Page 99 of Touch in the Dark

“It’s pointless starting it if I just walk away. I need to speak to Atwater Senior at least. If he won’t answer my questions, I’ll leave. At least I tried. I feel like I owe it to my mom. To find out why he didn’t help her, or even give a shit about her when she got sick.”

“He may not have known.”

I sigh. Maybe he’s right. Do I really need to hear his indifference if he doesn’t care about us? What am I achieving by hearing that this guy wants nothing to do with me?

“Let’s go,” Arch says, seeing the distress all over my face. “I feel the music calling me. We were doing some good shit yesterday, let’s go back and channel some of this bullshit into a good song, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say eventually. We leave Atwater and head back to Archer’s.

By mid-afternoon, I’m starting to think this PI Janie hired is a waste of space but then Janie calls, in something of a panic. She’s in Vegas, after her wayward sister who apparently disappeared in the middle of the night with a guy, and they’ve tracked her phone to Vegas. I offer to get Jordan involved, because even if he is an ass, he’d be there for Janie. I put them in touch and leave them to it.

Janie lets me know before she goes that the PI wants to meet with what she’s found and am I happy to take it over now if she promises complete confidentiality. After some thought, I agree. Janie arranges for her to come to Archer’s and says she will be there just after five.

We’re eating Chinese when the gate buzzer goes. Arch checks the security camera and sees a bright red Jeep at the gate. She says she is Alexis Morgan here to see Mr Chambers, and he lets her inside.

“Mr Chambers,” Archer laughs.

“Dick,” I say and go to meet her at the door.

I watch Alexis Morgan climb out of the jeep, she tugs on a waist length leather jacket before shutting and locking the door, looking up at me on the covered porch. She approaches and I go down to shake her hand. Fuck, Janie was right, this woman is next level hot, with fiery red hair and a sculpted face, but I don’t let that dazzle me. Especially not when the sun is glinting off the wedding band on her finger. I can’t say the same for Archer when I introduce them, he all but drools as he offers her a drink. She declines holding up her own water bottle.

If she’s daunted or surprised at being faced with two members of BreakNeck, she doesn’t show it.

We head into the living room, Arch silently asking with raised brows if I want him there. I nod my head. There is a part of me that feels I may need his support. I’ll never admit it aloud, but I don’t need to. Arch gets it.

It becomes clear fast as Alexis tells me what she learnt, it is no surprise I am the client. From his time spent in Chicago while he cemented his business there, to my mom working as an office assistant at the company, which I never knew. They had an affair, and he paid for all her medical bills when she gave birth. She followed that trail to me. Seems she easily uncovered I’m Atwater’s illegitimate child.

“From everything I’ve learnt, I’m certain his family remains unaware of you. Everything I have is on this drive, I’ve kept no records of anything myself, this is yours to do with what you want. But confidentiality goes both ways, your assistant signed a contract to that effect saying it would extend to you.”

“Of course, that is fair enough,” I say, taking the flash drive from her. I don’t miss how Arch sees the wedding band this time, or the huff of disappointment. I ignore him though.

“I researched all of his children and it seems the youngest child is actually a fan,” Alexis says. “He’s been to a number of your concerts over the years.”

“But you don’t think he knows? About me?”

“I believe he is just a genuine fan of the band.”

“That’s weird,” Arch says. “Not that he’s a fan, that he is a fan but has no idea…” he trails off.

Yeah, it is. I wonder what he will think if he ever finds out who I am to him.

“Do you think it’s likely this means Atwater won’t want anything to do with me?” I ask her.

“That isn’t for me to say,” Alexis says. “I did come across an Investigator on his payroll. It’s to do with the business, he keeps a very close eye on his rivals. I’ve included information on that in your report. There is a member of staff at that firm who has been tasked with keeping an eye on you.”

“What?” I breathe out.

“He knows of you and has known where you’ve been your whole life. I apologise if this is a shock,” she adds, seeing the reaction I had to that.

“The fucker has known the whole time who he is and where he’s been?” Arch growls.

Alexis looks at him, she turns back to me and nods. I am the client, even though Archer asked the question.

“Through her sickness, her death, everything. He’s been aware?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says matter of factly. “The reports have not been as detailed in later years. He gets one twice a year when he meets the investigator. It was a lot more in your younger years. Once you were more in the public eye, he likely decided he didn’t need to have someone watching you as closely.”

I feel a little sick. Initially, all I can think is that someone has been watching me, reporting back on me. Things in my life this guy had no right to know if he didn’t want to be a part of it. I get up and go around back of the sofa. Alexis doesn’t react but Arch turns to look at me in concern.

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