My Father's House

Chapter 13

The drive to the manor took much longer than I had anticipated. What Kael had said was a few hours proved to be much more. When I woke, morning sunlight peeked through the clouds and played across the car interior. I stayed with my head against the glass for a moment, studying the gorgeous countryside. The lush green openness was so different from London. As an orphaned child, I was never taken on a journey so far from the city.

I stretched my arms and looked over at Kael. His head was exactly where mine had been, propped between the back seat and window. I leaned forward to see if he was asleep. His eyes were closed, his breathing even. He looked much younger and less intimidating when he was asleep. I noticed his jacket had fallen to the side, exposing his blood tinged shirt. I glanced up at the taxi driver who appeared to be finishing off the last of a bag of chips and soda. He apparently hadn't noticed.

"Just about there!" The taxi driver announced. I was surprised that his mood had gotten better rather than worse with this ridiculously long car ride. The man had probably tallied his fee which would improve anyone's mood considerably.

"Ok," I acknowledged. When the man wasn't paying attention, I adjusted Kael's jacket carefully covering the stains on his shirt. Looking around us, all I could see was rolling hills extending for miles. Small farms with thatch roofed homes and groups of livestock randomly appeared on the wistful landscape.

Since Kael had grandly demonstrated he wasn't kidnapping me last night, I felt slightly more comfortable in his company. When the taxi driver's announcement didn't rouse him, I considered waking him myself to verify our destination considering the distance. I remembered our unexpected exit with Madeline. She must have gotten us off the train far before we intended.

I glared at the back of the seat in front of me, thinking of Madeline. I wondered what the relationship had been like between Kael and that woman. I had a hard time picturing them as a couple. I didn't know why, I knew very little about either of them. I propped my elbow on my knee, rested my head in my hand, and studied him. In the sunlight, his brownish hair almost looked blond. I wondered if it would be a lighter brown once he washed out the grime. He was paler than I remembered, my initial impression being that he had rather olive skin. Small beads of sweat pooled at his temples. We probably should have seen a doctor before leaving last night. Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open.

I jumped, pushing back into my corner of the car, adjusting my twisted sweater. "Morning."

He winced and nodded. "How much longer?"

"I just said! Almost there!" The driver shook his head and laughed. "Anyway, get your dosh ready, because this is going to cost a few pounds." He winked in the rear view mirror at me. I rolled my eyes as I looked away.

"Hey, I would help with this but I don't have my purse..." I started in a quiet voice, feeling I had to at least offer my apologies.

"Of course."

"Would I be able to call Garrett when we get there? I know he's going to be worried sick. He probably thinks I'm dead," I said.

"Sure."

"Thanks." I looked down at my skirt, suddenly feeling uneasy about what might lie ahead. I plucked at a loose thread absently. "Is there anything in particular I should know? About your co-workers? I mean," I glanced up at the taxi driver before whispering, "do they know about me?" For all I knew, my father's employees might not even know he had a daughter.

He seemed to understand my meaning. He ran a hand through his hair. "There shouldn't be anyone around this morning. The place is up for sale." Finally something I already knew.

I gave a sigh of relief. I wasn't up to meeting any of my father's criminal regime today. Honestly, the thought made my skin crawl. These sorts of unsavory characters were the ones I would read about in the articles Garrett would write. I wasn't accustomed to meeting them in person.

"There it is." Kael nodded toward my side window. My first impression was that the home was massive, much larger than I had anticipated. One wing on each side broke the clean lines of the rectangular structure. The front boasted large pillars from arches on the top of the building to ground below. The stone walls stood in direct contrast to the acres of lush green estate surrounding it. Mature trees and shrubs dotted the landscape. Behind it, I could just see the ocean, with small waves lapping in the distance.

The car came to a stop directly in front of the building. Chilled morning air greeted me when I opened my door, grateful to stretch my legs and take in the view. As I cast another sweeping gaze over the landscape, I noticed another car sitting in the driveway, not far from where we sat. I felt my heart rate quicken. Kael had noticed as well; his gaze held fast in that direction.

"If you please." The taxi driver handed me a docket with the total scratched officially across the top.

I came around the car and gave it to Kael, both of us eyeing the vehicle as he handed the taxi driver his card. A woman, plump and stout, probably in her fifties, came bustling out of the building. She called something back to someone in the house and then waddled toward the driveway. When she saw us, she quickened her step.

"Mr. Sullivan!" She called. Kael rose an arm to greet her, looking relieved.

"You know her?" I asked.

"My realtor. Don't worry, she's nice enough." Kael headed over to greet her. I waited by the car.

When the driver returned the credit card, I looked down at it briefly, then looked closer, ensuring I had seen correctly. The name on the card was Gideon Harper. I shook my head. How was Kael still using this if Gideon was dead? My doubts as to this man's passing increased a little. I shoved the card into the waistband of my skirt.

"Caraleena!" I looked up at the sound of my given name. Kael was waving me over. No one had called me that in years. The amount he knew about me made me uneasy. Many of my friends weren't even privy to my first name. Regardless of my reservations, it was better to use that name than Harper which could trigger curiosity.

"Well, hello!" The woman shoved a chubby hand toward me when I neared. "Barbara Clark at your service!" She smiled broadly, showing off a set of entirely yellow, crooked teeth. "I was just telling Mr. Sullivan here. We've had numerous people look at the manor while he was away. Very promising. The fellow in there now is seriously considering an offer." She appeared to be bubbling over with joy. I could only imagine the commission she would receive on a place like this.

"We are going to need the house, I'm afraid. Just for a few days." Kael sounded regretful, but his announcement made her face fall.

"But he says he needs to show his wife. Just an exception for this gentleman? I really think he is serious." She scratched her short, mousy-brown curls. "Just come in and meet him. He's lovely! Such wonderful stories he tells!" She gave a bubbly laugh.

"Definitely." Kael stepped aside. He gestured for us to go ahead of him. Barbara looked elated and took off down the path. When I passed Kael, he took my arm and fell into step next to me. I considered pulling away but felt too exhausted to raise a protest.

"I'll excuse this guy quickly. I don't think either of us are in the mood." He looked at me out of the corner of his eye for acknowledgement.

I nodded and moaned, "please." As I watched Barbara bustle up the path, I found myself disappointed in her lack of perception. While Kael's blood stained shirt was at least hidden for the moment by his jacket, we both still looked worse for the wear. I was ready to pay her to leave if she took away more than five minutes of my time. Not that I had any money. I felt the credit card in my skirt. I would look up the number or company tonight if I could get my hands on a computer. Perhaps that would yield some new information. There had to be at least one computer in this mansion.

*****

Do you think the manor will yield more information for Harper? Leave a vote and a comment if you like. Thanks for reading!

*****