“Rico and Petrina told me what brought you two to Greece,” said Jennifer.
“We’re determined to keep going until we find Kara and Evie,” said Constance.
“I’m sure they told you about the dangers?”
“Yes. And I can tell they’re very worried about you.”
“They needn’t worry about me. I’ve looked after myself for a long time.”
“But they do. Like all parents. I know they aren’t your biological parents, but I could tell that as far as they’re concerned, you’re their daughter.”
“Yes. Rico and Petrina made a life choice not to have children. And then they got me.” She laughed wryly.
“They couldn’t have sounded prouder of you.”
“They’re Greek. They’re proud of everything.” But she couldn’t hide the small smile on her lips.
Constance returned a warm smile. “We don’t want to cause them any worry in us being here. I know you want answers about what happened to Noah, and we want answers, too.”
“But I’m afraid I can’t help you,” Jennifer said. “People just . . . vanish sometimes. And they never come back. That’s how it is.”
Constance didn’t waver. “I don’t believe you’ve accepted that.”
Jennifer’s shoulders collapsed inward, and she cradled her coffee mug to her chest, her expression suddenly changed. “I expect to die doing what I’m doing. Is that what you want for yourselves? Gray, you’ve got two young daughters. And Constance, you have your husband. You should both go home to them while you still can.”
“I can’t,” I said, breaking my spell of silence. “I can’t do that without knowing I did everything in my power to bring the girls’ mother back to them. And, anyway, if I go home, my girls will lose me anyway. I’ll be arrested for my wife’s murder. Didn’t Rico and Petrina tell you about that?”
“Yes, they did. You were set up. I was forgetting. Setups are a classic move on the part of the Saviours.”
“They’ve done that kind of stuff before?” I asked her, exhaling a tense breath. “Framing people?”
“Yes, but not usually. Framing people is messy. They generally choose to kill the ones who pose a risk to them. Rico and Petrina don’t know about any of this except what happened to my parents and Noah. You mustn’t tell them.”
“Well, they know about us now.” I rubbed my jaw, thinking hard. “Look, if you’re still looking for Noah—and I think you are—you should team up with us. Maybe it’s time you stopped going this alone. It won’t help Noah if you wind up dead.”
“I don’t think my brother is still alive, Gray.”
I tried to adjust to this new piece of information without showing my surprise. “You don’t?”
“No. It’s been far too long. But I need to know what happened to him, and I need the people responsible brought to justice. If I don’t kill them myself, that is. I’m quite sure that the only reason they’ve left me alone is because I was a child when my brother disappeared. All trails had gone completely dead and cold by the time I was old enough to continue my parents’ search. The Saviours don’t realise that I never let go of Noah. They know I’ve made some investigations over the years, but they don’t know how much I know or how tenacious I am.”
“Sounds like you’re their worst enemy,” I said.
“I am. And to continue, I need to stay beneath their radar. I can’t join with you. I’ll become too visible. I’m close to finding out where and who, and I can’t risk outsiders giving my game away.”
Constance leaned forward on the kitchen bench, a determined look set fast in her eyes. “But what if we know things you don’t? We didn’t tell Rico and Petrina all that we’ve discovered.”
I knew that Constance was mostly bluffing. We’d barely found out anything. We needed Jennifer far more than she needed us.
Jennifer hesitated for a moment, setting her cup down rigidly on the bench, her head bent.
I was quick to wipe the shock from my face when she nodded.
58. Constance
BUNDLING A TOWEL AROUND MYSELF, I stepped from the shower. I was a little plumper than I had been when I left my home in the States, my hips not quite so angular. I hadn’t been watching what I ate at all. I’d have to correct that when I got back home.
If I ever got back home.
Jennifer had generously offered her house to Gray and me to stay in. She’d sent us off to have hot showers, and I was immensely grateful. I’d been hot and sticky beneath my damp clothing.