Chapter 4 - He Knew Before She Told Him
Emma put the call on speaker.
“How do you know where I am?”
A pause.
Then Richard’s voice softened. “Honey, I heard about Leo. Someone from the marina called me.”
Emma’s eyes flicked toward David.
Nobody at the marina knew Richard.
“Who?” she asked.
“It doesn’t matter. Are you with Johnson?”
Samuel stood perfectly still.
Emma looked at him. “Why would that matter?”
“Because that man is dangerous.”
Samuel let out a stunned laugh. “Richard, you haven’t changed.”
Silence.
Then: “Samuel.”
The way Richard said his name made the room feel smaller.
Emma’s jaw tightened. “You told me Mom had no family.”
“Your mother made choices she regretted.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“You have a sick child. Go home.”
“Dad, did Mom have a brother?”
Richard’s breathing became audible.
“Emma.”
“Answer me.”
“Do not let that man turn you against the person who raised you.”
Samuel stepped closer to the phone. “Where is Evelyn?”
Richard hung up.
David cursed under his breath.
Emma called back. Straight to voicemail.
Again. Voicemail.
She looked at Samuel, anger and fear fighting across her face.
“He knew you were here before I told him.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Samuel thought about the marina, the storm, the rowboat.
“What happened before Leo disappeared?”
Emma pressed a hand to her forehead. “We were loading the car. David went to pay the cabin bill. I was inside for maybe three minutes. Leo was on the covered porch with my dad.”
Samuel stared at her.
“Richard was here?”
“He drove up this morning. Said it was a surprise.”
David’s expression hardened. “Then left right before the storm.”
Emma’s mouth opened.
The clinic door swung wide.
A county deputy entered, rainwater dripping from his hat.
“Mrs. Parker?”
“Yes?”
“We reviewed the marina camera.”
Emma grabbed David’s arm.
May you like
The deputy’s face was grim.
“Your son did not climb into that boat by himself.”
