by Terri Marie
Angelique took a shaky breath and let it out slowly. “I can only share what Sebastian has told me. I wasn’t there.”
“What happened?” Vincent’s impatience was obvious.
“It all began when your mother first met Sebastian at a party his parents were throwing. Every year they hosted these events and the folks from the row houses were invited. The small homes were in a very destitute area and the rich folk kept their distance from there. That’s where your mother lived with her parents. I’d imagine, being allowed through the big gates, to the largest home in Castle Lake was quite an honor.” Angelique opened her eyes wide for effect.
“Keep talking,” demanded Vincent.
“Natalie ended up getting pregnant that night. Sebastian had no idea she was carrying his child, and barely remembered anything from that evening, because he and your mother were so intoxicated. Anyway, your father was sent off to Harvard that summer, as was I.”
“And that’s the first time you met him?” asked Vincent.
“Yes. At first, we started out as friends. I ended up in a philosophy class with him. We’d talk about the topic after school every day and quickly fell in love. We’d started to become serious, when Natalie’s mother found out about the pregnancy. She blackmailed your father into marrying her daughter.” Angelique stared up at the ceiling.
“Blackmailed? That’s a strong word to use,” said Vincent, his voice full of doubt.
“I didn’t find out until much later that this had happened. Natalie’s mother threatened to tell everyone that Sebastian had raped her daughter. It wasn’t true of course, but he agreed to marry her. Sebastian didn’t love her; he loved me.”
“I don’t believe this…” Sean looked at her in disgust.
“Let her finish, Sean.” Vincent turned back to Angelique. “Continue.”
“Though he married Natalie, we still saw each other. But he never shared with me that he was married with a child on the way. I found out during a shift at the hospital where I was working at the time. Sebastian brought your mother in to deliver you, Tyler. I was horrified when I found out. I dropped out of Harvard and moved away. I’d never felt so deceived and heartbroken in my life.”
“Let me guess, you didn’t see our father again until now?” Tyler knew there was more to this web of lies.
“Well, not exactly. I eventually got a job as a nanny. I was given my assignment, but not the last names of the children I’d be caring for. When I went to the family’s home, it was Sebastian who answered the door. I wanted to run away, but the pull between us was so strong. You see, I was still in love with him, even after all that time. I went inside the house--”
“Wait a minute. You were that nanny?” Tyler looked at her in disbelief. The woman he remembered had long blonde hair and a beautiful kind face. This woman was the complete opposite.
“My appearance has changed, but yes, that was me. I’m so ashamed of this, but I continued on with the relationship.” She looked away from Tyler.
“You had an affair with our father, behind my mother’s back, in her own home?!” yelled Tyler. Now his temper was rising.
“I wasn’t proud of myself. But you must understand that the marriage between your mother and father was a forced one.”
“Oh my God.” Jacob got up from the sofa and walked over to the bookcase so his back was towards everyone in the room. “We were a family! What right did you have to do something like that?!”
“It isn’t easy for me to tell you these things. I know that what I did was God-awful, but you deserve the truth.” Her lip quivered.
“Keep talking!” growled Tyler.
“Your mother had three more sons, and the guilt was eating at Sebastian. He was afraid you were getting old enough to understand that he was cheating. Then, when your mother found out about us, she was devastated.” Angelique dabbed at her eyes again. “She begged him to stop seeing me, so Sebastian sent me to the house in Castle Lake. His parents were dead and the house had been willed to him, so I stayed there for years.”
Tyler took a couple of steps closer to her. “And he came to see you. He stayed at the house on the weekends, didn’t he?” Tyler let out a pathetic laugh. “I remember all of those business trips that he took!”
“Yes. I was so stupid for staying with him. What we were doing was very wrong, and I knew that.” Angelique glanced briefly at Tyler. “With me living so far away, Sebastian didn’t think that Natalie would find out about us again. He paid the bills and I kept up the house.”
“How special you must have felt deceiving our mother! Is that what it was? You felt like the chosen one?” If she was a guy, Tyler would have already swung his fists.
“No, I felt ashamed, but I loved him. We loved each other. Never, for a minute, did we think everything would blow up in our faces. Your mother found out about the affair again and drove up to Castle Lake. When she arrived, I got in the car and sped off. The rest of what happened that day, I can only guess.” She shook her head and straightened the hem of her dress.
“You couldn’t face her…” Sean looked at her in disgust.
“No, I couldn’t. When I got home, I went upstairs. On the nightstand, I had placed a locket that Sebastian had given to me. Inside of it was our picture. Our clothes were there--”
“You two did that to her?!” Tyler yelled as he got in her face, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were filling with water.
“Your mother, I believe, went upstairs and ran right smack into her greatest fears. Seeing everything in that room must have driven her to the breaking point. She walked out onto the balcony and hung herself. I called for an ambulance the minute I found Natalie, and I tried to save her, but she was too heavy for me to pull back up. When the paramedics were able to bring her back inside the house, they found my locket in her pocket. That’s when I found out that Sebastian had given us identical lockets.”
“Where the hell was our father for all of this?” Tyler felt the tears drip off of his chin.
“The ambulance left with your mother, and I ran from the house again. My feet were bleeding by the time I stopped. Your father had arrived in Castle Lake sometime later that same evening. He’s never talked about those details with me. I found a motel room and stayed there for a long time, completely alone. I didn’t want to see Sebastian, or anyone else for that matter. I did buy a paper a few days later. It said that the search had been called off for Sebastian Montclair’s body. From what investigators concluded, he’d jumped to his death from the balcony. Blood was found around the area where he would have fallen.”
“You thought he was dead? He didn’t try to contact you right away, or you, him?” Tyler was filled with disbelief.
“Yes, I thought he’d died and that the waves had carried him away. Even though he was alive, he wouldn’t have known where I was, and according to him, he never went looking for me. I returned to the big house now and then, just to make sure it didn’t completely fall to ruins, but the outside of the property eventually became too much for me. Several years later, the whole story was posted in the paper again, along with the news that Sebastian had been declared dead.”
“You didn’t even try to find out what happened to us? Are you kidding me? You knew they had children!” Tyler went to the window and wiped his face with the back of his hand.
“I had no idea how to contact you boys. Trust me, I looked. Considering all that had happened, I felt like I’d be able to offer nothing but sad memories. I also couldn’t admit to what I had done.” She took a slow breath.
“You’re such a piece of work! I can’t stand you!” Tyler yelled with pure venom in his voice. “Then what happened, Angelique? Did you get lonely and place a freaking ad in the paper that my father replied to?!” He turned his back to her and drove his hands into his pockets, resisting the temptation to strangle her.
“Our meeting each other again was an accident. One day I left my motel room and walked down to the water to get some fresh air and clear my h
ead. While there, I heard a weak voice calling my name. I followed the sound, and it led me to a very thin, disheveled, and sick man standing in the doorway of a run-down cabin. At first I didn’t recognize him, but when I studied his eyes, I knew it was your father. He didn’t look anything like the Sebastian I remembered, and he still doesn’t to this day.
Jacob crumbled up the family photo he’d retrieved and threw it on the ground. “I’m so happy for the two of you!!!” he spat.
“So you helped him hide for all these years, while we went through hell!” Tyler spun around and slammed his hand down on the desk. “My father could have found us!”
“No. Sebastian was a very weak man. He was holding onto the door frame of that little cabin he’d been hiding in, with both hands. Please, that’s all I know.”
“You were at the Montclair house before we arrived. What you’re saying about living in the motel is all lies.” Vincent’s voice cracked.
“Eventually, taking care of that house and Sebastian was too much. I sold my car so I could have some money to survive on, so every other day I would walk to and from the cabin. He needed someone to help him. Sebastian didn’t have a functioning stove, so I went to the house to cook, but that was it. Once a week I cleaned the Montclair house. The only room I never touched was the master bedroom. I couldn’t go in there and face what I’d done to your mother.”
“Oh, so you do have a conscience? Bullshit!” yelled Sean.
“There was freshly baked bread on the counter and food in the fridge the day we arrived,” recalled Jacob. “You should really try to keep your lies straight.”
“I kept some groceries in the large house so I could prepare meals to take back to the cabin for us. The day you arrived, I’d been doing some baking. While the bread cooled, I walked back to the cabin, and that’s when I discovered Sebastian on the floor. He’d taken quite a fall, and I couldn’t leave him alone.” Angelique closed her eyes.
“Where is he?” growled Tyler.
“I’ll take you to him. He doesn’t know you’re coming.” Her cheeks reddened, while she stood up from the chair. “I think it’d be best if you wait to talk to him when you’re not so angry.”
“I’ll drive,” said Tyler as he stormed out of the office, the door slamming into the wall behind him.
“Hold up, Ty!” yelled Vincent, as he came running up to him. “The trial, remember? None of us can leave town, including Angelique. We’re going to have to wait for our answers. I want them as much as you do, Bro, but we’re going to have to go about it the right way.”
Tyler looked at his brother’s wet face, and let his body slide down the wall. Sorrow overtook him and he sobbed like he hadn’t done since he was a child. Tyler felt Vincent’s strong arms around him. Nearly two decades of grief washed over the brothers.
Chapter 3
When Vincent saw Carrie coming down the hall towards them, he let go of Tyler and wiped his eyes. He watched her slow her pace when she looked at him and his brother. He opened his office door, and she followed him inside.
“What happened?” she asked with concern.
“I initially called you to see if you’d be willing to keep an eye on Angelique Barns. She beat us to the punch, though, and came here on her own. We just got done meeting with her.” Vincent tried to smile but he failed.
“Is she still here?” Carrie quickly asked.
“I don’t know. I left the office, with Tyler, before she did. To be honest, I don’t think I can even look at that woman anymore today. We wanted to talk to her, so we could find out where my father, Sebastian Montclair, is hiding. I’d like to punch the guy. Tyler, I’m afraid, will kill him.” Vincent walked to the window.
“It’s best if you all stay away from her—” she began.
“I know this, but trying to get Tyler to listen to reason is a whole different ballgame.” Vincent turned around and looked at Carrie. “Angelique was a witness to the shooting, and I think it was a big mistake for us to talk to her. The moment she showed up in this building, I should have had security turn her away.”
“You’ll find out soon enough if she goes to Knowles. As far as following her, I’m not a private investigator.” Carrie smiled at him, but her eyes were still full of concern. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’m glad I got to see you before you left town.” His smile was about as convincing as hers.
“Do you ever get up to Lyons?” Carrie asked as she turned towards the door.
“No, but maybe we can meet halfway sometime. I still want to go on that coffee date with you,” he let out a small laugh.
“I’ll see you, Vincent. Take care of yourself.” She stopped and gave him a casual hug. “Halfway it is.”
Vincent watched her walk down the hall. Tyler wasn’t sitting on the floor anymore, so he worried that his brother had left the building. He quickly walked to Tyler’s office. As he opened the door, relief flooded through him. Everyone was still in the room, except for Angelique. Vincent was glad to see the woman had left. Tyler was sitting on the sofa with Renee and Brian at his sides. Sean and Jacob were engaged in a quiet conversation, while Emma poured the group some coffee.
Everyone but Tyler looked up at Vincent when he walked in. “Guys, we have to be at court in the morning for closing arguments, so I don’t think it’s a great idea for us to be drinking coffee at this hour. Go home and relax. With everything that’s happened today, we could all use a good night’s sleep.”
“You’re right, Vinnie,” agreed Sean.
“Let’s go, Honey.” Jacob took hold of Emma’s hand and left the office.
Tyler remained seated, still in deep thought. The look of anger and devastation on his face was frightening Vincent. It wasn’t easy to look at the man, who’d managed to stay calm and collected most of the time, so visibly shaken.
“Renee, could you help me with something real quick?” asked Vincent, without taking his eyes off of Tyler.
Once they were out in the hall, Vincent turned her to face him. He kept his voice at a whisper. “Don’t let him out of your sight, Renee. If he walks out of the house, even if it’s just to get the paper, you call me, regardless of the time.”
“I’m on it, Vin. Don’t worry about Tyler.” Renee reassured him.
But Vincent was worried. Very worried.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Vincent tossed his keys down on the kitchen counter and poured himself a stiff drink. The scotch warmed his throat, while he carried the bottle and the glass over to the recliner. He wasn’t looking forward to watching the news, but unfortunately, the reporters seemed to know more about the trial than he did. He leaned back and turned on the television. There stood Knowles, in all his scrawny glory, with a smug look on his face.
“Tomorrow, during my closing arguments, I’ll point out all of the inconsistencies in the prosecutor’s case. I can’t go into much detail, but I’m confident that a reasonable doubt will be cast in the jury’s mind. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get going.” Vincent just about puked as he watched Knowles acting like he was some kind of celebrity.
The microphones were then shoved in front of Furrow’s face. Vincent hoped his confidence level was sincere.
“We feel very strongly that a verdict of guilty will be rendered against Robert Preston. That’s all for now.” With a solemn face, Furrow walked away with the prosecution team.
Vincent’s stomach felt upset. He hadn’t eaten since his bagel and coffee at six this morning. It was now well past dinnertime, but he didn’t feel like he could tolerate any food in his mouth. Thankfully, the reporters hadn’t caught their group on camera today. It was the first time their images hadn’t been captured. Robert’s face appeared as usual, and it never failed to make him want to put his foot through his screen. He’d be so glad when the bastard was locked away for good.
Vincent stood up to go into the bedroom and take off the suit that felt melted onto his skin, when his phone rang.
He immediately recognized the number and his jaw hit the floor.
“Renee? What’s happened?” Vincent quickly asked.
“Tyler…he’s gone! I went upstairs to shower and he left the house. Brian tried to stop him, but he took off in the car!” Renee cried with a voice full of panic.
“Shit! Stay there in case he comes back.” Vincent hung up the phone. He grabbed his wallet and keys, dialing Sean as he ran.
“Vinnie, what’s up?” Sean cautiously asked.
“Tyler’s bolted. Grab Jacob and meet me at the Village Inn. Hurry! I’m on my way there now.” Vincent hung up the phone, jumped in his car and took off down the road. He continuously called Tyler’s number, and each time, it went to voicemail. “Wherever you’re going, Ty, stop in your tracks and talk to me. You’re not thinking clearly right now, Bro.” Each call went unanswered. Vincent had to think fast. The last thing he needed was to have his eldest brother lose control. He called information and asked for the Village Inn. He was quickly connected, and his mind scrabbled to figure out what to do next.
“Village Inn, may I help you?” asked the female receptionist.
“I have a package to deliver to Ms. Angelique Barns, but I don’t have a room number.” Vincent hoped to God this worked.
“You can just deliver it here to the office, and I’ll make sure she gets it.”
Shit, thought Vincent. “Well it’s Angelique’s birthday, and I’m her nephew. I’d like to surprise her with a visit and a gift.” He tried to sound as excited as he could.
“Oh how thoughtful! She’s in room 129. Would you like for me to call her for you?” The receptionist sounded very willing, and Vincent hoped she wouldn’t make the call out of the goodness of her heart.
“No, thank you. I want it to be a surprise.” Hanging up, he turned the corner and saw the motel…and Tyler’s car.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Tyler walked into the office at the Village Inn. Getting the receptionist to give him the room number was pretty easy. She’d said something about a birthday, and he nodded, smiled, thanked her, and then proceeded to room 129. The light shined through the curtains, not that he cared if Angelique Barns was sleeping or not. He knocked on the door without hesitation, and then stepped aside so she couldn’t see him through the peep hole. To his delight, she opened the door and stuck her head out. Tyler smiled and pushed his way into the room. Angelique’s face filled with terror when he closed and locked the door behind him.