Page 59 of Lost Cause
“You can put it all back and close it as far as I’m concerned.” His eyes were glassy. “Estelle might not have cheated on me, but she clearly kept her knowledge of the crown a secret. And I can’t help but believe the pictures indicate she was hoping to somehow gain from it.”
Abby agreed. What else could be the point of the pictures? Maybe Estelle simply took them as souvenirs of having found it, but honestly, such a thought didn’t make any sense.
No, when it came to the crown, Abby had to believe Estelle was up to no good, and it could very well be the reason for her disappearance or murder.
16
Burke walked beside Abby toward the dining room, pondering this recent find on the way. He didn’t want Victor to be disappointed over a wife who cheated on him, but he believed she’d done just that. He understood how the man was feeling. Tiffany had not only fallen in love with his partner, she’d let her deception go on until their wedding day. The worst kind of trust break ever.
On top of it, having a falling out with a brother and never speaking to him again? Burke couldn’t even comprehend that. Not when he would do anything to have his little brother back. If he hadn’t been so eager to escape his strict parents, he would’ve stayed at home and seen his brother’s struggles. Seen his drug addiction. Could’ve prevented it all, and his brother would be alive today.
But Victor didn’t seem to have such qualms about being separated from his brother. He was allowing his anger over Vincent’s interest in Estelle to let this rift continue even after all these years.
Would he have the same outcome as Burke? A deceased brother and extreme guilt over failing him? Burke wouldn’t wish such pain on anyone.
Abby glanced up at him. “Do you think Victor’s right about Estelle not having an affair, but was just hoping to profit from selling the real crown?”
Burke drew his thoughts away from his brother and back to the investigation. “I’d like to think he is, but my past experience says it’s not likely she wasn’t having an affair.”
“Personal or professional experience?”
“Both, but mostly on the job,” He quickly glossed over the subject he still wasn’t ready to share with her. “And I have to believe Detective Orman was on to something when he’d heard the rumors.”
“Who do you think was spreading those rumors?”
“Probably people they socialized with. Maybe a woman scorned by the man having an affair with Estelle.”
“Or could be hotel staff,” she said. “If she met a man there.”
“Problem is, it happened too long ago to find out unless we can get Orman to tell us.”
“His files might hint at who it is, and we can follow up with them. If not, we can talk to everyone he interviewed.”
“Agreed, but I think Estelle’s journals are far more promising. I want to dig into those first.”
“I could have someone on my team do the interviews.”
He shook his head. “I’d want an official deputy to handle them, so it’ll have to be Gabe.”
“I’m sure he’ll be glad to give up his babysitting duties.” She laughed.
Burke smiled, but his phone chimed, and he whipped his attention to the screen. “A text from Deputy Mullen. She has boat registration details.”
Abby got out her phone and held it out to him. “Hayden’s number.”
Burke quickly entered Hayden’s phone number and fired off the owner’s name. “Not that I’m overly optimistic, but let’s hope this gives us something to go on.”
“Sometimes the things you least expect to come through are the ones that do.”
Her melancholy tone hinted at something else beneath her comment, but she didn’t say anything and entered the dining room.
Gabe sat in the same chair, a journal open in front of him. “I thought you two got lost.”
She told him about the trunk and the conversation with Victor.
He tapped the journal he was reading with a gloved finger. “So far nothing here mentioning an affair.”
Abby moved to the end of the room and took the other books from the evidence bag. “Are these dated?”
