Page 65 of Lost Cause
Burke, on the other hand, tapped his foot rapidly and had fidgeted since they’d taken off. He didn’t mention being uncomfortable in a helicopter, but with his need to control, he was no doubt displeased with having no control over their modeof transport. Or maybe he was second-guessing his demand to stay at the compound tonight. She’d tried to talk him out of it, but even though he said he trusted her and the Blackwell team to keep Victor safe, he wanted to be on site just in case.
She didn’t like his decision, especially when she learned Gage didn’t have an extra cabin. Not when he’d already assigned one to her and one to Gabe. The option was for her, Victor, and Burke to bunk in one cabin or she could share a cabin with Gabe or sleep on Sam’s sofa. Out of every decision she’d made since starting this investigation, this one was the easiest. Even more so since Gabe snored like a wild animal. Sofa it was for her.
As much as seeing Victor relaxed was wonderful, this would be the perfect time to ask him questions they hadn’t asked. She got out her phone and scrolled to the picture of Estelle’s locket. “Victor, could you look at this picture a minute and tell me if you recognize it?”
He turned, the peace evaporating from his expression. She held out the phone.
He took a quick look and gasped. “Why do you have that picture? It’s Estelle’s locket. Did you find something out about her disappearance?”
“No.” She pocketed her phone.
He sighed, his breath seeming to go on and on. “Then why show me the picture?”
“We found the locket half buried in the greenhouse on your property,” Burke said.
Victor shifted his eyes to Burke. “Why was it there? Why were you there?”
“The night we arrived at your property, my deputies saw a light in the greenhouse. Abby and I went to evaluate it. No light and no one in the greenhouse, but we did locate a fresh footprint and the locket.”
Victor shook his head. “Why on earth would it have been buried there? I gave Estelle the necklace on our wedding night, and I don’t believe a day went by when she didn’t wear it. Sure, when we went to formal events, she would change it out for any one of her many jewels, and she took it off to sleep, but otherwise it was around her neck.
“Do you think…” He paused and glanced between Abby and Burke. “Do you think this means someone attacked her in the greenhouse and left her locket behind?”
“We don’t have any theories yet.” Burke’s tone was gentle. “Who used the greenhouse when Estelle was alive?”
“She did. She loved gardening, and it was her happiest place. With the help of the gardener she’d hired, she grew flowers and vegetables. After she disappeared, Sylvia continued to grow vegetables for our cook while Juan took care of the landscaping.”
“And then?” Abby asked. “How did it fall to ruins and the landscaping become overgrown?”
Pain lanced Victor’s eyes. “Back then, I couldn’t deal with it—or anything for that matter. Sylvia took over Estelle’s duties, but after a couple of years said she no longer had time to garden and keep the house unless she worked more hours. Her family needed her, and she didn’t want to put in the hours she’d been working. She was just doing it for me. So we compromised. She would quit raising vegetables and buy them instead from our local farmers’ market when she shopped for her own home. The greenhouse hasn’t been used since then.”
“And the landscaping?” Abby asked even though they’d gotten Ugo’s version of what had transpired. “What happened there?”
“I got tired of someone else living on the property. Especially Juan. I think he blamed me for not doing enough to find Estelle. Plus, the guy was half in love with her. So one day he made someunreasonable demand or other, and I got angry and fired him. Simple as that.”
Ugo had told them Victor didn’t want anyone else living on the property, but hadn’t even suggested Juan might have feelings for Estelle.
Abby didn’t know what to make of that, but would be on the lookout for any connection to the theft. “I hate to ask you this, but let’s assume finding the locket means someone hurt Estelle. Do you have any idea who that might’ve been?”
Victor fixed his sorrowful gaze on Abby. “I can’t think of anyone. Everyone loved her.”
“It would be rare foreveryoneto love someone,” Burke said.
Victor whipped his head toward Burke. “You didn’t know my Estelle. She was an amazing woman. Kind to everyone she met. Sympathetic to those in need. And willing to help them in any way she could.”
Abby still doubted there wasn’t at least one person who didn’t like Estelle, but it was clear Victor wouldn’t be the one to provide the needed information. Time to try a different approach. “What if someone loved her too much? Someone like Vincent. Maybe, when he learned he couldn’t have her, he didn’t want anyone else to.”
Victor’s eyes widened. “Maybe. Yes, could be. It would explain why he disappeared not long after Estelle went missing.”
Burke’s gaze intensified. “He disappeared, too, or you just didn’t hear from him after he left here?”
“I guess I misspoke. As far as I’m concerned, he disappeared because after the private investigator tried to contact him and failed, I tried calling him at our family residence. He’s probably still living there, but the phone number was disconnected. My father left the French estate to Vincent and the estate here to me.”
Abby nodded, but made a mental note to have Hayden follow up on Valentino’s will.
“Sylvia told us something interesting. She claimed your father said the combination had been shared often.”
“What?” Victor scrunched his eyes together. “That’s not what he told me. So I guess she could’ve been the one to put those journals in there.”
