Page 42 of Sadie's Guarded Harbor

Curtis pressed his fingers against his eyebrow, his palm covering one eye. “No. You don’t get it. That’s not what happened.”

Sadie sighed. She had no patience for a sniveling man who put himself first. “Honestly, it doesn’t really matter now. What does matter is why you didn’t tell us Shawn paid you every month, even though he was the one who worked for you. And funny how we haven’t uncovered any income for him.”

Curtis dropped his hand to the table with athunk. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb,” Tommy said. “You not telling us about this already looks bad. Don’t make it worse by lying.”

Sadie opened the file and pulled out copies of Shawn’s bank statements. Red circles showed the consistent payments going from his account into Curtis’. “Care to explain?”

“Shit.” Curtis ran a hand over the top of his head. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“What does it look like?’ Tommy asked.

“Listen. Shawn and I always talked about opening a bar. He wanted to be a part of owning the place, even if no one knew. I tried to pay him, but he didn’t want the money. Always said being needed was enough.”

A pinch of sadness squeezed her chest. Everyone talked about how Shawn’s life was a waste, that he’d gone on a downward spiral, but he really just wanted the same thing everyone did.

She tapped the paper in front of her. “That’s an awful lot of money for him to hand over every month just to feel needed. And why didn’t he want to be involved until after he inherited the entire trust? He worked at the bar before then. Did he have to contribute so much? Did you pay him before the trust became his?”

A line of sweat gathered along Curtis’ forehead. “I don’t know what you want from me. He came to me. He offered cash, and I took it. I’d put up with him hanging around the bar, pretending to work for years. I didn’t see any issue in agreeing to take the money. I never asked for it. Never made a big deal of it.”

“What happens now? Will the bar be in trouble since you won’t be getting any more monthly payments from Shawn?” Tommy asked.

Curtis worked his jaw back and forth. “The bar will be fine.”

Sadie wasn’t so sure. Gathering the papers back in her file, she snapped it shut and studied Curtis’ gaunt face as she slid out the picture she’d found in Shawn’s bedroom. “What can you tell me about this photo?”

The side of Curtis’ mouth slid up in a sad smile. “Damn. This was a lifetime ago.” He grabbed the picture by the edges and lifted it, blocking his expression.

“When was it taken?” she asked.

He tossed the picture back on the table, his gaze still fixed on the smiling young faces staring up at them. “After Shawn and Mitch left for college. They both came home for a weekend, and we got together. Just like old times. It was never the same after that.”

“Why’s that?” Sadie pushed, sensing they were on the edge of something. Even if Curtis didn’t realize what information he held.

“The next time Shawn came home was when his mom died.”

Tommy straightened. “I thought Shawn came home every weekend to spend time with his dying mother before he dropped out. That he changed after she died?”

Curtis shook his head and tapped a finger against the glossy paper. “No. It was after this weekend. A few months before his mother passed on. Man, he loved that car. I wonder whatever happened to it?”

His statement tilted the reality Sadie had created in her mind. Now she just needed to find out what Shawn had done on that weekend so many years ago that changed the course of his life…and possibly brought an end to it years later.

16

Tommy cradled his head in his hands and kept his gaze on the door. Katherine told him she’d meet him at their favorite coffee shop fifteen minutes ago. Patience was never one of his strong suits—especially not when he was slightly hungover. The gut-punching scent of coffee made his stomach roll. The few cups he’d tossed back at the station still sat heavy in his stomach.

A bell rattled above the door. He lifted a hand as Katherine stepped inside and surveyed the crowded space.

She unwrapped her scarf as she approached the two-person table he’d secured in the corner. Grinning, she tossed a fast-food bag onto the table. “You sounded pretty rough on the phone. Thought the grease would be good for you.”

Tommy opened the bag and inhaled the salty goodness inside. “You’re a saint.”

“Don’t you forget it.” She looped her coat and scarf over the back of the chair. “Give me a second. I want some coffee and need to kiss up to Lori since I brought in outside food. She’ll probably make me buy a handful of cookies.”

“You’d buy those anyway.” He grabbed a French fry and shoved it in his mouth.

Katherine laughed and hurried toward the display window filled with pastries and deserts.

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