Page 8 of Little Buried Secrets

“Has he met Margot and Bronte?”

Foley nodded. “Last month.”

“I wonder how they feel about their mother dating someone. As far as I know, Grant’s the first boyfriend Rae’s had since her husband died.”

“I asked Grant how he’s been getting on with them, and he said fine.”

“Fine? He didn’t elaborate?”

“He’s just getting to know them. He’s been out with search crews every day after work, looking for Margot.”

It could have been because he cared.

Or there could have been another motive such as wanting to appear to look like he cared when he didn’t.

“Where was Grant the night Margot went missing?” I asked.

“Driving home from work.”

“In Cambria?”

Foley shook his head. “He lives in Templeton. Works there too.”

The historic town of Templeton was about twenty-five miles from Cambria. Built in the late 1800s, it was named after the two-year-old son of the vice president of the Southern Pacific Railroad. For a time, the town was the end of the line for passengers traveling south, who often continued their travels by stagecoach to San Luis Obispo.

“Can anyone confirm Grant was in Templeton when Margot went missing?” I asked.

“His boss can’t recall whether he saw him leave that day or not, but he said Grant almost always heads out at five on the dot. After my conversation with Grant, my gut feeling tells me he’s not the type of person who’d do harm to anyone.”

Having a gut feeling about a possible suspect after one meeting wasn’t near enough to clear him in my book. And yet, Foley was quick to point a finger at Bronte. Until we knew more details about what had happened to Margot and why, it was too early in the investigation to separate fact from fiction, or to know whom to suspect.

“You’re leaning on Bronte a bit too hard,” I said. “There’s no evidence she’s not telling the truth.”

“I lean hard on everyone, Georgiana. It comes with the job. You do the same.”

“Have your suspicions if you want,” I said. “But can you do me a favor and lay off her for now? Rae had a complete meltdown at my office about an hour ago. A missing child is a lot for anyone to go through, let alone a mother. You should know. You’re dating my sister. You two hadn’t met before her daughter, Lark, was kidnapped a few years back, but I’m sure she’s spoken to you about what she went through.”

Foley leaned back in the chair and gave me a look that said he hadn’t just heard about the pain my sister had endured, he felt it, even now.

“I … ahh, I love that kiddo,” he said. “I can’t imagine anything happening to her.”

“And Lark loves you. All I’m asking is for some compassion for Rae while we figure out what happened.”

He went quiet for a time and then said, “All right. I’ll do it as long as you agree to remain open to all possibilities. Rae may be your friend, but she didn’t hire you to be her friend. She hired you to do a job—no matter where it leads in the end. Keep your eyes open, and I’ll do them same. If you find out anything I should know, I expect you to call me.”

CHAPTER 6

Sebastian lived with his parents on a forty-acre mountaintop ranch with ocean views on one side and mountain views on the other. The estate was up for sale, boasting an eight-million-dollar price tag. From what I’d seen so far, it looked like it was worth every penny.

I entered the property through the open gate and drove up the dirt road leading to a grand cabin. Along the way I stopped to admire a herd of horses feeding beneath a magnificent oak tree in the distance. The picturesque scene looked like it was straight out of a painting. It was almost too beautiful to be real.

As I pulled up in front of the house, a good-looking, middle-aged man with whisps of salt-and-pepper hair peeking out from beneath a cowboy hat was unloading groceries out of the back seat of a souped-up black truck. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a flannel button-up shirt with a vest over it.

I exited my car, and he turned toward me, squinting.

“If you’re here for the open house, it’s not for another couple of hours,” he said.

“I’m here to speak to Sebastian,” I replied.

---