Page 53 of Touch in the Night

“I knew I couldn’t fool you.”

Jesse swore. “You really think I’m just some dirty low-life thief, huh?”

“That is very far from the truth.”

“Then whatisall this?”

“Jesse, please.” Emory gestured at the sofa. “Sit. I’ll explain everything.”

Jesse eyed him another long moment then dropped himself onto the sofa, crossed his arms and glared at him. “Okay, I’m sitting. Start talking.”

Emory was regarding him levelly. His eyes were impossibly deep, like a night sky in midsummer. But for the first time Jesse thought he detected something else, something fragile. He wanted to look away but sensed it was important that he didn’t.

“Firstly, I genuinely did have a meeting with the mayor,” he said. “I want to sponsor a financial support scheme for local families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. She didn’t want the meeting known about. Well…” His face darkened. “Didn’t want the meeting, full-stop. But in the end, she agreed to meet me if I came over when everyone’s attention was elsewhere. But you’re right…” He paused. “I tookyouthere for another reason.”

“Whatreason?”

“You looked around the house, yes?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you meet anyone? Talk to anyone?”

“Like who?”

“I already know, Jesse. But I’d like you to tell me yourself.”

Jesse blinked. “You know about the little girl?”

“Dimity Hawthorn. Yes.”

“Wait. How??”

“She’s my daughter.”

It took Jesse several moments to find his voice. “Come again?”

“Just as I said.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“Why not?” Jesse blinked stupidly. “There’s a million ‘why nots’. For one, you can’t, you know…breed, right? Biologically I mean.”

“You and your ex-partner couldn’t, either,” Emory said smoothly. “But you still discussed having children.”

“How do youknowthat?”

“I needed to be able to trust you, Jesse. I know about your family, your relationships, your criminal record…everything.”

Jesse bristled. “But how—?”

“It’s true, though, isn’t it? You and your partner Glen Winters discussed having children? How was that to be achieved?”

Jesse’s heart clenched in his chest. When he spoke, his voice was raw. “He wanted to adopt.”

“Well then.”

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