“Me?I ... you’re the one who had a heart attack. How are you? And I’m so sorry this happened.” And it felt weird, like all the walls between them—if there had been any—had suddenly come down with Evelyn’s crisis.
Her gaze still contained the wisdom of ages, and Cressida hoped she would share some of that with her.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I’m good.” She grabbed Cressida’s hand and dragged her through the house and into the living room. “We don’t have much time.”
“Why? What’s the urgency?” Cressida had her own reasons for feeling pressed for time, and she would love to hear Evelyn’s.
“My dear, I’m sure you suspect the danger is closing in.” She gave her a matter-of-fact look.
Sure. Okay. “Diggins is out in those woods right now, watching. Did you know that?”
“Let him watch.”
“Let him watch? Aren’t you concerned?”
“No one is getting into this house without my express permission.”
“You said you had security.”
“And I do. Now, did you bring it?”
“Yes.” Cressida pulled Evelyn’s diary out and handed it over. “They left it. Tore pages out and left it. Why would someone do that? They could have just taken it. I didn’t get a chance to look through or read any of the other volumes. I’m so sorry. But why didn’t they take it if they wanted it so badly?”
“Better for it to burn up in the fire so no one can ever read it. Those who have hold the secrets.”
“But I have it now, so they made a mistake. I don’t know anything, but I haven’t finished reading it. I feel like the missing pages were important. Evelyn, please just tell me what I need to know.”
She placed the journal back in Cressida’s hands and wrapped her fingers around it. “What is it you want to know?”
“I need the truth that Diggins wants so he’ll tell me what happened to my father.”
“You’re growing impatient and that’s understandable. The truth Diggins wants, he needs to hear from me. That is between the two of us. As for your father, you don’t need Diggins to tell you what happened. I can tell you.” She moved to the sofa and sank into it.
“Then why didn’t you just tell me before? I don’t understand why you’re making me work so hard to find the truth if you’ve known all along.”
“I don’t know everything. I don’t have all the answers. But what I do know is this—there’s a cost ... I wanted you to fully understand the cost, but now it’s too late.”
Cressida stood. Those words punched the breath from her lungs. She could barely move, but she turned to look at the woman still sitting dignified on the sofa. One would never guess she’d had a heart attack and her home had burned or that danger was closing in. Maybe Evelyn Monroe had experienced this before and had practice in remaining poised at all times.
Braden was right—this woman was indomitable.
And just like that, she regretted that he’d popped into her mind. She had no idea how to get him out. But Evelyn’s words ... Cressida moved back to the plush sofa and eased onto it next to her. “Tell me everything. Please don’t hold back.”
“I contacted your father two years ago to look into the goings on in Hidden Bay. I’d read one of his books and thought the mysteries here could be of interest to him.”
Evelyn ... she was the reason her father had come here. “He ... he addedSpecter’s Bountyto his research list just to come here ... for you? You’re still looking for your son. To learn what happened to him.” The defiant tears burned in her throat.
Evelyn slowly nodded.
“Did you get your answers?” Cressida struggled to contain her resentment, though her father’s death certainly wasn’t Evelyn’s fault, but she had been the catalyst to bring him into danger. “Did myfatherknow the cost?”
But Evelyn’s cell drew her attention, and she excused herself to take a private call.
34
He’d borrowed Hawk’s truck.
Yep. He’d been desperate. Couldn’t take his county vehicle—too obvious. Couldn’t ride his Ducati—Cressida would spot him in an instant. But maybe, just maybe, Cressida wouldn’t notice him in Hawk’s truck.
