“What about the place in Norfolk?” she asked. “The one Heather…Violet told me about?”
Mason fielded that. “We’re looking at real estate records for both Hayes and Bosch. If either owns a home?—”
“What if it’s rented?”
“That’s…more difficult,” he said carefully.
Noah’s eyes blazed. “You have to?—”
“We’re looking into it.” The cop’s tone was reasonable with a touch of impatience. “But without more information, it’s going to take some time. There’s no rental database to search.”
“Utility customers?” Noah suggested. “Can’t they look at those?”
“They can.” Again, Mason seemed to choose his words carefully. “But it takes time to do it legally. We need warrants and?—”
“Who cares if it’s legal?” Jasper froze, the words so loud they reverberated off the walls.
“Being the police and all”—Mason kept his tone even—“we tend to get caught up on stuff like that.” He stepped closer to Jasper and clamped a hand on his shoulder. “I promise. We’re doing everything we can.”
Jasper shrugged him off.
It seemed Mason was trying to lean on their old friendship, but Jasper wasn’t interested. He resumed his pacing.
Mason gave her a half smile. “We are looking into it, Miss Wright. It just takes time.”
“I understand.”
Noah stepped toward her, hands shoved deep in his pockets. “Delaney, have you packed?”
She blinked, surprised by the question. “Yes, but…”
He didn’t expect her to actually leave, did he?
She glanced at Jasper, but he was paying no attention, lost in his own torturous world. Richard was leaning over a laptop. Mason had retreated to the edge of the room, observing everything.
She focused on Noah again, lowering her voice. “You don’t think I’m leaving Driftwood, not now.”
“It would be best if you did.”
“What? Why? When Charlotte’s safe, she’ll want me here. She needs to know I’m not going to abandon her.”
Delaney had made Charlotte feel safe. Maybe Noah didn’t want Delaney anymore, but surely Charlotte still did.
Noah took her hand and tugged her down the hall and into the dining room. She hadn’t set foot in here since her first day in the house. Nothing had changed. The Waterford crystal still sat where it had before, dusted by the housekeeper, who came once a week.
Noah drew her away from the door, then took her other hand. “I’m sorry. I know it’s terrible. I know it’s…absolutely excruciating, but you should go.”
Delaney couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes. “But…but I love her. And she needs me.”
“She has Jaz and me. She’ll be okay.”
Delaney’s lips trembled. “I’ll leave if you want, but I’m staying in Driftwood. I’ll go to a hotel?—”
“Back to Maine.” His tone was even. “Please.”
“What? You can’t…” Her pitch rose until she sounded like a child. “I don’t understand.”
Noah pulled her into his arms and held her, and her barely controlled emotions burst in a sob.
