No Strings Attached

"The homeless man had me in his grasp, shielding the woman as she fled into the inferno. In a fit of rage, I knocked him out cold and cast him into the blaze. From that day on, I lived behind his mask, a drifter in his stead."

As these words filled the room, Brodie clenched his fists so tightly in the surveillance room that his knuckles turned white.

Only now did he realize that his mother's face had been disfigured beyond recognition long before the fire had raged. One could only imagine the torment she must have endured back then. It explained her fractured mind.

A fierce scowl cracked Brodie's usually gentle demeanor as he rose from his chair and stormed into the interrogation room.

His foot connected with Robert's belly with a ruthless force. "So, ever since then, you've been hunting her down, relentlessly pursuing her and her son, right?"

in bewilderment. "How did

back teeth in anticipation, Brodie retorted, "Because I am that

gazed at Brodie for a long moment, then shook his head in agony. "I'm sorry, I had no choice. It was Leonora's orders. If I didn't comply, she would

you ever consider what life was like for us because of your pursuit? My mother would wake in terror in the middle of the night, living a nightmare for all these years. You harmed others to protect yourself.

contain the wrath boiling within him, and his fists pummeled Robert with each pent-up

of Brodie's usually calm face into one of fury, felt a pang of sympathy. He grabbed Brodie's wrist, trying to calm him, "Let me get the answers I need, then you can have at him Clara really

words, Brodie ceased his assault, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at lan. "Are you sure you want to know the truth?” Sᴇaʀch

in confusion. "Is there something you're not telling

also remained silent, a bad feeling growing in his

had dipped into a raspy tone, he said, "Don't worry. Even if Leonora is behind it, I