Page 94 of Light of Day
“No, the sale’s off. Tatum DeBatum just went viral for some weird sex tape thing. He needs to take a beat. Left last night.”
Thank God she wasn’t still atBoiling Point,where she might have to do a deep dive on that tape.
As John and Luke caught sight of each other, Heather felt Luke stiffen. She squeezed his hand a little tighter.
“Well, son?” John said in that commanding, gravelly voice of his. “You going to help me craft this statement or what?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Sea Smoke Island Fund, of course.”
Heather and Luke exchanged a puzzled glance. Was this an example of the dementia people were worried about?
“Those folks that were booted off this island back in the day. Something oughta be done, don’t you think?” John explained. “I’m going to start a fund to find the survivors and make it right. We can afford it.”
Good lord. No wonder Carson and Fiona and Celine had fought so hard to stop this. It wasn’t just about a potential scandal and bad publicity affecting property value. This fund would directly subtract from their inheritance.
“Well, since you’re asking, I do think something ought to be done,” Luke said slowly. “It seems the rest of the family doesn’t agree.”
“That’s where they screwed up. The kids are going to be taken care of, they just won’t have as much as before.” He shook his head in shaggy-haired sorrow. “And now those two have got to answer to the law and their better angels. Everyone has to some day. Listen, I might have a touch of old man brain, like Celine says.”
“That’s not the same as dementia,” Judy said fiercely. “That’s just being old.”
He shrugged his big shoulders. “My brain works slower now, and it glitches sometimes. I’m hearing more from my heart. My heart is telling me this is the right thing to do. I’m still in charge for now. I’ve been thinking on it for some time, ever since Denton came to me. This is what I want. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to work, I’ll admit that. One step at a time. Details later.”
Another piece clicked into place for Heather. “That’s why you and Denton wanted Gabby’s help. She was going to nail down the evidence and write it up for you.”
“I didn’t know I was putting her in danger. Apologies to her. The old tick-tock is losing some tocks.” He rapped the side of his skull. “These days, I’m not always sure what I’m doing. But when I know, I know. So, Luke, how about giving me a hand with the Carmichael family statement?”
“I’m the constable, Dad. I have to take care of business in town today.”
In Heather’s mind, Luke’s use of “dad” was significant, but she wasn’t sure if John had noticed. But maybe he had, because after a moment, John Carmichael gave a slow smile. “I can respect that.”
She felt Luke’s physical reaction to that very out-of-character statement from his father—an intake of breath, an ease of tension.
“We’ll meet later, how’s that?” Luke offered.
“You’re a good man.” With that, John Carmichael III, assisted by Judy, continued down the staircase.
Heather could barely contain her amazement as she and Luke waited, hand in hand, for them to pass by.
“How do you feel about that?” she murmured as they watched the pair make their way downstairs. “Your super-critical father called you a good man, and Detective Chen called you a good constable.”
“What do you call me?” he teased.
“We might need privacy for that one.”
He laughed and gave her a lingering kiss, then sobered. “The truth is, I’m glad my father is developing a conscience. But what does it say that when he actually tries to do something for people outside the family, everyone freaks out?”
She squeezed his hand in sympathy.
He continued his thought. “I mean, what are you supposed to do with the fact that your ancestors did some fucked-up shit and you’re still benefiting from it? Seems like Dad’s going in the right direction. Unlike Carson or Fiona.”
Heather had been thinking about this very same thing. The acts that her ancestor had committed had filtered down through the generations in the form of stories and addictions, and landed on her doorstep.
“I don’t have all the answers,” she said. “But maybe a good first step is not repeating all the same crap, like maybe skip the murder and lies and arson and theft. By the way, did you find out who set those other fires?”
“The hotel workers Carson hired. Most of this was Carson. Fiona was more of an accessory, but that doesn’t excuse her. She’ll face charges too. I’m not sure about Celine yet. The DA will sort it out. My part is done.”
