Evelyn continued talking to Trent in her living room, even though Thatcher had already provided Braden with what sounded like her statement. A paramedic was taking her blood pressure. Maybe Trent was there providing additional support.
Braden caught a glimpse of her as he followed the sheriff upstairs and down a long hall, past several closed doors. The coroner was in the room at the end of the hall, where he stood over a body.
Braden instantly recognized the man. Jo had sketched his face after her session with Cressida.
“Got ID on him so we finally know who he is?”
Sheriff nodded. “Gordon Collins. I’m running the information to confirm his identity and see if he has a record.”
Two deputies from the coroner’s office arrived to bag the body.
“Let’s talk outside,” Thatcher said.
Braden preferred to stay inside and take it all in. His backgroundincluded protection detail and threat assessment and prevention, but as a DSS agent, he also investigated crimes against State Department personnel. Working for Thatcher, he’d solved a couple of complex investigations and believed Thatcher trusted him to solve this one. Braden might have taken the job under a ruse, but now all of it was colliding, and he suspected that Octavia had fully known Braden would need to be in a position of investigative authority.
Bile rose in his throat at the thought, and he shoved it down, pushed away the violent thoughts to focus on this investigation that was growing in complexity. The crimes suddenly occurring with Cressida’s arrival were loosely connected, if not completely.
He followed Thatcher out of the house, and they walked into the misty weather. Then Thatcher kept walking away from the mansion as if he intended to lead Braden well out of earshot until, finally, they stood over the ledge and watched a sliver of moon peek through the clouds rolling in. Below them, waves raced against rocks, flaring briefly with the faint blue-green glow of bioluminescence.
Stunning. Braden wished this was a moment to take in that phenomenon. But it wasn’t. He waited for Thatcher to speak first.
“You and I never talked about this. We’re not talking about this now. Are we clear?”
What isthis? “Crystal.”
“Why are you here?” Thatcher asked.
“It’s my job.” What was hereallyasking? Braden suspected he knew.
“No, I mean, why are you here in Hidden Bay?”
“You know why. I needed a job. It’s stunning. Who wouldn’t want to work here?”
Thatcher raked a hand over his head. “Give me a break.You have a top-notch résumé. You could have gone anywhere.”
“Exactly. So I came here.”
“Months ago, I got a call from Octavia Dane, offering up her reference. I didn’t ask for one. But she offered.”
Braden suspected he knew what was coming next. “You hired me because of her?”
“Of course. I liked you already, but I admit I considered passing. The reasons are many. You didn’t fit this way of life. You’re overqualified. Then I got a call from someone from the State Department, and that meant she wanted you here. I’ve been wondering why for months.”
“And?” Braden hoped the sheriff had stumbled across an answer for which Braden still searched.
“You tell me.”
“I didn’t know until her daughter showed up,” Braden said. “And honestly, I still don’t know.” He gestured at the mansion behind them.
“You think what happened here tonight is related to the reasons Dane sent you?” Thatcher asked.
“Without knowing more, I can’t say for certain.” But yes, he suspected as much. “This could be a coincidence. Collins was attacking women who are alone.” Braden shrugged. That wasn’t uncommon. “On the other hand, Octavia sent me here to protect her daughter, who needs to interview Mrs. Monroe. She’s attacked upon her arrival, and Monroe is also attacked when she returns, and the same man is involved, so yes, I’m leaning heavily on the connection. One more thing, tonight I took Cressida to theSea Reaperto meet with Diggins. He’d been attacked earlier, mere moments before we arrived, and the assailants returned. They almost got the best of me but got away.” With the words, the pain suddenly throbbed again, as if he could forget. “I’ll write up a full report tonight. Unfortunately, the incidentinvolved me firing my gun.” Braden didn’t have time to be put on administrative leave and held his breath.
“I’ll review the report. Now, what else?”
“Diggins claims he doesn’t know who, what, or why, but I think he’s hiding something. He mentioned that Cressida’s father could have been murdered.”
Thatcher rubbed the back of his neck. “What more can you tell me? Why did Mrs. Dane want you here?”
