A Glimpse of the Dream by L. A. Fiore
“Sure.”
“And you’re Teagan Harper, yes?”
“Yes, sir. Nice to meet you.”
“Please, call me Richard.”
“You’re here about Dimitri Falco, aren’t you?” I heard as he settled into his chair, the jovial tone of his voice turning flat, laced with guilt.
“Yes. We’ve talked to Mrs. Marks, so we know you and Mr. Lawson are looking to flush him out, but she’s an old woman and doesn’t need this brought into her home.”
“Agreed. I wasn’t thrilled with Larry’s plan, but we had to do something.”
“Maybe you should start from the beginning,” I said.
“I didn’t know any of this, not until Falco showed up. I want you to know that.”
“Okay.” Apprehension twisted in my gut.
“When the ice cream parlor went belly-up, Kevin O’Malley tried to sell the building and couldn’t. So not only was he not making money, but after he sold everything to cover his losses, he was still paying the mortgage and taxes on the property. He’d say now and again how he wished the place would burn down—it was something we’d all chuckle at a bit. Then there was the fire, and Kathy was caught in the inferno along with some other kids.
“Kids had been hanging there, smoking and drinking, since it closed down, the not-so-best-kept secret in town. The fact that Kathy was there was surprising, but she always had a tendency to want to fit in, to be with the cool kids.
“It wasn’t until later that I learned the truth. The fire hadn’t been an accident. It had been set on purpose. Kathy had overheard her parents talking and decided to take matters into her own hands. She had no idea the chain of events she was setting off.”
“How did you learn of it?” Tea sounded horrified and angry.
“Camille. She brought Dimitri here about a year ago. I didn’t like him from the moment I saw him. He laid it all out precisely. He’s smart—arrogant, lazy, and shiftless—but smart. Explained to me how the fire had been set on purpose. He knew this because there had been an eyewitness.”
“Camille,” I said.
“Exactly. He listed the charges Kathy would be brought up on, since there is no statute of limitations on arson. Knowing how devastated her family already was, and then dumping it on them that their daughter had done it on purpose . . . They’d have been forced to watch as she was carted off to jail, when all she was trying to do was help . . . She was just a kid. I couldn’t do it.”
“So he blackmailed you?” I had suspected the fire had been started due to carelessness. Either way, the end result was the same.
“He wanted inside Raven’s Peak. I was his means.”
“Why Raven’s Peak?” Tea asked.
“I honestly don’t think he cared as long as he had access to valuables, but Camille wanted in and created a shared goal with Falco. The fact that he blackmailed me for a job pisses me off, but what’s even more infuriating is his arrogance in believing that I would just sit back and allow him to steal from a client and a friend. His arrogance will be his downfall.”
“How do you mean?” Tea asked what I too was thinking.
“I’ve been playing him too. I stalled when he first ‘started’—didn’t want to expose Mrs. Marks to him for any longer than necessary—by claiming he needed to go through our new employee training. Falco was smart enough to go along since I do have partners and they would have become suspicious if he didn’t follow our normal hiring procedures. I gained an additional few months by insisting that he become familiar with Mrs. Marks’s file, one that was streamlined for her safety. Again my partners would expect him to study up on the cases he was taking over, and Falco was willing to play the game since he knew the outcome would be favorable.”
“You said Camille had created a shared goal with Falco. To what end?” Tea asked.
“I’m guessing to steal.”
“You didn’t want to expose Mrs. Marks to a criminal and yet you did.” Tea was seething.
“In a way, yes, but she knew what we were doing. We didn’t keep her in the dark. Larry continued to represent her, and we gave Dimitri enough rope. She was actually enjoying the intrigue.”
She would. “Enough rope?” I asked.
“Like I said, I’ve been playing him too. It was why I agreed to his demands. While he thought he had me over a barrel, Larry was having him investigated.”
“Do you have something on him?” It seemed to me that the jig was up with Mrs. Marks’ home and Raven’s Peak passing down to me and Tea.
“Yeah, in his arrogance he didn’t think we’d do some digging, but we did and found the fence he used to sell the stuff he stole from his parents. They are fully prepared to press charges.”
“Does he know?”
“Not yet, but that’s about to change.”
“Is that why you and Camille are estranged?” Tea asked.
“I spoiled her—I was trying to make up for the fact that her mother had left, but I created a monster. If she has been trying to steal from Mrs. Marks, then she was looking to profit from your tragedy, and that sickens me. My own child sickens me.”
I suspected she was a bad egg whether he’d spoiled her or not. “If Camille was using Dimitri to get the pieces she wanted, and he’s expecting to get paid, how is she funding this? A waitress salary isn’t going to cut it. Are you giving her money?”
“No, and that’s the part that doesn’t make sense. She loves Raven’s Peak. I can’t imagine she’d want to see pieces of it being sold off to strangers, so if she has no intention of buying what Falco is stealing, then what’s her motive?”
“To see Kane,” Tea said.
“I thought she was over that crush, but then, I don’t know my daughter like I thought I did.”
On the street a little while later, I stopped and just breathed deeply. What a fucking web.
“You okay?” Tea asked, her voice rounding out some of the edges.
“Yeah, a little in shock.”
“Understandable.” Her hand tightened on mine. “Are you upset about the fire being set on purpose?”
“No, why? The outcome doesn’t change whether it was intentional or not. She thought she was doing the right thing, and, having spent time with that family, I know they’re very close. I’m trying to understand Camille’s intentions.”
“So you aren’t convinced she’s trying to steal from Mrs. Marks either.”
“I don’t know. Unless she’s conning the con artist, how could she?”
“Conning the con artist, interesting. She doesn’t have the money, but she told him she did, and, based on who her father is, why wouldn’t Mr. Sleazy believe her? Who would have thought we’d have such an underbelly of crime in our small town?”
I laughed in spite of myself. “You’re adorable.”
“Why are you laughing?” She sounded almost whiny. The look that used to accompany that voice came clearly into focus in my mind’s eye.
“I don’t think one case of blackmail rates as an underbelly.”
“It should.” She sounded disgruntled but quickly turned serious. “If Camille is really after you, that scares me. Last time you thwarted her efforts, she slashed your tires.”
“You think she might try something?” I didn’t know if I agreed with Tea, but there was no mistaking her tone: She was worried.
“I don’t know, but it makes me nervous. She makes me nervous. Anyway, you’re taking this all very well.” Her voice now had an edge of hope.
I was going to need to think about Tea’s concern. She was usually pretty spot-on with people, so something wasn’t sitting right with her. She clearly wanted to change the subject, so I did. “What’s done is done. I’ve got you, and our lives are where we always wanted them to be. Let’s not dwell on what can’t be changed.”
“That’s very mature thinking, Kane, and, coming from you, eater of worm potpies, I’m impressed.”
“At least I don’t wear them in my hair.” Pulling her close, I kissed the to
“Never intentionally.” Humor flickered in her tone.
Yep, no point on dwelling, I had everything I ever wanted right here.
Teagan
We were at the O’Malleys’ celebrating Kevin and Sally’s anniversary. Kane had asked me to go with him, and I couldn’t deny that part of my excitement for the day was getting the chance to see Kane interacting with the O’Malleys, because they really were like a second family to him. Their house wasn’t a big one, but it was so nicely decorated: drawings that the kids had done as children hung on the walls, and the rooms were cozy, made for a family to settle into and be comfortable. I think I was even more moved by what I saw because I was late, and my period was never late. I hadn’t taken a pregnancy test yet. I was procrastinating just a little, because I wanted to enjoy the high of possibly being pregnant for just a little while , in case I actually wasn’t. The scents coming from the kitchen made my stomach growl—my appetite had definitely increased—a fact that was not lost on Kane.
“Hungry, Tea?”
“No, my stomach is just making noises like a small wild animal.”
“You always had a very colorful way of describing something. I’ll introduce you, and then we’ll get something to appease the small furry animal.”
“I didn’t say my stomach was furry, I said it was wild. It’s wild as in sexy, not furry.”
Then it made that noise again, and he responded by laughing. “Yep, that’s sexy.”
I slugged him, not hard but hard.
“Kane, so happy you could make it,” said Sally O’Malley. The petite woman greeted Kane with affection and love in her dark eyes. Yep, definitely a second family for Kane.
“And you must be Teagan. It is so nice to finally meet you.”
Finally. Did Kane talk about me to the O’Malleys? And then, as if she’d read my mind, she added, “Kane speaks of you so often I feel as if I know you.”
My attention shifted to Kane, whose head was lowered. Taking a play from his book, I ran my finger over his cheek and felt the heat blooming there.
“If you meet my friend Simon, he’ll tell you that I speak incessantly about Kane, but then again, since he’s my favorite person in the world, I guess it’s not really a surprise.”
His head jerked up at that, his eyes turning in my general direction. “Really?”
“Yes, but you already knew that.”
“Still nice to hear,” he whispered.
“Oh, please, you must let me introduce you to Kevin,” she said as she reached for each of our hands and started pulling us along.
Kevin was a large man, almost as tall as Kane and big in the shoulders. His wife only reached his chest; they were so opposite, and yet, watching them, there was no denying the affection.
“Kevin, look who I found. Kane and Teagan. She was just saying how Kane is her favorite person in the world. Doesn’t that sound familiar?”
Kevin grinned. You could tell he thought his wife was the cat’s meow. “Sure does.” His focus turned to me. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Teagan.” His hand engulfed mine, but he was gentle when he shook it.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Would you like a drink, Teagan?” Sally asked.
“Sure, a Coke would be nice.”
“Okay, Kane and I will get drinks. Be back in a jiff.”
Watching her go, her husband said from my side, “She wants to pry information from Kane about how things are going with you two.”
“I guessed. It’s nice he has you.”
“I wish the circumstances that brought us together weren’t what they were, but he’s been like a son to us.”
“He looks to you both as something akin to parents. Regardless of what brought you together, you are together, and you don’t treat him differently. I suspect that’s why he really enjoys your company. You see him and not his scars or his blindness.”
“So do you.”
“Yes, but I’ve known him since I was nine and been in love with him for nearly that long.”
Approval shone in his eyes. “So is it true you had Mrs. T make him a worm potpie? Do tell.”
Later, while Kane was chatting with Kevin about something, I walked through Sally’s gardens. Someone came up next to me. Glancing over, I saw it was Kathy.
“So glad you could make it,” she said.
“Happy to be here. Last time I saw you, you were in need of a job. Any luck?”
“Not yet, but I’ve gotten a few leads.” She nodded toward Kane. “How is he?”
“He’s great. Happy.”
“I can see that. I’m so glad you two are together again. I remember you in school, how you were like Frick and Frack.”
Leaning closer to her, I said, “Kane knows about the fire. Mr. Bowen told him. He isn’t upset. Just thought you should know.”
Her jaw dropped; I had never seen that in real life, but it dropped, hanging open wide enough to catch flies. “So he knows it was Camille who set the fire?”
Now my jaw dropped. “Wait. What?”
Suspicion lit in her eyes. “What exactly did he tell you?”
“That you started the fire, because you heard your parents talking and wanted to help them. Camille witnessed it. She brought Falco to her dad last year, and they threatened to tell the police you started the fire if he didn’t hire Falco.”
“Son of a bitch. I just knew it, knew she was up to something. I didn’t start the fire. She called me and asked me to come with her, to hang with her friends. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving. She was already home, already kicked out of Yale because of her grades, but some of her high school friends were home for the holiday. Since all I’d ever wanted was to hang with her, I went. She was so off that night, just ranting on about Yale, her father, you going off to school, Kane following you to Boston. It was her idea to start the fire. She wanted Kane to come. I thought it was some twisted idea she had that if he saved her in the fire, he’d grow feelings for her, especially since you were out of the picture temporarily. Once the fire got started, it burned too fast to stop it. She came to me after and begged me not to say anything. She told me to think about what would happen to her dad’s practice if his daughter was found guilty of arson, so I said nothing. Everyone thought it was my carelessness anyway.”
“And all the while she’s been lying to her father to get access to Raven’s Peak. Unbelievable.”
“What do you mean?”
“Falco’s terms for the blackmail were to get hired into the firm so he could represent Mrs. Marks and get access to her home.”
“For what purpose?”
“To steal from her, we’re guessing. It seems awfully vindictive, but having never gotten her hands on Raven’s Peak, I’m guessing she wanted to take it in pieces. But then again, the few run-ins I’ve had with Camille, she’s always been vindictive.”
“What do you mean?”
“When Kane rejected Camille’s affections when we were younger, she slashed his tires.”
“What?”
“Creepy, right?”
“I wonder if her intent for that fire wasn’t more malicious,” Kathy said, but she seemed to be thinking out loud.
“Meaning?” Chills went through me.
“Nothing specific, but knowing her better, everything she does has a purpose. Kane loved you back then, and she knew it; she’d be more inclined to make him pay for that than seeking to win his affections, especially since her happy, pampered world was crumbling around her while you two were living the dream.”
Dread and fury warred inside me. Kathy was right. If Camille had set that fire, she’d had an agenda, and I remember her threatening Kane that he’d be sorry for his lack of interest. If she’d purposely harmed him, it was likely I was going to kill her.
“She shouldn’t be allowed to get away with that,” Kathy said.
“I agree. Where is Mr. Bowen?” We both scanned the yard for him. “There he is,” I said, but I was already maki
“She lied to you. Camille started that fire,” I said by way of greeting to Mr. Bowen.
“What?”
“I was just talking with Kathy, and I shared with her that Kane knew she had set the fire. She remembers the event entirely differently.”
His focus sliced to Kathy. “Camille set the fire?”
“Yes.”
“Are you kidding me?” Mr. Bowen roared.
At the sound, Kevin and Kane ended their conversation, both walking to where the furious Bowen paced. Camille had cost us so much, and if she had set that fire with malicious intent, I wanted her in prison. “She isn’t going to get away with this,” I demanded.
Mr. Bowen stopped his pacing and leveled me with a haunted expression. “No, she won’t.”
In the next minute, Camille and Mr. Sleazy arrived, oblivious to the undercurrent. I would have thought her father would have told her that the secret was out about the blackmail. But maybe her lack of knowing fed into whatever her father and Mr. Lawson were working on the side for Dimitri. Sparks started flying, and though few words were said, the tension was insane. Kane’s expression set me in motion because he had clearly caught on to the meaning behind the tension: that there had been more to Camille’s involvement with the fire than just having been there. He looked like he wanted to commit murder. I went to him and wrapped my arm around his waist.
“She’s not worth it,” I whispered. And yet, even as I said that, my mind was working. She’d pay if she set that fire on purpose. Whenever I had encountered her, it always ended in a pissing contest. Her need to one up, to get the last word, could be used against her.
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“It’s all over your face. And I was thinking it too, but she is seriously not worth it.” Turning his face to me, I pressed a kiss to his lips. “Remember, you said it didn’t matter how the fire was started. It was done, in the past. And it is. Don’t let this set you back. She’s taken nine years from us, don’t give her any more.”