Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past)

by Danielle Rose-West

  Cunningham opened his mouth, but Callie held up her hand and continued before he could comment. “As for the money; you are paying me that amount because I am the best. I will not have an amateur messing up my work. If I were to ever hire an assistant, who I worked with would be my choice and nobody else’s. So, do you still want me working on this project or not?”

  Cunningham regarded her for several moments in stunned silence. Then he flung his head back and laughed. His admiring gaze ran over Callie and he smiled at her.

  “Not many people ever have the courage to challenge me. Yes, Callie, I want you on this project. I always thought you were the one for the job, and this just confirms it.” He turned to a fuming Lucinda. “Sorry, but it would seem my interior designer doesn’t want an assistant.” He patted her hand. “But don’t worry, I’m sure I can find something for a woman as talented as you.”

  Jason didn’t miss the way the man’s eyes dropped down Lucinda’s cleavage. He slapped his napkin onto his plate. “It’s getting rather late. I think we ought to be going, Lucinda. We both have work in the morning.”

  She glared at him. “You go, if you want. I haven’t finished eating.”

  “I thought you were staying at mine tonight?” Jason gritted out.

  “No. I’ve changed my mind.” The expression on her face told him exactly why. She was determined to punish him for not agreeing to live together.

  Jason had had as much as he could stand for one evening. “Have it your way.”

  He climbed to his feet and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. He threw several bills onto the table in front of Lucinda. “Here, this should cover dinner.”

  Without waiting, he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and left the pub. The cold air outside hit him like a solid wall. The icy chill cooled the heat burning under his skin. Jason drew in several deep breaths. He glanced in at the pub’s bay window. He scanned the scene until his gaze landed on the table he’d recently vacated. Lucinda leaned towards Cunningham, her back to the window. She spoke close to the man’s ear, and Cunningham laughed.

  Jason gritted his teeth. He wasn’t sure leaving had been the best course of action, upon reflection. He ran a hand down his face. The evening hadn’t turned out the way he’d planned at all. He and Lucinda were on even thinner ice than they had been before the evening began.

  Jason glanced in at the window again. Callie Price glared at the two opposite her, her expression full of disapproval. At least Lucinda couldn’t get into too much trouble with the other woman present. If he went back in now to try and extract her, she’d only cause merry hell.

  Jason yawned. The day was fast catching up with him. The best thing he could do was go home and get some sleep. He’d work out his problems with his girlfriend in the morning.

  Jason sighed and slung his coat on. He trudged slowly towards his flat.

  Chapter Seven

  Callie stuck the last of her dirty clothing into the washing machine. She hadn’t been able to salvage her silk blouse and had mournfully tossed the ruined rag into the bin. She sighed and pulled open the compartment for the soap. She stuffed a liquitab into the space and slammed it shut. Pressing the appropriate buttons, she started the wash.

  With a groan, Callie rose to her feet and rubbed her lower back. That damn mattress had nearly crippled her. She’d never slept on anything as uncomfortable as the bed in her room. Although she used the term slept loosely. Callie wasn’t sure she’d managed more than a couple of hours sleep at best. She’d begun to wonder at four in the morning, if she wouldn’t have been better off sleeping on the floor. At least there wouldn’t have been any springs digging into her!

  Callie gathered up the bags she’d used to carry her clothing down to the wash room. She could kick herself for allowing the previous evening to pass, without mentioning to Mr Cunningham that she wanted to change her accommodation. The whole day couldn’t have turned out worse if it tried.

  With a grimace, she dumped the bags into the bin by the door and left the small wash room. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. With any luck, her wash would be done by the time she was finished eating.

  She ambled down the hall to the breakfast room. Several elderly guests were already seated at various tables dotted around the large sunny space. Callie actually liked the area a lot. It had so much potential. Her designer’s eye had already stripped the heavily patterned wallpaper from the room and replaced it with light, neutral colours.

  Once the heavy curtains disappeared from the large windows, the gorgeous view of the rambling fields would draw every guest’s eyes. She could vividly visualise laminate flooring gracing the ground instead of the dirty carpet. It would lift everything into a new dimension and could be kept clean far easier.

  She mentally replaced the old fashioned tables and chairs, the sideboard that held various cold breakfast choices, and removed entirely the many paintings and memorabilia that dotted the room. She absently reached for her sketch pad before she remembered that she’d left it in her room. Callie rolled her eyes in annoyance.

  The side door opened with a bang. A large, round woman bustled into the room, carrying two plates of greasy egg and bacon. She spotted Callie and called over. “Did you find the wash room okay?”

  “Yes, thanks Beth.”

  Callie smiled at the woman. She’d met her in the hallway earlier while she’d been exploring before breakfast. Beth had a rather brisk and boisterous manner. She was somewhat larger than life and that wasn’t just her waistline. Beth reminded Callie of a drill Sergeant in a boot camp. She could easily see the woman bossing everyone around and not taking nonsense from anyone.

  Beth slapped the plates in her hands onto a nearby table in front of an elderly couple and came over to Callie. She wiped her hands on her pinstripe apron.

  “Take a seat anywhere you like. Did you want a fry up?” Her loud voice vibrated around the room. Callie’s eyes drifted to the breakfast the elderly couple were starting to eat. Her stomach churned at the sight of the greasy food. There was no way she could put something like that in her stomach. She’d heave.

  “No, thanks.” Callie resisted the urge to shudder. “Just some coffee and toast would be fine.”

  “You sure? It’s no trouble to do a full English if you want one.” Beth planted her hands on her generous hips and peered at Callie with a stern expression on her face.

  “I’m sure.”

  “Huh! No wonder you’re so skinny, if that’s all you eat of a morning. Not enough flesh on you to keep a bird alive!” Beth’s gaze wandered over Callie’s trim form. “Well, go seat yourself. I’ll bring it out.” She charged out of the door.

  Callie sat herself at a small table that was snuggled into the corner of the breakfast room. She unfolded the napkin on her place setting and draped it over her knees. Her gaze flicked around the room and she settled back into her seat. She let her mind wander as she absorbed her surroundings. Callie enjoyed time by herself. She’d never understood people that needed constant companionship. The solitude often gave her the chance to be creative and she thrived on it.

  Beth soon arrived back at her side with a pot of coffee and a rack of toast. She slapped both items onto the table with all the finesse of a bull.

  “If you want any condiments, they’re out on the side.” Beth pointed to the battered old sideboard. “I meant to check earlier; did you get the message that was left for you last night?”

  “No.” Callie frowned, puzzled. Who would leave her a message? She’d texted Jade the previous evening to let her know she’d arrived safely. There was nobody she could think of that would contact her here.

  “A gentleman came here while you were out to dinner last night. I wrote down the message myself and left it at reception for you. He said to let you know he’d call round this morning.” Beth sniffed, disapproval written all over her face.

  “Did he give a name?” Callie couldn’t imagine who the man could be.
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  “No. He just said it was important that he see you early today.”

  “Thanks,” Callie replied faintly.

  Beth gave a small nod and wandered off. Callie poured herself some coffee and buttered a piece of toast. She bit into her breakfast as her mind churned over the news. Her heart lurched and she almost choked on her food. Could it be her father? Had her mother contacted him and he wanted to meet her too? After all, she had let her mother know where she’d be staying, just in case Sandra had needed to get in touch with her.

  Her heart raced and her body shook. Surely it had to be. Who else would race over to see her? Callie’s head spun and her mouth went dry. She sipped her coffee. Her hands shook as she placed the cup back onto the saucer. Questions ran though her head so fast, she could barely keep up with them. Stop it, Callie. You don’t know that the man is your father. Don’t get ahead of yourself.

  She drew in a steadying breath and closed her eyes. So much had happened the previous day that she hadn’t had time to contemplate the biggest reason that she’d come here. Somewhere close by, her mother would be having breakfast too. Did she think of Callie? Did she wonder what her daughter would be like? Had she contacted Callie’s father for a full family reunion? Would Callie have half siblings to meet too?

  She licked her lips and placed a shaking hand to her cheek. Could she cope if it turned out to be a large group of people waiting to meet her? Why hadn’t it occurred to her before now? Her stomach churned and the small amount of food she’d eaten, threatened to make a reappearance.

  A throat cleared and she jumped. Callie’s eyes popped open. She turned to see a large man standing by her side. He had his thumbs hooked into his jeans as he stared at her. Something about the man seemed familiar.

  “Are you Callie Price?” He sounded nervous. Callie sprang to her feet.

  “I am.” She held out a shaking hand. Her gaze roved over him from head to foot. “Are we related?” Did her voice have to squeak like a frightened mouse?

  “No. I’m Doug, your mother’s partner.” He shook her hand briefly. “Can I sit with you?”

  “Sure.” Callie sat back down. Disappointment dragged at her insides. He wasn’t her father. She hadn’t realised how much she’d wanted him to be until that moment.

  Doug sat down and leaned back in his seat. He stared at her intently for a moment. “You don’t have your mother’s colouring,” he observed, “but I can see her in your face.”

  “I wouldn’t know.” Callie blinked away the tears that pricked her eyes.

  He leaned forward and linked his fingers together. “I guess you must be wondering why I’m here.”

  Callie simply nodded, too afraid to speak in case she cried.

  “I have a rather difficult confession to make, Miss Price. I won’t blame you for being angry when you hear it.” He gazed at her, his brows drawn together in a deep frown.

  Callie tensed up. “What is it? Has something happened to Sandra?”

  “No, nothing like that.” He waved his hands as if to brush the notion aside. “I don’t really know how to say this, so I guess I should just come right out with it. The truth is…………I wrote to you, not Sandra.”

  Callie stared at him. She couldn’t have heard him right. “What do you mean you wrote to me?”

  “I found your letter. The one you sent to Sandra when you were eighteen. I thought she had kept it because she wanted to meet you one day.” He shook his head, his face clouded over with sorrow. “I know what it’s like to lose a child. I thought I was doing the right thing by contacting you and asking you to come here and meet her. I couldn’t imagine never having contact with your own flesh and blood. Unfortunately, Sandra doesn’t see it that way.”

  Callie’s heart turned to stone in her chest. “Are you saying she doesn’t want to meet me? That I’ve come all this way for nothing?”

  “I’m sorry. She made it clear that she wanted me to explain the situation to you and ask you to go home.” Doug shifted in his seat and stared at the floor.

  Callie gripped the arms of her chair. Her head spun and she gasped in much needed oxygen. She hadn’t even realised that she’d been holding her breath. Everything went numb. She couldn’t feel a thing.

  “Miss Price…………….Callie, are you okay?” A warm hand touched hers. She jerked away.

  Burning hot anger sliced through her; the force of the emotion shook her to the core. How dare her mother do this to her! “I am far from okay.” She didn’t even recognise the hard, brittle voice that erupted from her throat.

  “I’m truly sorry.” She could hear the genuine distress in his voice. “I should never have interfered.”

  Callie turned her hard gaze to his. “It’s not your fault that you expected Sandra to behave like a human being.” Her breath hitched in her chest, but she wouldn’t succumb to the emotions roiling through her. Not in front of him.

  Doug rocked back in his seat, his expression full of discomfort. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. Is there any way I can compensate you for the wasted expense. After all, I am responsible for you travelling here, so the least I can do is pay any out of pocket expenses you’ve incurred.”

  Callie shook her head. She wanted nothing from him or anyone connected to Sandra. “No. As it happens I didn’t just come here to meet Sandra. I thought we would need some time to connect and get to know each other.” A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “I obtained a client so I could work and spend time with Sandra. Just because she doesn’t want to know about me after all, doesn’t mean I’m abandoning my obligations.”

  “You’re staying?” Doug sounded like someone was strangling him. “How long for?”

  Callie glared at him. “I am not like my mother. I don’t run out on my responsibilities.” She waved a hand at the surrounding area. “I’ve been hired to redesign this place and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. As for how long…………I don’t know. As long as it takes.”

  “Sandra won’t be happy about your decision.” Doug ran a hand through his hair. “She was very clear that you should go home.”

  Callie stood up and nearly upset her chair. She glared down at Doug. “She really has no right to order me around. I am an adult. This is a free country and if I want to work here, she has no say in it.” She leaned over him. “And you can tell her that from me.”

  She stomped away from Doug before he could say anything further. Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she wiped them away impatiently. Her mother hadn’t been a part of her life for twenty three years. What did it matter now?

  Her heart lay heavy in her chest, giving testimony to the lie she couldn’t quite commit to. The questions that had burned so deeply inside her, were once more left unanswered.

  Callie pounded up the stairs to her room. Should she simply roll over and let Sandra have her way or should she force the issue and make her mother tell her what she needed to know? Callie perched on her bed, and stared at the walls without seeing anything.

  She would not give up and run home with her tail between her legs. Her mother owed her answers, at the very least. One way or another, she was going to get them!

  Chapter Eight

  “You have to help me!”

  Jason groaned at the sound of his father’s voice. He glanced to the side and saw a pair of jean clad legs. One booted foot tapped the ground impatiently. He closed his eyes and wished it was an invisibility cloak he was under instead of a car. The foot ceased tapping and nudged his leg.

  “Hold on………..I’m coming out.” Jason dug his heels into the ground and rolled himself out from under the car. He sat up on the beaten up wooden creeper and rested his elbows on his knees. Doug wrung his hands together and stared at Jason with a panic stricken expression plastered to his face.

  “What the heck is wrong now?” Jason grabbed the cloth that lay on the ground beside him and wiped the grease from his hands.

  Doug’s eyes slid briefly to Mitch. “Not o
ut here. Can we talk in the office?”

  Jason sighed. “Sure.”

  He climbed to his feet and headed towards the office at the back of the garage. He could hear his father’s heavy footsteps following behind. They entered the small room and Jason shut the door behind Doug.

  “What’s this all about? Why the cloak and dagger routine?” Jason slumped into the chair in front of his desk. He indicated for his father to take the seat that rested against the wall by the door. Doug sat down heavily.

  “I went to see Sandra’s daughter this morning.” He turned bleary, bloodshot eyes to Jason.

  “I take it things didn’t go well?” Jason cocked an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair.

  “She won’t leave.” Doug swallowed hard. His gaze dropped to the ground and he slumped forward with his elbows resting on his knees. “I told her Sandra doesn’t want to see her. I thought she’d be angry with me. I expected her to rip me apart for what I’ve done and then head for home.”

  He brought his head up to stare at Jason as if the whole world had come to an end. “Unfortunately, she says she’s taken work down here and won’t just abandon her client. What the hell am I going to do? I’ve been driving round in circles for hours trying to think of a solution, but I haven’t a clue. Sandra is never going to forgive me for this.”

  Doug sprang to his feet and paced the office floor with his hands wedged into his hair. “You have to help me, Jason. I have to find some way to make Callie leave.”

  “Callie?” Jason jerked upright. Surely it couldn’t be! He had to be wrong. “You don’t mean Callie Price, do you?” he questioned his father tentatively.

  Doug frowned. “Of course I mean Callie Price. Who do you think we’re talking about?”

  “I don’t know! You never told me the name of Sandra’s daughter before now. I wasn’t that interested to ask.” Jason ran a hand down his face.

  His heart thudded heavily in his chest. It hadn’t even occurred to him when he’d picked Callie up the previous day that she might be Sandra’s daughter. She didn’t resemble Sandra all that much. What with her talking about her job, the possibility had never even crossed his mind.