I muted the call, the meeting not yet started, and twisted to see my brother in the doorway. “You’re supposed to be logged on for the will reading.”
Kane held up his phone. “I am. Don’t worry, I’ll keep the camera off ye. I just had to check. Where’s Tyler?”
My chest tightened. I swallowed sadness. “Out somewhere working.”
“Are ye sure? All day, there’s been no sign of him. I assumed he was with ye until Lovelyn said otherwise.”
All day?
The sadness changed to something darker. A warning.
I stared, then jumped at a click from my phone. On the screen, Cochran moved through the solicitors’ office. A corridor. A closed door. I spun back to Kane. “I think he left on crew business last night. That’s all I know.”
Kane’s expression turned serious. “I’ve sent messages and tried to call him. The only other time he’s ghosted me is when he was with ye.”
My hurt vanished, replaced by fear.
I’d thought Tyler had left me, but maybe I hadn’t been left behind at all.
Chapter 42
Dixie
On my phone screen, the meeting commenced, stealing my chance to try Tyler again. Cochran set his camera up at the end of the table, giving me a clear view of the attendees. A line-up of faces that made me want to hide under the table.
Primrose and Wallace, both in black, a screen with Kane and Mila split across it, then a couple of faces I was less sure of but without doubt Marchants. Last was someone who should never have been there. Denise Harford.
Cochran called order and made introductions. When he got to the end, he paused and tapped the polished oak table. “Lastly, I am very glad to advise that Miss Darcy Marchant has been discovered after all. She is with us via phone call.”
Our grandmother’s head swung, her silver bob flying with the action.
All stared at the phone.
I shrank back, though they couldn’t see me.
Primrose spoke in a quaver. “You were having her declared dead.”
Cochran formed a polite smile. “Fortunately for us, that was unnecessary. Miss Marchant is alive and well. I confirmed it myself.”
My grandmother’s shock didn’t fade. “How can this be? Darcy?”
I stifled any sound, my heart thumping out of time. Her voice was so familiar. She’d aged but was still the woman who’d taken me shopping. Who’d loved me, invested so much in me, then threw me away.
Primrose paled. “Show your face, child. Please.”
When I didn’t, Denise snapped at the solicitor, “How do we know she’s real?”
Cochran sniffed. “Miss Marchant has confirmed her identity with me in person, including with a DNA test that I have been able to validate with the lab. Miss Marchant, please confirm your name. You need not do more.”
“Darcy Marchant,” I forced out.
Primrose flinched.
The room silenced.
I’d pictured this moment so many times. The day I had to return to the fold. Even in the safety of the skeleton crew’s warehouse, a sense of danger shook me up.
But it wasn’t just for myself. I was scared stiff for Tyler, too.
