Savage (A Blood Feud Novel)

Chapter Thirty-One

Fraser arrived at Gilligan's. Chief Clancy was sitting at a booth. A second man was there too. Fraser didn't know who that man was. He slid next to Chief Clancy.

There was an uneasy silence.

Finally, Clancy decided to break the ice. He finished the rest of his glass, turned to Fraser, said, "I'm sorry about Sheila."

Fraser folded his right hand. Right there he wanted to pound the bastard's face in. It took all the willpower to resist the urge. The anger wasn't subsiding. Fraser had barely touched his glass.

"I want to clear the air with you," Chief Clancy said. "As you know, the mayor of the town has recently put me in an unattainable position. We're a tiny force, and we need all the help we could get. That's why I arranged for the both of us to meet here."

It was as if fucking Sheila wasn't a thing to the Chief. Fraser felt contempt for the bastard. He had already semiretired from the force. It was time to leave entirely. He couldn't be around both Grant and the Chief without wanting to do damage.

"You don't mind telling me how you got in-between Sheila and me?" Fraser said.

Chief Clancy was silent. He didn't respond to that question as Fraser would have wanted. He looked uncomfortable. Fraser grinned. Now he wanted to punch this bastard.

"I am coping with a grieving daughter," Fraser said as he began to drink his beer. "I need answers, Ian. My daughter thinks it's my fault her mother died. She wasn't aware that her mother was carrying a bastard child."

That last part of the sentence was a dig at Chief Clancy. The Chief sighed. He ordered another glass of the draft. He sensed the conversation was going nowhere.

"Fraser," Chief Clancy said sympathetically. "I am sorry for having violated our trust and Sheila's. We started seeing each soon after she had that split from you. It wasn't meant to hurt you or your daughter. I didn't think you guys would get back together. I admit, looking back, I should have used proper judgment."

"Its proper judgment my fucking ass," Fraser hissed.

"Fraser, I'm sorry," Chief Clancy said apologetically.

Fraser leaned in on the Chief. Their noses were just a few inches apart. "You took advantage of her, Ian. You knew she was still down and out. The fact that she was carrying your child at the time of her death makes it even worse. I'll never forgive you for this."

The Chief looked down. Fraser backed away. He drank down the rest of hisbeer. He stood off the stool, turned and briskly was out the bar.