Unveiled. Part 27

"Here." She thrust a handful of bills at him, hiding her disgust. What had she done to deserve this?

She didn't dare tell Christopher, and didn't have the first idea of how to get rid of Sean's father. That the man didn't care at all for his son was obvious. Sean was merely a tool to blackmail her, but how could she stop him?

As if reading her mind, John pocketed the bills and smirked. "That will do for now, but it's been a cold winter. I need coal for me fire, some whiskey at night-you know, all the comforts you're used to."

"What would it take to make you go away once and for all?" Desperate, Katie nearly pleaded with him. "Think of your child, the future...what would make you leave us alone?"

John Sweeney shrugged, but there was a gleam in his eye as he calculated his price. Finally, after what seemed forever, he grinned.

"I think fifty thousand would do it."

Stunned, Katie stared at him as if he were mad. "Fifty thousand dollars? Surely you're joking. There's no way I could get that kind of money-"

"I'm afraid that's your problem, Kate," John said, unconcerned. "I don't mind taking my share in payments. In fact, I kind of enjoy it. I made my acquaintance with Sean the other day, and I could continue to, ah, visit him. But if you really want to get rid of me, mat's my price."

"You would do this." Katie felt the emotion well up inside of her. "You would risk ruining your son, just for a little money."

"It's not a little money, Kate." He cupped her chin in his hand, seeing her expression of scorn. "You and I both know that. And we both know the value of it. You have my price, Katie love. Pay it or my son and I will become even closer." He grinned. "And we both know how much you'd love that."

Katie watched him go, her fists clenched in despair. My G.o.d, how long would she pay? And how could she be sure, even if she got the money, that he would stay away from them?

There was only one way she could be sure that John Sweeney would never come near her again. She dismissed the thought as it came to her mind, but it stayed within her soul.

Only in his death would she ever be free.

"Kate, we need to talk."

Katie glanced up from her sewing, surprised at the tone in Christopher's voice. The parlor was empty, Sean and Eunice having retired moments before, and Kate realized that Christopher must have been waiting for this time. Apprehensively she put down her sewing as he retrieved something from his pocket.

"I know I told you that we were going to start over, and that there would be no more secrets between us. I really believe that mistrust destroys a relationship, and that we need to believe in each other. Do you agree?"

The walls were closing in. He knew something; Katie could sense it. She nodded and waited, trying to stop the panic that was building inside of her.

"Then I want to ask you about this." He placed a package wrapped in burlap into her lap.

As she stared at him dumbly Katie's gaze dropped to the parcel and she pulled at the twine. The package fell open, and she saw the black lacquered music box nestled inside.

How did Christopher find this? She had given the box to John Sweeney when she had no money...had Christopher seen the man? Did he already know?

"Where..." Her voice was almost a squeak. Surely he hadn't confronted Sean's father, her ex-lover...

"I bought it from a p.a.w.nshop near the bank. It's the same box that I had given you, do you remember?"

"It can't be," Katie protested. "I don't know how-"

"Why don't you tell me what happened," Christopher pleaded. "And what's troubling you. Kate, I know something's wrong. I can help you, or at least I'll try. Please, you've got to trust me."

He made it sound so easy. All she had to do was explain, then he would share her burden in all this. But she couldn't. Katie couldn't bring herself to risk their newfound happiness by confessing John Sweeney's blackmail. Christopher had barely recovered from the shock of learning about the scandal without seeing her lover face-to-face. No matter how much Christopher cared for her, there were limits to any man's patience, and she didn't want to test his.

Worse, even if he knew, there wasn't much he could do about it. John Sweeney would torment her and Sean for as long as he thought he could prosper from doing so. They wouldn't have a moment's peace. Christopher might be tempted into a confrontation, and the thought of that gave her chills. No, it was better this way. John Sweeney was her mistake, and a problem she'd have to solve on her own.

"There's nothing wrong," Katie insisted, fingering the box and refusing to look up. "I just...haven't been feeling well, that's all. It's common when expecting. I remember such with Sean."

"I see." Christopher's voice betrayed his hurt "And the box?"

Katie shrugged. "I didn't know it was gone. Perhaps one of the workmen picked it up when we had the new furniture delivered. Or a servant. I really don't know how it wound up in the p.a.w.nshop."

"Katie, look at me."

Forced to do so, Kate raised her face, her lips trembling. Christopher sighed with frustration. "I can't help you if you don't let me! Why can't you tell me what's wrong? Haven't we learned from our mistakes in the past?"

Katie got to her feet, clutching the box. "I'm sorry, Christopher, but you have to believe me. If you don't mind, I feel a little ill. I want to go to bed."

He nodded, watching as she rushed from the room, holding the box tightly. When she reached her bedroom, she closed the door in relief.

She had to solve this problem soon. John Sweeney would destroy her marriage if she didn't. But she'd only been able to come up with one solution. Carefully Katie placed the music box inside her bureau drawer, then pushed aside her lacy underthings.

There, beneath her corset, gleamed an 1846 Colt revolver.

"Are you sure this is it?"

Christopher stared at the police report, frowning at the number of entries listed.

The clerk nodded. "We've got quite a dossier on Mr. Sweeney. Mostly petty stuff, but there is that one charge that could see him hanged." The clerk indicated the last line. "Some states don't take too kindly to armed robbery, and Colorado is one of them."

"I see." Folding the paper and thrusting it into his pocket Christopher thanked the man and left.

So John Sweeney was a criminal. From the dossier, it seemed he specialized in petty crimes, like robberies and blackmail. He'd never been arrested for violence, but that didn't always mean everything.

How could his Kate be involved with this man? None of it made sense. He had come to the police station on a whim, desperate for information, and hadn't really expected to find anything on the man. He certainly didn't expect such a complete listing of crimes that the man had committed or to discover that the police were actively looking for him.

Frowning, Christopher walked swiftly toward home. If Kate's story was right, that she hadn't known the box was missing, perhaps someone did steal it, and in that way John Sweeney came into possession of the item. He'd heard of the thieving rings in Philadelphia, some of which made d.i.c.kens's stories look tame. Was John Sweeney a f.a.gan? Or was there more to it?

That theory had one huge hole-it didn't explain Kate's unhappiness. She had been having dreams lately, nightmares that left her trembling and crying in his arms. He begged her to talk to him, but she withdrew more and more each day. He was getting frightened for her. As angry as it made him to know she didn't trust him completely, he didn't want to press her. Their love was too new and too fragile.

She was sleeping when he arrived home. Christopher smiled as he saw her, sprawled across the bed, her hair spilled out over the white pillows like black lace. Clad in a demure white eyelet gown, her pregnancy barely visible, she looked lovely, like a sleeping G.o.ddess he'd wandered upon.

A rush of love came through him as he smoothed her hair and pressed a kiss on her forehead. Whatever it is, Kate, he vowed, I will find out what's troubling you and we'll face it together. I promise.

There was silence when Katie woke. Outside, the full moon poured into her window, bathing the covers and the sheets in silver.

Crossing herself, Katie shivered. Madness. Sleeping in the moonlight made one addled-everyone knew that. She was about to draw the blinds when she heard the barely perceptible c.h.i.n.k of pebbles against her window.

He was back. Her heart sinking, Katie fought the nausea that threatened. She'd given John Sweeney a huge sum of money the last time she'd seen him, hoping against hope that he would finally stay away. But that had been barely a month ago and he was back, like a vampire, ready to draw blood.

She couldn't go on like this. Christopher was suspicious already, and would eventually discover her secret. What would happen then was anyone's guess, but none of the alternatives were good.

More importantly she had to protect Sean. Katie's mouth filled with bile as she envisioned John Sweeney, tempting her son like the devil himself. Sean was happy, was doing well, and was full of confidence. What would happen to her sunny little boy when he learned about his father? What would happen when society found out?

He had to be stopped, Katie vowed. Reason left her; she only knew one fact, and that was that she had to get rid of John Sweeney, once and for all. Tears choked her, and she slipped her hand inside her drawer and pulled out the gun, feeling the cold, metallic weight in her hand. She put on her cloak and put the gun inside her pocket.

Outside, it was cold. Wind ruffled the trees, and the leaves sounded like bats in the night sky. Moonlight poured over everything, making the paths luminous and deadly.

He stood near the gazebo, smoking impatiently and glancing toward the house. When he saw Kate, his face became relieved and he threw his cigarette onto the ground.

"So, you've come." He forced a smile, which vanished instantly when Katie didn't return it. "I need some money, love. I'm almost out of whiskey."

"Johnny, don't do this." There was a crazed look in her eyes that made John Sweeney take a step back. "Please. For the love of G.o.d, have some decency and leave us alone. Please."

There was something odd in her voice. John Sweeney frowned, then shrugged as he envisioned the money she surely carried beneath her cloak. "I can't do that, me darling," John said, reaching out to touch her cheek. For once, Katie didn't move and he took that as a good sign. "You know I can't do that. You've found your fortune, love. I still need mine."

"I'm begging you," Katie whispered, her voice breaking. "Go away from here. Don't ever come back. Please. Don't make me-"

"Make you what?" John laughed. "Tell your husband? Go on, tell him. I have a feeling that when you do, you'll lose everything. You think so, too, love, or you would have told him by now." His brow furrowed as another thought occurred to him. "Of course, if he divorced you, he would have to pay you a nice settlement. We could live on that, Kate. You, me, and Sean."

Horror filled her as she stared at the man before her. He meant it. John Sweeney would stop at nothing to get rich, even if it meant destroying everyone else. He would ruin her son, ruin his chances, make him just like himself, a liar, a blackmailer, and a thief. Helplessness seized her, and she withdrew the weapon from her pocket, unable to think clearly.

"Please." Katie's brogue deepened as emotion filled her. "Don't make me do this. Don't make me kill you."

John Sweeney stared down the barrel of the Colt.

TWENTY-NINE.

Christopher awoke, an unsettled feeling within him. Outside, it was dark, but the full moon gleamed eerily over the landscape, lending it a ghostly hue. Turning in his bed, he saw the dented pillow and the empty place beside him.

Katie. She was gone. Puzzled, Christopher got to his feet. Sometimes in the night she felt ill or had to use the convenience. She was still shy about displaying such personal needs before him, so he wasn't too alarmed to find her gone until he searched the house.

She was nowhere to be found. Standing at the backdoor, Christopher fought the uncertainty that filled him. Surely she didn't plan some clandestine meeting with a lover while he slept beside her? That was beyond the realm of belief, but still, it was the middle of the night and she was gone.

Voices came from the garden, and he glanced outside. Maybe that was it. Maybe she saw something and went to investigate. Putting on his coat, he moved stealthily outside, hushing the door closed behind him.

Katie was there. He could see her clearly in the moonlight, standing beneath the gazebo. Her voice sounded tearful, full of pain and pleading, but it was to the other person that his gaze quickly went and his breath stopped.

A man stood beside the garden gate, young and handsome even from a distance. Christopher froze, all of his doubts rushing back to the surface.

Katie had taken a lover before him. She never talked about the man, but it had always made Christopher uneasy. Did she feel the need for another lover, someone else to satisfy her? Was the child she was carrying even his?

Blood rushed madly through his brain and he approached the couple, barely able to think. The idea of Kate with another man nearly drove him insane. Could she have fallen in love with someone else? Was that the reason for her unhappiness and weeping? Was she just using him?

"...Please leave me alone. Don't make me do this. Please, John, if you feel anything for Sean, leave us."

She had a gun. Stunned, Christopher saw his wife pointing the weapon at the strange man, saw his shock and disbelief as she pulled back the trigger, her hands shaking.

"Kate!" Christopher called to her. She turned instantly, and in that moment the other man attacked her, knocking the gun from her hands. Gasping, Katie turned, her face full of fright, but Christopher grappled for the weapon and retrieved it before the other man could. Harmlessly the revolver discharged, and Christopher thrust the smoking weapon into his coat.

"What the h.e.l.l is going on here?"

"She tried to kill me, that's what," the other man replied, still looking at Kate in disbelief. "You saw it."

"Kate, who is this man?" Christopher questioned his sobbing wife, knowing the answer before he heard it.

"John Sweeney. He's Sean's father. I'm sorry, Christopher, I couldn't tell you. He's been taking money from me for months to stay away from Sean. I couldn't let that happen, and I couldn't tell you."

Nodding, Christopher turned toward the man who stood arrogantly before him.

"That's right, I'm the boy's real father. I have rights, and I just wanted to get my fair share. I didn't think she was crazy enough to pull a stunt like that."

"Get out," Christopher said between gritted teeth. "And don't come near my wife or son again. Ever."

"Well, now, there's something to say about that." Recovering from his fear, John Sweeney grinned insolently. "I'm the brat's father. How do you think that would make him feel? And what about your fancy friends? I'm a bit of a nuisance to get rid of, but two businessmen like ourselves can surely come to an agreement. I'm not unreasonable."

Blindly Christopher struck him, his fist connecting neatly with John Sweeney's jaw and bringing the other man to the ground. Shocked, John Sweeney stared up in a red haze of pain as the gentlemanly-looking lad before him wrenched him to his feet and hit him again.

Struggling, John swiped back, but Christopher's rage was so intense that he didn't stand a chance. Again and again John Sweeney got to his feet; again and again Christopher sent him back to the ground. Katie sobbed as John became more b.l.o.o.d.y, and finally he collapsed to the hard earth.

"You come here again and you'll think that was a tap dance," Christopher said, breathing hard from exertion. "I have your police records; they have enough on you to see you hanged. If you ever cause my wife or son trouble, even speak to them in the streets, I'll have you put away for good."

John Sweeney got to his feet like a doddering fawn, wiping at the blood that streamed into his eyes. "You'll pay for this!" he swore, then stumbled off toward the road.

"Anytime," Christopher promised. "Come back and see."

"Christopher, I'm so sorry. Are you hurt?" Katie touched his hands, soothing away the pain while Christopher shook his head.

"No. Not from him." Lifting her face toward his, Christopher looked at her seriously. "Katie, don't ever keep anything from me again. Do you understand?"

His voice was so firm, so threatening, that Katie nodded quickly. "I won't. I just thought-"

"Do you realize what could have happened to you? My G.o.d, he could have killed you and our child! Kate, I'm strong enough to help you, no matter what the trouble. But if I ever find out that you've kept something from me again, so help me-"

"You won't." Katie hugged him fiercely. "Christopher, I love you. I wanted to protect you and Sean. You don't know what he's like."

"I know exactly what he's like," Christopher said, returning her embrace when his anger eased. "Kate, you and Sean and our new baby mean everything to me. Do you think I'd ever let John Sweeney hurt you?"

Katie shook her head in the negative. "No, you're right."

"Then no more secrets?"

"No more secrets," Katie promised. "But Christopher." She gave him a wan smile. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"It doesn't matter, Kate. I love you and will always be there for you. Do you believe me?"