Page 25 of Girl Long Gone

Evelyn followed him inside and locked the door behind her. Her stomach muscles knotted into a pretzel. How could one simple touch transform her into a puddle of goo?

She glanced around the apartment. Abbie was watching a show, which meant making her leave the room would result in an epic meltdown. Even if she took Connor into the kitchen, the close proximity to the living room meant Abbie could easily overhear them. The options of where to talk to Connor dwindled, and she bit her bottom lip to keep calm. “Do you want to talk in my room? I’d rather little ears don’t listen.”

He swiveled to face her, and the intensity in his eyes made her weak. “Okay.”

She blew out a long breath and forced a tight smile to her lips. She’d never had a man in her bedroom, at least not here, and the idea of Connor being the first brought a blazing heat to her cheeks. She turned to make her way down the hall and tried not to let the heavy footsteps behind her make her heart sputter in her chest. Connor was upset and needed to tell her what had happened with Gabriel. That’s all this was.

Or at least that was the lie she told herself as she led him down the hall.

Evelyn gave her bedroom a quick survey and for once gave thanks to her OCD tendencies that kept her space spotless. She spun in a semicircle and kept her gaze fixed on Connor as he filled her doorway.

Connor paused with his hand on the doorknob. “Do you want me to keep this open?”

Warmth spread in her chest and flooded her entire body. How he could keep her comfort in the forefront of his mind at a time like this was beyond her. She’d only ever known men who were rough and selfish and demanding. Connor was none of those things. He was kind and compassionate, and dammit, she wanted to know every part of him. “You can leave it open a crack.”

With the door almost closed, he sank down on the mattress and rested his elbows on his knees. “It’s been a hell of a day. I don’t mean to dump it all on you, but I figured you’d want to know what’s happened.”

Anxiety zipped through her. She waffled between sitting beside him as a source of comfort and retreating to the far corner of the room where she’d tucked away a plush chair. She’d just stand. “Did you find anything at Gabriel’s last night? Any sign of your sister?”

“No. Not a damn thing. Officers will comb through the limited evidence we took in—mostly electronics—but they won’t find anything.” Moisture clouded the blue of his eyes, and one short sniff was enough to move Evelyn toward him. “The sonofabitch laughed, like it was all a sick game where I can’t figure out the rules.”

Evelyn sat beside him and rubbed her palm in a circle against his still-wet shirt. She wished she could take away his pain, but at least she could show him she’d be by his side. “I’m sorry. But they might still find something.”

Connor leaned against her, his thigh touching hers. “That’s not all of it. Ben and I talked to Simon Thompson this afternoon. Turns out he’d discovered some pretty disturbing shit about Gabriel the day before he was pushed into traffic. Chances are Gabriel pushed him, but they couldn’t prove it. Gabriel’s parents might have helped make sure Gabriel couldn’t be blamed.”

Evelyn drew her brows together. “How so?”

“Simon found a bunch of dead birds in these birdhouses Gabriel made. After the accident, all the houses disappeared. Either Gabriel got them out without anyone noticing, or his parents covered for him.”

“Who would hide something like that for their child?”

He shrugged. “Parents will do a lot of stupid things to protect their kids.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Not her parents. Protection wasn’t a word in their vocabulary, unless it was to protect themselves from getting caught. The only thing they’d cared about was how much money they could make. If Connor knew what she’d been forced to do as a child, he’d never be sitting on her bed with her. Some things left marks too horrible for others to witness.

“Gabriel might have someone helping him. He has an alibi for the night Monica went missing. I figured it was bullshit, but maybe there’s someone doing his dirty work. Someone we haven’t considered.”

“An accomplice? Why would someone help him?” “You’d be surprised what people are capable of.” Nothing could surprise her anymore. “Do you have any idea who would help him?”

“No, but I want to talk to his parents. Did you ever meet them?”

Evelyn shook her head. “I remember seeing his mom at school events from time to time, but I never spoke with her. I think his dad owned a construction company. They worked on commercial properties.”

“Yeah, Gabriel started with that same company. He now owns several companies under his real estate development umbrella. His dad still runs the construction end of things.” Connor stood and began a small path around the room. “Do you remember anything else about him that could help? Did he date anyone? I saw a picture at his house of him with a girl. Looked like they had been to a formal dance together.”

“I have no idea. We weren’t really friends or anything. I don’t think he even knew I was alive back then.”

Connor stopped pacing and faced her. “I don’t see how that’s possible, and that’s definitely not the case now.”

Something flashed in his eyes, and her heart fluttered. Could he be jealous? “The only thing Gabriel wants from me is to build him a website.” At least that’s what she’d thought he wanted until things had taken a sinister turn.

Connor snorted. “I’m not exactly sure what Gabriel’s plans for you are, but it’s clear from the way he looked at you the other day that he wants more than a new employee.”

An idea clicked in her mind, and Evelyn straightened. “So why don’t we take advantage of that? I want to have dinner with Gabriel.”

She may have been a victim in her youth, unable to help herself, but she wasn’t the only person she’d let down. She’d never forgive herself for what happened in the past, but maybe she could at least make things right for Monica. She could finally find salvation for another lost soul. She could finally have a slim shred of redemption.

Connor took a deep breath before he said something he’d regret. Was Evelyn crazy? She couldn’t have dinner with someone as dangerous as Gabriel. Of course, he hadn’t told her about Hayley Teller. But he couldn’t protect her if she tried to rush to the rescue and do something reckless.