Page 17 of All My Broken Dreams

Deacon flushed. “It’s fine. I don’t have much to say about family, that’s all. I was sent to a private boarding school in Ottawa when I was nine. I had little contact with my family until I graduated and my uncle sent for me. He got me the job at Locksley.”

“Where were your parents?”

“They died in a plane crash. My dad was American, from New Hampshire. He was an only child. No family on that side. My mother’s family was in Scotland so they sent me to Canada for my education.”

“That must have been traumatic. Losing your parents and then being shipped off to boarding school.”

A smile stole across his face. “It was hard at first but there was a group of us who would hang out together over the holidays. We had the run of the place. It was fun.”

Deacon seemed to shake free of the memory. “It was a long time ago. Bed’s made.” His eyes fixed on her and it seemed to Robbie that his dark complexion darkened even more. “If Harry doesn’t come back, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to look for him until I find him.”

His stare flickered for a second. “And if you can’t? What’ll you do then?”

A chill went through her but her smile remained glued to her face. “I’ll keep looking, Deacon. He’s my brother; there’s no Plan B.”

He looked away with an expression that was hard to read. If she had to give it a label, Robbie would say he looked sad.

Chapter Nine

“Ithink you should brace yourself for disappointment,” he said. “If he hasn’t been in contact, maybe it’s because he doesn’t want to be found. How long do you have on your ticket?”

“I’ll get an extension if I have to. I can apply for a visa. If I enroll in an academic institution, that will get me six months. Whatever I need to do, I’ll do it. I went through hell to come this far. I’m not going to give up until I know where he is.”

Deacon hesitated as if about to say something else and then changed his mind.

“Go ahead and use the bathroom first,” he said with a nod. “I have to finish up in the kitchen. You want a shower? There’s enough hot water. Clean towels are on the shelf.”

“Thanks. I’d love a shower after traveling all day.”

Something had changed with him. He was staring at the sink full of soapy dishes as if that was better than making eye contact with her. Deacon Wake was covering up something that was connected to Harry, but she couldn’t see where the cover-up was taking place. Was it in Harry’s apartment? Or was it connected to the drugs he claimed he procured for her brother? Drugs from a veterinarian … she had to talk to this vet and findout what kind of drugs. Maybe Harry had a bad reaction and was in a coma in a hospital.

Robbie rummaged through the mammoth suitcase for her toiletries bag and stepped into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

She peeled off her tights, the dirty skirt and sweater, and bundled them in a pile on the floor. Her knees were healing and the cut on her cheek was looking better. The green bruise was turning a lovely mauve color. It could have been worse. So much worse.

Considering the circumstances, the girl staring back at her in the bathroom mirror seemed strangely calm, as though resigned to her fate.

And what fate is that?

Robbie turned off the question as she twisted the old-fashioned and pulled the stopper to start the shower. She couldn’t think about that right now.

Deacon waited until he heard the shower running before reaching for his phone.

“She’s his sister,” he told the voice on the other end. “She’s here to find Harry and she’s not going to leave until she does.”

Alastair’s breathing changed. “What’s her name?”

“Rowena Listowel. She goes by the name of Robbie. Harry is her half-brother.”

“What else?”

Deacon rubbed his forehead. “She doesn’t know who his father is. Their mother never told them. Harry doesn’t know either.”

“Where is she staying? What hotel?”

“Not at a hotel. I had to bring her to my place.”

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