They sat down, and William pulled his chair closer to the table, his expression shifting from hurt to business-like.
“So, what do you need?” William asked. “Because I know you didn’t ask me here for belated Christmas wishes or for...” He barely suppressed a shudder. “Tea.”
“Don’t worry, I checked for spiders and other critters beneath the table,” David joked.
“Thank you, it’s appreciated,” William said, but he checked anyway, his eyes scanning the ground with obvious distrust. “I don’t like the woods.” His eyes narrowed as he looked back at David. “Now what do you need help with? Have you identified the person yet?”
David’s expression grew serious. “We know he’s in St. Augustine. And not to alarm you...” He watched William’s eyes narrow a little more. “We believe he’s staying at the Christmas Inn. He checked in about two days ago.”
William’s eyes widened. “Do you need me to get you the guest list? I can do that.”
“No,” David shook his head firmly. “You can’t be involved in this in any way, William. We spoke about this when I came back to St. Augustine.”
“I want to help, David,” William insisted, leaning forward. “I feel this is as much my fault...”
“I’m not going through that again,” David hissed, his voice low and sharp. “This is not your fault at all.”
“But I recommended you to the Admiral for that job.” William’s voice dropped, an edge creeping into it. “I wish my brother had never taken on those Navy contracts.”
The Moore family shipping company had been in the business of transporting classified materials for decades. Secure communications equipment, cryptographic devices, sensitive documents. They’d held government contracts that required the highest security clearances and absolute discretion.
That’s how William had known the Admiral. That’s how he’d been in a position to recommend David when the Navy needed someone with David’s particular expertise.
“William, again, this has nothing to do with you,” David assured him. “They would’ve come to me even without your recommendation, and not just because of who my father was, either, but because of what I used to do. I’m the only one who could have...” He cut off the words, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“I always thought you were far too astute for your own good.” William sighed. “So much like my mother...” He shook his head. “Do you know she was a cryptographer in World War II?”
“You’ve told me that story many times, William,” David said with a small smile. He glanced at his wristwatch. They couldn’t stay here much longer. “William, as much as I’d like to go down memory lane with you and hear stories of your mother...” He looked up at the man in front of him. “I don’t have much time.”
“Right,” William said, straightening. “You brought me here to talk about Eve and her family.”
“Yes,” David said with a nod. “Who are they, William? Why are they here? Why did you bring them here right now?” Hewatched William intently. “Why would you bring more people you obviously care for here right now?”
“Honestly,” William admitted, looking contrite, “I didn’t even think about it at the time. Eve’s niece, Mia, had a rough time and was spiraling after losing a young child on the operating table. Eve and Mia’s daughter, Lila, were beside themselves with what to do. They wanted to get Mia away from California for a change of scenery.” He looked down and shook his head. “I impulsively asked them to come to St. Augustine.”
“William, I know your heart is in the right place, but this could be a complication,” David pointed out. “If this lead turns out to be true, and we finally get eyes on this person...” He rubbed his face and took a breath. “If they find out your connection to me and then your connection to Eve, Mia, and Lila...”
“Wait,” William frowned, holding up his hand. “You’re the David that nearly knocked Eve flying the other day?”
He gaped at David, and something flashed in his eyes. Fear? But it was gone so quickly that David couldn’t decipher it properly.
David nodded in confirmation.
“Well, blow me down with a feather,” William said slowly. “That’s quite a coincidence.” Another look crossed his face, something David couldn’t read, topped with a little twinkle. What was the old man thinking now? “Yes, quite a coincidence indeed.”
“I’d say so,” David said. “Or just fate playing a bad joke on you or throwing you a big warning.”
But William didn’t look fazed. “No, David, I don’t think it was a warning but rather...” He stopped and shook his head. “Well, just a coincidence.”
David had the distinct feeling that wasn’t what William had been going to say at all.
“As I’ve always said to you, David, the universe has a funny way of sorting things out, and life likes to throw some curve balls at you. It’s up to you how you handle it.”
“Not sure what that means,” David told him. “But William, it was reckless of you to bring people you know and obviously care about here right now. You know what happened to Nancy and...” He swallowed, the memory hitting him painfully once again. “Morgan.” His voice grew rough. “I’d hate for Eve, Mia, and Lila to get caught up in the middle because of their association with you… Or now me.”
William’s eyes widened again. “I’ll keep an eye on them,” he assured David. “Just keep me informed of what’s happening.”
“No,” David hissed. “I don’t want you doing anything out of the ordinary. Act like they’re just your guests and you have no inkling of what’s going down. I already have someone at the Inn. I’ll ask them to keep your guests out of harm’s way.”
