“The protector that Mom supposedly sent? Is he working for her? Or double-crossing her?”
“His prints were found in Evelyn’s house, so we can’t trust him.” Braden glanced down at her, holding her gaze for a few breaths more than necessary.
His presence, the longing to be with him, free from all thisdrama, coursed through her. But he was just like everyone else—untrustworthy. She tried to free herself from his protective grip, but he was granite.
“Wait,” he whispered.
Then suddenly, he quietly rushed her away, heading back toward the opposite end of the pier. “This guy shouldn’t be roaming around free. I thought he would already be arrested.”
“Why don’t you do it, then?” she asked. “We could find out who he’s working for. Oh, right, you’re not really working for the county. You’re working for my mother.”
She needed to shut down her passive-aggressive attitude, but it was hard.
He continued ushering her away, his grip on her tight. Cressida wanted to escape. Once the pier was behind them, he slowed and released her hand, then radioed the county sheriff’s dispatch, reporting their suspect had been spotted at the Pirates’ Bash.
“Are you going to take him down?”
“This isn’t a good place to do it. Too many people. Someone could get hurt. But once backup arrives, they’ll follow him and then grab him.” He released her hand and then walked along the beach toward the thickest part of the crowded Pirates’ Bash.
The truth was, shewantedto trust him, but he hadn’t given her a lot of choice. Or had he? “Listen, Braden.” She stopped walking, and he paused, then looked at her. “It’s just taking me time to come to terms with what’s happened. I’m sorry that my mother manipulated you, roped you into this.”
His steel-blue eyes softened, his stern expression brightened, if only a little. Then he gave a subtle nod. “Elise is getting her infusion today. Thank you for your help.”
Cressida had sent her mother a text that Braden’s niece’smedication had better be on track. She wasn’t sure if her mother would respond or make things happen. In fact, she had no idea if her text had been the one to restore the treatment. Because how cruel for her mother to withhold that treatment, especially since she had the power to start it to begin with. What was she holding over the clinicians in control? Cressida didn’t want to know.
“Sometimes I wonder who my mother really is. I don’t like to think of it, truly. It seems to me that she’s someone who holds other people’s secrets and knows how to wield them to her benefit.” She didn’t like where the thought took her, but it was within her nature to press forward. “What secret does she hold over you?”
“You can’t help yourself, can you?” he asked.
She wasn’t earning brownie points with him. Together they walked deeper into the crowded Pirates’ Bash. People of all ages joined in laughter and fun, many of them dressed as rough and dirty sailors or pirates—all in good fun. Sea shanties played over a tinny speaker. Cressida ducked under a string of lights that hung haphazardly between two tented booths featuring carnival food—pretzels, fried fish, and crab cakes. Funnel cakes, salted caramel apples, and “seafoam” candy.
What in the world? Cressida stopped at a booth. The line was short at the moment, so this was the perfect time. “I’m sorry but I need to try the seafoam candy.”
Braden scrunched up his face. “Doesn’t look good to me.”
She purchased the glob of blue-green-tinted, honeycomb-textured candy and moved away so the next person in line could approach, then handed Braden a chunk of it. Cressida didn’t wait on him to try it and took a bite. “Oh, it’s too sweet and minty. I’m not a fan. I should have asked.” She chuckled but finished off the rest.
Braden hadn’t even tried his and handed it back to her,his expression serious. What was she doing having even a little fun at a time like this? He hadn’t asked the question, but she shrugged and chucked the rest in the trash.
Approaching her, a man dressed in a patched pirate coat swayed with a mug of beer, his face painted like a skull. This was supposed to be a family event, but she could see things getting out of hand.
And she was here to find Diggins. “Okay, I’m done testing the food.”
Braden pressed his hand against the small of her back as he urged her forward and deeper into the crowd. “Keep your head about you.”
Always.
“And let’s blend in.” He eyed the bandannas and eye patches at a booth.
“Are you serious? You aren’t going to look like you’re with the sheriff’s department anymore.”
“I don’t look like that now.”
Right, because he kept his badge in a leather case in his jacket pocket inside his black leather jacket.
He must have been getting nervous about her being at the Pirates’ Bash with Harlan searching for her. Diggins had to know that she had learned the truth, and he might have shared with others.
Cressida wanted justice for Dad, but she was getting nervous as well. “Look, if we don’t find Diggins soon, we should leave. Let him come to me.”
