MemoriesErasedTreachery by Charlie Richards Page B

thing, but Greg isn't testifying against anybody, he just wants out." Ewyn sighed. "He has to come home, Dev. Kieki needs him. She can't grow up not knowing him."
    "Baby, listen. I don't mean to sound cold about Caro and Niki's deaths, but let's put this in perspective. Greg's daughters were dead. He had no reason to show himself, since it wouldn't have changed a thing," Devin rationalized. "He has to adjust to the loss and handle his grief in his own way. Besides, he's not alone with his grief. Pat is with him."
    "Damn. I never considered how Pat might be dealing with this. Niki and Caro were his little princesses."
    "Did you tell Mac about Kiera?"
    "Yes."
    "Then Greg knows about Kiera, and he knows she has enough people to care for her until he returns. Think about it." He smoothed his hands down Ewyn's back. "Greg did the right thing. He may not be testifying against anyone, but it will take more than a year or two for his former associates to get the message that he's not giving them up, but he's out of the game."
    "Yeah. I know you're right, but Keiki…"
    "Ewyn. Greg put quite a few years into setting up his break from the syndicate. What would you have had him do? Come out of seclusion to take care of Kiera and ruin his chances for a clean split and putting his life in order. Or have had him take Kiera underground to live with him. He couldn't have it both ways."
    Unable to resist any longer, Devin leaned forward and took possession of Ewyn's inviting mouth. For several minutes, he reacquainted himself with his favorite taste before pulling away.
    "We'll work it out, okay? Kieki is young. Greg will return before she gets too old, and even if he doesn't, Kiera will adjust to her circumstances."
    "I hope you're right." Ewyn sighed. "Dev, there's more. You need to get involved in the investigation."
    "Investigation?" Devin moved Ewyn away from him. "What are you saying? It wasn't an accident."
    "A gun and unknown DNA were found in the car. Neither girl was driving, and…" Ewyn inhaled sharply. "Caro was shot, Dev."
    "Excuse me," Devin snarled. "You'd better explain that…and what the hell are the locals doing about it?"
    Ewyn told him about meeting Patterson, about the man's derisive attitude, and then he gave him the details of his conversation with the man. "Patterson had the blood run through CODIS, and nothing."
    "So the perp isn't in the system."
    "Right. Do you think CeCe could have survived the earthquake?"
    "Not likely." Devin frowned. "Besides, if her blood had been in the car, her DNA would have some of the same markers as Niki and Caro. The lab would have noted it. Nonetheless, after what your sister-in-law did to this family, I'll talk to Tim. He'll want any possibility of her having survived thoroughly checked out."
    "I've thought about it a lot, Dev. If she's alive, I keep coming back to what does she have to gain?"
    "Only revenge."
    "Yeah, my conclusion, and it would be just like her." Ewyn went on to tell Devin about Taggart's research of the Calabria name. "It's not much, but it's a start."
    "Oh yeah. But my first priority is meeting this Patterson," Devin stated.
    "It's okay, Dev." Ewyn rolled his eyes. "I took care of him. He knows where I'm coming from."
    "You did good." Devin reached above him, turned out the light and then lay down, pulling Ewyn on top of him. "Still, Patterson needs to feel where I'm coming from, since I'm not always around. He needs to meet the entire extended Calderone family, understand what our roles are, and how we operate."
    With Ewyn straddling his body, his hands settled on the little round butt to stop the distracting squirming. "Tim and I will provide said enlightenment."
    Ewyn chuckled.
    "What?"
    "Mick said something similar." Ewyn rested his arms on Devin's chest and propped his chin on the back of his hands.
    Devin snorted. "I'm sure Mick, Tag, and Mac did as much as they could without totally alienating the locals, but we know the FBI and the locals aren't known for