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“Yup,” Erin replied, flattening her lips into a grim line. “If there was ever any doubt about Mr. Blythe’s status as our number one suspect, I think we can safely say that’s gone now.”
“No shit.” I rose to my feet again. “Where do you think we should go first?”
Erin glanced at the phone screen. “We should stick to your first idea and go to the Vincent house. Mr. Blythe went there again after he left Carrington Park on Saturday, so I’d say it’s the most likely spot to find Kinsey.”
“Hold on.” Bobbi slowly shook her head. “Wouldn’t that mean the Vincents are in on this whole thing? Why wouldtheywant to take Kinsey and hold her captive?”
“Revenge, maybe?” Erin said. “They might think Kinsey is guilty of Cerina’s murder, so they’re trying to get some sort of payback.”
“Their reason doesn’t matter,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “All that matters is getting Kinsey back.”
“That’s true.” Erin stood and looked over at Bobbi. “Are you coming?”
Twin spots of color appeared on Bobbi’s cheeks. “I know this is the worst possible timing, but I have a bio test at one-thirty,” she said. “I really can’t miss it, because my GPA will—”
I lifted a hand and interrupted her. “It’s fine. I get it,” I said. “You go to your test, and Erin and I will go to the Vincent house. Three people is probably too many anyway. The Vincents would know something is up.”
“You’ve been really helpful,” Erin added. “Thanks a million. Seriously.”
Bobbi smiled faintly. “Call or text me if you need anything else. I’m free after school,” she said. “And let me know what happens when you get to Cerina’s place. I really hope you find Kinsey.”
Fifteen minutes later, Erin and I pulled up to the wrought iron gate that guarded the Vincent mansion. I leaned out of the window and pressed on the buzzer. There was no response.
“Maybe they’re out somewhere,” Erin said, craning her neck. “I can’t see any cars.”
“They keep their cars in the garage behind the house,” I replied. I pressed the buzzer again. Nothing happened. “I guess you’re right. They must be out.”
“You don’t know the gate code?”
“Nope. I’ll text Bobbi. She might know it.”
Bobbi responded five minutes later.Sorry, I don’t know the code. Cerina never told me.
“Damn,” I muttered. “She doesn’t know. We’ll just have to wait until someone answers.”
Erin peered out the passenger window. Dark clouds dominated the sky, and a heavy fog hung over the ocean in the distance. “Let’s wait in the car.”
We tried the buzzer intermittently over the next couple of hours. There was still no answer. Outside, the sky was beginning to spit out tiny droplets of rain.
“I don’t get it,” Erin said. “Don’t they have staff? Like a housekeeper or groundskeeper?”
“Yeah, they do. I don’t know why no one’s answering,” I replied, minutely shaking my head. “Maybe they’re all on a break.”
“For two and a half hours? I doubt that.” Erin blew out a frustrated exhale and leaned forward. “Is there some other way in? Like a side gate or something?”
My eyes widened. “Shit. I can’t believe I forgot. There’s a back gate on the other side of the estate. It leads down to the water,” I said. “There’s a narrow coastal drive along there too.”
“So people can come and go that way?” Erin asked, forehead wrinkling. “Without being seen from the main road?”
“Yes.” I turned the car back on and switched the gear to reverse. “Let’s go down there and check it out.”
I was about to pull out of the driveway when the little speaker on the gate crackled. “Jax? Is that you?” a tinny voice said.
I turned the car off again and peered out the window. Nora Vincent’s face had appeared on the little black and white screen above the speaker. “Hi, Mrs. Vincent,” I said. “Everything okay? We’ve been buzzing you for ages.”
“I’m so sorry, darling. I was napping,” she said. “I’ve been sleeping a lot lately. Ever since… well, you know.” She paused and let out a shaky sigh. “We let the staff have an extended vacation to mourn, and Ted is out right now, so there’s no one here except me. But I’m awake now. Did you want to come in?”
“Yes. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
