Page 118 of It Starts With A No

“She’s not answering her phone,” Oliver called out, probably having just come out of the fire escape. “Even when I call from mine.”

“Call the police,” Seth hollered back. “Request a welfare check.”

“Why don’t you just go check on her instead of—” Oliver stood at the threshold of the fenced-off area in the garage. “What are you doing, anyway?”

“Hugh asked Clary for permission to retrieve one of his watches.” Seth tapped on the round device close to the face of the watch. “This is probably a microphone.”

“Hugh’s been spying on Clary?”

Seth was about to remove the main device connected to the microphone when Oliver grabbed his hand.

“Don’t you think it’s more important to make sure Clary’s safe?”

“I’m sure the police are keeping an eye on her. Edward Eolenfeld made calls to the police commissioner about Clary.”

“Hugh Eolenfeld could be going after Clary and you think the police will take her side?”

Seth hadn’t thought about it that way.

Oliver shook his head. “I thought you would at least know that she isn’t an Eolenfeld. No matter how nice they treat her, she isn’t an Eolenfeld. Just like we weren’t really Eolenfelds.”

“They’re not even nice to her.” Seth got up. “We’re going to the hotel.”

Oliver beamed and held his hand up, a key dangling from the keyring hooked on his index finger. “I got your car key.”

They were out of the garage in less than a minute, but Seth stopped the car the moment they were out.

Elton might have made sure that Hugh was no longer in the building, but his brother didn’t hang around to make sure the Eolenfeld actually left.

Hugh, sitting in his blue Ferrari, looked up at Seth and Oliver.

“Is Hugh waiting for us to lead him to where Clary is?” Oliver asked.

If so, then that was the last thing they should do.

“Oliver, I think your car is getting kind of old.” Seth peered over at Oliver. “I’ll buy you a new one.”

Chapter 23

Clary stared out at the glowing light from the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. “I forgot how beautiful the view is.” She pulled the white throw she’d taken from the couch over her shoulders.

The weather was perfect too. Though the temperature had been dropping, tonight wasn’t all that cold. Especially since she had a steaming cup of hot chocolate in front of her.

“Haven’t you been here for three weeks?” Andrea asked as she folded her legs up. She had on black shorts, but her sweater seemed enough to keep her warm.

“This is the first time I’ve sat out here since I got back.” She cradled the warm mug between her hands. “I used to do this with Grandma Moretti and Mrs. E when we were here.”

“That’s why the maid had these, then.” Andrea raised her mug of hot chocolate and set it down.

Clary nodded slowly. “I love this place.”

“Even though Mrs. Eolenfeld passed away here?”

“It was peaceful. She loved this place too, so I’m kind of glad. I brought her flowers from the trees. She had her favorite tea next to her.”

“You were here?”

“She always brought me along when she came here.” Clary jerked her chin to the side. “Sometimes we would sit, looking out at the garden. Sometimes, she’d tell me stories of all the places she’d been. She’d practice French with me.”

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