Page 29 of Sinner's Storm
“I’m a grandmother?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“And where is my granddaughter?”
“At St. John’s Presbyterian Hospital. She’s sick, Mom.”
My mother leaned forward and glared at me. “Tell me you are not Harlow’s father? Tell me you didn’t sleep with your sister’s friend, Jason.”
Taking a deep breath, I looked my mom square in the eyes and spoke, “I’m Harlow’s father.”
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph.” My mom sighed, sitting back in her chair. “I always wondered you know. Watched Harlow grow over the years. She’s a sweet girl. Looked just like you did at her age. Have you told Robin?”
“Not yet.”
“See that you do. Your sister is funny when it comes to her friends. So, what’s the real problem? Because I know my granddaughter isn’t it.”
“The club found out about Delany’s dad.”
My mom stared blankly at me before looking down at her hands. “What about him?”
“Mom, help me out here. Shame found documents about an investigation. Tell me he didn’t do it?”
“I can’t do that, Jason.”
Sighing, I raked my hands down my face. “So, he’s guilty then?”
“Didn’t say that either,” my mom replied cryptically.
Groaning, I leaned forward and said, “Mom, give me something because if you don’t, the club has been clear with me.”
“What’s the club have to do with Delany and Harlow?”
“They won’t allow Delany’s relations to tarnish the club. You know better than anyone how much the club donates yearly to the families. The Fireman Charity alone brings in millions. Several brothers have business relations with members of this city who all lost someone that day.”
“Delany is innocent. She had nothing to do with it.”
“I know that. You know that. The fucking club knows that, but it’s her father, Mom. When this city learns who her father is, and you know damn well they will make the connection, everything all of us have worked for, bled for, will be for nothing. While I’m willing to risk myself, I can’t risk everyone else, and that includes you and this bar. It’s your livelihood.”
“It’s just a bar, Jason,” she muttered. “What is the club asking you to do?”
“File for permanent custody of Harlow and sever visitation. They want me to cut Delany completely out.”
“You can’t do that, Jason. Delany loves that little girl. Everything she’s ever done was to ensure Harlow had the best life.”
“I know that, Mom. That’s why I am here. You were alive back then and remember more than I do. Tell me what you know, because I promise you, I will protect the club and my brothers at all costs, even if taking my daughter away from her mother sours my stomach.”
“Everything was a mess back then, Jason. We’d all lost so much, some more than others. Many of the firehouses were vacant. Sat empty like haunted houses because there was no one to man them. Those who survived were working twenty-four seven and even that wasn’t enough. Back then, everyone volunteered. Wanted to help. We’d all been affected and suffered tremendously. The country was in mourning. David Campbell was one of the survivors. He and your cousin Shane were close back then. Together they gathered as many volunteers as possible, gave them a crash course in firefighting and sent them out on calls. It was the only way until everything calmed down and they could train new recruits properly.
“David got word that something was wrong shortly after the funerals. That’s when the first house fire took the life of a family. Not just any family, either, Jason. The family of a firefighter who died in Tower Two. Made the front page of the Times. Just when this city had made it through the funerals, we had to hold another.
“Tensions were high back then to find the culprit when it was determined that the fire was arson. Used thermite as the incendiary. The family never had a chance. To make matters worse, the fire inspector found evidence that the doors and windows were jammed shut. Even if the family wanted to escape, they couldn’t.
“For the next five months, families perished. All families of fallen firefighters. Word spread like wildfire that someone was killing off our own and the fire community grew suspicious of everyone. No one was talking to anyone. Brothers were fighting. Families were terrified of going to bed at night. It was a mess. David and Shane worked hard to quell any rumors, but this city and, more importantly, the fire community, wanted blood.
“David and his engine were out on a call when the fire inspector pulled him aside. According to those who were there that day, David and the inspector got into a shouting match. Words were said and both men had to be separated. The next thing anyone knows, David’s transferred to a station in Arizona and the fires stopped. No one was ever arrested or convicted.”
“Mom,” I whispered, sitting up straighter. “David died in a house fire, along with his wife, Donna.”