"All right then. I do have a motivation. I'm concerned about this ghost business, and I want to protect you and Gabriel."
"Matilda and Gwynn, you mean."
He said nothing for a few steps, as he fought the urge to defend himself. To get annoyed, even. To tell her not to trivialize his concern or deny him the right to be concerned.
Except she was correct in her way. She might not know the full history behind the situation, but he could not deny that he'd made mistakes. Endlessly compounded mistakes, culminating in her very understandable mistrust.
He had to remind himself that her anger wasn't at him. It was for Gabriel.
"I'm worried," he said finally. "Whatever the reason. If you insist on pursuing this, I want to help."
They reached the end of the walkway and veered toward the path leading to the diner. Liv had stayed silent as they passed the playground.
"Have you found anything new?" Patrick asked.
She said nothing.
"Are you investigating today? I didn't see Gabriel's car."
"He's working at home."
Patrick felt a frisson of alarm. "Alone? On the case?"
"On other cases. Legal work."
"So you're investigating the ghost on your own? That's not good, either."
It wasn't as bad as Gabriel investigating alone. The unease he felt about the ghost situation centered on Gabriel.
"I'll be fine," Liv said. "Gabriel's busy, and I want to make progress on this. Surprise him." She shrugged and said, "Impress him," and there was thi
s note in her voice that made him look over, but she was looking straight ahead, no hint of anything untoward.
"I was thinking of going to the cemetery tonight," she said, in that same casual tone.
"Cemetery?"
"Hey, how often do I get the excuse to poke around a graveyard at night? Gotta let me have my fun."
"Is Gabriel joining this excursion?"
"That would spoil the surprise. It could also be really embarrassing, pulling him away from his work to pursue a whim. I'm going to try to contact the ghost. With James..." She cleared her throat. "Suffice to say, I think I've seen ghosts before. It may be an extra on my Matilda-vision package. I'm going at night because it'll be quiet, which might help with the ghostbusting."
"Gabriel panics over you having visions at any time. What is he going to say about you going to a cemetery--alone--for that express purpose?"
"Awesome initiative?"
Patrick glared at her. "No, he will not. And you're not. I'm going with you."
They headed into the passage beside the diner.
"Olivia...?"
"I don't need the backup."
"I can help. Backup plus research. I might not have much on ghosts, but I'll find what I can. I have resources."
She pursed her lips, and with that gesture, a little too dramatically thoughtful, Patrick realized he'd walked into a trap.