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“So, Lisa’s mentioned that you have some questions regarding your father.” Uncle Gordon nodded in the direction of the far entryway, although Taryn already knew that he was signaling for dinner to be brought in. She’d noticed right away one of the servants waiting in the wind. “I’m not sure why you think we would have information that your mother doesn’t already have. I’m also wondering what has made you so curious. Has something happened?”

Taryn shared a look with Ethan, already knowing how this was going to take place. It was apparent that they knew something and Aunt Lisa wanted her husband to take over from this point forward just in case she said something she shouldn’t. Taryn released the stem of her water glass and placed both hands on her lap, not wanting her family to see her fingers tremble with anger. She vowed that by the time this night was through she’d have the truth.

Chapter Six

E
than finished his dinner and used the cloth napkin to wipe his mouth. The food had been delicious, but he’d expected nothing less. These people were diametrically opposed to everything that Taryn was in every way and he couldn’t be more grateful that she had turned out the way she had. She’d handled herself well and she avoided giving away the reason they were here to begin with. Lisa appeared more relaxed once Gordon had arrived to steer the evening in the direction that she wanted. Now that the tension had loosened, it was the perfect time to strike.

The dinner conversation had gotten slightly quiet after Gordon had announced there was nothing else to learn about George Sisal. He’d been a good brother, an average student, and he’d moved away in his early twenties. According to Lisa busy lives got in the way of staying in touch, and before either she or her brother knew it a year would pass before one of them called each other. From the way Gordon took the lead in the discussion, it was obvious that both he and Lisa were covering up something.

Nothing had been discovered in regards to what Ethan and Taryn needed to know. Lisa spoke about her children quite a bit, although both had their own families and lived in different states. Taryn politely listened while he knew she was biting at the bit to ask more questions that he knew would get them nowhere.

“Gordon, you said that you’d just purchased a Pennsylvania Longrifle dating back to October 1835. Are you sure Colonel Crockett carried a .48 caliber Longrifle at the Alamo?” Ethan shared a glance with Taryn, whose brown eyes sparked to life in understanding of what he was trying to do. Divide and conquer. Taryn could continue to question her aunt, but Ethan believed that Gordon would be the one to eventually spill whatever family secret they were hiding. The man liked to hear himself talk. “I’d love to see it and the documentation you’ve collected.”

“Certainly,” Gordon beamed, ready to show off his latest prize and relate the critical provenance of Davy Crockett’s rifle used by him at the Alamo. Ethan smiled toward Lisa and excused himself, laying his napkin beside his plate. “We’ll go into the den and have an after dinner drink.”

Ethan could have chosen to follow Gordon out of the room from where he stood, but he decided to walk around the table so that he could touch Taryn on the shoulder and give her the reassurance she needed. Shit, maybe it was more for him because he’d already come to a decision and one that would shock the hell out of her like it did him. He felt something shift inside of him when her hand came to rest gently on his, squeezing his in acknowledgement. With that fortification Ethan continued on his way and through several rooms before reaching a very large office that was clearly Gordon’s domain. It smelled of stale cigar smoke and was musty, as if the office door remained closed most of the time. Dark cherry wood bookcases lined the walls with a matching oversized desk. A sitting area was to the right of the room, consisting of four leather stuffed-backed chairs that were situated around a coffee table that contained a tray with decanters of liquor with tumblers.

“You have quite an impressive spread here, Gordon.” Ethan didn’t take a seat right away but instead walked around the office as if he were admiring the man’s territory. When he reached a window he noticed the sun was starting to set. The acres seemed to come alive under the golden hue of the sunset. “You must be very proud of everything that you’ve accomplished.”

“I worked my fingers to the bone from the time I was sixteen years old,” Gordon boasted, pouring some amber liquid into two crystal glasses. He motioned to one of the chairs and Ethan finally walked over to where his brandy now waited for him. He had no doubt it was the best to be had, but he had no interest in the brand. His only concern was helping Taryn. “Lisa has been by my side every step of the way.”

“Speaking of Lisa, it’s got to be hard for her to be the keeper of her brother’s secret.” Ethan picked up the tumbler and sat back in his chair, getting right to the heart of the matter. Gordon wasn’t an obtuse man by any means. He knew that Taryn was here for one reason only and that it was only a matter of time before she uncovered the truth. “Why don’t we just cut to the chase, Gordon? You seem to be a straight shooter and I really would like to be the one to ease Taryn’s mind that her father didn’t have an affair while married to her mother. You can understand and respect that, I’m sure.”

“Affair?” Gordon asked, somewhat surprised and stopping in mid-light of his cigar. The larger than life man leaned back against his seat in what appeared more of relief than anything. Ethan’s interest was now piqued. “George didn’t have an affair while he was married to Sharon. Goodness, is that what this is about? Well, I can assure you no such machination happened.”

Gordon went about lighting what was sure a premium cigar and drew on the end numerous times, not that Ethan smoked them. He’d admit to having a cigarette every now and then, but smoking really wasn’t a habit that he preferred. The dense white smoke billowed into the air and eventually dissipated like the earlier tension. Ethan was slightly puzzled over the man’s answer.

“Is there a reason you seemed hesitant in saying that to begin with?” Ethan took a sip of the brandy and wasn’t surprised in the least when the smooth rich flavor slid down his throat with ease. “Taryn didn’t come here to dig up dirt just for the sake of it. This is important to her and her mother.”

Ethan didn’t feel the need to share that Taryn needed this for other reasons, the most important one being to bring down a formidable assassin who’d taken a personal interest in her. It was best that her aunt and uncle thought this was for family reasons.

“Then my niece can rest assured that her father wasn’t the type of man to indulge in such sordid affairs.” Gordon allowed more smoke to escape his mouth and he crossed his legs as if he were now taking the lead in this question and answer session. Ethan remained quiet, anticipating that this little chat would reveal something that would aid them in this case. “George loved Sharon from the moment he laid eyes on her. It didn’t take him long to pack his things and move to Wisconsin in pursuit of her. His father-in-law got him into the electrician business, and from my understanding did quite well for himself.”

Ethan refrained from speaking, knowing whatever words he said aloud would only irritate Gordon. Instead he took another measured sip of the brandy. George did well for himself? George evidently didn’t do well enough to stay in Gordon and Lisa’s social circle. The vacations from Wisconsin had stopped early on in Taryn’s life.

“It took us all by surprise when he died of a heart attack a few years back. He was so young,” Gordon said, shaking his head at the awfulness of it all. If Ethan recalled correctly the man hadn’t even come to the funeral. “Lisa said that Sharon and Taryn held up well at the viewing, but I can only imagine how tough that day was. It’s good to see Taryn so happy.”

“I’ve got to ask then—if George didn’t have an affair while he was married to Sharon, then why seem so uneasy with Taryn’s questions?” Ethan shook his head in response when Gordon asked silently if he’d like a cigar. Taryn would be relieved to hear what had been uncovered, but there was still more to be learned. “Whatever George might have done before he met Sharon shouldn’t really matter, should it?”

Gordon shifted restlessly in his chair and glanced toward the closed door. It wasn’t like anyone could hear their conversation, but it was evident he didn’t want Lisa to find out he was sharing the family dirt. The office was slowly filling up with cigar smoke and the inside humidity had risen as well. Ethan had to wonder how long he would be exposed to these elements, but he wasn’t leaving this room without the truth.

“Look, George kind of fell for one of Lisa’s friends a couple of years before he met Sharon.” Gordon took another puff of his cigar and squinted his eyes as if he were recalling the details from their youth. “It’s not something that Lisa likes to talk about and she doesn’t want Taryn to know because of whatever
scandal
it might cause. Madeline was married and it would have ignited the rumor mill. Lisa was relieved when another young fellow caught Madeline’s eye. My wife worries about her image, always has in fact, and George’s actions certainly would have sullied that. Especially when—well, you understand how the family skeletons have a way of coming out of the closet when you least expect it. But if all Taryn wanted was reassurance that George didn’t cheat on Sharon, well, there it is.”

Ethan let it slide the fact that Gordon was still keeping secrets, but what he’d shared was enough for them to start unraveling the pieces of Yvette Capre’s life. Had George fathered a child with this Madeline and she’d given the baby up for adoption? Did Gordon and Lisa know this, which is why they’d remained silent? For a sister to know something that life altering and keep it from her brother was downright wrong on so many levels. Ethan could tell that George was through with distributing any other information, but that was just fine. They had more than enough to go on.

“So show me this Crockett rifle that you bought recently,” Ethan suggested, placing his drink on the coffee table.

For the next hour the two men discussed weapons and the history behind certain manufacturers. Ethan didn’t particularly warm up to Gordon, for the man was a lot more like his wife than he thought. Money and what the green paper could buy meant the world to men like Gordon. Ethan felt sorry for him, knowing he would never know what true happiness was.

Ethan was impressed with what any collector would consider a find of a lifetime and quite possibly the very firearm that Colonel David Crockett had used at the Alamo—his final American Longrifle. The fact that Gordon would never allow such an incredible piece of history to be fired ever again made Ethan revile the avarice that Gordon and his wife typified. A light knock came at the door and when Gordon called out for entry, Lisa and Taryn appeared.

Ethan could decipher right away that Taryn had gotten nowhere with Lisa. Her brow was in a V and her nose scrunched in that cute manner of hers when she was irritated. He doubted that Gordon or Lisa caught the obvious tell. Ethan unraveled his frame from the chair and walked her way, letting her know with his body language that this evening wasn’t unsuccessful.

“Are you ready to drive back to the hotel?”

“Yes,” Taryn replied with a relieved smile. She waited until Gordon had put his cigar in the ashtray beside his chair and joined them before continuing. “Uncle Gordon, Aunt Lisa, thank you so much for dinner. It was great to get caught up.”

“Are you driving home tomorrow?” Lisa asked, leading the way through the house to the front door. She might as well have just kicked them in their ass and thrown them out the door. Ethan was curious as to how Taryn would answer the question seeing as Gordon and Lisa would know when they extended their stay. “You never really said how long you’re in town for.”

“I thought I would show Ethan some of the places I used to go to when Mom and Dad brought me here in the summers.” They were now at the front door which Gordon had opened for them, and they all stepped out onto the porch. “It’s not often I get back here.”

“Well, you’re more than welcome to come back and visit us at any time,” Lisa stated, crossing her arms and allowing the flowing sleeves of her blouse to lay across her middle. Her manicured fingers rested on the material. “And please tell your mother that I said hello.”