Free MemoriesErasedTreachery by Charlie Richards

serious consideration. Was it possible Cecilia had survived? If so, Patterson might be on to something, because it would be typical of her twisted mind to have her daughters die in the same manner her death had been purported. Hell. Was he giving the woman too much credit?
    Then there had been Patterson's question about the beneficiary of Kiera's estate. Surely, the detective didn't think…but she's a baby, someone wouldn't… Goosebumps sidled up Ewyn's arms and he shivered.
    Shaking his head, he pulled himself together and pushed away from the door. He went into the living room, gathered up the empty beer bottles along with the used coasters, and took them into the kitchen. While he rinsed the beer bottles and disposed of them, then washed and dried the coasters, his mind remained a jumble of chaotic thoughts.
    If Cecilia were alive and involved in the girls' deaths, wouldn't she have come after him first? As far as Cecilia knew, the girls' money came to him if their deaths preceded his own. Besides, how would she expect to collect any money? She killed his mother. Hmm. What if it wasn't about money anymore? The woman was certifiable. Maybe she only wanted revenge. What better way to hurt Gregorio than to destroy the two people he loved most.
    Ewyn returned to the living room and replaced the coasters in their case, then stood staring down at the box with Nicole and Carolyn's belongings. Feeling an oppressive sense of loss, he knew he wasn't ready to deal with the anguish of handling their things. He grabbed the box, took it into the bedroom, and put it in his closet. He checked on Kiera before heading to the shower.
    Ewyn turned on the water, and once it was hot and steamy, he shucked out of his clothes and stepped into the enclosure. He picked up a washcloth and the body wash, then made no move to use them. Instead, he backed up and dropped down on the seat. He couldn't shake the feeling all of the speculation was just smoke, leading in the wrong direction.
    The pivotal issues were the reason for the girls' disappearances for six months, and what someone tried to force the girls to do, which required holding them at gunpoint. Where had they gone and what or who could make Nicole go into hiding? She was like her father. If she had been a boy, she would have been the perfect fit for head of the family business. The answers to all other questions hinged on the response to that one.
    Then there was Calabria.
    As much as Ewyn hated to agree with Patterson, Calabria probably knew more than he had let on. If the kid had known Nicole since freshman year, and they had been as tight as he had claimed, why did it seem as if he knew so little about her? Was he trying to protect the identity of Kiera's father? Or maybe he just didn't like talking to cops. Patterson's social interactive skills did fall way short of warm and fuzzy. He needed to talk to Calabria.
    The cooling water jarred Ewyn to attention. He hurriedly washed up, grabbed a towel and blotted most of the water from his hair, then wrapped the towel around his waist as he exited the shower. Standing at the vanity, he stared at his reflection while he flossed, brushed, and gargled. He felt as puzzled as he looked. After towel drying his hair, he tossed clothes and used towels into the hamper, and left the room. He slipped on his sweat pants and checked on Kiera once more before climbing into bed.
    Tomorrow, he'd get hold of Mick and Taggart, run Patterson's information and his own suppositions by them to get their perspectives on everything. Taggart could find out if Calabria's name had any connection to the crime families. Hell. He was a damn Calderone, yet he knew very little about the inner workings of the syndicate or the families involved. He'd told Patterson the mob didn't do family members, especially the women, but he really didn't know, and he needed to check.
    On Monday, he'd make some calls to Pepperdine. Something wasn't right, and he didn't trust Patterson to