Page 40 of The Summer that Changed Everything
“I know what I want to do, and I’m not going to change my mind.”
She wished his confidence didn’t appeal to her, but it did.That he was willing to get involved impressed her, too, because he had nothing to gain. “Okay, but I hope you don’t wind up regretting it.”
“We’re only after the truth. I don’t see where that’s a bad thing.”
“A fight is a fight, Ford. And that’s what we’re looking at. I’m telling you for the last time—you don’t want to be on my side.”
“That’s the thing. I really do,” he said and put down his glass before showing himself out.
Lucy had locked up again and was trying to fall asleep despite the oppressive heat when she received a text from him.
It’s not nearly as hot over here...
Ignoring the invitation, she got up and opened the windows. Then she took the bat to bed.
The fact that she had an investigator on the case—who’d been vetted by someone who knew more about who to hire—was a relief, but that relief didn’t really hit Lucy until morning. As a gentle wind wafted through the window of her bedroom and washed over her, making it possible for her to cover up for the first time since going to bed, she lay there, watching the curtains flutter while remembering her talk with Ford last night. He wanted to make up for what he’d done. He’d made that clear. And she wasn’t opposed to letting him. She was in favor of forgiveness. It was working together that worried her. If she truly believed he wasn’t a threat to her peace of mind, that wouldn’t be a problem, either. But when she looked at him, she still felt the same magnetism and desire that’d brought them together in the first place. How was it that hadn’t changed?
With a sigh, she squeezed her forehead. Bottom line, she could really use the financial help he was offering. She had hersavings, but if he was willing to step in, why would she waste it? He had more resources than she did. And finding out what’d happened to the girl they both knew wasn’t technically her responsibility, as he’d said—especially her responsibility alone.
At least, that was the justification she was allowing herself. She hoped it was all about saving money but feared it was more about craving Ford’s time, attention and involvement.
“Ugh. You’resoweak.” She kicked off the sheet so she could go out and make some coffee. But she’d tried to dissuade Ford. She figured, at this point, he’d made his decision and wasn’t going back on it.
She took a mugful of coffee and went out to the porch, which was quickly becoming her favorite place to be in the cottage, and started writing to her father. He’d never said anything about running into Darren Clark the night Aurora went missing, but if Darren was right, Mick had been totally wasted, so maybe he didn’t remember it.
Still, what Darren had told her might give him a reference point, jog his memory.
Dear Mick—
She couldn’t make herself use “father” or “dad,” didn’t plan on calling him by either of those names ever again.
I had an unexpected visitor yesterday. It was Darren Clark, Aurora’s older brother. He claims he saw you at the liquor store right before it closed the night Aurora was killed. Do you remember anything about that? Did he speak to you? If so, do you recall what he said? And can you tell me where you went after you left the liquor store? Did you see or talk to anyone else that night?
He’d probably write back to tell her he didn’t remember anything. He’d said as much before. Still, it could be worth asking again.
She’d just signed the letter with her name and stuffed the single sheet into an envelope when she received a text from Ford.
Are you awake yet? If so, can you come over? The investigator would like a word with you. I thought we could call him together.
“See?” she said aloud. As long as he was paying for the investigator, he’d want to be part of everything.
She almost refused, except having him involved would certainly be beneficial to her end goal, and attaining that goal was why she’d come to North Hampton Beach in the first place. Besides, she was an adult, no longer a vulnerable young girl. She could keep up her defenses.
Even if she couldn’t, nothing would come of it. He was dealing with a divorce and had a baby on the way. He’d have to go back to solving his own problems eventually. And she was returning to Vegas at the end of the summer. Maybe she wouldn’t even stay that long. If they found what they needed before then, she’d be able to head home early.
Give me thirty minutes.
Do you remember which house it is?
She wished she could say she didn’t. But she wasn’t going to lie. She’d stood on the beach, gazing up at that elegant structure too many times to ever forget where it was or what it looked like.
After putting a thumbs-up on his text to signify that she could find it, she went to take a shower.
13
When Lucy showed up, Ford couldn’t help noticing that she hung back far enough to indicate she wasn’t eager to be there.
“Hey,” he said and wondered if she’d thought about him last night. He’d certainly been thinking about her.
