If Ivy had been on that floor…
“It can’t happen,” he said flatly. “It won’t.” Because he truly would go mad. She didn’t get it—Ivy thought he’d left town and never given her another thought.
But she’d been on his mind. Every day. The one thing that had been his.
A knock sounded at his door. Hell, probably the chief, trying to get him moving.
He pulled away from Ivy, just a bit, and glanced at the door. Sure enough, the chief poked his head inside.
“Chief, I—” Bennett began.
“Call it a night,” the chief ordered. “Go take Ms. DuLane home. You both need to catch a few hours’ sleep. Then you can come back here. We’ll meet at 0700.”
Take her home? The hell, no. “But she’s in custody—”
“I didn’t say it had to be her home, now did I?” The chief turned away. “Priorities are important in this world, Bennett. Make sure yours are in place—and that they are the right ones.”
Ivy is my priority. Priority One. Maybe it was time he proved that to her.
“Come on.” He grabbed his keys and looped his fingers with hers. They hurried into the hallway and turned toward the bullpen.
But Ivy stopped and glanced back toward interrogation. “My brother?”
And then Hugh appeared. Standing in the hallway, with his shoulders hunched, her brother seemed like a completely different man to Bennett.
Ivy pulled from Bennett and hurried to Hugh’s side. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. “I’m so sorry,” Ivy said.
Hugh didn’t hug her back. He stood there, stiff and seemingly lost, in her embrace.
Ivy eased back. “Hugh?”
He blinked and looked at her. Bennett didn’t even know if the guy was really seeing her or not. When he’d interrogated Hugh, he’d thought the other man might be in shock. “It’s my fault, isn’t it?” Hugh asked.
Bennett tensed.
“Payback. Fucking karma. Because I kept my damn mouth shut before, I’m being punished now.” Hugh’s gaze cut to Bennett. “He was my father, man. I…he said we’d lose everything.”
Bennett could barely breathe as he realized just what Hugh was talking about. Another time. Another murder.
“I tried to get her out of the fire.”
They weren’t talking about Shelly, not even close. But Shelly’s death had pushed Hugh over some sort of edge.
“That’s why I have the burns.” Hugh looked down at his palms, and, sure enough, there were old scars there. “I tried to get to her, but she wasn’t moving inside her car. He told me she was already dead.”
Bennett felt his cheeks ice.
“He pulled me back. He was on his phone, calling for help. The flames were rising.” Hugh closed his eyes. “Then I saw her move. Your aunt was still alive.”
No, shit, no. I can’t hear this now!
His aunt had been so close to him. His mother had usually been too busy with her lovers to give him much thought. But his aunt…she’d been everything.
“The car exploded before I could get back to her. I’m so sorry.” Hugh raked his hands over his face. “It’s payback! I let her die, and now Shelly…Shelly is gone! I didn’t get to help her, either! I didn’t get to do a damn thing!”
Ivy hugged him again. “Hugh, this isn’t about you. It’s not your fault.”
He squeezed her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. “No? Then whose fault is it, Ivy? Who the hell do I blame?” Over Ivy’s shoulder, Hugh met Bennett’s stare.
“You blame the killer,” Bennett told him. “When we catch him, when we lock that perp behind bars…you blame him.”
“I’m sorry,” Hugh told him. “For so much…dammit, man, I’m sorry.”
Bennett inclined his head toward Hugh.
“Don’t you wish you could change the past? Past…” Hugh’s head sagged forward as he pressed closer to Ivy. “Present and future.” Then he whispered something to Ivy.
Bennett didn’t know what the guy had said, but Ivy jerked away from him. “No!”
Hugh smiled, a sad sight.
“No, don’t ever say that! You’re nothing like him! You never were!” She shook her brother, hard, and her voice rang out as she said, “You matter. You have always mattered, and I don’t care what crap he told you. Our father was one grade A bastard.” Then, softer, she said, “You know you matter to me.”
Hugh’s fingers slid under her chin. “Wait until Bennett tells you what I did. See if you still feel the same way.”
All the secrets are coming out.
Hugh exhaled and focused on the uniformed cop who waited a few feet behind him. “I get my own guard, Ivy. Good deal, right? Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll make certain I don’t do anything too crazy.” He turned and headed toward the cop.
“I’ll be pissed if you do!” Ivy threatened. “I know you’re hurting, Hugh, and I’m so sorry.”
He glanced back at her. “I loved her, Ives.”
Ives. It had been so long since Bennett had heard that nickname.