“The man ...my stalker? But I thought ... I thought my mother sent him to spy on me.”
“She did.”
“What? What ... are you saying?” Nausea erupted inside. “How do you know?”
“She sent him to watch over you, she says. I don’t know what he’s up to now, but you’re in more danger than you can imagine.”
Confusion erupted in her brain, with the sledgehammer hitting away at her temples. Her throat grew so tight she struggled to speak. “Wait. You talked to mymother?”That doesn’t just happen.
“I’m a detective, Cressida.” His brows knitted, and his voice rose, if only slightly, as if his explanation should have been obvious to her.
“You ... you can’t just call her up to talk to her. It doesn’t happen like that. It’s not that easy.”
“I learned who the guy was. Followed the leads. Made the connections.” Pursing his lips, he shook his head, then said, “Icommunicated.”
Braden let out a huff, clearly upset that he had to explain this to her, then he stepped closer and gentled his tone. “But I haven’t talked to her about why the man she sent is committing crimes.”
Her brain might just be shutting down. She eased into the chair next to the small table and rubbed her temples.
He grabbed the other chair and pulled it close. “Cressida, listen...”
“I don’t want to listen. Give me a minute, okay?”
She needed space and moved away from him, stepping out on the balcony. He followed, as she knew he would. But this time she wasn’t sure if she wanted him there. A cool mist coated her face, and she wished the clouds would move out so she could see the stars—metaphorically speaking, so she could see the truth.What is happening here?
“Cressida.” He sounded nervous. “Tell me more about the article. You said your mother had shut you down and made itimpossible for you to work for some venues through which you’d built your career. I can’t imagine any mother would do that without a good reason. I’m saying, maybe that article has to do with what’s happening here. What was it about?”
Cressida wasn’t ready to respond yet. She wanted answers of her own and went back into the small room. She lifted Evelyn’s journal. “Someone took pages from this journal. Didn’t take the whole thing, just pages. Then when Deputy Riker returned with my things, my father’s journal was gone.”
With one hand on his hip, he nodded, his eyes focused on the leather-bound book she held. Then he flicked his gaze to hold hers, his eyes as intense as they’d ever been. “Andyou’restill in danger.”
He dropped his hand and paced the small room. “Please, can you be specific about the article?”
“Are you asking as Braden, the guy who likes me? Or as a detective?” And why did she even care?But ... I do care.Because she was missing something here, and she needed to hear the truth from Braden, the man.
“Right now, I feel like that’s one and the same.”
“How did you talk to my mother exactly? Because you can’t call her or just get through. You have to go through a layer of fifty people to get to her. I don’t think you have the resources,Detective.”
“Just what do you think is going on here?” he asked. “I can get to her because you’re her daughter, and this has everything to do withyou. Why are you acting like I’ve committed some crime? I’m doing my job.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her closer. “I’m worried about you, but not because it’s my duty. I care about you, Cressida.”
“Okay, okay. It was about environmental impacts and international waters. Fishing and sunken vessels possibly leaching contaminants and toxins.”
“That’s it? That doesn’t sound like a reason she could have to...”
“To what? Braden ... what aren’t you telling me?” She pulled her hands away, and he let her. Part of her wished he hadn’t. “I’m ... I’m tired and confused. I don’t know who I can trust.” She rubbed her forehead. “Of course, I shouldn’t have accused you.” Cressida softened her voice, her heart open and raw. She didn’t want to need him, but ...I need you. “You’re the only person that I can trust.”
Cressida held his gaze, looking for reassurance. She would take that hug now, if he would give it.
Instead, at the look on his face, a fist gripped her heart and squeezed.
32
Anguish rocked through him at her words. He couldn’t go on like this. He couldn’t keep lying. But for national security, lies were told. And for his niece—Elise—he’d committed to seeing this through.
What was the right way to go here?God, help me! What do I do?
But Cressida was sharp, and she’d already started questioning him tonight. It wouldn’t be long before she discovered the truth, and then what?
