Page 42
Story: Sins of the Father
Good. Let her be afraid.
"My office," I say. "Now."
She follows without argument. I close the door, turn the lock. The sound seems to echo forever.
"Nervous?" I ask.
"Should I be?"
I place the file on my desk but don't open it yet. "Seven years. That's how long you've been planning this."
Her pupils dilate. Fight or flight kicking in.
"I don't know what?—"
"Don't." I open the file, spread the contents across the wood. "Orla Nolan. Daughter of Thomas Nolan. The accountant who died in his home office seven years ago."
She goes very still. Like prey realizing the predator has found them.
"How long have you known?" she asks.
"Three days. Long enough to understand how thoroughly you've fucked me over." I move closer. "These meetings with Detective Doyle. Building a case?"
Her eyes stay fixed on the photos.
"You infiltrated my life. My business." I lean against the desk. "My bed."
"Your father killed mine."
"And you thought sleeping with me would balance the scales?"
Color floods her cheeks. "That wasn't part of the plan."
"What plan? Destroy the Kavanaghs? Get revenge? Wear a wire to family dinner?"
She flinches at the last part.
"I couldn't do it," she says quietly.
"What?"
"The wire. I was supposed to wear it three days ago. Record you and your family." She meets my eyes. "I couldn't."
Something twists in my chest. "Why not?"
"Because I—" She stops herself. "It doesn't matter now."
My phone rings. I answer it, watching her face.
"Kavanagh."
"Mr. Kavanagh, Detective Doyle here. I believe you've discovered one of my confidential informants."
Orla's eyes widen.
"Your informant," I repeat.
"Ms. Nolan has been gathering evidence about Thomas Nolan's murder. Evidence that points to your lieutenant, not your father. We can work together on this."
"My office," I say. "Now."
She follows without argument. I close the door, turn the lock. The sound seems to echo forever.
"Nervous?" I ask.
"Should I be?"
I place the file on my desk but don't open it yet. "Seven years. That's how long you've been planning this."
Her pupils dilate. Fight or flight kicking in.
"I don't know what?—"
"Don't." I open the file, spread the contents across the wood. "Orla Nolan. Daughter of Thomas Nolan. The accountant who died in his home office seven years ago."
She goes very still. Like prey realizing the predator has found them.
"How long have you known?" she asks.
"Three days. Long enough to understand how thoroughly you've fucked me over." I move closer. "These meetings with Detective Doyle. Building a case?"
Her eyes stay fixed on the photos.
"You infiltrated my life. My business." I lean against the desk. "My bed."
"Your father killed mine."
"And you thought sleeping with me would balance the scales?"
Color floods her cheeks. "That wasn't part of the plan."
"What plan? Destroy the Kavanaghs? Get revenge? Wear a wire to family dinner?"
She flinches at the last part.
"I couldn't do it," she says quietly.
"What?"
"The wire. I was supposed to wear it three days ago. Record you and your family." She meets my eyes. "I couldn't."
Something twists in my chest. "Why not?"
"Because I—" She stops herself. "It doesn't matter now."
My phone rings. I answer it, watching her face.
"Kavanagh."
"Mr. Kavanagh, Detective Doyle here. I believe you've discovered one of my confidential informants."
Orla's eyes widen.
"Your informant," I repeat.
"Ms. Nolan has been gathering evidence about Thomas Nolan's murder. Evidence that points to your lieutenant, not your father. We can work together on this."
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66