Twenty Three by Murray McDonald

Author:Murray McDonald [McDonald, Murray]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

The sun setting over the ocean cast an amber glow across the town. As the light faded and color gave way to darkness, silence fell. It had been a long day with a lot they still had to unpack but that would wait for another day. The FBI with all of their resources were arriving the following morning and would help uncover the mysteries of what was quickly being heralded as Death Island.

Kay had spent the day bringing the team up to speed with her findings and revelations left behind by Beaumont. She had gone through the last few years of Beaumont’s files, but it appeared his winddown to retirement had been just that, a complete wind down. From the files, nothing of note had happened for the previous three years. However, with twenty-seven years of questionable material to work with, the number of questions they raised were going to take some time to work through and were going to upset a number of islanders. But that was for another day. Kay switched off the desk lamp and surveyed the town hall which had become their interim investigation center.

Everyone was still at it, except for Fitch. Following the re-opening of his wife and daughter's case, he must have read the file twenty times, restarting each time he finished. Winters had tried to intervene but was swatted away. Kay had considered trying but given their relationship was at a different level of complicated, she thought it best not. Jackson had hung around far longer than normal, assisting his guys. There was clearly some guilt he was going to have to offload. But digging in and helping had certainly helped his standing with Winters, who had made a point of thanking him before he left. Fitch had raised his head in acknowledgment, which was a breakthrough in relations.

Kay glanced out the window and saw it was fully dark. “Guys, do you think we should call it day?”

“I think a few drinks at the Tidewater are called for,” said Winters.

Only two disagreed, Fitch and Kay. As the others readied themselves to leave, Kay waited for Fitch. He didn’t move. He sat staring at the file.

When Winters came towards them, Kay waved him away, mouthing, “I’ve got it, go.”

He looked questioningly but Kay insisted, waving them all away. They echoed their goodbyes and left Fitch and Kay alone, the first time since they had been since that morning.

“Fitch?”

Fitch kept staring at the file. A tear dropped and darkened a small circular section of the cardboard cover. “I’m sorry, we can’t.”

She took his head and cradled him. “I never expected to. I stayed for you, not for that.”

His body relaxed and his head fell against her, the tension easing. He’d definitely been beating himself up as much as he had been ingesting every crumb of detail from the file. “I’ve never felt a connection with anyone since, and then this.”

Kay pulled a nearby chair over and sat with him, taking his hand in hers. “Do you want to tell me about them?”

Fitch raised his head, checking she was being sincere.

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