Page 11 of Girl Long Gone

His question was like a fist to the stomach, knocking the air from her lungs. Guilt jabbed its nasty claws in her, but she ignored the unwanted sensation. She hadn’t done anything wrong. “Is that really any of your business?”

A brittle laugh vibrated the speaker and made her grit her teeth. “You’re right. It’s not. But I’m trying to keep you safe, and I can’t if you don’t listen to me.”

“Maybe I don’t have the luxury of listening to you. Did you ever think of that?” She was tired of being told what to do. Tired of always needing to listen to someone else’s opinions. She was a grown woman capable of thinking for herself. “I’m sorry about your sister, I really am, but I can’t keep having this conversation with you. I’m not an idiot. I’ll keep what you said in mind.”

“So you’re seeing him again?”

Jealousy pitched beneath his words, and dammit if it didn’t bring a flush to her cheeks. She didn’t owe him an explanation but couldn’t keep from explaining herself just a little bit. “He wants to talk about a job opportunity I can’t pass up. It could change the course of my career.”

“He wants you to work for one of his companies?”

The idea of working for one of Gabriel’s existing companies was laughable. As one of the most successful developers in the city, he owned a portion of some of the most contracted plumbing, electrical, and construction companies in the tri-state area. All businesses where she’d have to actually leave her house and talk to people every day. “No. I’m a web designer, and he’s starting a new business.”

“What kind of new business? Why didn’t you mention this earlier?”

Evelyn fought to keep her patience. “I didn’t know I was being interrogated. You hunted me down and told me a man I knew years ago is now a sadistic monster who took your sister, even though you have no evidence. I can’t throw my future away on a hunch.”

“A hunch?” Connor huffed out a breath, and Evelyn could picture his sapphire-blue eyes dancing with irritation. “He broke into my apartment and left me a...”

“Left you a what?”

“I can’t say right now. But I know it was him. The way he looked at me. As if he knew exactly who I was, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to touch him. To stop him.”

Evelyn raised her eyes to the ceiling. “How could he possibly know who you are?”

“Are you by a computer?”

She reared her head back. “What?”

“Look up Monica Mitchel.”

“What? Why?”

“Just do it.”

Setting her phone to speaker, she laid it on the desk and opened her browser. The quiet tink tink of keys floated in the air as she typed the name in the search engine and pressed enter. Missing person articles filled her screen, and she clicked on one of the links. The image of a woman with sapphire blue eyes and dark mocha skin popped up. Tight black curls rained around an oval face with high cheekbones and a narrow nose. She flashed a wide smile at the camera while holding a novelty keychain with a yellow M&M toward whoever had taken the picture.

She sucked in a breath. “A yellow M&M.”

A sad laugh trickled through the line. “I told you they’re her favorites. That picture was taken when she finally talked me into going to Times Square. I hate that part of the city, but she couldn’t wait to see every inch of New York after she moved in with me. She’s always so serious, but taking her to that candy store and seeing her light up with joy was like witnessing the kid she used to be.” His voice cracked, and he coughed over the emotion.

Sadness squeezed her heart. “You look just like her.” Her mind flashed back to the moment she’d lost Gabriel’s attention in the coffee shop. Something had changed in his expression, and she’d wondered if he’d recognized someone.

Had he recognized Detective Mitchel? A shiver danced down her spine, and the sliver of doubt from earlier grew.

“Will you stay away from him? At least until I have more information?”

“I can’t. But I’ll be careful.”

Connor mumbled something she couldn’t make out, but she could guess at its meaning. “Fine. Program my number in your phone. Call me if anything happens. I’ll be in touch.”

Evelyn disconnected the call. Her gaze stayed glued to the woman staring back at her, and a vise tightened around her throat, trapping the words there that tickled her. No, no, no.

Just because Connor was nearly identical to Monica didn’t mean Gabriel was guilty. Did it? No. It meant Connor was frantic to find his sister and ready to pin it on the natural smug look Gabriel always wore.

“Who’s that woman, and why do you have to be careful?”

Evelyn turned at the sound of Lacey’s tight words. Abbie sat high on Lacey’s hip. A pink princess towel swallowed all but her small face, which rested on Lacey’s shoulder. Water dripped from her blond curls, soaking Lacey’s blue shirt. Her pinched lips spoke of her concern and annoyance.