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“I can’t.” He shook his head, then stopped, holding it and moaned. “I can’t go back without a story.”
“Then you need to start sticking your nose somewhere else and leave me alone,” I said. “Righty-O.”
“Yes.”
“And stay away from Navy,” I warned. “She doesn’t need anymore hurt in her life.” I stood up.
“Why are you so protective of her?” he questioned. “She’s probably hooking up with that DCS as we speak.”
Bloody fucking hell.
The red dragon was about to explode. I grabbed the amulet and turned toward Owen. Never had I been tested like this before. “Make sure this fucking pissed wanker gets to where he’s staying safely.”
“He’s got a room upstairs.”
I composed myself and turned to Sam, setting both my hands on the table and leaning in so my face was inches from his. “Say one more disparaging word about her, and you’ll be wishing it was just a headache you are waking up with because I will rip your fucking throat out.”
I left the pub and stormed to my car, getting in. Turning it on, I peeled out. Tires screeching. I had one more stop to make, and that bastard’s comment better not be a foreshadowing of what I would find.
ChapterEleven
NAVY
Morgan opened the door, motioning for me to go inside. I brushed past him into the sitting room. His house was in an incredible location. It sat on a wooded hill with an amazing view of the waterfront.
“It’s a work in progress,” he said, setting his keys on a small tray on the counter along with a stack of file folders.
“It’s stunning.” I glanced around.Work in progress? His place was completely modern and pristine. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined one wall, and the chrome appliances, granite countertops, and the lack of color gave it a minimalistic feel. If anything, it was sterile, and I doubted he spent much time here.
“Thank you.” He took his suit jacket off and hung it in the coat closet. “I hope you like salmon.”
“Yes, of course.” I took off my own jacket, laying it over the back of the couch. He opened a bottle of wine and poured me a glass.
“I noticed you like white, so I picked up a Sauvignon Blanc. It should pair well with the fish.”
I took the glass from his hand. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He picked up my jacket and hung it next to his in the closet before returning to the kitchen. “I bet you were surprised with the news today. I’m sorry if I caught you off guard.”
“Do you really think she ran away?” I asked.
He took a sip of his tonic and lime. “I follow the evidence. It’s all I can do. There’s no room for personal feelings in my job.”
“But there’s something to be said for intuition.”
He put two pieces of salmon on a sheet tray, topping them with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, and slices of lemon, and put the tray in the oven. “I deal in facts. The letter laid it all out.”
“I spoke to her boyfriend, Sian.”
He looked up with his eyebrow raised. “Oh.”
“I promise I didn’t harass or bother him,” I said with my hands raised. “I was headed back to the harbor and passed him on the road. He was setting up a memorial for her at the spot where the school bus picked her up. He said he talked to her that morning, and they made plans to see each other in the afternoon. It doesn’t sound like someone planning on running away.”
He gave me a tight smile. “People who run away or leave don’t want others to know or become suspicious. She would have done those things so as not to alert anyone.”
“I don’t know,” I said, still unsure.
“The letter made it very clear.” He added water and couscous to a saucepan, putting it on the stovetop and turning on the flame. “Look, I’m going to go upstairs and change.” He looked over at the file folders sitting on the countertop and tilted his head. “I wish you could see it because it would give you a clearer picture of the situation, and I want us to be on the same page.”
