AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Desmond was quiet for so long that Val didn’t think he’d answer at all. Then he sighed. “Do you really want to dig all this up, Ingrid? It’s been a long time. Maybe just let it go.”
Her stomach turned into a lead weight. “I don’t want to dig it up, but I need to know.”
“I know he did coke at parties. I don’t know if it was a habit. And during tax season, we were always working long hours. He’d pop a few pills to stay awake. That’s all I know.”
Val started to see little black lights dancing in front of her eyes and became aware of Kaj squeezing her hand hard. She’d stopped breathing there for a minute.
“Ingrid?” Desmond asked worriedly. “Are you all right? I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m so sorry.”
“No, no. Y-y-you should have.” She forced the words out. “I needed to know. About Cassandra. And Van. I won’t tell my folks, though. They don’t need to know.”
“No, they don’t,” Desmond said, his tone soothing. “I hope Cassandra hasn’t dragged Sylvi off the wagon. The last time I saw your sister, she looked really good.”
Val blinked again. “When did you see her?”
“A few months ago. I’d just finished the 5K charity run that a bunch of businesses in the city sponsor and there she was, coming across the finish line. She looked healthy, Ingrid. I asked her why she was there, and she said that she runs with one of the C&S teams because it was Ivan’s firm and it helps her to remember him.”
Val’s throat constricted again, this time for her sister. She’d always blamed Sylvi for Van’s death, but... dammit. Sylvi had lost a brother, too. It didn’t make what her sister had done okay, but maybe Sylvi was okay. She couldn’t run a 5K when she was using, could she?
She cleared her throat. “What organization was she running for?”
“One of the drug rehab centers, I think. Maybe you should pay her a visit. Ask her about Cassandra’s visits.” Desmond was still warm, nonjudgmental. Val felt bad all the same.
What if I was wrong? What if Sylvi really has been clean since Van died?
She swallowed hard. “I will. Thanks, Des.”
“You’re welcome. Hey, I have two kids now. If you want to come over, my wife makes a mean lasagna and you can play with my little monsters.”
“I’d like that, thanks. I’ll be in touch.” She ended the call and met Kaj’s eyes, stricken.
Kaj was smiling sadly. “I think you should visit your sister.”
“Yeah,” she said, her voice cracking. “I think it’s past time.”
Kaj kissed her cheek. “On the positive side, you learned a lot. You did well.”
Val didn’t feel like she’d done anything well. “Van was using, too. Did Sylvi know?”
“You’ll have to ask her.”
“I will, but I want to see Cassandra first. I want to know why she visited my mother.”
“I might be able to arrange it. She was detoxing last week and in no shape to talk to anyone, but she should be through it now. She has to agree to see you, though. I can’t force her. And you can’t ask her about Dewey or Corey, okay? That’s off the table for you. Those conversations have to happen with her lawyer present and be conducted by my department.”
“I won’t,” she promised. “I need to know. I need to know about Van.”
Kaj looked pained. “Why, honey? Why dredge all that up now?”
“Because I put him on this pedestal, and I threw Sylvi away. I need to know what’s real. I need to make this right, but I don’t know what to be sorry for. Other than harboring anger at Sylvi for all this time.”
“You both lost your brother,” Kaj murmured. “Maybe focus on building bridges with the sibling you have left.”
“She won’t speak to me. I’ve been awful.”
He pulled her into his lap. “Stop it. Her addiction led to your twin’s death. That’s still true. Has she reached out to you?”
“No.”
