“Alvin said he hadn’t seen his son or heard from him in months,” Holt replied.
“He could be lying,” Rad pointed out. “Maybe Nigel Frost doesn’t want to be found or speak to anyone from here because he does know something he hasn’t told any of us.”
“We need to find him,” Holt said.
“I’ll get on it,” Rad promised.
“Just be careful,” Holt warned. “And don’t let anyone know what you’re doing outside our circle.”
“Which is?” Rad asked with a raised eyebrow.
“June and I are going to get everyone involved together so we can update all of you,” Holt explained. “We think it’s best to inform everyone before someone else gets hurt, or worse.”
“I agree,” Rad said, glancing at his wristwatch. “When will you be in? Do you need a ride to the police station?”
“No.” Holt shook his head. “June is fetching me.”
“Ah.” Rad nodded and grinned. “I see.”
“Hm.” Holt sighed and shook his head. “Anyway, be careful today and keep me updated on what I’ve asked for.”
“Will do,” Rad said with a nod. “Same to you, Dad.” His brows rose. “You’re the one who shouldn’t be overexerting yourself.”
“I’m not,” Holt assured him. “I’m actually less stressed helping at the police station than I would be doing nothing.”
“I understand that,” Rad accepted his father’s explanation. “I’ll speak to you later.” He started walking toward the door. “Bye, Dad.”
“Bye, son,” Holt called after him and sat staring at the door for a few minutes.
He glanced at his wristwatch. There was still some time before June came to fetch him. Holt got up and poured himself another coffee, then sat going over the evidence Rad, Margo, and June had found the previous night.
Questions flooded his mind, the biggest one being who had stolen the jewelry. Holt had once thought he knew. In fact, for years, he had believed he knew exactly who had taken it, and that belief might even explain why his mother and uncle had notpressed charges and had instead tried to quietly get the stolen pieces back.
But now, knowing that Sienna Morrison had been wearing it, the whole thing opened into a new field of doubt. It now looked as though either Victoria or Tom Morrison had taken the missing heirloom jewelry from Carly’s room. They had both had access to the items, and Victoria’s father had been convicted of fraud and theft, but died a few months before he was meant to go to prison. It could even have been Victoria’s father, since he had also had access and could have given it to Victoria as a gift.
So Holt couldn’t just storm in and accuse Tom or Victoria. Like he’d told Rad, this had to be handled delicately. They had to gather more evidence first.
There was also the question of how the bracelet had ended up where it did in Teacups, and if it had been planted, as Holt’s gut was screaming it had been, why.
Then there was the bigger question of whether all of this connected back to ten years ago and, if so, how, why, and why now. Was it because Margo and Willa had decided it was time to figure out whether what they had been told happened ten years ago was true? Or was something being covered up? Or was this a copycat, or someone new out for revenge over something they had not seen yet?
His mind flashed to the bracelet again, and his instincts screamed even louder that it was one of the most significant pieces of evidence they had found so far.
And to him, it suggested that the lost loved ones and friends were not finished speaking yet.
6
JUNE
June saw Holt before he saw her as she drove up the driveway.
He walked through the door of the lighthouse cottage with that same contained, purposeful stride he’d always had, even when he was younger and more reckless with it. Age had not slowed him so much as disciplined him. He moved like a man who knew where every part of his body was, including the places that hurt. He looked like his mind was far away, turning scenarios and solutions over.
Then Holt lifted his head and spotted Carmen’s car as June pulled to a stop in front of him.
Warmth moved through June before she could stop it.
It wasn’t a sensible reaction. It belonged in the dangerous pile with everything else she’d been refusing to examine too closely since Holt came back into her daily orbit. June had deliberately developed a system lately to keep herself on track and focused. Dangerous thoughts, feelings, and memories were sent to the back of her mind and stacked neatly in labeled boxes. Each onewas tied shut and pushed to the farthest corner, where they couldn’t interfere with the things that mattered.
