Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(67)
“Then bring them out. With the three of us, we’ll get through them faster.”
Trying not to disturb Issa, he quietly brought out the box with all the paperwork and then the keepsake box.
Panther suggested, “Let’s take a thorough look, then pack and seal it, so we don’t need to go through it again.”
Eagle opened the keepsake box obediently, sorry it showed wear from sheer age plus from their unpacking of its contents. The lid was slightly damaged and part of the inside tray fell apart, displaying a piece of paper.
“Damn. I feel like she should be the one to look at this.”
“Hell no. She’s sleeping.” Tiger shook his head. “We’re watching over her. The sooner we find out what the hell’s going on, the better. We could wait hours for Sleeping Beauty to wake up.”
Eagle admitted they had a point. He pulled it out and took a look. “It’s a letter from her mother. It talks about bank accounts and, yes, a safe-deposit box,” he said quietly. “Let me scan this in the computer.”
The note started with an apology.
I’m sorry, Issa. I never did right by you. I’ve tried to in the end, but you were so very different than the rest of my children. Maybe because you had a different side. Every time I saw you, it was a reminder of the life I’d never have. I loved Angus. But I was married to your da. And he would never have let me go. Angus wanted me to leave with him. And, to this day, I don’t know if Angus had something to do with your da’s death, as I suspect. It all happened so fast. I don’t think the truth will ever be known. Your da didn’t know about me and Angus for a long time. Until he caught us. That’s why he beat Angus, almost killing him. And we stopped for a while.
What you don’t know is that there’s money for you … and a few other things that are very special. After all, there is no one else left in the family to receive it. I didn’t dare touch it. It’s blood money. Some from Da. Some from Angus. I loved both men and lost them both. There is no forgiveness for that. For the longest time I figured there was no forgiveness for you either. That there must be something evil in your spirit because the birds would talk to you. When we came to America, you were still so shocked, still in such pain, and couldn’t talk. I realized you were really what you’ve always been—just an innocent child—but I couldn’t change how I felt. And for that I know you must hate me too. Still maybe the money will help make up for it. It’s in Ireland. I don’t dare go back and retrieve it. There could be men waiting for me—and now you. I don’t know how many years it’ll take before this will blow over. I left as soon as I could. After all, there was nothing to keep me there. Even now I don’t know the truth of what happened that night. Maybe it’s for the best.
The key for the safe-deposit box is in here too. It’s for the bank where your da kept everything. There are account numbers and the safe-deposit box number written on the back of this letter. And then there is an old keepsake box I left at your favorite place—a duplicate of the one I had at home. The address is on the back too. Once you open up the box, you will open up so much more than you really want to know. Part of me wants you to walk away and leave it. Just like I did. You’re strong. You’re educated. You’re capable. You don’t need the pain that will come by going back. But the other part of me says you have as much right to it as anyone. Maybe it’s time for the truth to come out anyway. What we know of the truth anyway. Know that I love you, even though I never showed you.
Your mother
Chapter 21
She woke when she heard the voices talking about the keepsake box and something about a letter. When she heard the letter being read out loud, tears came to her eyes. She threw back the blankets, sat up, and walked softly into the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around her chest and whispered, “Do you think she loved me at all?”
The men turned to see her, guilt written on their faces.
She waved a hand dismissively. “You were right to read it. I could’ve slept for hours.” She reached for the letter. Eagle gave it to her and went back to inspecting the box. She knew he would dismantle it panel by panel. She studied the bank information. “None of this means anything to me.”
“It doesn’t matter. All the information is there.” He glanced at her. “Do you have a passport?”
She frowned. “It’s in my own safe-deposit box at the bank. I had no security at my cabin. I didn’t know where else to keep things like that.”
“How do you feel about a road trip?”
She dropped down on the closest kitchen chair. “Are you talking about going to Ireland?”
Eagle nodded. “We have to get to the bottom of this.”
“Even though she wanted me to leave it alone?”
He crossed his arms. “Good point. It is your decision, not mine.”
Panther said, “Some things are meant to be left alone.”
“But all of it would’ve been twenty years ago, and how much more pain could there be now? I already know my father was a criminal and that he might not even be my father.” She took a deep breath. “The biggest problem with not going is always wondering …”
The men waited and nodded.
She looked from one to the other. “All of us?”