Conklin's Corruption (#3) (Conklin's Trilogy) (31 page)

I nodded.  “Thank you, Connor.  But I’m not sure Tyler will be ready to take that step.  I guess I blew my cover,” I softly laughed, dabbing under my eye with my finger.

He leaned on his door and smiled.  “You’ve always been easy to read, Becs.”

I rolled my eyes.  “I’m working on that.”

Connor’s grin widened then he became serious again.  “I mean it Becca.  Don’t get wrapped up in this.  I can help you only to a certain point.”

“I know,” I said gratefully. 

“I’d still do anything for you, Becs.  But I really don’t want to represent you in a criminal case,” he half smiled.

I returned a similar smile, although both of us knew that could be true someday if things went according to Chino’s plan.

***

After denying an invitation for lunch with Connor, I headed back to the Conklin building.  There was no need for lunch with Connor.  I had said what I needed to say and didn’t need to become any more involved with him on a personal level.

I sat at my desk, staring at the finished prints for the Arena.  They would be breaking ground on the remodel on Wednesday and would be finished by mid November.  The Griffins would start playing in their new Arena by December.  My father was impressed it would only take three months.

Just as I was beginning a new project, a knock came to my door. 

“Hey Becca, do you have a minute?”  I was stunned to see Detective Anderson in my office door frame.  After witnessing the odd encounter at Enclave in Chicago this weekend, I had no idea what he could possibly want.

“Yeah, sure,” I said quickly, standing from my chair, gesturing him to sit down as I closed my office door.

“I wanted to apologize if I antagonized Tyler this weekend,” he said smoothly as he sat down.  “I didn’t mean any harm.”

I shook my head.  “Don’t worry about it.  He’s been easy to rile ever since RJ’s passing.”

Anderson scratched his chin.  “Yes.  It was a shame.  RJ was so young.  Tyler made it sound like he didn’t think it was a suicide.”

I blinked at him, feeling slightly hurt that Tyler had talked to the detective about RJ’s death and not me.

“I wonder sometimes if it was foul play.  To be honest, a lot of fingers point in Tyler’s direction, but his alibi is too clear.  Surveillance cameras catch him entering the building after RJ’s time of death.  I don’t think Tyler is capable of killing anyone anyway…” Anderson said, trailing his last sentence as he looked at me.

“Of course not!” I gasped.  “Tyler would never hurt anyone, especially his family.”

Anderson raised an eyebrow at me.

“Look, I know RJ and Tyler’s relationship seemed unconventional, but deep down they cared about each other.  They just had a weird way of showing it.”

Anderson nodded in agreement, and a huge sigh of relief escaped my mouth.  No way would Tyler kill anyone, and the thought of Anderson pinning his father’s death on his son’s hands sent a shiver down my spine.

Anderson leaned forward, his eyes intently looking at me from across my desk.  “Becca, this is going to be off the record.”

I gulped, unsure if I could trust him.

“I know Robert Senior did dirty business and that RJ covered it up somehow.  If Tyler is feeling pressure from anyone, he can come to me.  Deals can be made.”

We stared at each other for a moment then Anderson stood.  “I should get back to the office.  It was nice seeing you again.”

“Same to you,” I said quietly, getting up from my seat to let him out.

“I mean it Becca.  This city isn’t what you’d think it’d be, and I’m willing to get help from anyone to make it a better place.”

“Corruption seems to be taking over everywhere,” I agreed.

The detective nodded then left.

Slowly closing the door, I tried to recollect what he and Connor had said.  There just might be an out for my Ty.

Chapter 18

Tyler

My Chicago office was bigger than both my Grand Rapids and Cleveland offices combined.  The space was too quiet, and the sounds of my keyboard reminded me how separated from people I had been the past few months.

Glancing at the clock, it was almost 7:30 p.m..  Becca would be home from the gym, cooking dinner.  She decided to start staying at the condo in Union Square instead of her parents’ or sister's.  I didn’t blame her for wanting her own space.  No one would be able to break into the top floor of Union Square, so I felt she would be safe without me there.

My door slowly creaked open, and I was shocked with who passed through the door frame. 

“Why are you here, Tyler?” my mother’s voice rang through the stillness of my office.

I scowled as I looked up from my computer screen.  Since when did she come to my office?  And why did my receptionist let her back without telling me?

“I’m obviously working, mother.”

She rolled her eyes and marched to the front of my desk.  “Why aren’t you in Grand Rapids with Becca?” she asked harshly.

I squinted at her.  “Again, I’m working.”

“You need to stop this, Tyler,” she said sternly. 

What was she talking about?  “Stop what?  Building this empire?”

“Stop turning into RJ.”

I stood from my seat, glaring at her.  “I’m nothing like RJ,” I sputtered. Then that awful thought crossed my mind that maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

“You’re sure acting like it.  Have you actually talked to Becca lately?” she accused, her hands firmly on her hips.

“Of course I talk to her,” I snorted.  “She’s my fiancé. I talk to her every day.” Maybe we weren’t as connected as we should be, but I was trying.  So what if our main communications had been through texts… or text…

“She’s been a mess.  She broke down when we were wedding dress shopping.”

My heart sank. 
Broke down?

“Don’t start treating her like RJ treated me all those years.  I thought you knew better from watching him while you grew up,” she chastised.

“I’d never cheat on Becca,” I growled, appalled she would even insinuate such a horrid idea.

“You are right now!” she shouted, throwing her hands around my office.  “It might not be some sleazy woman, Tyler, but you’re obsessed with work!  Stop putting this before Becca!  It’ll destroy you!”

My jaw clenched as I stared down at my desk.  I wasn’t obsessed with work.  I was using it as a distraction.

“I know you love her. I’ve seen how you look at her,” my mother said more softly.  “But sweetie, you need to put Becca first.”

I closed my eyes.  “Like you put us first all those years?”

She looked like I stabbed her with a knife, turning it deep inside her.

“Okay, I get it.  I was a horrible mother.” she exaggerated.  “I left you with your grandmother and nannies.  But I was trying to please my husband.  Just like Becca is going to try and please you.  Don’t take advantage of her, Tyler.”

“Becca won’t put up with this lifestyle for long,” I said quietly.  “She won’t jump when I tell her too, not anymore.”

“Good,” she said, nodding her head.  Silence passed through our stares and a tear fell down her cheek.  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you were younger.”

Now I was uncomfortable with her apology.  It was easier to be mad at her, resent every missed moment of my youth.  How could we start over?  I stayed quiet, not sure how to address her comment.

She turned to leave then saw a photo of Wrigley Field on the wall.  She traced a finger on the frame, a small smile played on her lips, countering her wet eyes.  “I remember when you were ten years old and went to Wrigley Field for the National Anthem with your little league team.  You were so excited.  I don’t think you slept at all the night before.  You were bouncing off the walls, talking about how you wanted to get all of the players’ autographs.”  Her smile widened at the memory and tugged at my heart.  I thought she was too drunk to remember anything from my childhood.

“Just like your first high school game, when you got pulled up to varsity.  You were so nervous yet focused when I watched you on the bench.  Your leg was bouncing. You wouldn’t talk with any of the other team members.”

She turned to look at me, happiness shining through her tears.  “I always talked about you and your baseball at brunches.  The other wives got annoyed and bored I think, but I didn’t care.  I was so proud of you for being focused on something other than that stupid business.”

I swallowed hard.  She did come to all of my games, even a good portion of my college games, and I just ignored her.  Not caring or being grateful for her support.  She typically had a drink in her hand, and I always thought it was just a reason for her to escape her confinements with RJ.

“I’ll never forget how disappointed you were when RJ missed your first college game.”  The life left her eyes.  “He never told you, but he tried his hardest to get there.  He called me at least six times during the game, wanting to know what was happening.”

My chest felt like it was going to collapse.  “He did?”

She nodded her head.  “Tyler, he wanted to come to your games.  He used to play you know.  He got suspended from his high school team because of bad behavior, but he could have been good.  You got your talent from him.”

My eyes stung as I screwed them shut.  “Then why didn’t he ever play with me?  Why didn’t he ever show interest?  I never once knew he even wanted to come to my games.”

She shook her head sympathetically.  “RJ never wanted anyone to know how he felt.  He always had to be the calm and witty one.  He never let his guard down.  A lot like someone else I know,” she murmured with an arched brow.

I scowled at her.  “Why was he so different from Papa?” I asked in confusion.

My mother sighed loudly then walked over to one of the plush black leather couches.  “Your grandfather and RJ were a lot alike, but your grandfather wanted everyone to like him.  He was two faced in other ways.”

I blinked at her intently, a small part of me terrified what more I was going to find out about the man I had so much respect for.

My mother crossed her legs and took another deep breath.  “I’ve heard the ugly side of your grandfather.  He could be downright nasty to RJ.  What he said to him on your very first college game...,” her voice faded, anger creeping into her words.

“He was mad he missed it,” I assumed, taking a seat back at my desk.

My mother laughed while shaking her head.  “I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but your grandfather was the reason why he didn’t show.”

I shook my head, knowing they had probably gotten into a fight and RJ couldn’t stand being in the same vicinity as his father.

As though my mother read my mind, she said, “Tyler, it wasn’t because he was mad at Robert but because Robert made RJ stay and do his work so Robert could come and watch your game.”

I looked at her in bewilderment. 
“What?”

She shook her head.  “I loved your grandparents Tyler, more than anything.  They have done so much for me, but they could be nasty when it came to you boys.  They didn’t want to miss a thing, even if it came down to between them and us.”

I rubbed my eyes with both palms, feeling more confused than ever.

“They always came first, whether RJ and I had an opinion or not.”  She sniffled for a moment then continued talking.  “I wanted to leave so many times, take you boys out of your beds and disappear.  I wanted to be your mother so badly, Tyler.  Sometimes that house felt like a prison.  Things got better when we were in our own house, but they still had a hold on us.  When RJ would be demanding I attend certain functions and parties, your grandparents would be insisting to spend time with you and your brothers.  At the time I didn’t have a voice to say no.” 

Tears spilled down her face, but she quickly dabbed them away.  “Please, don’t let this change how you thought of your grandparents.  They loved you and provided for you when I couldn’t.”  She sniffled loudly again, and my heart twisted into a noose, hanging itself for thinking so poorly of my own mother.

“You knew about Papa, didn’t you?”  I choked.

“What?  That he was a dirty crook?” She half laughed again, standing from the couch.  “Yes, unfortunately I got the heads up from your father.  RJ and Robert’s relationship was a lot like the relationship you had with your father, Tyler.”

I hit my fist on my desk, furious for how stupidly blind I was.  “How come I never saw it?  How come I never figured it out?”  I stood from my chair, covering my mouth and holding my chest.

My mother rapidly shook her head, making her way to stand by me.  “No, Tyler.  Don’t beat yourself up about this.  You were so young; you still are.  You’ve always held too many responsibilities.  You need to remember the good in your grandparents and in RJ.” 

Mary took a step closer to me, her emotions radiating into mine.

“I know it’s hard to find good memories of RJ, but…” She quietly laughed.  I let out a small chuckle, but turned into an embarrassing sob.  Covering my head with my hands, my chest heaved as I fought back tears of regret and guilt.