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“Sure. Why not? We could use the shortcut through the dunes.” Brogan looped her arm through Lucien’s but was surprised to see Jade pull up, driving Birk’s pickup. “What are you doing here?”
“Heard you needed a ride home.”
Lucien hopped into the backseat, leaving Brogan to ride shotgun. “How did you know?”
Jade grinned. “Lucien texted Beckett, who texted Birk. After Birk got hung up on a call from D.C., he asked me to pick you up.”
“We’re having all kinds of fun tonight,” Lucien remarked.
“So I heard.” Jade chuckled as she stepped on the gas. She traveled down the street to the corner and took a right on Cape May. “Kelly told me about the body. Wow. I had a sneaky suspicion about this Vera Lockhart.”
“What do you mean? You suspected something,” Brogan wondered, looking over at Jade. “How? How did you know what we’d find?”
“I’m not sure I should say,” Jade tossed back, glancing at Lucien in the rearview mirror. “I don’t want Birk finding out.”
“What? Wait a minute.” Brogan shifted so she could peer at Lucien. “He won’t repeat a word.”
“So says you,” Jade scoffed, making a left onto Ocean Street and heading south. “Don’t worry about it. Me and my big mouth. I’ll have you home in five minutes.”
“Pretend like I’m not here,” Lucien urged.
Jade shook her head. “I don’t think so. All I’d need is another cookout where you lack conversation and decide to divulge something I’ve been hiding since I met Birk.”
“That’s not good for any relationship,” Brogan reminded. “Holding back a secret won’t last forever.”
“Exactly. Which is why I’m keeping my mouth shut.” She pulled into the Sutter driveway. “Here we go. Delivered to your door safe and sound. No tip required.”
Lucien opened the back door and got out, but Brogan stayed put. “Are you coming?”
Brogan shook her head. “Nope. See you inside. Take the dogs out, will you?”
After Lucien left them alone in the car, Brogan angled closer to the driver. “Okay, Jade, what’s going on with you?”
“I can’t. You’ll tell Lucien. No offense, but he tends to have loose lips.”
“I promise not to tell Lucien. I don’t tell him everything. Now tell me how you knew Vera was keeping a big secret. You couldn’t have known her. So how?”
“I’m not falling for that. Name one thing you’ve kept from Lucien, and then maybe we’ll talk,” Jade countered.
Brogan drummed her fingers on the dash as she tried to come up with something. “Okay. To me, this is big. I never told him how I felt about him. Sure, we dated. But I kept my deep-down feelings to myself. Even when I went away to college back east, I kept my mouth shut. He went on with his life. I honestly believed he didn’t love me.”
“When did that change?”
“After I graduated from NYU. He was in London and asked me to come for a visit. Of course, I downed a lot of meds and hopped on a plane. How could I refuse? I loved the guy. Satisfied now?”
“I suppose. Although it’s not the same thing.”
“I can keep a secret,” Brogan vowed. “Does Kelly know?”
Jade nodded. “I had to tell her. She’s my best friend. I guess it’ll be okay if you know, too.”
“What is it? How did you know Vera—?”
“Had a dark side?” Jade finished. “Because I saw it. I get these visions from time to time about people. I have since I was a kid.”
Disappointment moved over Brogan’s face. “That’s what you’re keeping from Birk?”
Jade lowered her voice. “You saw Birk’s face tonight when Lucien mentioned Scott. Right? I love Birk, but he’s not the kind of guy who believes in ghosts or special gifts. You heard him that day disparage Gemma Bonner for using her power stones.”
