BURDEN OF AN ANCIENT OATH by Joshua Brown (best fiction novels to read txt) 📗

“Oscar, calm down,” I said, entering the living room once the search of his house was complete. In our time away, he collapsed into a ball on the floor with his hands behind his back. Tears spilled from his eyes and he wailed passionately. “We know that you’re not the one we’re after.”

“What do you mean?” he sniffed and snorted. By the way he spoke, I could tell there was something wrong with him. He wasn’t a complete fool, but he wasn’t wholly normal either—the long slurred, drawn-out speech, almost as if deaf without the hearing problems. I knew I could use whatever brain damage he suffered to my advantage.

“I know you’re not the man I’m hunting here,” I said. “You just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I’m going need you to tell me who put you up to all of this.”

I saw the switch in his eyes. As though he’d just seen a ghost.

“No, I can’t do that,” he shook his head frantically. “I won’t do it, no.”

He repeated the phrase, just as he did earlier.

“Then I’m going to have to take you to jail, man. I don’t want to do that to you. You’re just a kid trying to write your stories. You think they’ll let you write in prison?” I dropped to bended knee, trying to appeal to Oscar.

“They won’t let me write?” he looked up at me with puppy dog eyes, readying to spill once more.

“Of course not. That’s what they do in prison—they take away the things you love,” I said.

He nodded his head, opening his mouth to speak, and just when I thought I hooked him, Oscar shook his head. “I can’t do it. I can’t tell you. I can’t, I shan't, and I won't.”

“Jack, there’s no point in pressing this further,” Gwen said, tapping me on my shoulder. “I think it’s best we get him down to the station and revisit it later.”

Being so close to a breakthrough, I wanted it to happen. I was desperate for him to tell me who was behind it.

But at least I knew there was someone behind it after all. Oscar didn’t give me a name, nor did he give me any further details to benefit my investigation. Still, he gave me enough to know that I wasn’t crazy in thinking there was a more prominent player in this game.

Gwen and I booked Oscar Carlisle into the station, giving them somewhat express orders not to provide him with a pen and paper. Apart from that, they could process him usually until our return the following day for a follow-up interrogation.

Now, the chase was on, and it was only a matter of time until something big happened.

Chapter 16

Jack

“You know I still think this is a terrible idea, right?” I ran a hand through my hair, messing up all the work Gwen just did to make sure it was tucked right. I hid it under the fedora anyway, so there was no cause for concern.

“I do,” she replied, letting out a heavy sigh. “But I think it’s right. They’re both going through this, and it’s better to do it together rather than alone.”

“Well, then, let’s get in there and see how it goes,” I said.

We sat together in the parking lot of a strip mall just outside the city. After the previous night’s events, I knew it was the worst time to let Spencer and Jane meet, but I wasn’t going to burst Gwen’s bubble. She seemed excited about it.

Getting out of the car, we walked together into the Monte Carlo steakhouse. Jane and her husband sat alone, sharing a drink. They looked almost happy, probably on news that we made an arrest on a potential suspect. Again, I refused to take that away from them.

“Ah, you must be the detective, Jack Mercer,” he said as we approached the table.

“That’s me, yes.”

He rose from his chair, extending a hand in my direction. “Lance Dench, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Pleasure’s all mine, Mr. Dench,” I took his hand, shook it, and joined him at the table.

“And this is your… wife?” he inquired, greeting Gwen.

“Partner,” I replied. “She’s working on Spencer’s case, and the reason all of this is kicking off today.”

After the remainder of our greeting, ordering drinks, and relaxing for a moment, I saw him enter from the corner of my eye. He was tall with scruffy black hair and a beautiful brunette by his side. He was desperately pale, and the weeks of stress that had befallen him definitely showed their signs. His wife, Caroline, looked almost as uncomfortable as I did.

With a server in front of them, Spencer Williamson approached the table cautiously. I could see it in Jane’s eyes, the overspilling emotions of meeting her long-lost sibling all these years later.

I couldn’t help but look around to see if our drinks were on the way. This wasn’t a place for me. If anything, the siblings should have had this meeting alone. I was just some cop to them, a guy working a case, and being in the middle of some family gathering was a disaster in the making.

“Spencer?” Jane said, jumping out of her chair.

“Jane? It’s so nice to finally meet you,” they embraced in a hug.

Jane burst out into tears and Spencer was soon to follow.

Gwen had a wide smile on her face throughout the entire situation. For a short time, I could’ve sworn I saw tears in her eyes too.

I understood then that this wasn’t just about making the most logical play. Gwen was here, reuniting a family that lost each other over 30 years prior. This wasn’t some personal achievement of bringing herself some lost happiness; this was helping those around her through a difficult time.

I was never the