Spark (Steel Brothers Saga 19)

Dad rubs his chin some more. “We did. But Dennis had a stroke and subsequent heart attack due to undiagnosed hypertension. That’s different.”

“How is it different?”

“Because Sean Murphy was drugged and poisoned.”

My jaw nearly drops on my lap. “By whom?”

“We don’t know. The police never found a suspect.”

“That’s crazy.”

“It happens. Crimes go unsolved all the time.”

I shake my head. “Doesn’t that bother you? Didn’t you look into it?”

“Would that change anything?”

“Well…no, but—”

“Don,” Dad says in his I’m your father and don’t contradict me voice, “the young man died. Nothing will ever bring him back. He’d most likely be dead by now anyway. This all happened over half a century ago. Why are you dredging it up?”

“Because it sucks, Dad. The guy dropped dead at a wedding. Right here in our backyard.”

Dad sighs. “I didn’t find out about it myself until I was well into adulthood. By that time, nothing could be done. Any trail was long cold. The cops did what they could at the time, and I’m sure my father had the best PIs on the job.”

“For God’s sake, Dad.”

“I understand. This is new to you. But it’s not new. It happened a long time ago.”

“Brendan says his dad came here to Snow Creek for answers, but all he found were dead ends.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

“He seems to think…”

“He seems to think what?”

“He seems to think something nefarious went on. He thinks—”

I stop abruptly. I almost said, he thinks people seem to disappear when the Steels are involved.

But Dad’s right. This was decades ago, and nothing we do now will bring Brendan’s great-uncle back.

More to the point, though, I realize something about myself.

I trust my mother and father. I trust them with my life. I always have.

But there’s one person I trust even more, who I’d take a bullet for in a minute without hesitation.

Dale.

My brother.

And he asked me to keep mum about this until the two of us talked about how to deal with it. As much as keeping something from my father feels foreign to me, I make the decision to do it this time.

I’ll speak only to Dale—and Brendan, when necessary—about these developments.

Tomorrow is Friday. Mom said I didn’t have to go into the office until Monday, but I told her I’d go tomorrow.

I’ll renege in the morning.

Instead, I’ll take the day to do some research. Dale will be busy with his old-vine Syrah and the other wines, so this is on me for now.

Where will I start? I have no idea.

But I will find what I’m looking for.

I always do.

Chapter Fourteen

Callie

I park a block away from the tiny city courthouse and administration building. The tiny police department and fire department sit across the street. I leave my car, nearly stumbling in my black pumps.

I want to be an attorney more than anything in the world, but I hate dressing the part. I’m a jeans, tank, and cowboy boots girl. Western all the way.

But today? Full power. Navy-blue linen skirt and jacket, white blouse, pantyhose—ugh!—and black leather pumps. I walk slowly, my pulse racing, toward the administrative building. It’s ten a.m. on the dot. I draw in a deep breath and pull open the door.

“May I help you?” a receptionist asks.

“I’m here to see Jade Steel.”

“I’m pretty sure she’s in court right now. Did you have an appointment?”

Court. Crap. Of course she’s in court. It’s not like she sits around twiddling her thumbs, waiting for Callie Pike to waltz in and demand a job.

“No, I… I’ll just come back later.”

“Oh…wait. Here she comes now.”

Heels clack on the tiled floor.

“Jade,” the receptionist calls. “This young lady is here to see you.”

Kill me. Just kill me now.

“Oh?” Jade’s voice. “Good morning… Callie! Hi there.”

Jade looks like a fashion plate in her straight black skirt and silk blouse. Suddenly I feel like an idiot in my suit.

“Hi,” I say, trying not to sound too timid.

“What can I do for you?”

“Well…I was wondering… You know, about law school… And I’m not going yet because of the… So…”

I’m a bumbling idiot. My humiliation is complete.

“You want to talk about something?” Jade asks.

I breathe in. I’ve already made a complete fool of myself. May as well go for broke. “I was wondering if you have any jobs available in your office. I’m home for now, and my parents can’t pay me for obvious reasons, so I need to find a job, and, you know, my interest is in the law, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to come in and talk to you.”

There. I got the words out without stammering. Huge run-on sentence, but still… Nice job.

I brace myself to get shot down.

“Sure, let’s chat about that. Come on up to my office.” Jade leads me to a staircase to the left of reception. “All our offices are upstairs. The courtrooms are down here. Have you been here before?”