Page 16 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

“At the time Liam was murdered, neither of them lived there.”

“Could he have hidden the item before he moved out and was back to find it?” Detective Riker thought out loud.

“Maybe, but I’ve never found anything.”

“Well, our guy knows it’s not in your house and won’t likely be back.” Detective Donovan sounded surer of that than I felt.

“We don’t know that.” Detective Riker contradicted him. “It sounds like they think she could still have whatever they’re looking for.”

“He was thorough. I doubt he plans to look again.”

“Any idea how he got past my alarm?" That was the most unsettling. I felt more vulnerable without the security of an alarm.

"Techs are still working on it, Lindsay. But we'll figure it out." Detective Donovan gave me a reassuring smile. “I’ll personally make sure you and your girls are safe.”

Detective Riker arched a brow at him but didn’t say anything.

"Thank you, Detective Donovan. Can you tell me when I can start cleaning up my home?"

"Tomorrow morning. We'll be done processing the scene by then. I can meet you there if you'd like. Perhaps as you clean up, you’ll find something.”

“Good idea,” Detective Riker agreed.

“Alright.” It seemed unlikely that I had anything of Liam’s, and yet, if I did, I wanted it to be found and given to the police so I could end this unsettling situation.

“Thank you for coming in, Ms. McKinnon. I’ll let you know if I have more questions or any news to share,” Detective Riker said.

I rose from my chair. "Thank you."

As I left the room, thoughts of Oliver clouded my mind. Bittersweet memories played like a movie reel in my head. Five years ago, I’d seen Oliver as a wonderful big brother to Liam and a good friend to me. Now, looking back, I recognized that my feelings were more than just friendly. I didn’t know when it had happened, but I’d fallen for Oliver. Had he stayed in Boston, I’d have told him about my pregnancy and maybe things would have been different for all of us. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to imagine a life where he and I were a family with the girls. I had no doubt he’d be a wonderful father. My heart squeezed tight knowing the girls wouldn’t know his love and generosity. But that was the reality. Oliver had left to escape his painful past and the guilt that haunted him, and in doing so, he left the possibility of us.

I pushed those thoughts aside. There was too much at stake to dwell on the past. I refocused on getting my home cleaned up and finding answers about my security system as I made my way out of the police station.

I waited for the elevator to take me downstairs, texting my father to let him know all was well and that I’d be able to get back into my home to start cleaning tomorrow.

When the doors opened, I looked up, ready to step into the elevator. My heart stuttered and I gasped. “Oliver.”

6

Oliver

Iwalked into the police station, the grief and shock hitting me hard in the chest just as they had five years ago when I got the call that Liam had been murdered. Since my plane landed, I’d been bombarded with painful emotions, but this one stole my breath. Why had Liam insisted on following a life of crime?

Another memory assaulted me. This was the one when I’d come to the police station to pick up Liam and learned that Lindsay had been with him when he was arrested. Luckily, she hadn’t been arrested, but when I learned that Liam’s friends had drugged her, apparently to make her sleep while they did their dastardly deeds, my head exploded. That lovely, sweet, vibrant woman was too good for Liam, and I told him so once I paid his bail and got his ass home.

“What the fuck is it to you?” he’d demanded. “Fucking hell, Oliver. Do you have a thing for Lindsay? You want to fuck her? Is that what you do in your room at night? Jack off to thoughts of my girl?”

My fist flew out before I knew it. It caught him in the jaw, sending him reeling. He looked at me with the same shock that I felt. I’d just struck my brother.

“Don’t you insult her like that.” I acted as if I were defending Lindsay’s honor, but the truth was, I had, a time or two, masturbated to thoughts of Lindsay like some fucking pervert.

He shook his head in disgust. “You’re just like the rest. You don’t know what the fuck is going on and don’t give a shit.”

“I do give a shit, Liam. All I do, all I’ve done my entire life, is give a shit about you. You’re the one who doesn’t give a shit about you.”

“You don’t know anything,” he sneered. “You know what? I’m outta here. I don’t need this bullshit.”

He brushed past me, heading to the door of the shitty little hellhole I’d been able to get for us when Lindsay had enough and kicked him out. She said I could continue to rent the extra bedroom, but aside from the fact that Liam needed me, it would be wrong to stay when I was in love with her.

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