Page 44 of One of Six

"I know I overdid it, but I can't let it get damaged."

"You're right." His arms slip around me, and I lean in as I wait for the phone to turn on. "Don't be nervous, Bea. It's just a phone call."

"I'm afraid of who he's going to be." I rub my eyebrows. "If Mom was having an affair, I don't think she would have written about him being an FBI agent."

"Would it bother you to know if your mom was having an affair?"

"I don't think it would. In fact, I know it wouldn't."

I open the phone, navigate to the note, and press my finger on the numbers, selecting call from the menu.

Each ring makes my heart pound...then a deep voice answers, "Agent Ed Carter."

"Um, hi. I was wondering how you knew my mom. Elisabeth Lincoln?"

"I haven’t heard that name in a long time—until last week, that is. She left me a voicemail. What's going on?"

I'm still stuck on the fact that she called him days before she was killed.

"Hello, are you still there?"

I cough to clear my throat and grab one of Essex's hands and hold on tight.

"I'm here. I don't know what's going on, but my mom was killed the other night. I found..."

"What?!" Agent Carter stutters. "Your mom... Elise? She's dead?"

I step out of Essex's arms and hold his gaze. "Yes. She was shot in her own home."

"Is the shooter in custody?"

"Not yet." Suddenly remembering who I'm dealing with in town, I say, "You can't ask the sheriff or anyone else about this. It will have far-reaching consequences if you do. More people will get hurt.”

"I need to process what you've told me. Can I call you back?"

"That's not a good idea."

Essex picks up the phone.

"You can call me. It will be much safer for my girl. I'm Essex Redd and my number is..."

He hangs up while I’m wondering how Mom even knew him. I should have asked.

"We're going to need him if shit happens down here. He has my number, and he text me, so I have his. Do you need the phone again?"

"I have all the content on my phone."

"Okay. Pack it up again and we'll hide it. No one will think to look for it here."

"That's a good idea."

"I've got just the place." He takes my hand and pulls me back. He smiles. "A secret cabinet."

The cabinet he's sitting in front of has ten drawers down and six across. The grin on Essex's face tells me he likes it a lot.

He opens certain doors and pushes in three of them, then opens the top right one all the way. "This is the only way this drawer will open."

"That's so cool!" I approach and run my hand over the smooth top. "Did you make it?"

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