Cage

Chapter 127

Neither of us would hold grudges, which made sorting through issues much easier.

Lisa’s arrival was odd, and she didn’t even try to hide her agenda. We both sensed something was off.

“When was the last time you got in touch with Talbot? It’s been years without any contact. He visited you at the hospital, and your cousin Lisa suddenly came to my office. What are they up to? I feel it’s not just about the bridge project.” Aside from matters of the heart, Clyde was sharp as a tack.

I didn’t hold back from him. Except for the diary my mom left behind, I told him everything.

“You’ve met Galen a few times. He’s picked me up from school before, a real bean counter. I can’t imagine him betraying my dad. But something was fishy about what happened back then, and even the police couldn’t find him. It’s all too strange.”

Since Clyde was also digging into my family’s past, I figured we should pool our resources.

He stared ahead in silence for minutes before finally speaking up. “What made you start looking into this?”

I suddenly found myself at a loss for words. Before, my illness was severe, and then my mom got sick when I returned home. I didn’t have the headspace to investigate. Then my cancer relapsed, and with Kayla’s drama, I lost all interest in digging deeper.

While gazing out the window, Warren’s words popped into my head unbidden. He said I had a shadow over my spiritual brow, a sign of blood and disaster.

It seemed the best therapists for us were fortune tellers.

I cleared my throat and whispered, “I dreamt about my mom. She said there was something fishy about my dad’s situation. I don’t want her to be restless, so I thought I’d ask Talbot.”

O”

Clyde turned to look at me, and sure enough, he didn’t press any further. After all, everyone believed in messages from the dead, so he didn’t have anything to retort with. Was he supposed to talk to the spirit medium or something?

Seeing he remained silent, I prodded, “Do you think something was fishy about what happened to my family back then?”

By then, Clyde had returned to the Patterson family and must know something. But he kept mum all the way home until he pulled me aside. “Melanie, if you dreamt of your mom again, tell her I’ll look into it. Remember to stay away from Talbot and his family.”

I was nearly breathless with frustration, giving him a speechless look. Do you think that’s under my control?”

Wishful thinking, I wasn’t psychic. Besides, I was bluffing anyway.

He cleared his throat awkwardly several times. “Just don’t get involved and don’t contact them, got it?”

I pressed, “Clyde, do you know something you’re not telling me?”

His guilty expression made me suspicious. I knew Clyde’s ways. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a handle on the Patterson family’s internal affairs, forcing Laird to desperate measures over the years. But he kept telling me not to ask too much, trying to change the subject.

I couldn’t take it anymore. “Clyde, Merritt already told me. You’ve been investigating my dad’s death and even protected my mom…” My voice choked up, unsure how to continue. I was afraid Clyde would ask why I didn’t come back when I was in Country Aurorea and why I didn’t help my family. But thankfully, he didn’t ask anything but looked at me hesitantly.

Finally, he sighed and pulled me into his arms. “Melanie, it is complicated. You don’t have to get involved. Just trust me, okay? Someone else is behind the scenes, and I don’t want you to get hurt. You understand?”