Chapter 54
“Any word yet on Brisbane?” a cop said from across the room. It had been at least an hour of sitting, waiting, watching others knit, click on their keyboards, and drink coffee.
Cora didn’t know if Tom and Adrian had gotten what they needed yet. She simply had no way of knowing.
“No word,” another replied.
“What? The police know nothing about where Adrian is? I find that hard to believe,” Ruby said.
“Calm down, Mother,” Cashel replied. “Let the officers do their work.” He’d just joined them and seemed to have regained his health.
“Josh is our best hope of finding him,” Jane said.
“Josh has confessed. Why hasn’t he told us where Adrian is?” Cora said.
“I don’t know,” the officer said.
“Are you still searching for Adrian?” Ruby said.
“Yes, of course,” the officer said.
“Such a small island. I’d think you’d have found him by now,” Cora said, realizing she was pushing it. But she felt compelled.
“It’s a small island, yes,” the officer said. “But there’s forest, caves, beaches, plus homes and businesses. He could be anywhere.”
“Maybe he’s not here anymore,” Cora said. “Maybe he’s off the island.”
“We’ve alerted the coast guard and authorities on the mainland,” another officer said. He glared at Cora. “We told you that already.”
“Yes,” Cora said. “That’s right. I’m sorry. It’s so difficult. Not knowing where he is. If he’s okay. I’m just not thinking clearly.”
Jane reached for her hand. “I’m certain he’s okay. He’ll be fine.”
Cashel frowned. “You know, I like him. I hope he’s okay.”
“You say that as if it surprises you,” Cora said.
He eyeballed her pointedly. “It does.”
Cora lurched back and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know what you ever had against him. He’s a great guy.”
But the truth was staring right at Cora in the way Cashel gazed at her. Jane had been right. Cashel had feelings for her. Why hadn’t she seen it before?
She was sorry about that. She didn’t reciprocate his feelings at all. Sure, he was handsome and had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. But he was a pain in the ass. When she first met him, she did feel a spark of attraction, but nipped it in the bud because of her business relationship with his mother—and as she grew to know him and his mother, the small spark of attraction vanished.
She was certain she’d done nothing to lead him on. She glanced around the room, not quite knowing where to fix her gaze.
Jane sat her knitting down. “I can’t sit here anymore. I need to eat. And I’d like to call London.”
“I’m not leaving until they find Adrian,” Cora said.
“Yes, you are,” Jane said, standing, hands on her hips. “I don’t think you’ve eaten since breakfast.”
“Okay,” Cora said. “You’re right. I better eat.” She turned to the detective who seemed to be in charge. “Please inform us the minute you know something.”
He nodded. “Either I will or your lawyer will.”
Cora reached for her bag and slid it over her shoulder. A wave of weariness overcame her. She knew Adrian was safe, but what she wasn’t aware of was if Tom had gotten enough information to make a bust. She was still nervous and wondering if she’d done her part—had she done enough to help?
As she and Jane made their way to the eatery, Cora couldn’t believe she was keeping secrets from her best friend. As she approached the place, she told herself that there was no way to tell Jane until it was over. She was so grateful Adrian was okay. She wanted to tell Jane, but she swore she wouldn’t—and of course the FBI was listening to her every word.
Cora felt someone watching her as she and Jane slipped into their booth at the restaurant. She kept her eyes focused on the menu for a moment, blinked, and took in the scene.
Hank. Hank was sitting right next to them. He waved weakly and winked. She smiled and waved back.
He kept turning up everywhere—like a bad penny.
Jane smiled and waved.
“Poor guy,” she said, with a lowered voice. “He needs to find a job, I imagine. I wouldn’t want to be looking for work now. It’s tough out there.”
His back was to them, and it stayed toward them as he left his table.
“He’s going to be okay,” Cora said. “Remember? He has a severance package. He lives on the resort. He’s not paying for it. Besides, he’ll find something.”
“I hope so. I wish him the best,” Jane said.
The server came up to them and took their orders.
Once she’d left, Cora said, “It’s been quite a day.”
“Yep,” Jane replied. “It ain’t over yet.”
Once again, Cora wanted to tell her about Adrian. He was hidden upstairs with an FBI agent and they were listening to all her conversations. But of course she couldn’t. Her friends were going to be furious with her when they found out. But there was nothing she could do about it now. Nothing at all.
As she looked away from Jane sitting across the table from her and glanced out the window on the beach, she noticed Hank walking next to Rue.
“Well, look at that,” she said to Jane. “Hank and Rue walking together along the beach. How strange.”
“I’d say very strange,” Jane said, as the server brought their food. “But right now I’m all about this plate of spaghetti. Bring on the carbs and the wine, please.”
Cora laughed. “I hear you.”
After dinner and one bottle of wine, both Cora and Jane were feeling much better.
“You know what’s weird about seeing Rue and Hank?” Cora said.
“I don’t want to even imagine those two together,” Jane said. Her eyelids were drooping.
“Well, yeah,” Cora said. “If my son were being questioned at the police station, I think I’d be there and not walking along the beach with someone.”