A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) (30 page)

"I won't even ask details about what you'd do. I have enough memories in my head I'd love to forget, like the kid's face when he asked me to-"

"Hunter? What are you doing out of bed?"

Uh oh. Mom sounded pissed.

"Hunter!"

Chapter Twenty Four

Hunter had another flashback. He'd gone still and he wouldn't focus. What went on in that mind of his when these things hit? Becca remembered the words from Dr. Ryan.
Just help him come out of it.

"Hunter, come back to the present." Becca stayed calm. He gripped the sides of the chair. His lips parted, but no words came out. "Hey. Come back to me, Hunter. Wherever you are, it's the past. I'm right here." She ran a hand through his hair, hoping he'd come out of this soon. That name set him off. It triggered something.

When he snapped out of it, his eyes were wide. "I know that name. Joe Whitemore. A friend of my family."

"Did you-?"

"A flashback. Yeah. I don't know how real the flashback itself was, but I know that name." Hunter's voice cracked.

Becca went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water for him. As she did, Hunter explained to Jed about his flashbacks and how things were triggering memories. She handed him the water. After he took a few sips, he took a deep breath and started talking about the flashback.

"Joe was like my honorary uncle. I don't remember how he met our family. Maybe a long time friend of Dad's. In my flashback, I was sitting on the stairs as my twelve year old self listening to a conversation. Dad said he didn't want to get Joe involved again. He kept talking about the Langes and how they needed to keep the little girl safe." His gaze landed on Becca. "I'm guessing that was you."

"What else?" Jed prompted. If he thought Hunter's flashbacks were odd, he didn't say.

"The Langes were on vacation. I don't know where. Apparently we were going to meet them. Dad didn't want me to know anything."

"Then the crash happened and Joe never contacted you after that?" Jed asked.

Hunter shook his head. "No. I forgot about him until you said his name. If he was involved with whatever this is, then that crash cleared his name of anything. Of course he wouldn't come find me."

"You wouldn't happen to remember a vacation, Becca?" Jed focused on her.

"I wish I could. I have very limited memories before the crash."

"Oh! Bec, show him the letter." Hunter nudged her.

The ... Oh! Why didn't she think of that? "Good idea!" She shot up from her chair to grab it. That reminded her, she still hadn't looked through the pictures. Her hands were shaky by the time she went back to the dining room and handed it to Jed.

He looked it over, then flicked his gaze back to Becca. "I think you should contact her. It's an open invitation. Maybe she could shed some light. She obviously wants to reach out to you."

"I know. I've been thinking about it. It doesn't seem like she knows her daughter is dead. I don't know if I can talk to her and be the one to tell her." And she wasn't ready, but now she just might have to do it. Carrie's, err, Sylvia's mother might have an insight to her- to Rusty that she didn't know about.

Becca hated how difficult it was to call Rusty her father now. He was the only one she'd ever known.

"I agree with Jed, angel." Hunter toyed with a lock of her hair. "If Sylvia knew something about you, then it's a lead to follow. Her mom might be able to give us something, even if it's small. I'll tell her about her daughter if it comes down to that so you don't have to. It might be all we have to go on right now."

She pursed her lips. This affected Hunter too, as the few clues they had pointed to his parents' involvement. He had a right to know just as much as she did. Decision made, she nodded. "Okay. I'll do it."

They made copies of a few things for Jed before he left, apologizing that he'd brought such bad news. Not that he had anything to apologize for. He'd done exactly what they wanted him to. Find the truth.

The truth hurt.

*****

There were two things Hunter needed to do next. One was to hold Becca tight and do everything within his power to make her feel safe. That lost look in her eyes haunted him. He would rather them have met by a terrible fate like the crash than to have been unknowingly connected by family secrets. He wasn't about to trust that flashback because face it, the damn idea sounded crazy. But as he'd learned about triggers and things that set them off, he had to at least be a little in tune with what they were. Which led him to the second thing. He needed to look up Joe's name and see if there really was a connection with him and his family. Long shot, but he wouldn't know unless he tried.

After walking Jed out, Hunter found Becca still sitting at the table, her phone and that letter in front of her. He must have startled her when he walked in because she jumped slightly before looking his way.

"I want to call my grandparents so bad- but then I keep thinking no, they aren't my grandparents. They don't have to do or tell me anything, but I have a right to know and they kept things from me! I wonder if my aunt knew. It doesn't matter, because she's gone too! My mind won't stop filling with images of a family looking for their child! Who the hell am I?" The distraught, angry tone in her voice shattered Hunter to pieces. "Stolen. I could have been stolen. I just- I can't get that thought out of my head!"

Without a word, he pulled her to her feet and held on tight. What could he say? He was sorry his family possibly had something to do with it? Maybe if his parents didn't get on that plane with the Langes they'd all be alive right now? None of that would work! It wasn't enough. They weren't answers, and that's what Becca needed most.

Becca cried against him. Finally, she allowed herself to let out the frustration. He rested his hand on the back of her head, threading his fingers through her hair.

Hunter thought back to his flashbacks. His father had always been insistent on keeping Becca safe. If these were actually memories, then it meant something, right? Or maybe it was because she'd been stolen that they had to keep her safe. No, that didn't make sense. Why was he so adamant about keeping her safe?

I wish I understood why this is all in my head!

"This is worse. Knowing something is off, but the possibility of never having an answer is terrible! If I'm adopted or stolen, how are we ever going to find out? We both have sketchy memories, all parties responsible are dead, and so much time has passed!" Becca raised her head, her cheeks red and stained with tears.

Hunter brushed them away gently. "I'll look up Joe Whitemore. If he's still alive, I have no problem contacting him and getting information. In fact, I'll show up at his door unannounced so that he has no time to hide. I don't understand how a simple name can draw up so many memories, but it did. I just don't know what he was involved with. I don't trust my memories a hundred percent." He looked Becca in the eye. "As for who the hell you are, you're the best thing to ever happen to me and I'm going to find every answer you're wanting, no matter how long it takes or how much I have to spend to get them. I'll even go badger your grandparents if I have to. You know how you said they took care of your old house and never really let you have anything from it? Maybe this is why. They seemed to have a guess something was off and they wanted to clear everything. I bet they know a hell of a lot more than they let on. I wish I could-" He curled a fist at his side, the anger bubbling. Damn them!

"It didn't even cross my mind," Becca said quietly. "But if they were so afraid of being exposed before, why did they all of a sudden let it happen?"

"Probably because they know I'll fight it every which way. It explains their dislike for me all these years. I thought it was just because they're cold people. They didn't want us to stay connected because our families have a history." He just didn't know what that history was yet. "Have you talked to your grandparents recently?"

"They don't know I'm able to talk again, but I heard from them when the news hit about Sylvia's death. They wanted to know if I was going to stop searching now that she was gone. I replied and told them no, I'm still looking. I haven't heard a thing since. Rissi also told me no one's been around the apartment asking about me since I moved."

Okay, that one alarmed him, especially since Becca swore she'd been followed a few weeks ago. He'd chalked that one up to maybe her grandparents had someone watching her, but the apartment lurking didn't add up. There were way too many unanswered questions and not enough answers.

Heaving a sigh, Hunter hugged Becca again. "I think it's time to look up Joe. Have you thought about how you're going to contact Sylvia's mom?"

"I think I'll start off with an email. She included it in her letter along with a mailing address, but I want instant." Tears were still in her eyes. "I'm so afraid," she whispered. "A crash is bad enough, and I always wondered about why, where, and how. I never expected such a connection."

"I know. Why couldn't we have met under normal circumstances? We could have grown up together. Maybe I wouldn't be the mess I am today," he mused. What would it have been like to grow up normally with Becca? Hunter painted a picture of it in his mind, but no matter how much he liked the idea, it wasn't reality. They'd been young pawns in a bigger picture of things that just started to come to light. Innocent kids that were drawn into adult decisions that affected them twenty years later. Damn!

"I don't want to lose us." Her tone and the look in her eyes was pleading.

"Not happening," Hunter promised, kissing her lips. "Whatever our families did doesn't affect us as a couple if we don't let it. You and I aren't responsible for anything they did. I still love you with everything I have." He wrapped an arm around her. "Come on. Let's go see what we can find out."

*****

Dear Amelia,

Thank you for reaching out. I'm grateful for the personal effects. I wish I had more memories of him...

Delete.

Dear Amelia,

Your daughter stirred up so many ghosts and I don't know how to tell you this but-

Delete.

Becca leaned back with a sigh. Suffice to say, writing wasn't her strongest suit, especially when it came to an important moment like this.

So, this wasn't going to work at the moment. Her mind was far too crowded with conflicting thoughts to actually create a rational letter.

"Bec?" Hunter's urgent cry disrupted her.

Email forgotten, she bolted up and hurried to him. "What did you find?"

"I paid a fee a while ago to look up old newspaper articles. I don't remember what I was looking for at the time. It was a few years ago. Anyway, look." He pointed. A scanned image of an old newspaper caught her attention. She read the headline.

Whitemore mourns the loss of partner, Charles Beckman, who perished in a plane crash.

"Partner?" Becca leaned closer.

"My dad was a lawyer. He met Joe in law school. Joe's real!" Hunter sounded relieved. "This was in Maryland. Let's see where Joe is now."

Scooting out of the way, Becca watched Hunter's every move. He typed a few things in and clicked through a few sites.

"He's living in Rhode Island. He's not too far, not if I take a plane ride. Bec, I can go there and talk to him." He stood, taking her hands in his. "Maybe he has answers."

Wait, leave now? Could they do that? There was work, appointments, and everything else. But this could lead to answers.

"What if I ask Todd to fly me down there? It'd be quick. I'll catch a plane back. A day, maybe two. I don't know about driving." He stopped when Becca stared at him in surprise. "What?"

She held up a finger. "You don't even want to go on planes, and part of me wants to go, too." And she sure didn't want to go on a plane.

Hunter nodded. "Right. Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself."

Thinking about it, maybe Hunter had a point. He could go, be quick, and find out what he needed to. Was there any real reason for her to go? She couldn't just skip out on work this soon, even though she had a feeling they would understand. Most likely though, she'd just be holding him back.

Becca took his hand. "Just a day or two? No more?"

"There's no need for more. I just want to talk to him face to face. I don't want to let him know I'm coming. If he's got something to hide, I want to see it on his face when I walk up to him."

"You'd be okay to fly?"

Hunter sucked on his lower lip. "I don't know, but for the truth I'm willing to risk it. If I'm just a passenger, I'm sure I'll be okay."

He didn't sound sure.

"Okay, but you have to promise me you'll be safe, and call me every chance you get," Becca begged. What if he had a nightmare or a flashback? So many scenarios played in her head.

"What could go wrong?"

A typical Hunter answer, but Becca had a feeling so much could.

"Maybe you should let Jed find him." Second thoughts filled her head. Hunter was probably better off not going. She debated back and forth in her mind about this whole thing.

Hunter ran his hand along her cheek. "Bec, I think the best thing to do is go see him face to face. That photo is proof that he's real and he knew my family. He's a link. I think we both need this. I know I've been out of it lately, but I really feel like it's the best thing to do."

The tone in his voice, the way his eyes held so much question, she knew he needed this too. With a slow nod, Becca agreed. "Okay. You can't blame me for worrying."

"No, I can't. You know I appreciate it." He kissed her. "Let's go talk to Todd and Beverly." Shutting off the monitor, Hunter ran out of the room. There was nothing left for Becca to do but follow. His mind was made up, even if she still doubted this plan.

Chapter Twenty Five

Hunter had to admit it, standing in front of a plane again knowing he was going to be on it brought out his anxious side. He wouldn't be piloting the plane, but the idea of getting on one again didn't appeal to him. Why did he cater to his spur of the moment thoughts again? Everyone else had their concerns too. Standing here now, he understood why. It took a long time to convince Todd to do this, so Hunter swallowed any of his doubt away and acted like this was a breeze.