Page 59 of Unmasked

“Thank you for taking care of her. I wasn't in the right frame of mind yesterday...”

“You'd just received a shock,” he replied quietly. “I think you're doing just fine considering the circumstances.”

“I'm sorry for everything,” she said softly. “I know my husband was hard on you, but... he isn’t a bad person. God.” She shook her head. “I just can't believe this happened.”

“I'm sorry.” He reached over and wrapped his fingers around her wrists where she still gripped the mug tightly. “If you need me to do anything, please let me know.”

“I appreciate that.” A tear slipped silently down her cheek, the first real show of emotion he'd seen from her. Celia withdrew into her shell, and he took his cue to leave just as the fancy coffee maker spit out the last of the brew.

He gathered both cups and thanked Letitia, then headed back to Everleigh. It felt strange to be walking through this house, and he swore he could feel Beaumont’s disapproving gaze boring down on him as he moved through the large foyer and up the elegant staircase.

Everleigh had finished showering by the time he returned, and she sat on the edge of the bed wrapped in a towel. He pressed the coffee into her hands then took a seat next to her. She held on to the mug, seeming to enjoy absorbing the warmth through the porcelain as she tipped her head and laid it on his shoulder.

He wrapped one arm around her, silently offering comfort. A niggle of unease tugged at him, but he couldn’t tell exactly what it was. Something told him this whole situation ran a lot deeper than it appeared, and the quicker they figured it out, the better.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-EIGHT

Everleigh's feet had just hit the bottom step when the doorbell rang. She started to move across the foyer when a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks. She glanced up at Knox, whose eyes were dark and serious. “Let me.”

With a little nod, she stepped aside and let him take the lead. After checking through the sidelights, he opened the door. “Sullivan. What brings you here?”

Everleigh slipped up next to Knox in time to see a grimace flicker over Cade Sullivan’s handsome features. He nodded when he saw her. “Ma'am.”

His presence was unsettling, but she forced a polite smile to her lips. “Chief. What can we do for you?”

“I'd like to speak with you if you have a few moments. Is Mrs. Beaumont around?”

“I'll go get her.” She tipped her face up to Knox. “Could you please show him to the sitting room?”

“Of course.”

Knox brushed one hand down her spine in a soothing gesture as she stepped away. Her heart beat erratically as she headed deeper into the house to find her mother. Whatever the chief of police was doing there, she doubted he brought good news.

She found her mother sitting in the sunroom, staring out over the back yard, looking small and lost. “Mama?”

Her mother turned to her, her eyes devoid of emotion. “Is it time to go to the hospital already?”

Because of her father’s condition, he was still heavily sedated and intubated to help with his breathing. The doctor had told them they would all be able to come back and visit him later that afternoon. Everleigh shook her head. “Not yet. Chief Sullivan is here to speak with us.”

A tiny line appeared in the space between her mother’s brows. “Whatever for?”

“I'm not sure.” Everleigh twisted her hands. “I had Knox show him to the sitting room.”

“Oh.” One hand fluttered to her throat as she set her tea cup on the side table and rose gracefully to her feet. “I need to get ready.”

Everleigh barely managed to bite back a sigh of annoyance. Her mother’s perfectly put-together facade was like armor she donned to keep people from seeing the person beneath. “I'll make coffee and tell him you'll be down in ten minutes.”

Hopefully, her mother wouldn't keep them waiting long. She hurried to the kitchen where she found Lettie. Lettie must have read the expression of discomfort on Everleigh's face, because her head tipped slightly to one side. “Is everything okay, miss?”

“Fine.” Everleigh hoped. “We have guests in the sitting room. I'm going to make some coffee.”

“Oh, I'll take care of it.”

“No, really.” Everleigh shook her head. “I need something to do with my hands anyway. Could you please bring me a tray?”

“Absolutely.” Lettie moved efficiently, gathering cups and the necessary accoutrements as Everleigh started the coffee maker.