nodded grimly as he buttered their toast. âYeah.â
âDo you have any idea about whatâs going on?â
With his back to her, he slid the omelet onto the plate, divided it into two halves then set a piece of buttered toast next to them. âVoila,â he said as he held out the plates. âWhy donât we take them outside. Itâs pretty mild out there.â
She picked up their coffees and followed him out to the terrace that overlooked the river. It was flooded with morning sunshine.
âThis is wonderful out here,â she said as she sat down at the small dining table. âIt almost makes me happy.â
He sighed as he sat down across from her. âI know...itâs hard to be happy in light of everything, Megan. But things will get better.â
She looked out over the water. âI hope so.â
âDo you mind if I say a blessing?â
She looked surprised, but simply nodded. âNot at all.â
And so, feeling a little self-conscious, he bowed his head and prayed. Not only for the food, but for their safety, as well. âAmen.â
âAmen,â she echoed. âThanks.â
For a minute or so neither of them spoke, just quietly ate. After a while, Garret made small talk, but eventually, when they were both done, he brought up the subject they were both eager to discuss. âI think something is going on here, Megan,â he confessed. âI thought so when Roryâs boat went down. But everyone kept saying I was imagining things. Detective Greene even suggested I was nurturing a conspiracy theory.â
âWhoâs Detective Greene?â
âDetective Greene is Cape Perpetua PDâs first official detective. The city hired him shortly after several corrupt policemen were removed from the departmentâjust a few months ago.â
âOh, yeah. Dad told me about those cops who were involved in human trafficking. That was horrible.â
âPretty shocking for a small town like ours.â He frowned as he remembered the scandal. âSo I guess Iâm not too surprised...â
âSurprised by what?â
He wondered how much he should disclose to her. And yet he felt she had the right to know everythingâor at least as much as he knewâalthough he hated to overwhelm her. Sheâd already been through so much. âThat there are still some crime elements around.â
âSo this Detective Greene... Is he okay? On the up and up?â She studied him closely.
âI donât distrust him personally but heâs not what Iâd call very experienced.â
âI see.â Her brow creased in frustration as she ran her hand over her wavy auburn hair as if trying to tame it, although he didnât see the need. âAnd what about your conspiracy theory?â
âWell, I just wasnât buying that Rory had a heart attack out there.â
She nodded eagerly. âYes! Thatâs exactly how I feel.â
âI felt like something was wrong with that story, but the police and coast guard seemed to accept it at face value. And then, after you were attacked in the newspaper officeâand the intruder at your dadâs houseâI knew it wasnât a coincidence. And now someone broke into his Jeep.â He scratched his head. âAlthough Iâd like to know how anyone knew that Iâd put it in there. Anyway, it all seems to point to some serious foul playâand itâs starting to add up.â
âI agree. But what does it add up to? What is going on here?â
He sighed. âI was reluctant to tell you, Megan. Worried that just knowing about itâI mean my, uh, theoryâthat it might put you in danger.â
âIâm already in danger,â she pointed out.
âYeah. Exactly.â He took a sip of coffee.
âHereâs my guess.â She leaned forward with an intent look in her dark brown eyes. âDad was investigating something
Kerry Barrett
Liz Mugavero
Debbie Dee
Tia Fanning
Felice Picano
Dinah McLeod
Juliette Sobanet
Gemma Halliday
Amber Dermont
Penelope Bush