Page 65 of Unmasked

“We’ll circulate his picture, hope someone can put a name to the face,” Cade said with a shrug.

Maybe Tate had been contracted to take photos of Everleigh as a way to blackmail Beaumont. But for what? Aside from the photographs, there hadn’t been any additional evidence in his office that he’d seen. Still, it was the only thing that made sense.

He didn’t believe for a second that Tate’s death was a coincidence. Yeah, people died all the time, but a gunshot wound to the chest at almost the same time Beaumont was poisoned? There was no question in his mind that someone had tried to eliminate both of them. But why?

He nodded noncommittally, his brain still spinning with possibilities. “Let me know if you need anything else. And thanks.”

He extended his hand for Cade to shake, then left Blackwater Key. The man’s face hovered at the forefront of his mind as he drove toward Vantage, and a chill swept over his body. He had a feeling he was missing something—something big.

CHAPTER

FORTY-ONE

A migraine tapped at the back of Everleigh’s brain, and her mother’s soft sobs tore at her heart. Part of her wanted to snap at her mother; crying wasn't going to help her father right now. The doctor had pulled his tube yesterday evening, and the nurse had informed Everleigh earlier that they were cautiously optimistic that he would recover. There didn't appear to be too much damage to his organs, and his heart function had returned to normal. But he still hadn't woken up.

Everleigh knew it would take a while for the medication to wear off, but just like her mother, she was getting anxious. She wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. But, like everything else, she bottled it up and shoved it into the recesses of her heart. She wanted him to open his eyes and talk to them, let them know he was, in fact, okay.

She sighed as she settled back against the chair by his bedside and closed her eyes for just a moment. She was exhausted, drained physically and mentally, and all she wanted to do was curl up in bed, wrapped up in Knox’s strong arms, and forget everything for a while.

Her mother dabbed her eyes with a tissue, and Everleigh shot a wary look over her head at Zane, who stood sentry in the doorway. His eyes were filled with sympathy, though he hadn't said a word. Tears stung Everleigh's eyes. All she wanted was to have her father healthy and to have the police apprehend the person responsible.

The pounding at the back of her head increased, but the rest of her felt cold and numb. It was the only way she could get through the day—to assess everything as clinically as possible. She wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to hold it together.

Though Knox had offered genuinely and repeatedly for Everleigh to call him, she resisted. He was busy helping Cade try to track down whoever had poisoned her father, and she knew he was behind on his other work. He'd taken several days off to spend with her, and she felt guilty.

Still, a huge part of her selfishly wanted him there with her. She'd reached for her phone more than once, ready to call and ask him to come to her. The only thing stopping her was the thought of her father’s assailant out there running free. She wanted him caught more than she needed the moral support. Once everything was settled and justice had been served, she could finally deal with everything. Until then, she needed to power through.

Everleigh hoped Knox and Cade figured out what was going on, sooner rather than later. She knew they were both hard at work, but it was disconcerting not to have any real leads. Knox had told her that the photographer—Tate—had been ruled out by appearance alone, but she still worried he could be working with someone else.

A sharp inhalation caught Everleigh's attention, and her eyes snapped open. She glanced first at her mother, who continued to cry silently. She skimmed the room, and her gaze landed on her father, who stared back at her. She launched herself toward him, a huge smile on her face as she moved to his side. “Daddy?”

His lips moved, but no sound came out, and she grasped his hand as he lifted it her way. “It's okay, you don't have to talk,” she assured him as her mother moved to the other side of the bed. “You had a tube in your throat to help you breathe, so you'll probably be sore for a while.”

The nurse had assured Everleigh it was normal, though frustrating. Her mother’s tears came in earnest now as she wrapped his other hand in both of hers. “We were so worried about you,” she choked out. “Do you remember what happened?”

Her father’s brow creased as he looked from her mother to Everleigh, and she smiled softly. “You had a heart attack at the country club.” She flicked a glance at her mother, silently asking her not to mention the toxin they'd found in his system just yet. He'd already suffered enough; she didn't want to add to his burden.

Everleigh turned her attention back to him. “Knox was the first to figure it out. He saved you,” she added quietly.

Her father closed his eyes briefly and squeezed Everleigh's hand. “Are you feeling okay?” He nodded. She grinned as tears stung her eyes. “You know you're not allowed to scare us like that ever again.”

Her voice broke on the words, and her father tugged her hand to pull her closer. He wrapped her in a hug, then did the same to her mother. His embrace was gentle, weak, but she'd never been happier to see him in her entire life.

Everleigh stepped back to allow her mother a few minutes of privacy with him and took the opportunity to text Knox to let him know her father was coherent.

His response came a moment later: Glad to hear that. I'm finishing up a couple things, then I'll head your way.

Everleigh texted back, telling him to take his time, then stowed her phone back in her purse just as a nurse entered. She checked her father's vitals before looping her stethoscope around her neck and smiling warmly. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

Everleigh shot her a grateful smile as she left, then pulled the chair closer to the bed, listening to her mother talk. After a half hour or so, her father’s eyes began to droop and finally closed as he drifted off to sleep. Everleigh could see the exhaustion in her mother’s eyes, so she stood and pulled her into a hug. “Everything will be okay, you see? He just needs some time to recuperate and he'll be back to normal.”

Her mother brushed one hand over Everleigh's hair and graced her with a watery smile. “Thank you, dear. I think I'm going to go get a coffee. Would you like to come?”

“No, thank you.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.”

Everleigh smiled. “I am.”