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2. Hidden Truths
Cash
Mom’s been crying. As she gathers me into a hug, I detect a low sniffle at my ear. “How are you holding up?”
I pull back and look into her watery steel eyes. “I’m not sure yet. It’s still sinking in.”
It’s still sinking in for all of us. We end up in my father’s home office. Even though his heart attack last year forced him to slow down, he still insists on overseeing everything that goes on at MontBlake.
Seated on a love seat next to my mother, Veronica Blake is dabbing her eyes while Ned paces the room, running his hands through his silver hair. He’s not as tall as my father, but I’ve always found something about him intimidating. Definitely not someone I’d trust with my secrets.
As the six of us go over the tragedy of today, I’m thankful Blackwell and my father aren’t bringing up my unknown whereabouts. As far as anyone’s concerned, I was with Kaden, because Monica and I have been going through a rough patch.
Part of it is absolutely true.
“You should’ve had your phone on!” Ned rounds on me, gaze aflame with accusation.
The guilt inside me grows another tooth, sinking deeper into my gut. “I know.” The heel of my foot is itching to tap the floor, but I remain as still as stone in one of my father’s leather seats. A glass with two fingers of bourbon is clutched in my hand, compliments of my father.
I haven’t taken a single sip.
“Calm down, Ned,” Roni says. “Cash couldn’t have known she’d do something like this.” She might be soft spoken, but her ice blue gaze sparks reproach, and I see my wife in her like I always do.
Strikingly beautiful.
Sharp. Strong. Brutal.
The anger bleeds from Ned’s face, and he regards me again, calmer this time. “Do the police have any leads?”
I hesitate a second before shaking my head. I’ve told no one about Kaden’s involvement.
Ned stops pacing and takes a seat next to me, and his empty glass thuds on the side table separating us. “Give me your take,” he says. “Is my daughter capable of doing something like…” He trails off, shoulders slumping. Even Ned Blake’s world is shaking under his feet.
“She hasn’t been herself for months. I just don’t…I don’t know.” I hang my head, wishing I knew more. Wishing I’d paid more attention.
Wishing I didn’t feel so fucking useless.
Blackwell clears his throat, and the heavy moment shatters. “I need to speak to Cash alone.”
Ned glares at the attorney. “You’re not shutting me out. She’s my daughter.”
“I understand, but the best thing you can do for your daughter is to let me do my job.”
Ned rises, but he’s not happy about being asked to leave. Blackwell, however, is loyal to my family—he’s been on the payroll for as long as I can remember. Probably before I was born.
Ned ushers my mother and Roni out of the study. My father exchanges a few words with Blackwell, spoken so low I can’t hear what they’re saying, then he exits the room, face blank. If he’s upset about being pushed out, he doesn’t show it.
Now it’s just the attorney and me, and I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. Him, I can handle.
“Just so we’re clear,” he says, taking the seat Ned just vacated, “anything you say is confidential. Not even your father will learn of what you tell me.”
“I understand.”
“Good. So will you tell me where you were today?”
“I’m pretty sure you can guess where I was.”
He nods. “If it comes to it, we’ll have to use her as an alibi.”
