She hung her head a moment, then suddenly lifted her face. “I still don’t know what you’re doing here. I thought you were back to gallivanting around the world on special missions.”
Partially true. At least her assumptions would make it easier. Cole drew in a long breath. How did he untangle this complicated story? He pressed his lips into a thin line and, to his shame, looked away.
“Are you going to tell me? Because if not, then I’m getting out and going home.”
Same take-charge Jo he’d met on that beach last winter. He thought back to that moment, when she’d heaved his battered, shot-through body from the rocks and assisted him out of danger.Shewashishero. And he hated to add another layer of anguish to her day.
Cole faced her. “I was hired to look into your mother’s murder.”
3
She sucked in a breath, filling her lungs with outrage. “Now I know you’re lying.”
Jo watched his reaction closely.
His mouth opened as he gave a small shake of his head. Incredulous? “It’s the truth. Why would I lie?”
“No one believes she was murdered except me. Not the police. Not anyone.” She glared at him, her anger over what happened to Mom burning in her gut.
No one had truly listened, even after she’d become a target. No one believed her mother’s death was connected to the threats on Jo’s life. Or at the very least, none of it could be proven.
“Listen to me, Jo. I believe you. And now the police are leaning that way, calling her death suspicious.”
Jo narrowed her eyes. Whoever had hired him knew something, or else why hire him? The police maintained it was an accident. “Who hired you?”
“Her name is Naomi Bancroft. I was already looking into things when Mrs. Bancroft contacted CGIS and requested an investigation into Mira Cattrel’s murder.”
“CGIS?”
“Centurion Global Intelligence and Security.”
“And you work for them, then?”
“It’s basically a directory for veterans with specific skill sets. They connect clients with investigators, security and protective services, threat assessments. That sort of thing. I know the guy who runs it, and he knew I’d want to work on this case.”
Jo nodded, satisfied with his answer. “Why does this woman care? What’s the connection?”
“Apparently one of your mother’s last forensic art assignments identified a man who murdered someone at an ATM. The police have recently identified Mason Hyde as the killer, and he’s wanted for questioning in your mother’s death.”
“What?” Jo gasped. “I don’t believe this. Finally, they’re looking into it.” Her heart pounded erratically, and her hands shook. “No one notified me. Oh yeah. They couldn’t reach me if they wanted to.” Because she’d intentionally disappeared. “But that doesn’t explain the connection.”
“Mason Hyde is Naomi Bancroft’s brother.” Cole took her hand and squeezed.
“And now you’re working for the killer’s sister?” She jerked her hand away.
“Will you hear me out? Naomi believes he’s been set up. That he didn’t kill anyone.”
“And you were all too eager to jump on it? Cole, how could you?”
Cole rubbed his temples and shook his head. “I should have led with the fact that I was already looking into your mother’s death on the side. Working through CGIS for a client, I could dig into things officially and get to the truth, Jo.” His gaze pleaded with her. “For you.”
Jo looked away. She didn’t know what to think.Ishouldjust get out and get away while I can,before I get hurt again.Then again, she wanted to knoweverythingabout her mother’s murder investigation. She would definitely stay.
“I’m listening.”
“I had to start with the police reports, and then I needed to talk to you.”
The way he looked at her right now, she could almost imagine that hewantedto talk to her and his reasons for being with her now went beyond this investigation. But that was Jo’s imagination. Her pitiful desire to have Cole come back for her with an explanation that she could accept and live with so they could be together again. Pathetic. So much more was going on now. Pop had left, and now Mom’s murder might actually get solved. Still...
