Page 70 of Code Name: Michelangelo

I rolled my eyes. “My ability to read is not fascinating. What made you bring this up now? Are you supposed to be getting back to her?”

“When the meeting ended, she said she wasn’t ready to move forward yet, and I haven’t heard anything since.”

“Again, why today?”

“I feel as though I’ve been keeping it from you and?—”

“Brand, it wasn’t a feeling; you were keeping it from me.”

“I will never get away with a single thing in our lives, will I? Not even the good surprises.”

“You did pretty well in California,” I said before sighing. “To be honest, I knew something was up.”

“You did?”

I reached up and touched his left eyebrow. “It’s your tell, remember?”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I figured when you were ready to talk about whatever it was, you would.”

“Wow. You are amazingly understanding.”

“Not always,” I warned.

“Noted. So, when can we return to the island?”

“Today, if you’d like. Ava and Aine are working this weekend, so I’m not needed. Are you sure that’s where you want to go? Not, say, Florida, where it’s warmer?”

He shuddered. “There isn’t anywhere I’d rather go than Butterfly Cottage.”

“You’re weird, but okay.”

We took the car I rarely drove since it was harder to find a ride service to Patchogue in the offseason. We were forty-five minutes from the ferry landing when my cell vibrated with a message from Julie. “How odd. I was just thinking about her.” I said to Brand, who was behind the wheel.

“Who?”

“Julie, the woman I met in the park. Oh my God. Her message says she can’t talk, but she needs help.”

Brand’s eyes opened wide.

What’s wrong? I messaged back. A few minutes later, she called.

“Hi,” I said, holding the phone so Brand could hear the conversation too.

“I’m so sorry to do this, but I need help.”

“What can I do?” I asked.

“My mum and my baby are sick. We’re being watched. A car keeps going by the house.” Her voice cracked like she was crying.

“Where are you, Julie?”

“On Long Island, in Patchogue.”

Where we were headed. “Have you called the police?” I asked.

“No police.”

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