Secret Indiscretions (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Chapter Six

"Is Children Services sending Carter back to camp when he is released tomorrow?" Myles inquired after they left the hospital.

"Foster care," she informed softly. "The social worker I'm in contact with is getting closer to identify the three boys. She knocked on every door of the apartment building, and aside from three tenants who are absent this week she interrogated everyone."

He whistled, impressed.

"No one claimed them, Myles, but the boys look familiar to lots of them."

"So they did live there," Myles assumed. "Any chance they could belong to the three missing families?"

"Very probable," she said, nodding. "The landlord gave Manuela access to those apartments. There were signs young children lived in each one."

"So, where are those people? And why leave the children behind?"

"I can think of lots of reason," she said, though they all sounded lame to her ears. "Myles? What if Manuela gave up her grandson? What if none of those boys are related to her... or your family?"

"Then I guess my quest is over," he answered, wondering if it would bring peace and closure.

They arrived as the sun was setting down over the gardens. Offering her his arm, they strolled through the flowerbeds.

"This is so beautiful," she murmured, admiring the colourful combinations.

"Wait till I show you the roses."

He led her towards a small pond. After crossing the bridge she stood transfixed. The delicate scent assaulted her nose.

"As much as I try, I must admit I have never been able to quite replicate Kiko's masterpiece."

"He is exaggerating," chuckled a musical voice from behind the bushes. "I have seen master Myles' garden, and it compares very nicely to this one." Standing up with a pruning object in her hand, the older lady nodded towards Tara. "Good evening. I'm Kiko," she greeted with a charming Asian accent.

"Kiko." Myles warmly kissed the gardener on the cheek. "This is Tara Williams, a friend of mine."

"It's incredible," Tara voiced, her arms encompassing everything she could see.

"Kiko, I need to talk with Pierre. Would you mind giving Tara a tour?"

"Of course not." Taking the blond woman arm, she hushed Myles away. "You go inside, and I will delight her with stories."

"I can only dream of what it would be like to grow up in here," Tara whispered in awe. "Children playing hide and seek... teenagers making out in the bushes," she said, wondering if any applied to Myles. To her surprise Kiko laughed. "Did I say something funny?"

"Master Myles wouldn't play here with other children," she recalled, smiling fondly. "He's always come here alone... until tonight." Kiko looked warmly at the woman by her side. "The gardens were his oasis. The only place where you could get a glimpse of his heart. He was a wonderful boy, you know, but raised too rigidly. It used to upset him when his little brother ravaged through the garden. Good thing he had moved out by the time Alexander reached teenage years."

"Did Alexander make a different use of the flowerbeds?"

"Among other thing," chortled the gardener.

"Did his parents ever catch him with his girlfriend?"

"Thank goodness, no," she exclaimed, "or he would have been in lots of trouble."

"Because she was a maid?" Tara suggested. When the gardener remained silent, Tara assumed she was wrong. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply..."

"I always thought I was the only one who knew their secret," Kiko whispered.