Savage (A Blood Feud Novel)

Chapter Thirty

Fraser was in the sitting room when Emily appeared.

She looked sullen and tired. She was beaten down by the grieving she had undertaken for her late mother. It had been a couple of days after the funeral, and it still seemed like a dream to her.

"Dad, why did she leave us?" Emily asked.

Fraser didn't answer. The recurring thoughts of Chief Clancy and his brother fucking Sheila were drowning him. He knew the Chief all those years spent together on the police squad.

He had known about his brother screwing his wife, but the Chief's betrayal was the ultimate dagger after Vivian told Emily in her drunken state. Fraser couldn't believe the men around him were so untrustworthy.

Emily placed a hand on her father's shoulder. Fraser looked up at her. She gave a weary smile but behind it was the pain. Fraser wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry sweetie-cakes," he said. "I wish I could have helped your mother. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I promise you, sweetheart, that I will find the people who've done this to your mother. I promise this on my life."

Emily began to cry again. She let go. Fraser turned and sat back down. Emily went back upstairs.

The doorbell rang. Fraser stood up. He wondered who could be visiting. Fraser wasn't expecting anybody to come over, asides from his former good friend the Chief. When he answered the door to his surprise, it was Officer Leary.

Officer Leary held a small envelope in his right hand. Something told Fraser the envelope was something Officer Leary wanted to share with him but couldn't.

"What brings you back?" Fraser asked coldly.

Officer Leary replied, "We've got a witness who saw the whole thing from start to finish. He said it was a small car, probably a Cooper but he couldn't make out the exact make."

Fraser folded his arms.

"So why are you telling me this?" he said.

Officer Leary replied, "I've run a check through the registry. There are only two Coopers currently registered here in Aignéis County. I haven't shown the details to the Chief. Here, I thought you should look at it first."

He handed the envelope to Fraser, who took it, looked back up at Officer Leary and said, "I can do what I want with this?"

Officer Leary nodded, said, "It's off the record."

"Thanks," Fraser said. "I appreciate that John. You can go."

Officer Leary nodded again and left. Fraser closed the door and returned to his sofa. He sat down and placed the envelope on the table.

He thought about what the young officer had said. He glanced around the room. At the corner to his right was an old photograph of him and Sheila, taken a few weeks after Emily was born. Fraser smiled.

He stood and grabbed the photograph. He stared at it. It was a cherished memory now. He sat back down with the picture in one hand. He started to tear up. It was before things had turned sour between the both of them before she had gone around screwing every man she met. He set the photograph aside and turned. Emily was standing there, her arms folded and glaring at her father. Fraser wondered what was bugging her.

Fraser stood up. He wasn't in the mood to confront his grieving daughter. He sighed, took a deep breath, said, "Emily, sweetie, I'm sorry."

Emily's eyes narrowed. She had things in her mind she wanted to say. Instead, she chose to keep her words. She turned and again and went out the front door.

Fraser waited for her to come back inside. She didn't. His mobile rang. He grabbed it from his left pocket and on the screen was Chief Clancy's number.

"What do you want?" Fraser asked coldly.

"I want a word, Fraser. Can we meet at Gilligan's?" Chief Clancy said. "I'll buy us a drink."

Click.

Fraser tossed his mobile. He was seething. The very thought of Chief Clancy being on top of Sheila was back again. Fraser couldn't reverse that image.

He grabbed his jacket and drove to Gilligan's.