Death by Obsession by Jaden Skye

and disturbed.
    “They’re private detectives,” Tara said, suddenly
gaining her footing.
    “They’re what?” Lynch’s voice grew alarmed.
    “Private detectives,” Tara’s voice rose.  “My father
hired these private detectives.”
    “Why would he do that, Tara?” Lynch turned the
suspicion directly on Aldon, avoiding the issue completely.  “What would prompt
your father to do such a terrible thing?”
    Tara now took a step away from Lynch. “My father is
trying to protect me,” she said evenly.
    “From what? From me?” Lynch looked at her askance.
    “My father’s motives aren’t the point, are they?”
Tara spoke with her full voice.
    “Of course they are,” Lynch turned to Aldon, his eyes
narrowing. “There is nothing I have ever done to have caused any suspicion. I
have taken wonderful care of your daughter, been good to her.” Then he turned
back to Tara, “I love you completely, Tara. I have since the first moment I saw
you.”
    Tara’s eyes glistened as she took a step closer and
held out her arms, “I love you too, Lynch, truly,” she murmured.
    “Then how can you doubt me?” Lynch looked amazed.
    “My father has news,” Tara said, once again, wobbly.
    Lynch suddenly pushed Tara away and stared at Aldon. “What
kind of news?” Clearly, there was no love lost between them.
    “I believe Tara wants to tell you herself,” Aldon
stared back at Lynch unruffled.
    Lynch’s eyes opened wider. “Tell me what, Tara?”
     
    Tara took a deep breath, threw a long look at Cindy
and spoke. “These private detectives have told my father that you have a son
living here on the island. You see him, support him.”
    “What difference does that make? I love you, Tara,”
Lynch wailed suddenly.
    “I love you, too, Lynch,” Tara cried back.
    “But you see, love is not entirely the point, is it?”
Aldon sounded victorious. “My reasons for having you checked thoroughly were
because I needed to be absolutely sure who you were before I gave you my most
precious possession. And look what I found!  You have a secret child. A son
living here on the island.”
    “And exactly what business is that of yours? How does
this impact you?” Lynch’s voice grew louder.
    Aldon’s voice rose as well. “My daughter’s happiness
impacts me completely. She knew nothing of his child.”
    “So?” Lynch stood his ground fiercely. “The child has
no impact upon her either.”
    “No impact?” Tara’s voice rose, unable to believe
what she was hearing.
    “He will never be a part of our lives,” Lynch exclaimed.
    Now Tara began trembling. “How is that possible?” she
breathed. “You have a child and I would never have known about him? You would
never take him on outings, spend time with him, celebrate his birthdays, go to
his events in school?”
    “It’s not like that, Tara,” Lynch exclaimed. “I give
all the money he needs to his mother. That was our arrangement when he was
born.”
    Tara looked as though she was about to pass out.  “This
is not the man I knew,” she murmured. “I have to be dreaming a horrible dream.”
    “Cut it out,” Lynch became stronger with her.
    “The man I knew,” Tara went on, would have been a
fabulous father. He was loving, caring, responsible, playful. He never could
have abandoned a son.”
    “I haven’t abandoned anybody,” Lynch’s face grew taut
and angry. “I said I give him all the money he needs.” Then Lynch turned full
on at Aldon. “How dare you come between us with this?”
    “Blaming me may be convenient,” Aldon remarked, “but
the child is yours, not mine.”
    “And he’ll be here soon,” Tara whimpered now. “He and
his mother are on the way.”
    At that Lynch lurched backwards. “What in hell are
you telling me?”
    “I didn’t believe it was true, I wanted to see him
for myself,” Tara declared.
    “You had no damn right to invite my child and his
mother to this room,” Lynch was enraged.
    “Of course Tara had a