Page 52 of Bound By Secrets

“Is your Dad still home? Has he left to check on my Mum yet?” I ask.

“No, he’s still here. He’s planning on leaving tonight. I was actually about to text you to ask if you have a letter for her.”

“Yeah I do. Uh, can I talk to your Dad, please?”

He’s silent for a moment before he agrees. I wait with bated breath until I hear rustling and then Colin’s voice meets my ears.

“Calliope, what’s wrong?” The use of my full name makes me cringe, but I don’t bother correcting him.

“My Dad’s left, so has Cameron and everyone else. They think you’ve arrested Fraser, so they’ve fled and plan to lay low. I need to know that my Mum’s safe and that she and Crystal are okay in case he tries to find them,” I rush out, panic now leaking into my words.

“Okay, firstly, your Mum and Crystal are fine. She has two of my most trusted officers watching her at all times and I will be there tonight. However, we may move her again just as a precaution after what you’ve just told me.” His words fill me with relief.

“One thing I’m not understanding, though, is why he fled. We don’t have Fraser in custody. We weren’t even looking into him for anything.”

“What?” My eyes dart over to Connor as he stands in the doorway, still trying to get through to Uncle Johnny. “If you don’t have him, then where is he? I heard them saying they haven’t heard from him in days and then they assumed he’s ratting them out.”

“I don’t have an answer for that, unfortunately. I promise to look into it though.”

“Yeah, thank you, Colin. I have a letter for my Mum, how do I get it to you before you leave?”

“I’ll pick it up on my way out of town and no doubt my children will be tailing me to your house. They’re all rather worried at the moment.” My heart warms with that piece of information. I thank him again before ending the call and then send a quick text to the group chat to put everyone’s minds at ease.

“Johnny’s not answering,” Connor says, putting his phone down on the kitchen island and huffing. “What do we do now?”

I shrug in response because I honestly have no idea. If Derek and Cameron have really disappeared to go and lay low, then would that mean for all of us?

I pick my phone back up and scroll to Johnny’s number.

“There’s no point trying, Callie. He’s clearly busy,” Callum says softly as we listen to the phone ring.

When I think the call’s about to go to the answerphone, it connects.

“What the fuck?” Connor shouts. Johnny laughs through the phone and makes some sort of joke about answering because I’m his favourite.

“Uncle Johnny, I think you need to come round.” His chuckle stops and the line goes quiet.

“Callie, honey, I can’t. You know I won’t be allowed in.” He sounds regretful, and it’s sweet, but he doesn’t understand.

“No, Johnny. You need to come here now. Fraser is missing, Dad’s gone, and everyone’s left.”

The call ends abruptly, leaving us all in silence as we stare at the blank screen. Typical Uncle Johnny.

“I hate that guy sometimes,” Connor grumbles, striding over to the small table in the corner and slumping down into the chair.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Callie

Ijump out of my seat when the pounding on the front door starts. Connor pushes himself in front of me as we slowly edge our way out of the kitchen. Callum rushes up behind us, passing Connor a kitchen knife.

“What if it’s Colin or Johnny?” I whisper. Connor shakes his head, telling me that he doesn’t think it is. In all honesty, I don’t think it is either. I’m just trying to think positively about the person who’s erratically knocking on the door.

Connor peeks his head around the door frame and his muscles tense for a second before he stands to his full height and marches towards the door.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Callum and I glance at each other before we rush into the entryway to see who’s at the door.

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