Van’s chest inflated. “Fuck. According to Michael’s friend, the picture in the Doubletree restaurant was taken that morning, not the next day.” His head tilted. “Did Phillip smell of alcohol?”
“No. He was wearing your cologne,” I said.
“Rob said Phillip was drinking.”
“So, Rob lied to you.”
Van’s torso stiffened beneath my touch. “Yes, but why? I’ve employed him for years.”
“To watch Brooklyn.”
Van nodded. “Fuck. Olivia mentioned my PI.”
“If Olivia knew, who else knew?” My thoughts were sifting through millions of bits of information. “In the pictures, Phillip was with Uncle…” I shook my head. “…with Logan Butler. Why were they meeting and where did Phillip go?”
“Your phone was pinging in Ironwood.”
“Michigan.”
“Yes,” Van said. “But then your parents had the line disconnected. With Rob’s report that Phillip was back in Texas, we never pursued the Ironwood thing.”
I hugged his torso and laid my cheek against his chest. “I’ll get Patrol Officer Howard’s card. You can call the Ashland policeman. For some reason, I’m now worried about your brother.” I looked up again. “Has Madison given anyone any information?”
“Maybe Lena will tell us more.”
Julia
Margaret met me as I entered Van’s and my suite. Her smile grew. “I’m so glad you’re feeling okay.”
“I’m glad we all are.” My expression soured. “I’m sorry.” I’d told Margaret the same thing on the phone. This was the first time I’d seen her in person, since arriving home.
“I feel responsible,” she said. “I was the one who saw the champagne—who brought it up here.”
“Everything is Madison’s fault.”
Margaret nodded.
“Had you met her before?” It was a question I’d never thought to ask.
“I did. She lived on the property one summer for a few months. It was a long time ago,” she added quickly.
“It was over ten years ago,” I said. “I know. Van told me.”
“She didn’t live here.” Margaret looked around. “It was before…when Donovan lived in the other house. After her, he was adamant about having the other house demolished. If I recall, he moved out as soon as she left. To be frank, we were afraid there’d never be another woman.” Margaret smiled a sad smile. “Madison is part of why Mom and I were so happy to meet you and that you and Donovan found one another.”
I went to the boxes still stacked to the side of the private living room. “I don’t know what to think about her.” I opened the top box, looking for where I placed Patrol Officer Howard’s card. “I think I feel sorry for her.”
Margaret rested on the arm of the sofa, her hands falling to her sides. “She was always a melancholy soul. Even when she seemed happy, she didn’t.”
“While she was here, did you two get to know one another well?” I set the first box on the ground and opened the next.
“No. She was quiet and private. Sometimes I’d see her outside walking the property. She was more talkative out there. When I’d go to Donovan’s home to clean, she’d stay locked in her suite or the art studio.”
My eyebrows rose. “She had her own suite?”
Margaret smiled. “Yes. Unlike you, she never made the transition into Donovan’s.”
“Is it bad that little bit of information makes me happy?”