Page 72 of The Professor

“Okay.” Finn sat. “I reckon you’ll get on with her as well as I do. And I’d wager she could handle us both.”

I looked between the two brothers. It sounded very much like they were into sharing. And they were both hot, with their quick smiles, rangy yet strong bodies, and intelligent eyes. This Rebecca Saunders was a lucky woman.

A phone rang.

It was Mitch’s, and he picked it up. “It’s a contact,” he said. “Quiet, everyone.”

I snuggled a little closer to Andrew. The mood had turned solemn. Bridget and Trixie slipped from the kitchen.

“Hey, what you got?”

All attention was on Mitch as he listened to the low voice on the other end of the phone.

“You sure?” Mitch put his attention on me. “I see. Yes. Okay. Hadn’t expected that. Thanks.” He ended the call.

“What?” Andrew asked instantly, his hand tight on mine. “What’s going on?”

“Your father is out on bail, Chelsea.”

“He is?” My emotions ballooned. I wasn’t ready to see him, not after what he’d done. “But…those charges were—”

“Not too serious, as it turned out.” Mitch glanced at Andrew.

I couldn’t read whatever it was that passed between them.

“You’d better tell her what you know, Mitch,” Andrew said.

Mitch’s lips tightened. “Fair enough.” He clasped his hands. “His only charge now is tampering with evidence.”

“What? I don’t understand. He chased my mother down, left her dead in a ditch and—”

“New information has emerged,” Mitch said. “And I’m afraid it doesn’t put your mother in a very good light.”

“She’s dead!” I stood. “What the hell are you talking about?” My eyes prickled.

“Hey, sit down.” Andrew tugged me close again. “Hear him out.”

“Your father has told the police, and they believe him, that he was trying to stop your mother from going to a meeting with some dangerous gang members, and that’s why he went after her. He’s been very co-operative apparently, and what he’s said has added up, so far.”

“What…what did he say?”

“That he’d begged her to stop what she’d been doing.”

“But…? She hadn’t been doing anything? She was my mum. She played tennis, went to lunch, and pestered me to get on with my studies. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. She was perfect.”

Mitch swallowed. His jaw was tight. “He was begging her to back away from the human trafficking ring she’d got involved with.”

“What?” I felt sick. My head was going to explode. This couldn’t be true.

“I’m sorry,” Mitch said. “But it’s big business, human trafficking, lots of money to be made.”

“But my father…how could he not tell us? I…”

“Not many parents would share such information.”

“So what evidence did he tamper with?” Andrew asked.

His presence was comforting, and so was his clear mind when mine was spinning.