“No.” She managed an appreciative smile for him. “It’s way past time I learned the truth. You did the right thing.”
“But your grandparents worked so hard to protect you, and I just undid two-and-a-half decades of their efforts.” The emotion shining in his eyes warned that he was dead serious.
Allie wasn’t exactly sure what to say to make him feel better.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Shepherd,” Steve said, letting her off the hook, “someone else has already opened that door, and now we need all the help we can get to figure out who and why. What you’ve done is give us a starting place for finding answers.”
The older man’s relief was so visibly overwhelming Allie thought he might actually cry.
“I’ll give you something else,” he said with another of those covert glances around. “Find Jesus. He can give you way more information.”
“Jesus?” Steve and Allie said in unison with equal surprise.
“Jesus Rivero.” Red winked. “He was a hotshot reporter back then. Almost got himself killed a dozen times trying to get the story, and he always did…until that accident. Talk to Jesus—if you can find him. He’ll know how to help.”
Steve tried to pay the tab, but Red insisted it was on the house. Allie gave him a hug.
All they had to do now was find Jesus.
Chapter Four
Wonder Lake, Illinois
Rivero Residence
Lake Shore Drive, 8:00 a.m.
Steve parked in the small driveway. Allie surveyed the street. She’d never had reason to be in the area. The properties here were miles beyond her price range. Surprisingly, the house that was their destination sat practically in the street, as did most along this stretch of the neighborhood. It was also much smaller than she had expected for such a pricy area. In all probability, the reason was because the houses on this private lake did their showing off out back, not in front. Though she couldn’t recall ever having been here, she had seen the property online. She’d looked it up on the way here. This side of the house was for access from the street, while the other side was the one with the view and the jagged and plummeting landscape down to the water.
A white, vintage Land Rover Defender sat as close to the house as was possible without the rear bumper contacting the stone and wood facade. She hoped the vehicle being there meant the owner was home. Although, considering the dust and tree sap clinging to the surface, it may have been sitting exactly where it was for a good long while. Maybe he had another vehicle and a garage somewhere she couldn’t see.
On the drive over, she had used Steve’s phone to do some research on Jesus Rivero. Thirty years ago, he had been the hottest reporter in the Chicago market. He’d even been slated for his own primetime show, but then something happened and he just dropped off the face of the earth.
Red had passed along that part, but he hadn’t known where Rivero had disappeared to. There was nothing on the net about his whereabouts either. Recently, the former bigtime reporter had been spotted in the Chicago area, but he hadn’t moved back to his penthouse apartment there. Instead, he’d sold it for one dollar to the family who had been leasing it for all those years. According to the online county records, and Allie had checked several counties surrounding Chicago, he’d bought this house on Wonder Lake around that same time, just three months ago.
The man, various articles had purported, was a recluse, given that he was rarely seen in public. Allie couldn’t ignore the fact that, in that regard, their lives were a little alike. Though she had never considered herself an actual recluse. Not in the truest definition of the word anyway. But maybe that was what she was. She didn’t socialize with friends. Didn’t do social media. Had no dating prospects. Rarely left the house since the pandemic. Maybe her friends from her childhood and school, as well as those from her time working at the hospital, all thought she had dropped off the face of the earth too.
During those years she’d taken care of her grandmother, there had been no time to worry about anything else other than work. It was an around-the-clock gig. Not for one second did she regret the choice. Even after her grandmother died, the pandemic had made it far too easy to stick with the status quo. Stay home and shop via delivery services.
Something similar may have happened to Rivero. Maybe his disappearance was no mystery at all, just a tragic life event.
“Shall we go to the door?”
Allie jerked at the sound of Steve’s voice. “Sorry, I was lost in…the past again.”
“You need sleep. When we’re done here, I should take you home and let you get some sleep.”
Did that mean he was leaving? The idea sent fear spiraling through her.
Rather than express that fear, she nodded as she reached for the door handle. “I really appreciate you taking so much time with me. I can’t believe it’s evolved into such a nightmare. I’m sure you have to get back to Chicago.”
She didn’t even want to imagine what he thought of her. Poor, pathetic Allie. Giving herself a mental kick, she put aside the idea. There was no time for self-pity right now. She was in trouble, and she needed his help—whatever his motive for going above and beyond.
“I do need to make a quick run to the city,” he agreed, “to grab a few things, but I’ll be back. This is far from over, Allie. I’m not leaving until this is done—at least, not as long as you want me here.”
Her spirits lifted as high as possible, bearing in mind she really was exhausted. “Thank you. I’m not sure I know the right words to adequately express how grateful I am.” She opened the door and climbed out before embarrassing herself by going further overboard with the relief and appreciation.
He joined her in front of the SUV, and they walked side by side to the door of the house. Steve rang the bell. No answer. Two more rings were required before there was a response. Allie’s pulse had pounded harder with each passing second. At this rate, she was going to hyperventilate before they even spoke to the man.
