Page 4 of Lost Truth
The familiar ache that thoughts of her mother always brought to the surface over the years gnawed a hole in her heart.
Remember that when he flashes that sweet smile at you. And remember that your mom and dad proved serious relationships didn’t work.
Hayden shoved a pair of pliers into a low cargo pocket of his khaki pants. “Would you like to ride with me or take your own car?”
“I’ll follow you in my car.” She didn’t wait for his response, but hiked across the property to her old Honda Accord. The engine grumbled and complained, coughing a few times and then catching. She needed to buy a new car. Chalk it up to another thing that wouldn’t happen in her life. Not after depleting her savings to pay for her father’s caregivers. She wasn’t complaining. Making his last days on this earth the best they could be had been the most important thing to her.
Hayden, on the other hand, drove a newer model blue metallic Ford Bronco Raptor that purred like a grown cat. He eased out of the driveway onto the main road cutting through Lost Lake. She followed close behind as he navigated through the quaint coastal town, steering toward the large inn perched on the ocean cliff ahead.
In the inn’s front lot, he smoothly backed into a spot among other vehicles—all parked the same way by the front door. As former law enforcement officers, they all backed in to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. Backing up wasn’t her forte. She bumped over a few potholes before coming to a stop nearby.
Laptop tucked under his arm, Hayden strode to her car in that eager, confident way he had of walking and stood waiting near the hood. “Welcome to Lost Lake Locators headquarters.”
She shoved hard on her groaning door and had to use her hip to fully slam it closed. “Interesting location for your type of business.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Yeah, this probably does push the envelope for a team who finds missing people, but Nolan got the place for a great price, and it suits our needs.”
She cast a look over the horizon, where the moon glistened off rolling waves crashing into the shoreline below. “With these views, it’s probably a great place to live and work.”
“You got that right.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Let’s go in and meet the whole team.”
He led her over a crumbling walkway. “Careful. We need to get the disintegrating concrete fixed, among a million other things.”
She wore her favorite red Chuck Taylor All-Stars and didn’t want to ruin them, so she watched the ground until the sidewalk improved. He tugged open the bright orange front door and held it for her.
A small sign near the door, displaying the team’s name and logo, was the only hint of their business. Worn furnishings in faded oranges and mustards—styles she guessed dated back to the fifties or sixties—filled the spacious but dark and gloomy lobby. Without hesitation, Hayden walked past the wood-paneled check-in desk and continued down the hallway.
He stopped near the first door and glanced over his shoulder. “This used to be the dining room, but we turned it into our conference room.”
The door stood open, and the savory scent of fresh popcorn drifted out. She’d opted to skip dinner to save money on buying takeout food, and her stomach grumbled.
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t mention the noise as he gestured at the doorway. “After you.”
Inside the large room, she found the outdated dining tables pushed together to form a long conference table and worn wooden chairs pressed up to its side. At the wall, two long folding tables held refreshments. His teammates stood in small groups, talking and laughing.
“Popcorn, stat,” Hayden announced and set his computer on the conference table. “We have a hungry one here.”
A slender woman locked startling blue eyes on Cady and held out her hand. “I’m Reece Waters.”
“Cady Vaughn.” She took her hand—her grip surprisingly strong despite her slight frame. Cady couldn’t help but want Reece’s luscious blond hair, wishing her own wild tangle of red curls were as sleek and smooth.
“I’m glad to get you some popcorn, but have you had dinner?” Reece angled her head in question.
“Not yet.” Cady was embarrassed to admit she hadn’t eaten because she couldn’t bring herself to go into her dad’s house yet, and she couldn’t afford takeout food.
Reece rested her hands on slender hips. “Then let me rustle something up. Any allergies?”
“No, but don’t go to any bother.” Now she was really embarrassed that Reece was making a special effort for her. “Popcorn would be wonderful.”
“No bother.” She spun and wound her way toward the swinging double doors that must lead to their kitchen.
“If you’re making a sandwich, you might as well up your number to a dozen or so,” a guy with ebony hair and a matching beard perfectly trimmed close to his jaw called after her.
She glanced back at him. “Are you serious or is this another one of your jokes?”
“Serious.” He straightened his shoulders, but a hint of humor clung to his expression. “I mean, take a vote. I’m sure most everyone would take one of your famous sandwiches.”
“Well?” She scanned the group. “Do I have any other takers?”
