36
Brody
I carried a stack of plates into the kitchen. Hunter, Griffin, and Ford all eyed the family room where the girls had gone to join in on movie night with the kids. I could hear an occasional giggle and squeal as something took place on the screen.
Hunter took the top plate from my stack, rinsing it and placing it in the dishwasher. “You want to give us the full rundown? Tell us how we can help?”
I should’ve known they wouldn’t let such a huge revelation pass without further discussion. I wouldn’t have either, not if the person affected was so close to Shay. I strained my neck to see into the family room. Little Mia was in Shay’s lap as they watched kids fight pirates on the screen. I didn’t think Shay would mind if I shared more. She’d shown tonight that she trusted these people. And, God, I was proud of her for taking that step.
I turned back to Ford and Griffin. “Her brother’s mentally ill. A conduct disorder with callous and unemotional traits. I’ve done a little digging on it, and that’s the politically correct term for a psychopath. They’re hesitant to dump that term on kids.”
Griffin grunted. “Understandable. He ever get treatment?”
“From what I’ve gathered, their parents tried over and over to get him help. Psychologists and psychiatrists. Medications and behavioral therapies. He was hospitalized repeatedly. And they had just found an in-patient treatment facility before their deaths.”
Ford leaned against the counter, shaking his head. “What happened?”
I knew more of the details from what Dante had found as opposed to what Shay had shared. I got it. I couldn’t imagine how painful it would be to relive those moments. What she’d seen and experienced. The swift punch of rage took me by surprise. I understood that Michael was ill, that he couldn’t control his actions. I even had some empathy for the boy and the man. But it didn’t drown out the rage.
I gripped the edge of the counter as I leaned against it, pouring all of that anger out into my hold, my fingertips screaming from the pressure. “Shay had been at a violin recital. Her parents had stayed home to talk to Michael. To tell him about the new program he’d be attending. Cops learned later that Michael had already known about their plans. Overheard his mom talking to the intake doc on the phone. He planned everything.”
It was hard for me to understand how an eleven-year-old boy could have that kind of capability, but Michael McCabe clearly did. “Their mom had a prescription for anti-anxiety meds. He crushed some up and put them in the parents’ drinks. As soon as they started to feel the effects, he began. The father tried to make a run for the phone, but Michael caught him in the hallway with a knife. They weren’t able to get a total tally on the stab wounds, there was so much rage.”
Griffin muttered a curse, his jaw flexing.
“Then Michael came back to the kitchen. His mother was trying to drag herself to the hallway, towards her husband’s screams. He killed her right there. That’s where Shay found her. She slipped in the blood on the tile floor.”
I could see it in my mind as if I were there. Even though I had no idea what the house looked like and hadn’t seen photos of her parents. I wanted to be able to stop Shay before she ever reached the front door. To whisk her away so she never had to experience what came next. “Michael caught her in the kitchen. They don’t know how long he had her, but she had over thirty stab wounds and cuts. The houses in their neighborhood were set far apart, but a neighbor across the street had gone outside to take out his garbage cans. He heard a scream and called the cops. The sirens sent Michael running. He thought she was dead.”
“How’d they catch him?” Ford asked, his voice rough.
“He was just swinging in a nearby park. Covered in blood. Knife in his hands. He went with them willingly.”
“Holy hell,” Hunter muttered. “How do you ever get over that?”
“You don’t.” Shay would live with those memories forever, and there was nothing I could do to erase them. But even though I couldn’t take them away, I could fill her life with good things. So many happy memories that the bad ones would have less space to live.
Ford ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe they let someone like that out.”
“Me either.” If it were up to me, Michael would be locked up for the rest of his life.
Griffin straightened. “Be honest. Do you think he’s going to come after her?”
“I truly don’t know.” If there was ever one answer I wished I had, it would be that. But there were too many unknowns. “I put a P.I. on it. So far, Michael’s staying on the straight and narrow. All a little too tidy in Dante’s opinion.”
“But he doesn’t know where she is, right?” Ford asked.
I nodded. “He’s good with computers. He tracked her to a PO Box she set up back east but hasn’t made it past there. She gets mail from that box forwarded here. He’s sent her a few letters.”
Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “Threats?”
“Nothing outright, but they’re definitely weird. And Shay says they’re his version of threats.” I would never understand the language the two of them shared, but I trusted that Shay knew what she was talking about.
Ford shifted on his feet. “That’s why she took the job on Harbor, isn’t it? She can live with no trail.”
“Yup. And, apparently, her brother’s afraid of the water. Refuses to get on a boat or anything.” And as messed up as it was, I’d be forever grateful that Shay had been forced to take that job. Because it had brought her to me.
Hunter let out a low whistle. “So, she’s safe. As long as she stays here.”
I hoped she was. “I’m not taking any risks. Now that you know, we can all keep our eyes open.”
“You can count on it,” Ford said.
Griffin grunted in agreement. “I never would’ve thought we’d be keeping an eye out for a psycho brother and a murderer on our tiny island.”
“The world is going to hell,” Hunter muttered. “Even our little corner of it isn’t untouched.”
“Any updates from Parker?” Ford asked.
Everyone shook their heads, and I echoed the movement. “We saw Sam in town the other day. If his glare was anything to go by, Shay and I should both be dead.”
“He might not be the person who killed those folks, but he’s not exactly a good dude, either,” Griffin said.
Hunter’s jaw clenched. “Well, we all know now. That’s twice I haven’t seen the truth about someone so close.”
Ford slapped him on the back. “It’s not your fault.”
Hunter shrugged off his hand. “I gotta get going, early morning tomorrow.”
I watched as he headed for the front door without saying goodbye to anyone else. I looked back at Ford. “What was that about?”
He slumped back against the counter. “We had some trouble a ways back. Someone stalking me and Bell, trying to hurt us both.” Ford paused for a moment as if struggling to get the words out. “It turned out to be one of Hunter’s best friends. He kidnapped Bell, and we almost lost her.”