Forbidden Legacy (14 page)

Tasha uncrossed her legs and placed her hands on the armrests, going from relaxed to dangerous in less than a breath. “I thought you wanted this information, Grand Master.”

He raised his hand. “I apologize. Please continue.”

Tasha hesitated for only a moment. “I think someone remotely disabled the car’s computer. They were going around a corner.” She shrugged again. “They fly off the road, hit the tree and the bomb in the engine compartment goes off.”

“Is that possible?”

“In theory, yes. Practically, I would have said no. However, the only thing in the police report that was actually useful was the notation the officer made about the skid marks. There weren’t any.”

Harrison was confused. “What do you mean?”

“If I’m right and someone managed to completely shut down the car’s control system, the driver wouldn’t have been able to brake or steer. That would explain why there are no skid marks. Normal people jerk the wheel and brake if they see that they’re about to veer off the road. It’s the wrong response, but nine times out of ten, that’s what drivers do. There was no indication on the road or in the grass leading up to where they struck the tree that they ever braked or turned the wheel. It was as if both of those features failed.”

“It could indicate mechanical failure. And again, make it an accident.”

“Except for the fire,” Tasha interjected. “And this.”

Tasha opened a folder she’d carried in with her and laid it on Harrison’s desk.

He sucked in a breath, astonished. “Where did you get this?”

“I took this picture yesterday. When I was at the accident site.”

There, chiseled on the charred bark of the damaged tree, was a perfect replica of the Trinity Masters’ symbol. Three ornate triangles interspersed with a Celtic knot had been painstakingly carved on the tree. Harrison had seen it far too many times in the past few months. The red flag had been waved and the bull was charging.

Jonathan was right. Janet and Sylvia had been killed.

“Maybe Jonathan went back after the accident and chiseled it there as a tribute,” Tasha suggested. “You said he’s grief stricken. Maybe he wasn’t thinking clearly and he thought—”

Harrison shook his head. Price had arranged for a couple of men from his security team to watch Jonathan since the funeral. Harrison had been given a daily accounting of the man’s whereabouts. Jonathan hadn’t been back to the accident site. “No. I don’t believe Jonathan did that.”

“Then who?” Tasha asked. The second the question passed her lips, a light of recognition dawned. “He’s back?”

Harrison had allowed her to believe that the blackmailer had given up. Had told her the man had been silent since his scheme to destroy Damon and Marco had failed. As far as Tasha knew, the blackmailer had vanished, tucked his tail between his legs when his plan backfired and scampered off into the night.

Harrison had lied to her because he knew her. If Tasha thought the Trinity Masters was in serious danger, she would put herself between the whole organization and the villain, taking the bullet for them. “You’ve done well, Tasha. Thank you. I hope I didn’t drag you away from anything important at home.”

Tasha narrowed her eyes, unhappy with his refusal to answer her. “Marco is playing with the Boston Symphony this weekend. He set his tour dates to coincide with the Trinity Masters’ gala. Damon is coming out to join us under the guise of attending the show. I have time and will look into—”

“That won’t be necessary, Tasha. I have other people in place who are ready to handle this. I’m not putting you in the line of fire again.”

“But—”

“No buts. You’ve performed the task I assigned you beautifully. I don’t need anything else from you.”

Tasha sighed and stood. “If that situation changes, if anything happens and you need help…”

“You’re the first person I’ll call.” Harrison hoped he didn’t have to follow through on that reassurance. Tasha had spent too much of her life wallowing in death and misery. He wanted her to have a life away from all of that.

He walked her to the door and shook her hand as she turned to leave. “I’ll see you at the gala.”

She nodded. “If you want tickets to the symphony, tell me, though I hear last time Marco Polin played here there was a tragedy in the lobby afterward.” She winked.

He smiled and they said their goodbyes. Harrison closed the door, his mind whirling over the implications of Tasha’s find.

He returned to his desk and picked up his cell, clicking on his contacts until he found Price’s number.

Price answered the phone on the first ring. “Grand Master.”

“Price, I need you and Gunner to head over to the church and look around.”

“What are we looking for?”

Harrison studied the picture of the Trinity Masters’ symbol in the tree. “Anything that might tie the Trinity Masters to the fire.”

Price hesitated. “Tie us to it? What am I looking for?”

“You’ll know when you see it.” Harrison realized his directions were vague at best, but he didn’t want to alarm Price about the symbol on the tree or the others that had been left around town for Harrison to find. He almost hoped Tasha had been correct and someone with the organization had chosen an ill-advised way to pay tribute to Janet and Sylvia.

Price grumbled about Harrison’s obscure request, but he said they would go immediately.

“Thank you, Price. Call me if you find anything.”

Price’s noncommittal, “Mmm hmm,” told Harrison his friend didn’t anticipate finding a damn thing. Harrison hoped that was true.

Harrison clicked end and put the phone down. He reached once more for Tasha’s photo and picked up another file from his desk. Opening it, he flipped through the pages, studying all the information he’d worked to gather over the past year. Everything he knew in regards to the blackmailer was contained in the file, and sadly it held precious little.

He added the photo of the tree and closed it. A glance at the clock told him he needed to head out soon if he was going to be on time for his date with Alexis and Michael.

He shut down his computer and then set the silent alarm in his office.

Sighing heavily, he picked up his phone and car keys. Somehow he needed to find a way to switch off his anxiety before he reached the restaurant. Otherwise Michael and Alexis would pick up on it and he’d be faced with too many questions he couldn’t answer.

*****

Michael escorted Alexis to their table. He hadn’t spoken to her today at work, both of them bogged down with too many tasks. They’d left her car at the hospital and traveled to the restaurant together.

Harrison had just texted to say he was running a few minutes late and they should go ahead and order drinks without him. The text was the only contact he’d had with Harrison since their meeting yesterday morning. Michael was still angry, despite Alexis’s reassurance that Harrison would call on him for help if he needed it.

The waiter appeared after they’d taken their seats. Alexis ordered a white wine and Michael asked for two Grey Goose Vodka tonics—one for him and one for Harrison.

Alexis rubbed her neck, trying to work out the kinks.

“Rough day?”

She lifted one shoulder. “I’ve had better. I had to tell a mother that her daughter has a brain tumor. Molly is only three years old.”

Michael shook his head. “I don’t know how you do it day after day.”

She gave him a tired grin. “I’m a glutton for punishment.”

“No. That’s not it. You’re an amazing doctor. You not only know how to heal the human body, you’re compassionate and kind. Sometimes I think you comfort your patients with your reassuring words as much as your hands.”

Alexis closed her eyes briefly, trying to hide how much she was hurting. “I wish that were the case. I appreciate your faith in me, but the truth is I’m at the mercy of modern medicine. Sometimes it’s not enough.”

It took all the willpower Michael possessed not to lean forward and kiss her, wishing there was some way he could erase the pain in her eyes. Though they were out of the hospital, they’d both agreed discretion was important. They hadn’t delved into what would happen at the end of the month, though Michael suspected that conversation needed to occur sooner rather than later. If Alexis agreed to join the Trinity Masters, they would have to figure out how to live as a triad while creating the illusion of a couple with a good friend.

Given his position as her boss, Michael suspected he would be the plus one, and he was fine with that. He’d grown up surrounded by well-adjusted, happy threesomes. He understood the story projected to the world was a far cry from what happened behind closed doors.

He and Harrison had actually been working toward their happy ending for several years, even though neither of them had come out and said as much. Harrison had purchased a penthouse apartment in a high security building in the heart of the city nearly a decade earlier. Visitors had to be buzzed up or know the elevator code to reach his floor.

When the other penthouse on his floor had become available a couple of years ago, Harrison had suggested Michael purchase it. Since then, they’d lived as neighbors, but Michael knew the doors between their apartments would remain open once they took a wife. The two spacious apartments would make a safe, happy home for their family.

Harrison arrived just as the waiter put their drinks on the table. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.”

Alexis shook her head. “Nope. We’ve only been here a few minutes.” She leaned forward and accepted the quick kiss Harrison placed on her cheek.

Harrison smiled at her. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

Alexis studied Harrison’s face, and Michael knew she was seeing the same thing he was. Though Harrison was putting on a good front, there were tight lines by his eyes and mouth that betrayed stress. “Are you okay?”

Harrison nodded, feigning nonchalance as he picked up the menu. “Of course I am. Just spent the day in mind-numbing meetings at the university. It’s good to be out of the dreary conference room and back in the real world.”

Michael let the lie pass unchallenged even though he knew Harrison had spent at least part of the afternoon at the Trinity Masters’ headquarters. He’d seen Harrison’s car parked outside the Boston Public Library during his lunch break. It had still been there an hour later when Michael had returned to the hospital.

They exchanged pleasantries after the waiter took their order, sharing little stories about their day. Michael was surprised by how easily the conversation flowed between them given the undeniable undercurrents of Harrison’s secrecy, the stress of where this relationship was leading and even the sexual tension.

There were too many things hovering over their heads. They ignored all of them, opting instead to focus on the easy friendship growing between them and the hope that—in the end—this would all work out.

The waiter delivered their dinner. Michael laughed when Alexis stole a bite from both of their plates.

They were just about to order dessert and coffee when Harrison’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and frowned. “I need to take this.”

Michael nodded as Harrison stood to walk away from the table. He heard his friend say, “Price,” as he headed for the front door of the restaurant and just like that, the relaxed mood was broken.

“Skip dessert?” Alexis asked.

“Yeah. I’m not really in the mood.” He waved to the waiter for the check.

Harrison returned to the table quicker than Michael expected.

“I have to…” Harrison paused.

“You need to go,” Michael finished for him, not bothering to hide his irritated tone. Add another secret to the pile.

Harrison started to nod and then stopped. “Will you come with me?” He looked from Michael to Alexis. “Both of you.”

Michael was shocked by the request. He could tell it hadn’t been an easy one for his friend to make. “Of course.”

They quickly settled the tab and then Harrison led them to his BMW. “We should ride together. I’ll fill you in on the way to Jonathan’s house.”

“Jonathan’s house?”

Alexis took the backseat, gesturing for Michael to take shotgun. “You’d have to twist into a pretzel to get your long legs to fit back here.”

Harrison was quiet as he maneuvered the car onto the city streets. Michael gave him time to compose his thoughts. It was clear Harrison was shaken up.

Finally, he said, “Gunner found Jonathan’s body tonight. It appears he committed suicide in his home office.”

Michael sucked in a deep breath. “No. He wouldn’t have done that.”

Harrison gave him a sideways glance that proved he wasn’t so sure, but Michael was.

“I mean it, Harrison. Jonathan was upset about Janet and Sylvia, but he wasn’t suicidal. He was just tired, stressed out about the idea of someone following him and his concerns about the fire.”

Harrison’s jaw tensed. “I was having him followed.”

“What?” Michael barked. “Why?”

Harrison did a mirror check before changing lanes. “At first, it was simply because I was worried about him. He was muttering some distressing things and suffering from paranoia.”

“Paranoia you exasperated when you had someone follow him.”

Harrison’s face betrayed the guilt he felt and Michael silently cursed. They needed to work together to find out what had really happened to Jonathan. Not point fingers and assign blame.

“I’m sorry,” Michael said quietly.

“You’re right. I did make it worse. I believe Jonathan’s death, as well as those of his wives, are connected to another threat that’s been lodged against the Trinity Masters. Or more specifically…me.” He added the last word so softly Michael almost missed it.

Alexis leaned forward. She’d been silent during the entire ride. “Someone is threatening you?”

Harrison sighed. “I’m not, I can’t…”

Harrison was closing the door in their faces again. It appeared there were limits to how much he was willing to share. Unfortunately, they didn’t have time to press for more when Harrison pulled off to the side of the street, parking there rather than pulling into Jonathan’s driveway. He turned off the car.