Read Online Children of Dynasty by Christine Carroll - Free Book Online Page A

space to get up. As though a spell had broken, a melee of speculation broke out. Grumbling to save face, the crew gathered their equipment and left.
    Rory put out a hand and rested against the wall to catch his breath. From the other side of the room he felt his father’s dark gaze on him. He reached to adjust his loosened tie, and someone tapped him on the shoulder.
    Hoping it might be Mariah, he turned to find John Grant with his hand extended. “Nice work, son.” The older man’s gray eyes were sincere in his drained face.
    This taste of approval from an unexpected quarter almost convinced Rory the consequences of his action might be worth it.
    He pushed himself upright. “Thank you, sir.”

     
    Mariah watched in disbelief as her father and Rory shook hands. She would never have expected DCI’s heir apparent to defend Tom and John, and, by implication, Grant Development. From the astonished look on his face, she didn’t think he quite believed it either.
    While John moved to help calm Tom and Wendy, she and Rory faced each other in the midst of the crowd.
    He jerked his head toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.”
    “I …” She glanced around to indicate their public status.
    “It’s simple. I walk out. You follow me.”
    She couldn’t go with him. Yet, she wanted nothing more.
    “I’ll be waiting.” He walked away, his back straight. Accepting congratulations for the rout of “On The Spot,” he worked his way toward the exit. His progress was easy to follow; his patrician head stood out above the others.
    Mariah turned away from the door as though she’d forgotten she had even spoken to Rory. Kneeling, she picked up Charley’s picture, taking care not to cut her hands on the glass slivers stuck in the frame. Gently, she placed the photo back atop the casket and looked again at Charley’s likeness. Irreverent and brash, if he were here he’d tell her to grab life while she could.
    If that meant to walk out of this room, it was her prerogative.
    In the deserted hall, her heels echoed on the ancient marble floor. Hearing measured footfalls ahead of her, she rounded a corner and confirmed her partner in stealth was Rory.
    “There.” He gestured toward the entrance to a darkened chapel.
    Inside, gilt and dark wood framed a large Crucifix on the front wall. Murky, stained glass windows lined the outside walls. The only light came from a lamp left on over the speaker’s lectern. The air smelled faintly of incense.
    Once the door closed behind them, Rory drew Mariah past rows of empty pews to a spot against the back wall where no one looking in could see. There, he propped his hands on either side of her. “Are you all right?”
    Within the shelter formed by him and the wall at her back, she felt better than she had in days. “I’m making it.” She kept her tone even. “Thanks for helping out in there.”
    “I’ve been in Castillo’s sights, myself.”
    “You will be again.”
    He shrugged. “Along with you and Grant Development. The press won’t let the accident go without sensationalizing it.”
    “We’ve been running the gauntlet from home to office for days,” Mariah agreed.
    His brow furrowed. “Any theories how that elevator managed to fall? I thought they had redundant safety mechanisms, rack and pinion … and why didn’t the emergency brake work when the cable failed?”
    On top of Tom’s worries, Rory’s words brought back the clutch inside Mariah. Despite it, she said, “Our engineer says these things happen. OSHA will insist on an independent lab report.”
    “Do you think it’s possible someone’s out to get Grant?” Rory mused.
    “Other than your father?” she blurted.
    His stunned look made her realize how that sounded.
    “I mean …” she trailed off.
    His silence was louder than an outburst. At last, he said, “Given what you’re going through, I’ll let that pass.” He drew a deliberate breath. “I’m talking about something else. When I was in