Rafe had no idea what to say to Elizabeth. The moment the door closed behind her famous brother, she’d paled and rushed down the hall to get away from him. He placed his hands in his pockets. Mentioning the case and how he was going through more suspects to find out who might be threatening her or his son wasn't what she needed to hear right now.
So he took out his phone to go through the file and went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. The maid, Ashley, who was a friend of his sister, kept her lips pressed as she mumbled about her favorite movie star and the word jerk. She fixed a coffee and offered a small plate of baked goods on the bar.
“Thanks.” He took the plate, and the coffee, and returned to his room to work on his computer. If Serenity wasn't high on the suspect list, he had to find someone else that matched the profile.
Her sister wasn’t likely as it was hard to threaten people in jail without being caught.
None of the names he found so far seemed to match but he would investigate. There was something bigger and he kept asking himself who would want to threaten Elizabeth and take their son? As there was no actual ransom demand and no request to send money, it was possible that there was no threat and that the caller was a prank.
If nothing else happened, it was the most likely explanation.
An hour later he was on his second hot coffee with no answers.
Rafe threw his keys in the air and wished he was at his desk at the precinct where he tossed a baseball as a method to prompt thinking.
Elizabeth's blackmailer was a mystery he hadn't figured out yet. The kidnappers from Jose’s case were murdered with no leads, but there had to be a connection to whoever killed them and the current threat. The files were light on evidence and Jose had yet to update them, despite his promise yesterday.
Nothing struck him yet as any hard lead, so he transitioned to reading the audio transcripts of the plane crash that brought Belle Jordan and Peter Morgan's wedding to a halt. Sometimes problem solving something else led him back to his question with a sharper mind.
He sifted through what he had on the airplane. Ships navigation and other airplanes had been nearby. Last night he had set a computer program to place the audio and visual fragments into a linear order.
He hit start to watch the timeline of events that he’d gathered, his gaze sharpening on a yacht close to the crash site. The ship was blurry in the gathered feed, but there was a person on board. And yet, the coast guard report claimed no witnesses. He rubbed the scruff at his jawline.
Whoever owned that ship might have vital information on Belle that no one else had uncovered. He focused in on the side of the yacht and read “Emil”.
He ran a search on his computer for all ships registered with that name, which would take at least an hour as it searched throughout the world.
If he had a wife, he’d want to know right away about any clue. He stood and tossed his key chain one more time, caught it and tucked the keys into his pocket as he headed toward the bedroom door.
Elizabeth's footsteps sounded in the hallway and Rafe squared his shoulders, opening the door. ”Liz, wait.”
She’d changed from her red skirt to black shorts that showed every curve and a loose shirt too big for her body.
She flipped her pony tail in the air as she turned and pointed to an exercise room. "I was going to work out. Brandon’s new nanny is nice and you trust her?"
"She passed a thorough investigation. I have to go next door to Mr. Morgan's house." Brandon and Liz were safe so long as they stayed inside. "It shouldn't take long, but your brother wanted an update on new information."
She stopped and her sneakers squeaked on the tile. "Peter? My brother? He wants you to call him by his first name."
"I'm working on that." He clenched his jaw but then relaxed. Perhaps it was time to stop and let go of the past. He walked closer to her.
"From what I can tell Peter is not like my father." She brushed against his arm. A warmness rushed through him from her slight touch. "All of us want to break free from the House of Morgan. Has my brother ever called you anything degrading?"
"No. Peter has never called me the housekeeper’s son if that's what you mean." He stepped out of her reach and her hand fell to her side. Now was not the time to get sidetracked with how to talk to Liz. He continued on the topic of Peter. "It was his father's influence everyone feared. Either way, I have small news about Belle I have to share."
"Wait." She stepped forward and grabbed his arm. Then she quickly let go as if the touch burned. "I want to go too. Give me one minute to change. I'll meet you by the door."
Alone time with Liz wasn't good until he figured out what he'd say. "Stay with Brandon."
She shook her head as she took a step to go around him and head down the hall to her room. "We'll take him, and his nanny and Ashley, if you want. I know my mom is staying there, but I want to be there if Peter needs me."
“Nothing that dramatic. We haven't found the body or anything." Liz smelled of vanilla and promises he'd heard other men whisper about as the best thing in life. "I am searching for an eye witness that the coast guard didn't have on their report. I'll figure out who it was tonight."
“Eye witness is good.” She sighed then she shrugged. "Still. He loves Belle and he's been so sad since the crash. I know what it’s like searching and waiting and hoping."
He let Elizabeth go to her room as he went to the nanny to give her a few minutes to meet them. His heart pounded the moment Liz returned to the living room, though he kept his feelings to himself.
Another memory of her kiss rocked his body and he couldn't look at her. Luckily the nanny, therapist, and Brandon came to join them and he opened the door to lead them out.
A few minutes later, they followed the small pathway on the Intracoastal to the mansion next door. The palm trees rustled in the tropical wind as his body longed to hold Elizabeth in his arms. He kept his hands to his sides as they walked together.
Once they made it to the House of Morgan's mansion, Rafe went to knock on the patio door, but Elizabeth opened it and walked right in. She called out, "Mom? Peter? We're here."
Nobody showed up. His mother would be upset at the lack of service. Liz directed the nanny and Ashley, as Jennifer strolled into the living area in her bathrobe. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
Rafe saw Elizabeth's lips purse but she stayed silent. He stopped his instinct to greet her with a kiss to her cheek because Liz had accused him of loving Jennifer. Their culture mattered less in this moment than Liz. Jen stared at him like he was insane when he didn’t return her hello, but said instead, "Jennifer, how are you and why are you in a bathrobe?"
"I was just in the pool and stepped out of the shower."
"Why were you in Peter’s pool?"
"I came to check on him. He's very sad. I said I'd stay and cheer him up. He had to work, so I took a morning swim.” She slinked further away from Brandon though he noticed how she flinched at the sight of him.
Rafe crossed his arms. Jen shouldn't use his son to lie to Peter. He swallowed but then Liz stepped between their son and Jen. "And my mother? Brandon will want to see her."
Jennifer pointed further east. "Both of your mothers are on the veranda."
Liz handed Brandon to Elle and spoke to Ashley, "Can you take him over? We'll join you shortly."
The nanny nodded her head and held their boy. "Yes, ma'am."
A moment later they were out of sight.
Jennifer bounced up and down with a huge smile on her face. "Before I take you to Peter’s office, Rafe, I have news."
Rafe narrowed his gaze. An excited Jennifer meant trouble. "What?"
She practically jumped as if she’d won the lottery. "Peter and I are getting married."
"What!" Liz's voice echoed in the room.
Jen turned toward Liz and tilted her head, clearly trying to assess how Elizabeth's opinion fit in with her plan. "We're getting married."
"You said that, Jen. I don't know how that will happen."
Liz paled, but her eyes glazed with anger. He placed his hand on the small of her back and whispered so only she could hear him. "Liz, Jen likes to say what she wants as facts. It's a manipulation tactic. Let’s go to Peter’s office.”
"Okay,” she whispered back. “I'm worried." In a louder voice she looked at Jennifer. "Rafe just reminded me about Brandon's therapist appointment and how we can’t stay long."
“Too bad. I’m sure we should find girl time and get to know each other.” Jen pouted but didn't say anything else. He held his breath. Her pout usually was a sign that she was about to say something rude, and Liz deserved better.
Liz led the walk toward Peter’s office. Peter typed on his laptop and then glanced up when they entered. Liz then said, "Peter, Rafe wants to talk to you about Belle."
Peter stood from his desk the second he saw Rafe. The once arrogant, self-assured billionaire was now scruffy and his gaze seemed hollow. "Belle? Have you found her body?"
"No." If Rafe offered a false hope, he'd crush Jen's wedding to her dream guy. He prayed she hadn't lied about being pregnant. "I do have news."
Peter lifted his head. "Could she be alive?"
If he said yes, then Jen's lie wouldn't matter. He wasn't sure she had though, but Peter Morgan's once-proud stance had melted to slumped shoulders. Rafe tugged at his collar. "I don't know. I do know that there was a yacht at the crash site and I'm running a search now to find out who owns that ship. I should know soon."
Hope shone in his eyes. "So it's possible she survived."
"Peter..." Jen took Peter's hand in hers. "I don't want you to get your hopes up."
"Jennifer." Peter dropped her hand and widened his stance. "Rafe, can we speak alone for a minute?"
"Of course." Rafe and Liz’s gazes met and he knew he could count on her. Liz and Jennifer left. Peter closed the door as Rafe glanced at the brown leather seats near his mahogany executive desk.
Peter fell into one of the beige arm chairs and pointed to the one opposite him. Rafe sat with his hands in a giant ball in the middle of his knees. He had to figure out what to say to Peter. Peter however took the lead and let his head drop again. "Jennifer's pregnant."
Rafe stilled. Jen had told her lie. His voice had a crack in it. "She told you that?"
"Yes."
How did he tell Peter without betraying Jen? If he didn't say anything, was he betraying Liz? His heart pounded with the conflicting questions. "Are you sure?"
"Why would she lie?" Peter massaged his forehead. "I don't remember much about my party other than drinking, heavily, to forget where I was. I woke up alone. Even now, I want to forget everything so I can find a way to breathe. If Belle is alive, then she's my wife and she'll never forgive me."
"Let’s find her first? I’m sure there is nothing to forgive." Now he had to tell Peter the truth. Jen shouldn't lie about being pregnant just to get into a man's wallet.
Peter sat straighter and his voice grew softer. "I want you to find what happened to her, even if it's just her body. I love her."
The way his voice hooked on his last syllables, Rafe swallowed his own pride. He leaned forward. "Peter..."
"Finally." Peter Morgan offered a small smile as he met his gaze.
Rafe rubbed the back of his head. "Finally what?"
"You said my name."
Jen's shadow was behind the door. Her heavy perfume wafted around him. Rafe had to convince her to tell the truth. It was the only way she'd save face. He believed she wasn't a horrible person, but she had to fix this. Rafe jumped out of his seat. "Peter, I will find out what I can and let you know soon. Once I get word from the ship owner, I'll have more news."
Peter stood as well, his gaze toward the perfumed shadows. "I cannot get my hopes up. I want my wife back, even if she tells me she hates me for what happened with Jennifer."
"Jennifer, as you know because she dated us both, has a dramatic flair. Let's find out if she's really pregnant before you sign anything." Rafe intended to put a timeline on this. If Jennifer didn’t tell the truth, he would. She had less than twenty-four hours to tell the truth or he'd enlist Elizabeth's help to ensure Peter knew the truth. Vows should be sacred.
"You're right. I've been living in a fog and not caring what happens to me. Jennifer's child deserves the privileges of being my heir, no matter what happens to me. I just miss my wife."
The lie was ill-timed. Peter Morgan was clearly broken, Jen had one chance to straighten out her lie. This had gone too far already. He'd not be able to look the man in the eye without the truth being told. If he went along with the lie Liz would hate him.
Elizabeth's voice echoed as she spoke with Jennifer just outside the door. Rafe went to the door, but before he opened it he said, "Can I ask you a question?"
Peter held his elbow. "What?"
Elizabeth cared about her family. Peter had offered him the olive branch many times. He squared his shoulders; Jennifer had announced that Peter was going to marry her. "Are you planning on marrying Jennifer, if she is pregnant?"
"No."
"That's what I thought. Let me get to the bottom of Jen's pregnancy."
"I hate thinking I cheated and I don't even remember."
Rafe’s fingers tightened on the knob. "I should go, but if you need to grab a beer later, come over."
Peter followed behind him toward the hall. "Thanks."
A moment later, Liz went to her brother and Jennifer stood beside him. Now was the perfect moment to talk to Jen and straighten everything out.