rude to Juliet.’

  ‘His wife?’ The cop looked surprised. ‘Mrs Marshall?’

  ‘His soon to be ex-wife,’ Ryan corrected. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to make that clear.

  ‘Okay … ’ The cop looked suddenly uncomfortable. ‘And what is your relationship with Mrs Marshall?’

  ‘I’m in love with her.’

  And wasn’t that the kicker? He’d let his guard down, again, and here he was. Sitting in a police station asking questions while cradling his aching hand. His chest was aching even more than his hand was. He couldn’t stop thinking about her face when he’d hit her soon-to-be ex-husband. Did she hate him for it? He wasn’t sure.

  They shot another barrage of questions at him.

  What was their relationship?

  Why had he done it?

  Did he realise it was assault in the second degree?

  He never should have come back.

  ‘Does she know that you’re in love with her?’

  Ryan laughed, though there was no humour in it. ‘I’m not sure what you’re asking. Have I told her I’m in love with her? No. Does she know it? Well, she sho
uld.’

  ‘Are you in a relationship?’

  ‘I guess.’ He felt stupid, not being able to say more.

  ‘Mr Sutherland, you’re not making this easy. We’re just trying to get the facts here. Please can you state your relationship with Mrs Marshall.’

  Ryan felt cornered. ‘Juliet and I are friends. Or we were.’ God only knew what they were to each other now. He’d managed to mess everything up.

  ‘So you’re a friend who’s in love with her.’

  ‘Can we move on?’ Frank rolled his eyes. ‘My client has an impeccable record. He’s a single father with a son who relies on him. We’d like to get him home as soon as we can.’

  ‘We’re just trying to establish the facts. As soon as we do then we’ll follow procedure. Mr Marshall has stated he’s extremely afraid of any further attacks. At the moment we need to keep the victim’s wishes in mind.’

  ‘He thinks I’m gonna hit him again?’ Ryan was incredulous. ‘I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.’

  The questioning went on for another hour. Through the small, frosted window near the roof, he could see the sun slowly closing shop for the day, replaced by the early evening gloom. Eventually they took him back to his cell, while Frank left to go home for the evening.

  They had the right to hold him for twenty-four hours without charge, so Ryan knew he had a night in jail ahead of him. Frank had promised to check on Charlie, who was staying with a school friend for the night, far away from the house and any gossip that might hit him. Ryan wanted to be the one to tell his son about the confrontation.

  A couple of hours later they gave him some food – a plastic-wrapped peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a bottle of water. He opened the bottle, guzzling the liquid down, then placed the sandwich on the concrete bench he was sitting on, and curled up, using the bread as a pillow.

  Funny, the tricks you learned as a traveller.

  He had no clue what time it was. They’d taken his watch, along with his phone and wallet, plus the laces from his shoes. It could have been seven or eleven for all he knew. This grey square of a room had a time zone different to any other. Minutes felt like hours, and the only thing to fill the empty space were his thoughts. He couldn’t escape them no matter how much he wanted to.

  Couldn’t escape the memory of Juliet’s expression, either. The way she’d looked at him when she told him to go home. There was shock behind her eyes, but something else, too. Contempt, maybe, even disgust. All melded together with an anger that made his heart hurt.

  This town was no good for him. It was making him crazy.

  It was breaking his goddamned heart.

  He needed to know where they stood. Whether she felt the same way as he did. Whether getting thrown in jail had been another fool’s errand or a noble gesture for the woman who loved him back.

  He needed her to love him. Otherwise …

  What else was keeping him and Charlie here?

  The banging of the metal door woke him. Ryan rubbed his eyes, seeking out the figure standing in the backlit doorway.

  ‘Come with me.’

  Still half-asleep, Ryan followed the cop through the quiet corridor, his sneakers half-slipping off his feet as he walked. The cop pressed a code into the keypad next to the door, then led him into the foyer, and over to the desk. Laid out on the counter were his wallet and cell, shoelaces and watch. The desk sergeant gave him some forms to sign.

  ‘Am I being released?’ he asked.

  ‘On bail. Somebody got up nice and early and spoke to the judge. He’s set bail and you’re free to go for now.’

  ‘It’s been paid?’ Ryan frowned.

  ‘Yes, by that lady over there.’ The desk sergeant inclined his head at a space behind Ryan’s shoulder.

  A lady? His heart started to hammer against his chest. Slowly he turned, each movement of his body stiff and full of effort. He’d spent the night thinking about her, wondering if she was thinking of him. And here she was, waiting for him, bailing him out, letting him know exactly whose side she was on.

  A second later, his hopes went tumbling down to the ground. The lady in question stood up, lifting a hand in a halfwave. Her face was serious, but kind.

  ‘Ryan.’ That old familiar voice. It wrapped him like a blanket and it pierced him like a knife. He wasn’t sure which hurt the most.

  ‘Mom? You bailed me out?’

  ‘I got a phone call last night to tell me you were in jail. I called Frank to find out how I could help. Seems he needed the judge to set bail, so I dialled in a few favours.’

  It was amazing how the world turned around money. Though it was benefiting him right then, he couldn’t help but think how unfair it was.

  ‘Thank you.’

  She shook her head. ‘Don’t thank me. It’s what a mother should do for her child. I should have stood up for you when you were younger, and I regret that I didn’t. I’m just trying to make amends.’

  He wasn’t sure what to say right then. A lifetime of thoughts swirled around his head, but not one of them translated into words. A mixture of being woken up in the middle of the night, and not having to deal with his mother for all these years.

  What time was it anyway? He glanced at his watch; it was almost seven-thirty in the morning. He grabbed his phone – there was enough battery for him to check his messages.

  One from Charlie, who was having a good time.

  Nothing from Juliet.

  He held the door open for his mother, then followed her outside. The early morning air held a hint of frozen fog. He could see his breath clouding out every time he exhaled. ‘Does my father know you’re here?’ he asked her.

  She shook her head. ‘I figured it’s none of his business. I paid your bail with my own money.’ She licked her lips. In spite of the early hour, she was still wearing a full face of make-up. Appearances still came first. ‘I wanted you to know … ’ For the first time her voice faltered. ‘I wanted you to know I’m sorry.’

  Ryan stared at her, frowning. ‘For what?’

  ‘For everything that happened. The way I treated you.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m old, Ryan, and I’m not going to change things now. Your father and I, we have an understanding. Things aren’t like they used to be. He leaves me alone.’

  Ryan had no idea why she was telling him this.

  ‘Your son is beautiful,’ she continued, her voice still thin. ‘And one of the consequences of the choices I made is that I’ll never be a grandmother to him.’ The faintest of smiles crossed her lips. ‘But at least I can bring his father back home to him. That’s one thing I can do.’

  Ryan stared at her for a moment. She really did look old. What had happened to that beautiful woman he’d tried – and failed – to protect?

  She’d scorned his help. And she’d ended up this way.

  Christ, he needed to speak to Juliet. She was the only thing that could make him feel better right then. He lifted his phone again, glancing at the screen. ‘Do you mind if I make a quick call?’

  ‘Go ahead. And after that we’ll get some breakfast and I’ll take you home. I imagine you’re desperate for some sleep.’

  ‘A shower would be good at least.’ Ryan nodded.

  He left his mom by the entrance, heading for the brick wall, past a metal bin and discarded cigarette butts. Unlocking his phone, he pulled up her number, and hit the call button.

  But the last person he expected answered the line.

  ‘Sutherland? What do you want?’

  ‘Marshall? Where’s Juliet?’

  ‘She’s here, of course.’ There was some mumbling, then the sound of Thomas’s breathing disappeared.

  ‘Ryan? Are you okay? Are you still at the police station?’ Juliet was breathless.

  ‘You’re with him?’ Ryan asked, his voice low.

  ‘Ryan, I … ’

  ‘Daddy says it’s breakfast time.’ Poppy’s voice cut through the line. ‘We’ve got waffles and real orange juice.’

 
; ‘Are you at home?’

  ‘No, I’m at Thomas’s house.’

  It felt as though somebody was pulling his guts out of his stomach, inch by inch. ‘Did you spend the night with him?’ He didn’t want to know. Except he did. His head was in a mess. All he could see was red mist, pulling down inside his mind and making him crazy.

  ‘I did. But it’s not what you think. Have the police let you go yet?’

  He didn’t want to answer her questions. Not when his own were pounding at his skull. ‘I’m on bail,’ he said, his voice a monotone. ‘Can I come and see you?’

  There was a brief pause. Long enough for him to look up and see a red cardinal flying down from one of the leafless trees. ‘It’s really not a good time.’

  That was all he needed to hear. He should have known it all along. The clues were there from the start after all. It didn’t matter how good they were together. It didn’t matter how he felt about her. Thomas had asked her to come home, and she’d gone running. She’d chosen him.

  While he spent the night in a jail cell, imprisoned for trying to save the girl he’d fallen for, she’d spent the night in the arms of the man who’d treated her like crap. He wanted to punch something all over again. Wanted to make somebody else hurt the way he did.

  What a goddamned fool he’d been.

  26

  O, teach me how I should forget to think

  – Romeo and Juliet

  ‘What did Sutherland want?’ Thomas placed his coffee cup carefully on the table, his eyes never leaving her face. ‘Have they let him out?’

  Juliet stared at the waffles in front of her. Poppy had poured half a bottle of maple syrup over them. The congealing mess was making her stomach turn. She took a deep breath, choosing to ignore his question. ‘Poppy and I need to get home. I have to go to the shop, and she’s missing school.’

  ‘Not until I know you’re safe.’

  He sounded so reasonable, so rational, And yet the thought of having to stay here in his house made her feel like a prisoner.

  ‘Of course we’re safe. Ryan isn’t violent, you just riled him up.’ She glanced at Poppy, not wanting to say any more. The poor kid had heard enough already.