Page 45 of Little Buried Secrets

They were fidgeting, almost like they were worried it had been a mistake to come to me with this information. If I wanted to keep the connection open, I needed to assure them they could trust me.

“I appreciate the two of you coming to see me today,” I said. “I want you to know, anything you say to me will be kept in confidence for now.”

Skye smiled, like she was content with what I’d said.

Elle looked worried. “What do you mean, for now?”

“When it comes to homicide cases, I work together with the San Luis Obispo Police Department. We have a good relationship, and we try to share information whenever we can. Sharing information doesn’t mean I give up my sources, not unless I have to, understand?”

“We do,” Elle said.

“I can promise you this—I won’t mention your names unless I’m assured they’ll be kept in confidence.”

“Thank you,” Skye said.

They stood, and Elle said, “If someone murdered Margot, they could murder any of us. You need to catch this guy before that happens.”

No truer words.

I nodded. “Rest assured, I’m working on it. Getting closer every day.” And I was. I could feel it in my bones.

CHAPTER 18

I made a call to Whitlock to fill him in on my day so far. He’d spent most of his morning with Foley, working on what was to be shared with the public during the press conference, which was taking place in a couple of hours. They’d received surveillance footage from the restaurant where Sebastian and Margot were to meet for dinner on the night she disappeared. It would take some time to go through, and I was anxious to know if Sebastian had been there waiting for Margot like he said he'd been.

I told Whitlock I was on my way to see Rae, and by the time I reached her house, he was already there, leaning against his car, waiting for me.

I exited my car, and he walked over to Rae’s driveway to meet me.

“How are your blisters today?” I asked.

“Let’s put it this way … I’ll be keeping my socks and shoes on. Speaking of socks, get a load of these beauties …”

He lifted the leg of his black trousers, showing off the black-and-white leopard-patterned socks he was wearing.

“Nice,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

“Foley decided to do the press conference on his own, and I didn’t have anywhere else to be. I thought you might like some company. I know what you’re about to tell the good doctor. Why do it alone if we can do it together?”

What hadn’t occurred to him was that I preferred doing things like this alone.

I worked better without a bigger audience.

But he didn’t know this about me.

I’d first met Whitlock as a child, when he worked as a detective alongside my father and Harvey, my stepdad. I was only a few years old at the time, so I had no memory of him.

Six months earlier, Whitlock came out of retirement to accept the open detective position Foley couldn’t get anyone to take. Ever since, Whitlock had made a big effort to be part of my life, which I’d been hesitant about at first. Now, having had the chance to get to know him, I’d grown fond of the guy. I knew the detective position would be filled sooner or later, and I was relieved to know I was working with someone who wanted to work with me, not against me. So far there’d been no ego between us, no need to keep things from him about the homicide cases we worked on. Even though he worked for the county, and I worked for myself, there was a level of respect from him that I never thought I’d get as a private investigator.

“I appreciate you for thinking of me,” I said. “But I’m all right talking to Rae on my own. We’ve known each other for a long time.”

“Alrighty. Would you like me to leave?”

I felt a bit bad.

I turned toward Rae’s house. Through the window, Bronte was eyeing us, no doubt wondering why we were standing in her driveway, having an in-depth conversation. It was then I realized the benefit of Whitlock staying. With his witticisms and engaging personality, I believed he’d provide the perfect distraction.

“If you wouldn’t mind sticking around for a while, there is something you could do for me, if you don’t mind,” I said.

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