Page 39 of The Summer that Changed Everything

He winced visibly. “You regret making love with me?”

“Let’s just say it wasn’t the best decision I’ve ever made,” she replied, chuckling without mirth.

“That makes me feel terrible. I remember that night fondly. I don’t know why I let anything interfere with our relationship.”

“You had a lot of voices in your ear,” she said but didn’t like the way the conversation was going. It was too personal. Too revelatory. Too awkward. “But back to my purpose here thissummer. If you must know, I feel I owe this community a little something after... after what my father did. So I’m happy to bear the expense of the investigator.”

“Youdid nothing wrong, Lucy. You don’t owe anyone anything.”

She looked out over the dark shapes in the yard—shapes that were obviously benign in the light of day but could spook her at night. “Maybe it’s not totally logical. But there’s a sense of responsibility that goes with being so closely related to a man like my father.”

“Did you see anything strange the morning after the Matteos were killed? Any blood on his clothes or boots? Was he acting weird?”

“He came home and washed his own clothes that morning, which was a bit odd since he generally left all the cooking and cleaning to me. But he said he wanted to wear a particular shirt, and I didn’t think twice about it.”

“It’s a plausible enough story. I think people were just looking for a target—something or someone they could blast to make themselves feel better.”

And she became collateral damage.

They sat in silence for the next several seconds, each of them sipping their wine. “About the investigator...” she started.

He lifted a hand. “That’s already handled. The guy comes highly recommended, so I know he’s good.”

Should she continue to insist she be the one to find and pay for an investigator? It would mean she could retain control of what happened here, to a point—keep Ford at arm’s length. But she didn’t even know where to find an investigator, not one she could trust. And Ford had far more resources than she did.

Maybe sheshouldlet him help. After all, he’d known Aurora much better than she had. And after Darren’s visit, she was even more confident that her father wasn’t the one who’d taken Aurora’s life. “He from around here?”

“DC. So close enough that he can come out if and when he needs to.”

She finished what was in her glass. “You’re taking a risk. You realize that.”

“In what regard?”

“If someone finds out you’re paying for an investigator and word begins to spread, there are plenty of people who won’t be happy about it.”

“The Clarks.”

“Yes, the Clarks. They don’t want you or anyone else to upend what they believe—take away the closure they’re so grateful for. But there are others who want things to remain exactly as they are.”

He seemed mildly surprised. “Who else would care that much?”

“Kevin Claxton, for one. In case you’re not aware, he’s the chief of police these days. And he’s not happy I’m back in town.”

“How do you know?”

“He told me as much when we bumped into each other at the grocery store the other day. He said it’s taken a long time for this community to heal and revisiting what happened back then won’t do anyone any good. But I’m willing to bet he’s more worried about the reputation of the police force.”

“If they settled for a jailhouse snitch instead of digging for more solid evidence,forensicevidence, and the real killer went free... I can see why that would make him nervous.”

“The question is... how far will he go to stop me?”

Ford lifted his glass. “Further than he’d go to stopus.”

She studied him for several seconds. “You’re serious. You’re going to plow ahead, even though I’ve warned you?”

He stood. “I’m not seventeen anymore, Lucy.”

“Which means...”

---