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?"

up at him in bewilderment.

in anticipation, Brodie retorted, "Because I am that child. Can't you see

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,

out again, striking his thigh. "Did 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

and his mother had faced, Brodie could no longer contain the wrath boiling

to calm him, "Let me get the answers I need, then you can have at him Clara really wants to know the cause of Aunt May's

Brodie ceased his assault, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at lan. "Are you sure you want to know

in confusion. "Is there

feeling growing in his gut. May's death was surely linked

a hardened gaze and a voice that had dipped into a raspy tone, he said, "Don't worry. Even