Page 15 of Storm Surge

“What is Jamie’s middle name?” He had to know.

Betty seemed surprised by the question and she hesitated, holding something back.

“Ma’am, I need you to cooperate,” Will stressed.

Betty blew out a put-upon sigh. “It’s Lissette. Jamie Lissette. Martin said she had the same middle name as Sofia who was named after her mother.”

And Lissette could be shortened to Lizzy.

Stunned, Will struggled to gather his thoughts. Ask the right questions. “If Sofia worked for the CIA, it would be difficult for her to do her job living here.”

Betty cast a sharp look his way. “I have no idea how the CIA works. I only know what Martin told me.”

Which was probably all lies. “What exactly did he tell you about Sofia’s leaving?”

Betty pursed her lips. “Only that she left without so much as a word to him or a note to her daughter.”

If Sofia worked for the CIA, she’d be easy to track. There’d be a record of her there.

“Did she take all of her things with her?”

Betty’s eyes narrowed at the question. “I wouldn’t know.”

Will couldn’t believe Betty had no idea of her brother’s nefarious crimes. “Didn’t the CIA notify you when your brother supposedly died while on a mission?” It didn’t make sense.

The resentment in Betty’s eyes made it clear she refused to believe her brother did anything wrong. “I told you no already. My brother chose to keep me insulated from his work at the CIA. They had nothing about me in his file, so of course there would be no notification.”

Will chose not to push the issue for the moment. “So, you looked after Jamie while your brother traveled. And then she went away to Georgetown.”

She slowly nodded. “Jamie came home every chance she could. When she graduated, she promised to come back for the summer, only then she had the accident.”

Will faced Betty. “What happened?”

Betty bristled. “I told you already. Jamie’s car went off the road and hit a tree. She was in the hospital for a long time. Martin’s friend got in touch with him and he came home immediately. When she was able to travel, Martin brought her home.”

“And Jamie has no recollection of anything in the past before she woke up here at the cabin?”

“That’s correct,” Betty said. She crossed her arms across her chest.

There was so much about the story that didn’t add up in Will’s mind, but the answers wouldn’t be coming from Betty. Like it or not, Betty couldn’t protect her niece forever. “We should head back. I’ll take the DNA sample and get it off to the lab.”

Betty voiced another protest, “Why must you put her through this? She’s not part of anything that’s happening.”

“With all due respect, she is part of it,” he insisted. “She’s Martin’s daughter. I realize you don’t like any of this, but it’s not your decision to make.”

Betty’s eyes misted with tears. “She’s been my whole world since my husband passed. I nursed her back to health. But her memory hasn’t returned, and she’s still so fragile.”

“I will do everything in my power not to upset her,” he said gently. “But this is important.”

Betty finally gave in. “All right. I will go with you.”

Together, they returned to the cabin. Betty stepped inside and faced him. “She’s working. I’ll get her for you.”

Will closed the door and waited. The tiny cabin gave the appearance of being older than it was. The pieces that decorated the small space were rustic.

Betty returned soon with Jamie. “I’ve explained why you’re here. Jamie is willing to help in any way she can.” She smiled at her niece. “I will be in the kitchen if you need me.”

Jamie squeezed her aunt’s arm and faced Will. “How do we do this?”

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