Always You (Adair Family 3)

Lachlan studied me. “You actually look different. It’s going well, then?”

“Aye. I mean, it’s difficult and …” Harrowing, heartbreaking, and I’d been in tears more in the past four weeks than in my entire fucking life, but it was also … “A relief. I feel better. It’s hard to describe.”

“That’s great, Mac. I’m happy for you.”

Appreciative, I nodded my thanks.

“Can I get you anything to eat, Dad? We have some leftover pasta from tonight.”

“You know, that would be great, actually. I haven’t had dinner.”

“You got it.” Robyn walked into the kitchen and as she passed Lachlan while he made the coffee, she pressed a tender kiss to his biceps before moving to the hob. He flicked her an equally tender look over his shoulder. I envied them.

We settled around the dining table so I could eat, and I explained why I’d come to see them. I told them about the real reason my gran had sent me to Boston as a young teenager, about the murder of Craig Kilmany. Though it was difficult, it was nowhere near as difficult as it might have been before my sessions with Iona. I also explained what Billy had told me, and that today, I’d gotten word from my police friend, Lisa, that Lee Kilmany, brother of Craig, had just been arrested and released on bail for running a chop shop.

The kicker was they’d found the car that ran over Bryan McNab in that chop shop.

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?” Robyn asked, looking upset.

“It’s not something I ever liked to dwell on.”

Lachlan said nothing because he was the one person who already knew about Craig. He’d never condemned me for it, which should’ve made me realize, as Iona had, that Craig’s death wasn’t my fault. I’d made mistakes running around with those boys, but Billy and I had tried to do the right thing. I could see that now, and I understood more than ever why Billy had suggested I talk to a therapist.

I had a thank-you email to send to Australia.

“So have you talked to Iona about all this? I think you should,” Robyn said.

“I have. It helped a lot.”

“Good.”

“Aye, very good.” Lachlan nodded a little impatiently. “But what isn’t good is this threat against you, Mac.”

“What if it isn’t just against me?” I shared the information they’d found on Lee’s computer. He’d investigated me and the Adairs and had saved links to newspaper articles about Lucy’s trial.

“You think he’s behind the notes?” Robyn asked.

“It’s a bit off-piste,” I admitted, “but he’s looking like the obvious suspect.”

“Shit.” Lachlan sighed. “I was hoping with things being so quiet, maybe we’d overreacted.”

“If it is Lee, Lisa assures me the charges brought against him will mean he’s back in prison for a long time because it’s his third offense.” I then explained what Jock had said about his night shift issues, and Lachlan agreed to offer my security team a bonus for adding Arro’s guard duty to their rotation. “Good,” I said. “I’ll make up the schedule and email it over to the team. However, could you discuss it with them? I would, but I have to take over guarding Arro early tomorrow morning so Jock can get home.”

“Of course,” Lachlan agreed.

Pushing my empty dinner plate away, I mentally drew myself up. “There’s something else.” I looked at Robyn. “Would you mind, wee birdie, if I spoke to Lachlan alone?”

Curiosity sparked in my daughter’s eyes, but she stood without argument. “Of course not. I’ve got some things to finish up in my darkroom, anyway.”

“Now?” Lachlan frowned.

“Yeah.”

“I hate you out there at this time.” He referred to the small building they’d built on the side of their land to accommodate an office and darkroom for Robyn’s photography business. She’d accumulated a fair number of social media followers for her landscape photography and was kept busy with a steady stream of orders and commissions.

“Lachlan, the sun hasn’t even set yet.” She kissed the top of his head and smiled at me. “Come say goodbye before you leave.”

“Will do.”