13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Declan

W ith ironclad nerves, I hold Moira’s hand, as we enter the correctional facility. By the sweat on her palm, I can tell that she’s a bundle of nerves. She announces her arrival and we’re led into a room with a plexiglass wall between two small pods and a phone hanging on either side of the glass. Moira sits in the chair and her face turns pale. “Do you want me to stay?” I ask her respectfully, even though I have zero intention of leaving her here alone with this man.

“Of course.” She says kindly, but with a tone that tells me it’s a ridiculous question. I suppose bringing her all this way, only to tell me to sit outside, would be perceived as unfair to some.

When James McTavish enters the room, I’m surprised to see that he’s not handcuffed in front. Rather, other than his bright yellow romper, he’s as free as a bird, which makes me wonder if this adds clout to his story. Certainly, they wouldn’t restrain a dying man. He sees Moira and his face lights up like a goddamn Christmas tree. As I watch her expression turn from nervous to something unreadable, I rise with her. Adding salt to the wound, he rests his hand on the glass, as though to touch her, making my stomach turn.

He picks up the receiver on his side and Moira mirrors him on her side. “Da....h....how are you?” She asks, voice quivering. Then she shakes her head, as though she’s forgotten that he’s sick.

The plexiglass isn’t exactly soundproof, and us Harris boys have learned over the years, how to read lips to an extent. Connor taught me how to do it, so that I can tell if someone’s pulling the wool over my eyes or not. I see him mouth, ‘I’ve been better.’ But he leaves it at that. It takes everything in me not to confess right there that this man is a fraud, and as healthy as I am. But I know that it’s not my place, nor is it the time, since Moira needs to do this herself. I’m just here for window dressing and for protection, if needed. She digests that comment for a moment, before he takes a seat, I’m guessing to plead his case, that he’s too weak to stand.

James looks lank and disheveled, but not ill by any means, to me. To a trained eye like Moira’s, I would think that he looks slightly undernourished, and a little pale, but I have no idea what the man looked like prior to his incarceration. She’s about to say something, when he cuts her off. My eyes are trained on the son of a bitch’s lips. “Richard is dead, Moira. And I don’t want to die behind bars. I’d like to get out of here while I still have time.”

I watch her neck crane slightly, and her eyes widen. “Wh...how...what happened?” She stammers.

“I don’t know the details. I heard from my lawyer that the asshole died. The lawyer is useless, but at least he knew that much.” He licks his lips and I can tell that he’s measuring his words. “So, I’d like for you to give testimony. I’d like to be free of this place for the short time that I have left, Moira. I don’t think that that’s too much to ask.”

I want to jump right in there and strangle the bastard, but instead, I send a text message to Connor, asking him to corroborate. If I know him well enough, he’ll have figured out anyone that the man has been in touch with since he could speak. Connor is that good. Always ready with the answers before the questions are even asked.

“I don’t know, da.” Moira answers honestly.

“Moira.” James begs. “The doctors say that I have about six weeks. Maybe more, maybe less. I’d love to spend that with you and your brothers. Not here. I’ve been here long enough, and my lawyer is as daft as a sheet of paper, nor can I afford a better one. Your brothers won’t help me. You’re my only hope.”

A moment later, as Moira fights tears, my phone beeps. Connor has responded, ‘Car accident. Dead. Three weeks ago.’ And it all makes sense. The man knew that he could get off but he knew that Moira wouldn’t fall for it unless he was dying. So he cooked up the story.

“I want out of here, Moira. And time is running out.” He repeats.

I touch her arm. She looks at me like she’s crawled out of her own skin and into something sinister, where she’s in a world not her own and she’s as lost as a puppy. “Da, this is Declan. Declan Harris.”

He looks at me strangely. It’s a look that I can’t decipher. But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s like he already knew who I was, and he’s trying to pull off that he didn’t. Slick bastard. All the same, I nod to him, acknowledging the introduction. I see him mouth that he wants to talk to me. Moira hands me the phone and explains as much. I paste on an impassive face, even though my insides are churning.

“Declan. It’s nice to meet you.” He says, but I feel like he wanted to add the word ‘finally’. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I fight the urge to lift my lip and growl at him. Instead, I don’t respond, I simply wait for him to utter whatever lie he has cooked up for me. “My daughter means the world to me. I’d love to see her outside of these bars, and I look forward to meeting you in the same regard.”

I manage a nod but nothing else. I try to act like I’m simply being polite, like a good little boyfriend, but my jaw muscles are locked, and my teeth are grinding against each other.

“Ah, well, you can pass me back to Moira, if you please.” He says, and I’m not sure if he’s just playing along, or if he senses that I’m onto him. Either way the message has been sent. I’m not here for the dog and pony show like Moira is. I do as I’m told and hand the phone back to her. She looks worried. I place a hand on her back but give nothing away with my facial expression. I don’t want this asshole to read anything into my actions. I’m giving him nothing.

James gives her a pleading look, mixed with impatience, as the guard behind him starts to pace, likely indicating that his time is almost up. Moira breathes in deeply and lets it out. “Da, I...I can’t do this. I came here to say goodbye, not to do anything more. I’ve got too much at stake.”

There’s my girl. I can’t help the small smile and the gentle rub on her back.

James’s face turns pale. “But, Moira, I’ll never see you again, child. Is that...is that how you want to end this? Behind these bars.”

Moira swallows. “Da, you made that choice years ago, when you made the mistakes that you did. I’m not sorry for leaving Scotland nor do I blame my brothers for abandoning you. You would rather have seen an innocent man fry behind bars than live out your sentence, whether or not you’re convicted. Karma has served you well, da, and that’s why your lawyer is useless, and why you’re serving your time without a conviction. There is a laundry list of crimes that you’ve done in the past that have caught up to you, and death will be the only freedom you get.”

“How can you say this, Moira? I’m your da.” He says incredulously.

“Da, I can write a book about all the crimes that you’ve committed. And that’s probably not even the end of it. Being behind bars is the only thing that’s kept you out of trouble.”

“But I’m dying, lass.” He pleads. “What possible trouble could I get into in this state?”

My jaw muscles grind my teeth together harder.

“Look at me, Moira!” He begs, slapping his hand on the table for emphasis. “I’m lank, I haven’t eaten properly in days, I sleep eighty percent of the time, and when I’m not sleeping, I’m puking my guts out! And I get to do this for the next six weeks, until I die, Moira!”

She lets out an exhale quickly, winces, and sets the phone down, while practically leaping out of the room, me in her wake. I can hear James shouting at her from behind the glass, pounding it, in fact, as she leaves the room, slamming the door, smacking the exit door with the palm of her hand so hard I fear she’s injured herself. Once we’re outside, she stops, doubles over as if in pain, and whimpers. I grab her, lifting her up into my arms, as she sobs into my ear.

I hold her tight to me, letting her vent, letting her do what she needs to do. I say nothing while she releases all the hurt. It rips my heart out, but I know that this is what she needs to do. Finally, she pulls back, face all wet with tears, eyes reddened. I wipe the tears away with my hands and press my forehead into hers. “We can get through this together, Moira. You did the right thing, my love. I swear to it. It may not feel right at the moment, but I promise you, it will.”

With a swallow, she levels with me. “Steph was right. He’s lying. He...tried to cover it up with all his clever tactics that he’s learned through the years, but I know that he’s lying.”

I search her eyes. My voice is low. “How do you know, lass?”

“A man with advanced pancreatic cancer wouldn’t have the strength to even stand up, let alone shout and pound things, no matter how much adrenaline is running through his veins. He’d be in a wheelchair, so fatigued and weak, not out for blood like that.”

Any response I have won’t help her, so I simply wait, and let her say what she needs to say. Then she searches my eyes after a beat. “You knew, didn’t you.”

Without hesitation, I nod. “Aye.”

“I knew that you did. I could tell by the seething glare in your eyes when he spoke to you.”

I swallow. “I’m sorry, Moira. I...I figured I had a fifty percent chance either way. I could tell you myself and risk you hating me for doing so, or I could let you figure it out for yourself, and say nothing, and hate me later for not saying so.”

“I’d never hate you, Declan. I know that it’s your job to investigate anyone that comes into contact with anyone who comes into contact with you or any member of the family or business contact. It’s how it goes. You’ve said so yourself countless times. I get it. And this is my da’s M.O., so I should be used to it. But after all these years, it’s still like a goddamn sucker punch right in the stomach.”

I kiss her forehead. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m proud of you. You didn’t cave. You held your own, Moira, and that’s without me saying a word.”

“You didn’t have to, Declan. I could feel it in my bones, and the second that I saw your face, I knew.”

“You’re stronger and smarter than you think, Moira.” I kiss her on the mouth. “You did well. And the less that your da knows that you know, the better. Unless he wants to fake his own death.” I say with a soft scoff.

“I wouldn’t put it past him, Declan. He’s tried everything, and this comes close.”

I hug her tight to me again. “So, lass, what’s the next step?”

“I go home and live my life exactly how I’ve been living it since leaving Scotland. It’s that simple. My da can rot in here for all I care. This lie made him sink to a new level. I can’t believe that he’d go this far and after so long.”

“I think that’s specifically why he waited, Moira. Timing is everything, as they say. He wanted to wait long enough, plant the seed, but little did he know that you’d outsmart him.”

I take her hand in mine as we leave the property, heading to my place, where we’ll stay the night, and leave to head back to the states after rest. I keep the partition door separating us from the driver closed for privacy. After a beat, before we get to my place, she asks. “So, when were you going to tell me, Declan?”

I rub her back as her head leans on my shoulder. “Deep down I knew I wouldn’t have to. I knew you would catch on.”

“I bet it took everything in you not to say something to him.” She says with a scoff.

“It did. But thanks to years of practicing good self-control, I handled it. God, if I had a dime for how many times I’ve had to keep my mouth shut on so many scores, Moira. It would make your head spin.”

She ignores my statement. “Somewhere out there, Steph is fist pumping me.”

“Aye, she’ll be proud. That’s for sure.” I kiss the top of her head. “Do you think he tried this same trick on your brothers?”

“If I know da well enough, he tried them first, failed, and started in on me. That’s probably why it took him so long to try and pull it off.”

“It’s a shame, really. That he’d put his family through that. I couldn’t imagine. I mean, my da is no saint himself, but family always comes first, even before money.” I lift a hand. “Now, granted, it hasn’t always appeared to be that way, but since Caleb and Laney got together, da has softened some. Now I think he’s a changed man. This experience has taught me that I don’t give my da nearly enough credit. Some parents....suck.”

“I agree entirely, Declan. My granny is the only decent parent to me. My granddad was, too. I think it was granddad’s wisdom, above all else, that I'm truly grateful to have inherited.”

“It sounds like he was a wise man, for sure, lass.” We get closer to the estate where I lived mostly, just before buying my place in the states. It’s not far from the place where I grew up, but it’s far away enough that there is some separation. We pull up and Moira lifts her head off my shoulder.

“My...God, Declan.” She says, in awe. “This is beautiful.”

“Thank you, lass.” I say, not knowing what else to say. Truthfully, I was afraid of her reaction, since the house is a little imposing. And on another note, I’ve been thinking about selling it, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. “I’m not sure how long I’m going to have it for.”

“Really? How come? It’s beautiful.”

“Well, there are just too many, err, memories here.” I say under my breath, just loud enough for her to hear.

“Aye.” She nods. “And not good ones from the tone of your voice.”

“No. Definitely not good ones.”

“An ex lover?” She guesses.

“Aye.” I confess.

She takes my hand in hers and looks at me earnestly. “What about if you were to make better ones?”

I look at her lips and lean in. “With you, lass, I’d love to. But the woman I met before you was very unkind. I tried to erase the memories by remodeling a few things, but that was just a band aid. It didn’t help. That’s part of the reason why I don’t stay here often, Moira.”

“My house is a shack, Declan. This is a palace. But I understand why you would feel that way. It’s a shame, really. I mean, sometimes you just have to let go, Declan. I’m learning that a lot more recently.”

“Aye.” I nod, grinning at her. “I suppose if you can do that with your da, then I can do that with my demons, too.”

“I know it’s difficult, Declan. But it’s for the best.” She says, leaning in to kiss me. “And I know a great way to get over your demons, too.” Her voice changes to sultry, as she dips her tongue into my mouth slightly, just enough to make my cock twitch, and enough to get my attention.

“That sounds very convincing, lass.” I murmur against her lips. “Just wait until you see the inside. Pick any surface you want and I’ll be sure to fuck you hard against it.”

She chuckles against my skin and sucks in air. “Okay. Let’s go inside before we end up fucking in here.”

“If you wanted to we could.” I offer. Then we both scrunch our noses and shake our heads. “I’d much rather fuck you in the house.”

“Same.”

And this time, we actually make it inside the house.

...but not that far...