Page 79 of Into the Shadows

“So were the letters Elizabeth’s?” Ryan asks.

I shrug. “Not necessarily. Just because Victoria died young doesn’t mean the letters weren’t hers.”

“How do we figure out who they belong to?” Gia leans back in her chair.

“Newspaper clippings?” I say.

Michael grimaces. “If the historical society has them from that far back, it’ll be a miracle.”

“A founding family’s marriage and death would be front-page news, right?” Carson asks.

“True. If they’re going to keep anything, it would be about Sonoma’s founders,” Ryan adds.

My phone rings, and Candace’s name pops up on the screen. “Sorry, guys, I need to take this.”

I answer the call as I walk away from my friends. “Hey, Candace. How are you?”

“Uh, I’m fine. Look, I was wondering if we could meet up somewhere. I have something I want to discuss with you.”

“Oh? What’s going on?”

“I would prefer to talk to you about it in person.”

An internal alarm starts going off. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, uh… Well, maybe? I just have something I want to share with you about Ms. Mansgrove’s murder.”

“Okay, sure. Where do you want to meet?”

She suggests the café in Greensboro where we met last time, and I accept. My curiosity is piqued now. What does she want to talk about that she couldn’t discuss over the phone? Maybe she remembered something from the day Crystal went missing. But I’m not sure why she can’t say it over the phone.

Luckily, I only have to wait a few days to find out.

Chapter 44

Lottie

“Are you sure you can’t reschedule?”

I walk out of my closet wearing high-waisted jeans and a cropped long-sleeved shirt. Teddy is sitting in my chair, his elbows on his knees and his fingers clasped together.

“She asked me to meet today. I couldn’t tell her no. She might have something important to share.”

“Then she should go to the police.”

“I agree, but the last time she dealt with them, they made her feel like a suspect. I can’t imagine she’d feel safe going to them again. If it’s important, I’ll encourage her to go to the police. I’ll even offer to go with her.”

“I’m not sure I like that plan either.” Teddy sighs as he stands. He palms my cheeks. “We haven’t heard a peep out of the person threatening you. I can’t imagine they just gave up.”

“No, I don’t reckon they did either. I swear I’ll stay in contact with you the whole time I’m there.”

“Fuck. Of all the days for Jackson to ask me to take on a case.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Okay. I know I can’t talk you out of going, so you better swear to stay in touch. If I call, you answer.”

“Understood.” I nod. I don’t particularly love the idea of going by myself either, but it’s a Monday afternoon. Everyone is working, and I’d never ask them to drop everything to escort me around Greensboro. Not when I have no concerns that Candace is going to hurt me. I’d feel different if it had been Zachary or Steven who reached out. Candace truly loved Crystal. She’d never have hurt her. I need to know what Candace knows. This could be the break we need to get justice for Crystal.

We both leave my house, Teddy on his motorcycle and me in my car. He’s headed home to prepare for the case Jackson sent over this morning. The sight of him on that bike hits me square in the vagina every damn time. We might need to take another trip to the lookout. I could show him exactly what he does to me.

Focus.

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