I missed the sunset.
But the clouds could have prevented her from seeing it anyway. She looked at the journal, feeling the emotion and angst sweeping through her again.
“What is it? What did you learn?” He entered the room and took the seat across from the desk.
“It’s a lot, really, and I’m not sure what it means for my research. But it sounds like her family’s shipping operations were involved in smuggling during World War II.”
He tilted his head. “Smuggling. What kind?”
“Not the good kind. Her grandfather, at least, supposedly was involved in transporting questionable cargo—though she didn’t say what—during World War II. He wasn’t charged because no one knew, but her father took over and built the company into an important player in maritime trade. The cargo ships transported raw materials, machinery, and even medical supplies out of Boston. Then...”
“What is it? What did you read?”
“I’m not sure what to make of what I read. Evelyn learned the truth about the company’s nefarious legacy turned good. But for some reason, she wanted to get away from her father, except he held too much power. His reach went far and wide, and she even goes as far as to say she believed he killed her husband.” Tension built in Cressida’s shoulders. “Which, I mean, she kind of told us that already.”
“Anything at all about her son after he was sent away? Anything about what he got involved in?”
“I have to keep reading, and my eyes are crossing. I should take a break and come back. I wish I could just take the journal with me, but I’m not going to ask her if I can have her diary. So, your turn. Did you learn anything new? Anything that helps us to figure this out?”
“I’m not sure. I went up to the room and looked around.”
“What room?”
“The one that someone was searching earlier today. I looked at everything. Dug in the drawers. I wore gloves. I tell you, Cressida, there’s nothing in that room. I believe whatever someone was looking for, they found. I believe that might be why Evelyn was so upset she had a mild heart attack, why she gave you the right to look through everything.”
“Oh.” Now, she hated hearing that. “What could someone have wanted in her room?”
“And there’s something else. Thatcher called. Madeline Chase was apprehended by the state police, but she lawyered up and told us nothing.” His eyes darkened.
“What else? You’re holding back.”
“Tonight, herlawyerwent to see her, and she died a few hours later.”
28
Cressida stood so fast the chair rocked back and almost toppled. “What? I don’t understand.”
“It’s clear that someone didn’t want her talking. It’s also clear that this is dangerous, Cressida.” He wished they weren’t even here in this house. “I hate that you’re involved in this.”
“Well, I am, and it’s too late to back out now. I wish ... I wish my father was alive to finish his book. But if he died because of it, I want justice for him.”
“What if Madeline was a plant?” Braden asked.
Cressida crossed her arms and leaned against the desk. “You mean a spy of some kind?”
“I don’t know. I’m grasping at straws. Nothing shows up as a red flag in her background.”
“Well, what do we know about Collins?”
“Trent sent me the information, but nothing connects them, at least not yet.”
“I know a little bit from my work as a journalist. Sometimes people’s past, their history, can be scrubbed or a fake one created, and even law enforcement struggles to find thetruth.” She pressed a finger on the globe and spun it slowly, as if looking for a specific place in the world.
“I assure you, we’re looking into it.” He wanted to reach out to his federal connections, but his gut instinct told him he should keep this very low-key. He couldn’t tell who all the players were. Octavia was keeping it low-key, usinghim, and that had to be for a reason. He just didn’t know what that was.
“In the meantime, I made some coffee. It’s in the kitchen. Why don’t you take a break and stretch your legs?”
“Actually, we missed supper.” She stretched her arms.
