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Chapter sixteen

Keeping Secrets

Kira

K ieran and I sat on the other side of the door, just… listening.

The basement was cold and damp. This part of the house was obviously seldom used. But this door… it was metal and wood, like a dungeon. The light from inside glowed a soft gold. Kieran sat beside the door on a chair with his legs out.

I had tried to go to bed, frustrated about being ignored, but then I couldn’t sleep.

Not without knowing what the hell was going on.

So I wandered the house, checking every room, until I heard voices when I ventured into the basement.

Now, I was here. The muffled voices inside were in a casual conversation. One voice was Eoghan’s, and the other…

“He’s been in there the whole time?” I gasped in shock.

Kieran looked up at me, then he coughed lightly.

“Ma’am,” he said. He opened his mouth to speak more, then closed it again. Then he sighed, “Mr. Green told me that you are free to do whatever you want and go wherever you want because you are the lady of the house. But, can I give you some advice?”

I looked at him, a little offended by his impudence, but also curious about what he had to say. I nodded for him to go on.

“Don’t go in there right now. I don’t care if you listen at the door, but I don’t think you should go in there until he comes out.”

He looked away from me, his eyes down at his feet.

“I’m really good at keeping secrets, ma’am,” he said, his voice lower than before. “Please, just… don’t go in.”

I stared at the door, my mouth hanging open.

“And when he comes out,” Kieran added, his face pulled down in a sad little frown, “Please… be gentle with him. Boss is a tough man, but this…”

He shook his head.

The picture was becoming clearer now.

I placed my back to the wall, facing outwardin the same direction as Kieran.

“Do you want to take the chair?” Kieran offered as he began to rise to his feet.

I waved him back down, as I slid to the floor, just… listening… to the tragedy unfolding on the other side.

I didn’t know who I felt sorry for. For Morelli? For Eoghan?

No, I wasn’t aching for either of them.

Strangely enough, I ached for Cosima. She would be devastated.