Page 38 of Heartless Legacy

“When did you go back to Nags Creek?”

“Ummm… when I was around eleven.”

“You’ve mentioned Hailee’s first car accident. Tell me about that.”

“It was right after we left Louisiana. We stopped at this house in and she left me there for hours. I fell asleep locked in a closet. The next day, she told me we were going on an adventure, and we were hiking and camping our way to our next home. When I asked what happened to the car, she said she was in an accident and that we’d get a new one.”

He nods. “That would be the accident report that led everyone to believe the two of you died in a car crash. Was she badly hurt?”

“She had some back pain. We stopped a lot during our hikes, and when we got a new car, she couldn’t drive for long distances without a break.”

“Did she ever see a doctor about it?”

Instead of answering his question, I ask, “What does any of this have to do with anything? Are you sure you’re not a shrink? How is talking about my mom helping you get to know me?”

“It is, Thea. I promise this is all useful information. Besides, I get the feeling nobody ever asks you to recap your life with your mother. They read the file like you suggest and form conclusions. Hearing you talk about her, and watching your body language, it’s telling me a lot.”

“Oh yeah? What is it telling you so far?”

“I can see where you get your self-reliance and strength. Hailee grew up in Canyon Falls. It couldn’t have been easy for her to give up everything she knew and do this on her own.”

That’s nice of him to say. “I don’t know if mom ever saw a doctor right after the accident. Drinking seemed to be her medication of choice.”

“Was it always just the two of you?”

“Nah. Mom was a smoke show. She had plenty of boyfriends over the years.”

“Were any of them abusive? Did they drink, or cheat on her?”

“Mom had a knack for meeting the most boring guys in Vegas. Accountants, bankers, teachers. I think she even dated a cop. From what I remember, they were all shocked by her sudden mood swings. Like I said, she would usually be the one picking fights and breaking up with them.”

Alexz nods and says, “I’ll send agents to Nevada, to track Hailee’s movements, and do a deep dive into her time there.” He slides a piece of paper towards me. It’s the statement I wrote before they sent me to juvie. “I read your statement, Thea. I think Hailee meant to take you with her, but something happened that prevented her from doing so.”

I’m over this conversation. “Look Alexz, I appreciate you trying to give my mother the benefit of the doubt, but she doesn’t deserve it. She was messed up for a long time, okay, and she lied about staying sober for me and wanting me. I was just a stupid kid who believed those lies one time too many. It took until I was fourteen to finally come to terms with her not wanting me, and that pretty much tracks with all the other adults I’m related to.”

Standing, I ask, “Are we done?”

“We are.”

Chapter 24

Deacon

This place is phenomenal. The level of detail the Phoenix Foundation put into building this vessel and making it comfortable shows just how much they care about their employees. Outside, it looks like a plain old cargo ship, but the inside is the offspring of a Naval Air Craft Carrier and luxury cruise ship.

Moreau asked to see me, alone. I’m guessing he wants to talk about our unusual history. He said alone, but when I step into his office, his guards are inside. He doesn’t trust me, and the feeling is mutual. As cool as I think this place is, that doesn’t negate the fact that he runs a super secret organization, or that he’s supposed to be dead. Both of those things put Thea in danger, which makes me a threat.

They took my weapons after I pushed my way through the halls to find Thea. I’ve got my hands, so he shouldn’t assume he’s safe. “Alone, doesn’t mean alone?”

He nods at the guards. They file out of the room, but I know they’re standing right outside the door, ready to rush in at the first sound of trouble.

“Alright, Moreau. You asked for a meeting. Talk.” I take the seat in front of his desk. “I wanna know exactly what you’re playing at, and what it has to do with my family.”

“This isn’t about your family, Beauwolf.”

“Isn’t it? Your death was a burden my grandfather had to carry. The plans for his future were over, because you died on a death trap of a bridge. My family had to fight for an ounce of respect in a town that they helped build within an organization they devoted their lives to. Yet here you sit, like a king in his floating fortress. So explain how this isn’t all somehow connected to your history with my family.”

“I was being truthful when I said you’re here because Thea needed a familiar face to help with her recovery.”

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