The Burlington Manor Affair

Rex cocked his head. “Why?”

“She’d finally given up on him. Mum. When Dad didn’t return to her, after the death of his second wife, she realized it was over. Then I couldn’t help talking about him. She got angry and she remembered.” Resting his elbows on his knees he put his forehead to his fisted hands.

The strange action disturbed Rex. But if his tale was true, it made sense that he would feel bad. However, the whole thing could be a clever ruse, a plea to sanction his cause in court. “You’re the only one who has been bailed, so you’re the only one who can come to me and attempt to redeem your image before the court case.”

Jason hung his head. “That’s not what I’m trying to do.”

The penitent look was too much for Rex to stomach. He rose to his feet. “Enough. I think you should leave.”

Jason’s head shot up. There was a desperate look in his eyes.

“Nothing changes the fact that you put Carmen’s life in danger. I’ll see you in court.”

Jason rose to his feet, shaking his head as he did so. “You don’t understand.”

“Leave.”

“But I came here to confess.”

Rex frowned.

“It was me. I think I killed him...I killed our dad.”

Rex’s blood rushed in his ears.

Jason swayed, snatched at the desk edge.

Rex circuited the desk and forced the younger man to face him. “What the hell do you mean?”

“I spoke to him, and I think he recognized me. He was so shocked that he backed away from me.” Jason gulped. He shook his head, as if he had to remember it. “They found him dead in his bed the next morning. Heart attack. It was my fault. I should never have reached out to him.”

Stunned, Rex stared at the man, trying to take in what he was saying.

His mind worked furiously. Even if it were true, it wasn’t his fault that his father had reacted badly. Ironically the new information lessened the loathing Rex felt for his half brother. The young man was heavy with guilt, and this confession would do him no good. What it did reveal was that the rest of his tale was sound. If he believed he was guilty of attempted murder, why would he add it to his list of potential charges in court? This was a genuine burden for him.

Jason was shaking.

Rex eased him toward the chair he’d been sitting on. When he slumped down, Rex leaned up against the desk with his arms folded across his chest. He gave the lad a while, and when he seemed suitably recovered Rex asked a question. “Does your mother know how you feel? That you feel responsible?”

Jason looked confused by the question, then shook his head. “You’re the first person I’ve told. I wasn’t going to tell anyone, but it’s been eating away at me.” He gave Rex a furtive glance, as if to gauge his mood.

Rex assessed him silently for some time. “You want my opinion?”

Jason shrugged. “I guess so.”

“The old man’s time was up. I was told there wasn’t a postmortem because he’d been advised he needed a heart bypass operation. He’d ignored the advice. Whether or not he recognized you is irrelevant. If I were in your position, I’d be more worried about the court case and being locked up like your brother and your mother. You assisted an attempted murder.”

“I didn’t know what they intended, not until that day, and by the time I did it was too late.”

The cracks were showing. “Was it?”

Jason did everything to avoid eye contact for several moments but, with effort, forced himself to look up.

“It’s never too late to step in. You could have called the police.”

“I tried to talk them out of it.” Jason buckled, and buried his face in his hands. He gulped air convulsively as he sobbed.

It was pitiful to watch, and whatever happened in court, Rex knew that this young man would forever carry the burdens of what he might have done, and what he didn’t do. He glanced at his watch. Jason wasn’t in any shape to be put out on the street.