Her Guardians Lost(16)

“So tell me what’s on your mind.”

Sighing, Simon closed his eyes. “It’s Justin Merryfield.”

“What about him?”

“Well, we’ve been delving into his past and nothing adds up. You see, someone like him should have priors for something like this. I’m not talking about abducting young girls, but a history of some sort. He has no sexual priors, no indecent assaults, no history of any kind. It’s just…weird. He was a little timid and a little quiet in school, but was a great student. His work colleagues don’t understand how he could have done this. He was always polite, hard-working, and extremely diligent. I can’t understand it.”

Turning my head, I pursed my lips in thought. It did seem a bit odd. You would think there would be something, even if it was the tiniest hint of something out of the ordinary. It made me wonder. If Simon wouldn’t let me see his sister, then maybe he...

“Let me see him.” The words were out of my mouth before I even registered them. What am I getting myself into?

Simon’s bewildered stare held mine. “Cassie, that is not a good—”

“Let me see him somewhere comfortable—somewhere quiet. Maybe he will feel relaxed enough to open up to me. If not, there is always the alternative.”

I looked up at Simon with an amused smile. He needed answers and, right now, I needed to give him those answers. I needed something to take my mind off everything that happened.

“I wouldn’t know what I would do to myself if anything happened to you. I refuse to let you in the same room as that evil son of a bitch.”

Sighing, I slouched in my seat. “Look, I know you don’t want to hear this, but your sister and niece don’t feel that way.”

Simon looked at me, anger written all over his face. “How can you say that? They only feel that way because he brainwashed them.”

Raising my hand in surrender, I tried placating him. “I know, I know. It’s just… You’re obviously feeling there is something not quite right. I feel, like you must, that the answer lies with Justin Merryfield. If I can get into his mind, maybe I can get to the heart of what really went on over the years. Come on, Simon. You know it makes sense.”

I could see him contemplating. Just as he was about to answer, there was a knock on the door.

“Hold that thought, Simon. It must be Michael with the pizza.” He saw me dash off the sofa in rapt enthusiasm. I could hear the laughter echoing around the room as I answered the door.

It wasn’t Michael. In my surprise, I almost forgot myself. “Hi, Sime…Stephen.” Just the mere mention of his name had my gut twisting. I could hear the voice in my head telling me I shouldn’t be calling him by that name. He wasn’t Stephen—far from it.

“Hey, Twink...Cassie. Is it okay to visit?”

I moved so he could walk through the door. There was no way I was going to tell him to leave in front of Simon because that wouldn’t look right.

“Hey, boss. How are you?”

Simon rose from his seat with a big smile. “I’m good, thanks. I just thought I’d visit Cassie and see how she’s getting on.”

As they were talking, I glanced over at Simeon. He wore casual jeans and a white V-necked t-shirt. Lord knows how he could wear such a thing with as cold as it was outside. His hair was a sexy, wavy mess, just like Stephen’s. He hadn’t shaved today and sported a rather sexy five o’clock shadow. His eyes were the exact replica of Stephen’s. They were a dazzling shade of blue that could hold your stare for hours. The only difference was that he lacked that natural glint Stephen possessed.

There was also another way I could tell them apart. Simeon had this way of standing while he talked. He kind of leaned to one leg as he relaxed into a conversation. I noticed it when I was in the hospital. I don’t recall ever seeing Stephen doing that.

Just as I was appraising him, Simeon looked over with a glint in his eye. Busted. I didn’t want him thinking my staring was intentional.

“Cassie,” he said with an amused smile. “Simon was just saying you were waiting for pizza.”

Did he? I didn’t hear anything. “Oh...oh, yes. Michael will be here soon with some. I’m absolutely starving.”

I caught the humour in his smile, but I wasn’t going to let him see how much he affected me. He just looked like him—he wasn’t him.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, finally broken by a knock on the door. This had to be Michael.

As I swung the door open, I was met by a comforting smile and the most delicious smell. I breathed in deep and sighed. “Oh, wow. That smells heavenly.”