years seemed to fade away. He felt the same panic heâd felt the day she walked out of his life. Then, he hadnât been sure he would know how to live without her. Now, he didnât know what he thought, but he did know that he wished this meeting was under different circumstances.
He took no satisfaction in the knowledge that heâd been right to worry about seeing her again. Age had been kind to Olivia. Sheâd been a pretty girl. Now she was stunning, and, from the look on her face, none too happy to see him.
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Olivia couldnât think. The moment sheâd seen Trey on the doorstep, sheâd gone numb. Now, to find out that he was the detective they were expecting was overwhelming. She felt sick to her stomach. It had been years since theyâd seen each otherâteetering on the brink of adulthood, so in love. Sometimes, when she let herself think about those years, she felt guilty that she had lacked the courage to stand up to her grandfather. The fight theyâd had over Trey had been one of the worst times of her life. Marcus had insisted she was too young for romance and the boy was unsuitable, besides. Sheâd argued, but in the end, sheâd given in to Marcus and walked out of Treyâs life. She knew it had hurt him, but what he would probably never believe was that sheâd suffered, too. To this day, she still measured her relationships by the feelings sheâd had for him, and so far, theyâd all come up lacking.
Now, by a cruel twist of fate, he was here to question her grandfather about a murdered child. Surely he couldnât think that they had anything to do with something so horrible?
She didnât know what to do, what to say, and she was afraid to turn around for fear of the look she might see on his face. If Trey held a grudge, he had the power to make their lives miserable.
Oblivious to the undercurrents, when they entered the library, Marcus seated Olivia, then gestured for Trey to sit nearby.
Trey did so without comment.
The brief moment of silence seemed to swell and lengthen until speaking aloud felt wrong. Still, it was why heâd come. As Marcus fiddled with some papers on his desk, Trey chanced a look at Olivia.
Her face was pale, and she was staring at a spot on the wall over the fireplace. He couldnât tell if she was upset because the discovery of the babyâs body threatened her identity, or because he was the cop whoâd come to do the questioning. Either way, he had a job to do, and the sooner he got out of here, the better for the both of them. Finally Marcus Sealy moved into place and took a seat on the sofa beside his granddaughter. Trey saw the old man give Oliviaâs hand a gentle squeeze before he leaned back and faced Trey head-on.
âSo, Detective, how can I be of service?â
âI have a couple of questions,â Trey said, and removed a notebook from his pocket. They had already decided that the original owners of the lake house had nothing to do with the babyâs death, but he had to cover all the bases.
âDid you ever know a couple by the name of David and Carol Lehrman?â
Marcus didnât hesitate. âNo. Why? Who are they?â
âYouâre sure? It would have been years ago.â
Anger was evident in Marcusâs voice as he answered.
âIâm old, but Iâm not senileâ¦at least not yet. I said I donât know them, which means, no.â
Instantly offended by Treyâs doubts, Olivia started to object, but her grandfather silently shook his head, discouraging her from saying what was on her mind. It took all her restraint to remain quiet when she wanted to lash out.
Trey heard Marcusâs sarcasm and felt his anger, but he had an anger of his own. He kept thinking of the tiny bones that had been inside that suitcase and couldnât summon any sympathy for a man like Marcus Sealy, whose only indignation at the moment was over the