"Who is she?” Patrick asked the question again.
"Her name is Cyndi Marks. But that's not the important question."
"What is the right question?” Shamus could hear the growing concern in his sister's voice.
He took another sip of coffee and laid his cup on the table in front of him. “The question to ask is who was she?"
"Enough.” Burke leaned forward, his hands braced on the table. “Who was she?"
"Cynthia James."
Dani gasped and Burke swore. Patrick didn't say anything, but his lips thinned and his eyes narrowed.
His sister recovered first. “What is that woman doing back in town?"
Burke reached out and wrapped his arm around Dani, pulling her from her chair and into his lap. “We knew this was a possibility when her father died. I warned you it could happen."
"But she's been gone for so long...” Dani's voice trailed off. Suddenly her head snapped up. “You stay away from her."
Shamus was shocked. He'd never seen his sister react this way to anyone. Dani was usually softhearted and forgiving, always urging others to give people a second chance in life. Apparently, Cynthia James was the one person who wasn't included in this.
"That's what she said too."
He could see that he'd shocked his sister, but she recovered quickly. “Then for once in her life, she's talking sense. You should listen to her."
"What happened?"
Burke shook his head. “It was a long time ago, Shamus. We've put it behind us."
Shamus tilted his head to one side. It wasn't like his brother-in-law to avoid a subject just because it wasn't pleasant. “Doesn't sound like you have put it behind you."
"Leave well enough alone.” There was anger in Patrick's voice as he stood and began to pace. “That woman hurt our sister. Isn't that sufficient reason?"
Shamus studied his brother. “It might be, except the person you're all talking about is not the person I met."
"She uses her feminine wiles to get what she wants. She always has, never stopping to think how it might affect anyone else.” Dani slid off her husband's lap and came over to stand beside him. “Don't be fooled by her long, blond hair and her model-thin body."
Shamus laughed. “Her hair is short and brown, her body is very well-rounded, and I haven't seen her wear any makeup yet. Not quite a femme fatale."
Dani frowned. “That doesn't sound like Cynthia James."
"That's because it's not,” he continued patiently. “The person here is Cyndi Marks."
"A name change doesn't mean anything.” Patrick stopped pacing and leaned against the counter.
"I think it does. At least it does to her."
"I doubt she'll be here long.” Burke leaned back in his chair. “As soon as her father's estate is settled, she'll probably just sell the house and go back to wherever it was she came from."
Shamus slowly shook his head. “I'm not so sure."
"Money and power is all that matters to Cynthia,” Burke countered. “Cyrus James spent his entire life hoarding both. The apple can't fall that far from the tree."
"I keep telling you all that Cyndi is different.” Dani shot her husband a worried frown. Shamus ignored it and continued. “She told me that she tried to break you two up years ago and that she lied about being pregnant."
Burke sighed. “Dani and I were having problems.” He sent a sad glance toward his wife. “It was my fault. I was having doubts about us and played right into Cynthia James's plans."
Shamus nodded, but said nothing.
"She phoned and hired me to come and clean their house.” His sister picked up the story. “I knew they had a maid, but she said the maid was too busy. When I was still cleaning her room, Cynthia came in and made sure I knew that Burke was taking her to the New Years’ party at the country club. She also let me know she had plans for her and Burke for after the party.” Her voice trembled and she stopped. “She hurt me, Shamus. Intentionally. It was premeditated and cruel."
"I came home and found Dani. She was devastated.” Shamus swiveled in his seat to face Patrick. He could imagine how his brother must have felt and now better understood his brother's animosity toward Cynthia.
"I came to my senses and left the party and Cynthia.” Burke stood and dragged his wife into his arms. “I went to Peach Street and pleaded with Dani to take me back.” His big hand stroked over his wife's hair. “Luckily, she took pity on me. My life wouldn't have been the same if she hadn't."
Dani wrapped her arms around Burke, holding him tight. Their love was a tangible thing and Shamus glanced away to give them a moment of privacy. He knew it wasn't an easy thing he was asking of his family. He was dredging up a lot of old, painful memories.
"We got engaged, and then Cynthia pulled her infamous stunt at the diner, accusing me of getting her pregnant. Since I'd never slept with her, never even touched her, that wasn't even a possibility."
Something inside Shamus relaxed. He'd been afraid that Burke had slept with Cynthia even though his gut had told him otherwise. It would have just been too weird if he and his brother-in-law had pursued the same woman, even if there was fourteen years in the difference.
"She came to see me before she left town.” His head snapped back to his sister. Apparently, the story wasn't quite finished yet. “She looked pale and I could tell she'd been crying. She was all hunched in on herself."
"What did she say?” Shamus needed to know.
Dani frowned as if she were having a hard time trying to recall the exact details. “She said she was sorry for all the problems she'd caused.” She paused and thought for another few seconds. “She also said something about looking for a way to solve her problems but that this wasn't the answer. Then she said we wouldn't have to worry about her again. That's pretty much all I remember, Shamus. It was a long time ago and I just wanted to forget it."
"I understand and I'm sorry for putting you through this."
"Then you see why you have to stay away from her.” He could hear the hope in Dani's voice. “She's nothing but trouble, and I don't trust her."
"What I see,” Shamus chose his words carefully, “is that a woman made a mistake years ago, apologized for it, and then stayed away for fourteen years. Now she's back and she's not the same person."
Patrick stalked over to the table and slammed his hand down on top of it. “Why are you doing this?"
Shamus calmly faced his irate brother, turning his question back at him. “Why are you doing this? Cyndi obviously is a different person now. Are you the same person you were fourteen years ago? Heck, you're not even the same person you were two years ago, Patrick. Life changes everyone."
"That's not a fair comparison and you know it,” Patrick charged.
"Sure it is. The shooting and returning home changed you for the better. You met Shannon, got married, and now your life is totally different. You're not as cynical and aloof as you used to be. I'd say that what happened here all those years ago changed Cynthia James."
"But you can't be sure.” Burke's voice was flat, his words ringing with finality.
"No,” Shamus agreed. “I can't be. Not unless I spend time with Cyndi."
"I wish you wouldn't. That woman and her father deliberately hurt a lot of people in this town.” His sister rarely asked him for anything and he hated to hurt her like this, but this was too important to him to let it go.