“Who do ye think killed her?”
Cole looked at AJ. He knew AJ could not have done it, but he didn’t want to share his suspicions as to who he thought it was. Or the attack on Shannon. So he lied. “I don’t know, and I’m beginning to think it doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Aye, it does. He went unpunished. He was free tae live his life while ye could not. He killed her. Ye did not. Aye, ah’d say it matters. It matters a whole hell of a lot.”
Chapter Eleven
On Sunday morning, two days after John dropped the bomb, Shannon walked like a zombie through her house. She’d never felt more empty, hollow and alone. Oh, she knew Cameron was there, but suddenly it wasn’t enough. She wanted and needed more in her life. Her heart ached and her head hurt. Truth be told, everything down to the most insignificant and smallest muscle and joint in her body screamed in pain. And she wondered if it were possible to die of a broken heart?
Cameron moped aimlessly around the house, sighing loudly and banging cabinet doors and drawers, looking for God only knew what. Did he miss Cole as much as she did? They had bonded quickly, and she was afraid that’s what was bothering him. That, and the fight she’d had with John, not to mention the fight John had with Cole. And poor Cameron, stuck in the middle of a war zone, being pulled every which way without having a say in the matter.
After forcing down two pieces of buttered toast with strawberry jam, Shannon went upstairs to shower and get ready to drive to the Cape for her father’s birthday celebration. She prayed her sister, Bridget, would not make a big to do about Cole. Shannon didn’t think she could handle it today. One wrong word from someone would cause her to breakdown and cry. She hoped that didn’t happen because she didn’t want to spoil her dad’s big day with her problems.
The day turned out to be a rather chilly one, cloudy, but not raining. Shannon and Cameron had always played a game of trying to guess the number of boats on the Cape Cod Canal when they drove across the Sagamore Bridge. Cameron was getting too old for it, but she was glad when he made his guess.
“One boat.”
Shannon didn’t think it was a good day for boating. “I’d say none.”
As they crossed the bridge, Cameron leaned up in his seat, scanned the dark choppy water on both sides of the bridge and groaned. “All right, you win.” Then he spotted a lone fishing vessel coming out from under the bridge. “Huh, one boat, I win!”
Shannon laughed for the first time in days, and her jaw muscles ached from under use. The pain associated with it was one she didn’t mind feeling though. She needed to laugh and smile and feel good again.
When they pulled into her parent’s quiet neighborhood, Shannon smiled, impressed with the way it looked. Everyone took such pride in their homes and yards, including her parents. They lived in a large, sprawling ranch. The house was full of palladium windows and cathedral ceilings. Everything was on one level, which she supposed was nice for her parents as they got older. They lived in a golf course community with every street named after a professional golfer. Their backyard was the ninth fairway. It was almost as nice as the ocean, but not quite in Shannon’s mind. But considering both her parents were avid golfers, they had chosen well. Not to mention there were dozens of beaches within a short drive.
Shannon and Cameron had just stepped out of their SUV when Rachel and Bridget pulled in behind them. Shannon noticed her brother Mitch’s BMW parked on the street. Mitch drove the BMW during the winter. His vintage corvette was the pride of the summertime for him. Such was the life of being single. And it made her wonder if either of her sisters or her brother would ever settle down and get married. She hoped so because she realized these past few days how lonely life could be. Having someone to love and share your life with was the greatest gift of all time. She herself had not realized what she missed until Cole walked into her life.
Her brother was twenty-nine and a pilot for a large, successful company with offices all over the world. He piloted one of their company jets. He had flown the world over and then some. He’d graduated from the Naval Academy and after becoming a pilot and serving his time, he decided he wanted civilian life again. He bought a townhouse in the Back Bay area of Boston, and he continued with his dream of soaring in the air.
He stood tall and handsome and had beautiful thick wavy brown hair. When he was around his family he was relaxed and fun to be around. He loved throwing the football back and forth with Cameron. But she knew another side to her brother, the Naval Academy side. He may not be in the Navy anymore, but he had the charisma, confidence, self-control and impeccable manners of a Navy man. She knew she thought it often enough, but the woman who finally hooked Mitch Gallagher would be a lucky lady indeed. It was not prejudice on her part because she was his sister. It was the truth because in her experience he was a rare man.
Shannon greeted Bridget and Rachel. They each hugged and kissed Cameron, and bearing the food they brought, they went into the house. As with all Gallagher family gatherings, everyone began talking and laughing at once.
“Happy Birthday Dad,” Shannon said as she kissed her father. She turned to her mother and kissed her. “Dinner smells great. What are we having?”
“Your father’s favorite—roast beef,” her mom replied.
Mitch came over and hugged Shannon. “How’s it going, sis?” he said with a twinkle in his eye as he looked at her. Heard you’ve had some excitement in your life lately—namely a man.”
Shannon hated her brother for causing her face to heat up and to feel the twinges of heartache down in the pit of her stomach. “How are you? Have you forgotten how to use a phone?” It had been weeks since she last heard from Mitch and she felt guilty about it. She talked to Bridget and Rachel nearly every day, but Mitch? It wasn’t his fault he was a guy. They remained close, just not as close as the three Gallagher gals.
Mitch laughed. “Come on, I have someone I want you to meet.”
He led Shannon over to a young woman, and young being the operative word. The girl looked like a Barbie Doll. Done up perfectly without a lock of bleached blonde hair out of place. Her makeup was flawless and she dressed impeccably.
“Brittany?” Mitch queried for her attention.
Shannon had to fight from rolling her eyes. Brittany, it figures.
“This is my sister Shannon. Shannon I’d like you to meet Brittany Evans.”
Brittany stood up and started talking nonstop about how much she loved her books, especially her latest one about the jewel thief. Shannon tuned her out. God, what did her brother see in this bimbo? Could it be her perfect body, with her large perky breasts, small waist and long shapely legs? Her perfect face with its perfect small features. Please, no one was that perfect without a little help. When she focused back to the bimbo, she saw her brother roll his eyes and mouth to her, “I’m sorry.” Thankfully she was finally saved when her mother announced dinner was ready.
Dinner conversation around the Gallagher table began in the usual way. What had everyone been up to? How was work going? Everything appeared to be going along just fine until Cameron dropped the bomb.
“Hey, Uncle Mitch, did you know Mom is going out with Cole Jackson from BlackJack? Or rather was until my father interfered. They had this huge fight. Dad gave Cole a black eye and a fat lip. Cole gave Dad a fat lip and I think he broke his nose, only Dad won’t admit it’s broken. I don’t think my father likes him very much, and he threatened Mom about seeing him again. I sure hope she doesn’t listen to him. I think Cole’s great.” All this was relayed on one gulp of air, leaving Cameron gasping.
Mitch’s fork stopped midway to his mouth, and he glanced at Shannon and then back to Cameron. “Yes, I heard about the dating. I personally think it’s great about them going out. Your mother never dates and she should. But I didn’t know about the fight. It’s none of John’s business what your mother does. I for one think Cole is incredibly talented.” He looked at Cameron and winked. “Like you.”
Cameron beamed.
“When he stayed with us he jammed with me and we wrote a few songs together. He’s the greatest.”
Shannon struggled to fight the unbearable pain in her chest and the tears stinging her eyes. When Bridget went to open her mouth, Shannon silently pleaded with her not to and she snapped it shut. Her dad though, had quite a few questions of his own. After he drilled her about her relationship with Cole, he said he sure hoped she knew what she was doing.
Brittany squirmed in her seat and didn’t look like she could contain her excitement any longer. “You date Cole Jackson? I can’t believe it. I was really young when BlackJack first hit the music scene, but I love them now. Cole is like, wow, gorgeous. Actually, they’re all quite handsome. Are they all single?” she asked, her eyes wide with interest.
Shannon’s jaw dropped as she looked at her brother whose mouth stretched tight causing her to smile to herself. Served him right for dating someone practically still in high school. Maybe he should try finding someone his own age for a change. Or at least date someone a little less shallow. Maybe she gave great head? Yeah, that must be it, because he obviously wasn’t thinking with the right brain.
“All the other members are married,” Shannon finally replied with a smirk.
“Happily?” Brittany queried breathlessly.
Oh God, this was too much.
“Yes, I suppose so.” Shannon didn’t give her another chance to speak. “Mom, dinner was delicious, as usual. I’ll help you clean up.” She rose from the table and went into the kitchen, keeping Brittany from asking any more asinine questions.
Dad, Mitch, Brittany and Cameron went for a walk around the neighborhood while Mom, Shannon, Bridget and Rachel cleaned up the kitchen.
“Tell me about this man, Cole is it?” Alberta Gallagher asked her daughter.
Shannon stopped loading the dishwasher and leaned her back against the counter, her arms hugging herself. Her mother would be blind not to see the sadness and longing radiating from her eyes.
“He’s wonderful, sensitive, caring, shy and oh, yeah gorgeous. Cole and Cameron get along so well, and they are so much alike it’s amazing.”
“I can see you love him,” her mother said with a concerned expression on her face. “I’ll try not to pass judgment because of his past.” Her mother glanced at Bridget and then back to her. “He sounds wonderful. And as old as I am, I have heard his music. Some of it I even like, and Rachel did tell me he is quite sexy.”
Shannon looked over at Rachel and laughed, contradicting the tears streaming down her face. “Oh, that he is.” Then she hugged her mother. “Thank you. Now what creation did you whip up for Dad’s birthday cake?” she asked as she dried her tears with a napkin.
“Wait until you see it. I had to make your father’s favorite Boston cream pie, but I also made a cheesecake. It’s a new recipe I got, and it looks absolutely sinful. Bridget honey, would you please put the coffee on and Rachel, put the kettle on for tea while Shannon and I set out the desserts.”
When the walkers returned, they sang happy birthday and opened presents. Shannon thought the birdbath Mitch picked out for their father was beautiful and their mom gave him a new watch. He needed a new watch practically every year with all the gardening and golfing he did. He either took it off while gardening and lost it or smashed in the face playing golf. Nobody could understand how he did either, but he did.
***
Shannon, glad to have seen her family, but glad it was over, breathed a sigh of relief as she drove home alone. Her brother had offered to drop Cameron off at John’s house, saving her the trip. Cameron was spending the week with him while she worked on the book she was supposed to be writing and under an approaching deadline. But try as she might, the words just wouldn’t come out of her head. She had never experienced writers’ block before, and she wasn’t at all sure she liked the experience one bit. She felt as though she’d lost the touch, and her head was totally void of her usual wild imaginings.
The internal dialog she usually had with her characters had disappeared completely. Her head was empty, and it was frightening to say the least. And she was petrified the stories would never come back. What would she do if they didn’t return? More to the point, who would she be? Hoping to soothe the ache, she put the newest BlackJack CD in the car stereo and hoped to use Cole’s magical voice to calm her. It had the opposite effect. Deep volcanic sobs vibrated up and out causing tears to blur her vision, forcing her to pull over at a rest stop in Plymouth.
Once home, she took a long soak in her Jacuzzi tub with the lights off and several aromatherapy candles lit for calm and relaxation. Closing her eyes, she dosed for several minutes until startled awake at what sounded like banging on her door. She reluctantly dried off, pulled on flannel lounge pants and a T-shirt and went to answer the door.
Mitch stood on her front porch, which shocked her. It had probably been months since he’d graced her door. When she studied his face and his eyes, her heart paused at the concern she saw, so she tried to make light of things.
“Well, what brings you here? Barbie…oh…I mean Brittany have an early curfew?”
Mitch swept past her, the concern on his face gone instantly as he gave her the evil eye and ran up to her kitchen to put the tea kettle on. “Very funny,” he mumbled as he found her mugs and tea bags. “I love this cook top. Boils water faster than I can get things ready.” He fixed everything and carried two mugs to the coffee table by the couch. He flipped the switch for the gas fireplace. “It’s freezing in here.” He sat down on the couch shivering, and he gestured for her to join him.
“So I spoke with John when I dropped off Cameron. Want to talk about it?”
Shannon picked up her mug and leaned back against the cushions, enjoying the warmth on her hands from the heated cup. “I don’t know what to say?”
“Why don’t you start from the beginning? I find it’s always a good place to start.”
She told him everything up until the morning John came storming into her house and made a mess of her life. He’d already heard about that encounter from Cameron.
“If it’s any comfort, John’s suffering too. He feels bad for how he behaved. And you can feel hell freezing over when Cameron and he are in the same room. I think Cameron’s quite upset with him. Actually, I can think of several more colorful words to describe what Cameron is feeling, but I’ll be good.”
“As well he should be upset. You should’ve seen John. He was a mad-man. He had no right to come barging in my house and order everyone around. He sits in his house with Cheryl and their children, living the grand life, all cozy and happy, while I have lived alone for eleven years. How dare he interfere with my happiness now?” She couldn’t fight the tears. One would have thought there would be none left to shed, but she guessed not. Mitch reached out and put his arms around her, pulling her close.
“Don’t cry. I hate it when you cry,” he laughed a little, “when all women cry. If it’s any consolation, I gave John a piece of my mind for you. I’ll be dammed if he thinks he can control your life. But you know John, the control freak. I truly think he’s concerned for your safety and means well with his warped, unreasonable standards.”
Shannon pulled away from his arms and glared at him coldly.
He held up his hand. “Woo, let me finish. I know you’re a good judge of character, of course, we will have to excuse you for marrying John. Which I might add was a bad choice.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I’ll admit he’s a good friend but certainly not worthy of my favorite sister’s love.”
She smiled. “Are you trying to make me feel better?”
He winked at her. “Is it working?”
“A little, thanks.”
“Now here’s what I think we should do.”
“What do you mean we?”
“Okay, here’s what I think you should do,” he amended.
“Better.”
“Let John think you’ve stopped seeing Cole, but you
could go to him. If you truly love him, don’t let him get away.”
“I’ve a better plan. I’ve been doing research into Lindsey Jackson’s murder. Cole has as well, in hopes of finally clearing his name. I’m going to hire detectives right along with Cole.”
“Good. How can I help?” Mitch asked.
“You can’t. I need to do this alone. It’ll give me something to do while Cole’s on tour for the next five months.” She hugged her brother close and suddenly realized how much she missed him. He led such an exciting and busy life. Sometimes they would go months without seeing each other. “So tell me what’s been going on with you.” She tried not to feel guilty for not telling her brother about the attempt on her life in Chicago. Not only did she not want to worry her family, she didn’t want them to suspect Cole. She knew it wouldn’t matter what she said, they would have their suspicions. She also didn’t want to remember that night. It wasn’t real if she didn’t let herself think about it. Not a smart thing to do, but she did it anyway.
He gave her the once over. “Nice PJ’s, are they supposed to turn Cole on?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Cute. And I suppose all your women wear little black lace teddies.”
“Mostly.” He grinned and his eyes sparkled. “Some wear see-thru red.”
“Well then, Cole’s luckier than you are because I usually wear nothing when he’s here.” She laughed again and was glad to see that shut him up. “Okay, you’re not leaving until you tell me something about your personal life. You can’t make me believe that with your career and your good looks, there isn’t someone, anyone, besides Brittany, that’s in love with you or you’re in love with.”
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