She should have seen the kid card coming. Cara let out a lengthy sigh. “Fine, I’m going to need something personal of hers.”
“I can do better. I can take you to her house tomorrow, and you can touch whatever you want.”
Cara nodded. She could do this, not for Eric, but for Cooper and Adam. The quicker she was about helping, the quicker she could forget. Maybe she’d be rewarded with a halo to go with her horns. It could happen. “Pick me up at eight. I live at 544 Rhodes Avenue.”
“Thanks.” He went to touch her arm, and she eased away. His brows dipped, and he dropped his hand. “Sorry, I forgot.”
Cara slid into her car, shut the door, and drove down the street. She glanced in the rearview mirror to find Cooper still watching. Unease swept through her body, as she thought about what answers she’d find.
“Please don’t be dead,” she whispered into the silence of her car.
Chapter Three
Cooper parkedoutside the yellow beach house. Sheer curtains drifted through the open windows and danced on the wind. He hadn’t expected her to live on the beach. He’d thought her the more practical type, maybe a brick one-story in town near her office, or even something with a flashing sign that said Psychic On Duty. This place was normal, even quaint. He ran his hand over his face, half in anticipation and half in dread. He’d asked for this, even though he didn’t believe her capable.
He got out of the car, headed toward the front door, and rapped his knuckles against the wood. He lowered his sunglasses to shield his eyes from the early warm sun as the beach breeze kissed his skin. He heard the movement insideand saw a tall figure approaching, making him do a double take at the house numbers again.
“Aye?” A tall man, wearing nothing more than a Scottish kilt, answered the door.
“Uh…does Cara Thatcher live here?”
“Who’s asking?” The man crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head.
“Special Agent Cruz,” Coop answered.
“Aye, you must be her ex. Quinn told me you might be sniffing around.”
“Who is it?” Cara hollered from somewhere in the house.
“Cruz,” he hollered back with his Scottish lilt. “Want me to challenge him to a dual and win back your honor?”
“What?” Cara’s voice squeaked as she stepped around the corner dressed in a flowered sundress. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Her sunglasses were perched precariously on her head. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she smiled. “No need. This is theotherCruz, but I appreciate the offer.”
Cara slipped past the big guy and out onto the porch. “I’ll be back in a while. Don’t eat my brownies while I’m gone, or your ass will be sleeping on the beach tonight.”
Cara shut the door and followed Coop to his SUV. “Who was that guy?”
Cara opened her own door. “That’s Laird Ian McDougall.” She smiled. “And he was serious about a dual, so don’t ever agree.”
They both got into the car and he started the engine. “He’s a laird?”
“Yeah, he’s got the big castle and an even bigger ego. Oh, and he’s a horn dog too, but he brought me brownies, so I’m letting him stay.”
As if that should have explained everything. Cooper didn’t know why he expected a normal conversation with Cara. The laird was a big guy. One of his arms was almost twice the size of Cooper’s, and that was saying a lot. “So you let anyone stay that brings you dessert?”
Cara chuckled. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and a sweet tinge of pink covered her cheeks. “So where does your sister live?”
He didn’t miss the change of conversation. He was trained in the art of understanding body language, and judging by Cara’s, it was as if she was going to Sunday brunch with a long-time friend.
“About ten minutes away.”
“Great. I have time to meditate.” She lowered her sunglasses to cover her eyes and turned on the radio.
Cooper didn’t touch the buttons. There was no need; the radio was on his station.The music did little to ease the knots increasing in his stomach the closer they came to his sister’s house. He knew what to expect. He’d scoured the home, as if it were a crime scene, looking for any clues that might take him to his sister, and he’d found nothing. Nothing in her phone records, credit cards, or anywhere else he’d looked. It was as if she’d walked away from her life, leaving her child behind. When he’d gotten the call from daycare, as the next person to contact in case of an emergency, he’d been told his sister hadn’t shown up. That alone tipped him off that something was severely wrong. No way would she trust Cooper with his nephew’s welfare. Not by choice.
He pulled up outside his sister’s little house surrounded by the white picket fence. Cooper killed the ignition. “This is it.”
Cara let out a deep exhale. “Cooper, I have to warn you. You might not like whatever answers I can give you.”
