Kat arrived at the office just before six a.m. Tuesday morning, the building dark and eerily quiet. She climbed the stairs to her office and fumbled to unlock the door in the dim light. Marcus had repaired the door, although it took several tries with the key to turn the tumbler.
She wasn’t an early riser, but after a fitful sleep and waking up alone for a second morning, she couldn’t bear to stay in the house any longer. It just reminded her of Jace.
She was also haunted by Svensson’s podcast from the Swedish conference. The woman with him bore a striking resemblance to Angelika, the Hideaway Bay housekeeper. As a matter of fact, she was positive it was her. But why was she in Sweden? Was she somehow connected to Svensson’s death?
Kat closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Across the room the floor-to-ceiling windows framed the silhouette of the North Shore Mountains. A few lights twinkled across the water as the sun rose over the horizon and the harbor slowly came to life. She had a meeting with Zachary for the second day in a row. This time it was to determine a strategy to disclose the fraud to investors and the bank. As soon as she finished her early morning meeting with Zachary, she would head to Hideaway Bay.
Her numerous calls to the RCMP there remained unanswered and she couldn’t understand why. What kind of a police station screened calls with voicemail? Jace was missing and she deserved an answer, even if only to state there were no developments. It was simply unacceptable. If the police couldn’t take this seriously, she’d hold them accountable. And start a search for Jace herself.
But before she left, she needed to better define her search area.
Kat studied the map pinned to the wall. What was she missing? The map of Hideaway Bay was simple. The only land access was a single road. It originated at the ferry, cut through town, and then continued on to the turnoff for the Tides Resort. Water or air access were possibilities, but less likely. She’d heard a helicopter land during their stay. Certainly a second helicopter landing would have awakened her. That meant Jace must have left on foot or by boat. The high bank waterfront meant no dock or moorage, especially not at night. A number of trails connected to the resort, including the Summit Trail, where Svensson had fallen to his death. Not an easy hike in winter but possible with the right gear, including a headlamp at night. Had Jace met a similar fate to Svensson’s?
There was one other scenario, one she thought the police were unlikely to check. Jace might have gone to Kurt’s cabin nearby. Kat doubted Jace would leave without proper equipment for a winter-night hike. He wouldn’t leave the resort without telling her either. Unless he had no choice.
She couldn’t rule it out without visiting Kurt’s cabin herself, since it was out of cell phone range and had no telephone connection.
Had Landers’s enthusiasm been a ruse? Had he intended all along to entrap and expose Kat and Jace?
Kat stabbed pins into the map for every trail that branched off from the resort road. She’d drive back up and check the most likely ones later today. Her heart sank as she pushed in the last pin. Was Jace even alive?
Daylight gradually suffused the office. Outside it reflected off the white frost that clung to everything but the harbor waters. Traffic noise, machinery, and voices drifted upwards as the city awoke. Kat shivered. The heat was finally pumping into her office, but it couldn’t compensate for the draft that seeped through the ancient single-paned windows.
A crane in the harbor below lifted a Maersk container from a Chinese freighter and lowered it onto the shipyard dock. The containers were stacked three high, filled with electronics, furniture, and who knew what else. Port traffic never seemed to slow, fueled by cheap imports and insatiable consumer demand.
Kat jumped as the outer office door scraped open.
“Zachary—in here.”
But it wasn’t Zachary. It was Hillary. Her stilettos clicked as she appeared in Kat’s office doorway. As much as Kat didn’t want to see Hillary, her reappearance at least meant Harry could be found. Now she could start the wheels in motion to curb Hillary’s financial abuse.
“Hey, cuz.” Hillary pointed to the map and laughed. “Are you in kindergarten? Is this really what you do all day?”
“Hillary, what are you doing here? Where’s Harry?” Kat stood and headed Hillary off at the map. She stood in front of it, holding her arm up to block Hillary from plucking a tack off the map.
“Can’t I drop by for a visit without your stupid questions?” Hillary lifted her right foot and then the left, dusting the soles of her Gucci pumps with the palm of her hand. She grimaced as she wiped one palm against the other. “Don’t you ever clean in here?”
“The janitor cleans every night.” She had to get rid of Hillary before Zachary arrived. The thought of Hillary crossing paths with any of her clients gave her the creeps. She was too manipulative and unpredictable.
“Where’s your dad, Hillary?” She wouldn’t mention Harry’s house just yet. She couldn’t risk Hillary running off without disclosing Harry’s whereabouts.
Hillary ignored her. “This office is filthy. And your furniture looks like thrift-store rejects. All this clutter.” She picked up the half-dozen magazines on the side table and tossed them into the trashcan. “No wonder no one takes you seriously.”
“My office is fine. Where’s Harry?” Hillary had arrived less than a minute ago, and Kat’s stomach was already in a tight knot. She reminded herself that only one of them commanded six-figure retainers, and it certainly wasn’t Hillary. At least she earned her own keep. “I called him and he wasn’t home. He’s not answering his cell phone either.”
She had a million other questions, like where the hell Hillary had been for the last ten years. But now wasn’t the time.
“How would I know where Dad is? I’m not his keeper. He probably went shopping or something.”
“Hillary, you know as well as I do he’s not shopping or at home. You were with him.” Was Hillary really that irresponsible, or was there something more at play? Anytime Kat gave Hillary the benefit of the doubt, it backfired. At any rate, she was certain Hillary’s reappearance wasn’t out of concern for Harry.
“What makes you think he’s not home?” Hillary frowned and her face darkened.
Kat motioned to the leather armchair. Confronting Hillary was futile, so she changed her tone. “Have a seat. You must be tired.”
“You expect me to sit on that flea-infested crap?” Hillary smoothed her hair with a manicured hand. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s perfectly fine. But if you want to stand, suit yourself.”
Hillary inspected Kat, taking in her clothing, hair and makeup. “You really should think about a makeover.” She grimaced. “Head to toe. Your wardrobe went out of style five years ago. How could you leave the house in that get-up? You seriously need an upgrade.”
Kat said nothing and turned to the board. Hillary couldn’t stand to be ignored.
“What are you doing with those thumbtacks?”
“Just experimenting.” Kat glanced out the window. In mere minutes the sun had vanished, replaced by low clouds. Snowflakes swirled past the window and she could barely make out the North Shore across the water. Where the hell was Zachary?
“Some experiment.” Hillary pulled hand sanitizer out of her purse and squirted a dollop onto her hand. She rubbed her palms together and stared at the map. “Hey, that’s the place you were hiding my dad.”
“Hillary, cut it out. I wasn’t hiding him and you know it.”
“Sure you were. Isn’t it near the place that Nobel economist guy disappeared?”
“Fredrick Svensson?” Kat was shocked that Hillary had even heard of him.
“Yeah, that guy. Pretty hot for an old guy.”
Hillary’s hot scale was measured by net worth, not looks. “Whatever. He’s dead now.” Svensson had to be in his seventies.
“Dead right. Never even knew what hit him.” Hillary laughed at her own joke.
Enough. Kat was ready to explode. “Where is he?”
“The Nobel guy? How the hell would I know?”
“Harry, for crying out loud!” Kat massaged her temples, feeling the start of a headache coming on.
Across the inlet, a second storm front was gathering in the direction of Hideaway Bay. Kat shivered despite her heavy wool sweater and tights. She had to leave soon or risk road closures. Jace’s truck sat parked outside, packed with warm clothes, outdoor gear, and whatever she thought she could possibly need.
“Don’t get snarky, Kat.” Hillary pulled a nail file from her purse and began filing her nails. She pointed the nail file at Kat and narrowed her eyes. “Or have a breakdown. How should I know where he is?”
“The last time I saw him he was with you. If Harry’s not with you, then where is he?”
Hillary’s eyebrows arched and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smirk. “Calm down. What do you care? He’s my dad, not yours.”
The words always stung, no matter how many times Hillary uttered them. The Dentons had legally adopted Kat when her mother died and her father left. Once Hillary realized the arrangement was permanent, she did everything she could to make Kat feel unwelcome.
“Kat—it’s none of your business what Dad and I do.” Hillary pursed her lips. “Get over it.”
“Oh, it’s very much my business.” Kat crossed her arms. “He’s not at home. He’s not with you and he’s not here with me. Wherever he is, he’s confused and lost. I’ve got a right to know.”
“You don’t have a right to anything. Go find your own family to look after.” Hillary raised her hand to her mouth. “Oops, I forgot. You don’t have one.”
“Hillary, Harry is my family too. I’m the one who’s been taking care of him while you’ve been away. You’ve been out of his life for years.”
“That’s about to change.” Hillary scowled at Kat.
The outer office door opened, and a few seconds later Zachary strode down the hall and into Kat’s office, talking into his cell phone. A light dusting of snow still coated the shoulders of his wool coat.
Hillary’s jaw dropped and a smile slowly transformed her face.
“Hello.” Hillary turned towards him and smiled, sucking in her cheeks. She scanned Zachary from head to toe, noting his tailored clothing, leather-soled shoes, and unencumbered ring finger.
Kat watched dollar signs dance across Hillary’s field of vision.
Zachary didn’t seem to hear Hillary. He stood transfixed in front of Kat’s television. New York protesters had blockaded Grand Central Station, demanding government intervention and lower food prices. The screen faded to a commercial and Zachary glanced over, noticing Hillary for the first time. He ended his call. “Sorry to interrupt. I didn’t see you there.”
“No need to apologize.” Hillary stepped forward and held out her hand, palm down, as if she expected a prince to kiss it. “I just dropped by to see if I could take my cousin out for breakfast.”
As if, Kat thought. Hillary’s act was reserved for men with benefits, whether cut-rate auto repairs or potential husband income streams. Men saw through it eventually—but only after Hillary had taken them for a ride.
“Of course, if you two already have plans, I’ll come back another time.” Zachary smiled at Hillary, who now sat in the leather armchair. Apparently she had overcome her previous thrift-store objections.
“No.” Kat waved her hand. She had to talk to Zachary pronto. “Hillary was just leaving.”
Hillary crossed one leg over the other, allowing her skirt to ride up and show off some leg. She didn’t appear to be going anywhere.
“Why don’t we all go for breakfast,” Zachary said. “We can discuss the case and eat at the same time.”
Kat stood. This was quickly turning into a nightmare. She needed an hour with Zachary before leaving for Hideaway Bay, and the worsening snow lessened her chances of getting there every minute. Any more delays and she wouldn’t make it at all. “Hillary—can I call you later instead?”
“Nonsense. She can join us.” Zachary motioned towards the hallway with his thumb.
Kat had to get rid of Hillary. She couldn’t discuss the case or Jace’s fate in front of Hillary. She wasn’t sure exactly how, but Hillary was sure to use Jace’s disappearance against her. Why would Zachary even consider discussing his personal financial situation in front of Hillary, a stranger?
She stopped in the doorway and faced Hillary. “I thought you were going to pick up your dad. Where is Harry, anyway?”
“The old guy with the Lincoln?” Zachary asked. “He’s a bit confused, isn’t he? He shouldn’t be alone.”
Hillary’s eyes narrowed.
“I was just telling Kat that. Kat, where is he?” Hillary twirled her hair around her finger and raised her eyebrows at Kat, an expression of mock concern on her face.
Kat pursed her lips and unclenched her fist. How could anyone not see right through her? “I thought you were picking him up. Where did you say you left him?”
Hillary glared at Kat. “At the seniors’ center. I was just headed over there.”
“That’s what I thought.” At least Hillary was forced to behave in front of Zachary.
“I’ll be back right after lunch.” Hillary smiled at Zachary.
Just enough time for Kat to brief Zachary and get on the road to Hideaway Bay.