Page 94 of Riptide
"I'll take that under advisement." Her voice was ice.
They left her standing by the bed, bruised and calculating, already planning her next move.
Gabe and Ellie walked to the stairs in silence.
"Okay." Ellie's voice was carefully controlled. "What was that?"
Gabe stalked on toward the SUV.
"She knows Cara. That's not news—everyone in Haven Cove knows Cara." Ellie fell into step beside him. "But that wasn't 'I know the local baker.' That was something else entirely. And you know it."
Gabe unlocked the vehicle.
"Chief." Ellie planted herself by the passenger door, arms crossed. "I just watched you dance around a witness like you were protecting someone. And I'm pretty sure that someone is Cara Sweet."
"It's complicated."
"Clearly." Ellie's dark eyes were sharp, concerned. "Blaire Mitchell is blackmailing her, isn't she? That's what this is about. That's why they were meeting in a deserted parking lot at eight o'clock at night."
Gabe rubbed the back of his neck. Ellie was too observant. It was what made her an excellent cop and a terrible person to try to keep secrets from.
"I can't discuss an ongoing investigation."
"Hello? I work for you. Yes, you can. But I get it. That's not a no." Ellie's voice softened. "Look, I'm not trying to jam you up. But you showing up that parking lot in time to chase Thorne off wasn’t coincidence. You knew she was there. And just now, in there—you were protecting her from Blaire's accusations before Blaire even finished making them."
She paused. Let the silence stretch.
"There's something going on between you two. And whatever it is, it's got you twisted up good."
Gabe finally met her eyes. Ellie Torres—sharp, capable, too talented for this small town. She'd come to Haven Cove to heal after her mother's death, but she wouldn't stay forever. Couldn't stay forever. She was destined for bigger things.
She was a trusted member of his department. And she deserved something. "Blaire is blackmailing Cara. Over the bakery inheritance. There are... irregularities. Things Blaire found."
"And you're protecting Cara anyway."
He opened his door. "My priority is catching whoever cut Blaire’s brake lines and attacked Cara. Everything else can wait."
Ellie studied him for a long moment. Then she nodded slowly and climbed into the vehicle.
"She's hiding something," Ellie said as he started the engine. "Cara, I mean. Blaire practically spelled it out."
"I know."
"And you don't care?"
Gabe pulled out of the lot, fog swallowing the inn behind them.
"I care," he said quietly. "I just don't think whatever she's hiding makes her a bad person. And I don't think it has anything to do with attempted murder."
"You hope."
"Yeah." He stared at the road ahead, gray and uncertain. "I hope."
31
The basement felt smallerthis morning. Closer. Like the walls were inching toward them while no one was looking.
Cara sat at the head of the table, hands wrapped around a mug of coffee she hadn't touched. She'd given up on sleep around three a.m., finally abandoning her tangled sheets to stare at the ceiling until dawn crept through her window. Every time she'd closed her eyes, she'd felt hands around her throat. Seen Thorne's wild eyes in the darkness. Heard Blaire's voice promising destruction.
