The Lost Bones (Widow's Island #8)(5)

“Exactly.”

Phillip paused for a long moment. “I had an agent contact Kori an hour ago, and she told him she’d only speak to you. I don’t think it mattered who called this time. She’s stubbornly set on only talking to you.”

Cate didn’t know what to say.

“I personally called her parents after that, and her mother also insisted that Kori and the two of them would only talk to you.”

“I can try to convince them otherwise,” Cate told him. “I had a good rapport with her parents, even though I only met them in person once. I assume you didn’t tell them specifically about the mandible?”

“No. Only that we might have a new lead. Neither Kori or her parents expressed optimism.”

“They’ve had too many calls over the years about possible leads and sightings that went nowhere. They know not to get excited until something pans out.”

“I learned one odd thing on the call with her mother,” said Phillip.

Cate struggled to picture Kori’s parents. Ellen and George Aston. They had been a reclusive older couple, but she remembered the mother’s lovely smile and that the father had deep sad eyes. “What’s that?”

“They moved to Widow’s Island about a year ago.”

Cate sat up straight. “How come I didn’t know that? I was still with the bureau and would have updated Jade’s file.” She thought hard. “I haven’t come across them since I’ve been here . . . I would have recognized their names.” Or at the very least heard Jane’s opinion. Her grandmother met everyone new on the island.

“Dunno,” said Phillip. “They don’t strike me as social people, but Ellen knew that you owned the bakery. She told me she’s seen you there.”

“She hasn’t said a word to me.” Cate focused, trying to picture the couple in her store. “Phillip . . . I hate to use the word ‘coincidence’—”

“But Kori’s parents living on Widow’s and someone hand delivering possible evidence from their granddaughter’s kidnapping to you is too big to ignore.”

“Exactly.” Cate’s brain shot into overdrive, weighing possibilities of how Ellen and George Aston could be involved in this new lead on Jade’s disappearance.

Have they always known what happened to Jade?

Or do they have absolutely nothing to do with that bone?

“I don’t like it,” Cate told him. “I know they used to live on Orcas Island. Did they say why they moved?”

“I didn’t ask. But Kori still lives on the mainland. Just outside of Bellingham. I’ll send an agent—a female—to talk to her in person, but I’d like you to meet and talk to the Astons. I can’t get anyone to your island for a day or two, and even then, there’s no guarantee they’d talk with someone they don’t know. Ellen Aston was very adamant about dealing with you, even though I told her you’d left the FBI. I talked to the county sheriff, who offered to have a deputy accompany you, and I’ve arranged for you to be classified as a consultant—”

“Phillip! I can’t do this.” Cate squeezed her eyes shut and pressed a palm against her forehead. “I don’t work for the FBI anymore.” She was torn. The case was deeply personal to her. Kori Causey had been a naive woman who’d needed Cate’s protection and guidance seven years ago. The sweet young mom and her missing daughter had wiggled into a little place in Cate’s heart. Cate had searched for Jade as if she were her own daughter.

I want to help.

But I’m done with that life.

Cutting ties with her job at the FBI had been hard. A painful breakup. And now the ex was knocking on her door, asking for help. Again.

“I know how you feel,” Phillip told her. “I didn’t want to ask you, but I don’t see any other way, and I’m sure it will just be for a day or two. All I need is for you to interview the Astons. It’ll take a couple hours of your time.”

It’s never that easy.

“I’ll do it.”

Did I just say that?

Her mouth hadn’t listened to her brain.

“Great! I appreciate it. I’m texting you their phone number and address now.” He spoke quickly, as if he expected Cate to change her mind.

A ping sounded in her ear, and she looked at his text. She was familiar with the name of the Astons’ street, which would take her to a small cluster of little old houses outside Bishopton.

“Do you want a county officer to go along?” he asked.

Cate thought about it. She could have Tessa request the assignment, but she had a strong feeling Ellen and George would open up more if only Cate was present.

“No. I’ll be fine.”

Ice touched her spine as the words hung in the air, and she remembered knocking on a door in the past. She hadn’t been fine after that; she still wasn’t. Cate shoved the violent memory away.

I know these people. I have nothing to fear.

She ended the call with Phillip and dialed the Astons’ phone number before she could think about it.

Kori’s father answered and didn’t sound surprised when Cate identified herself.

Phillip told the Astons they’d hear from me before he even asked me.

Her ex-boss knew her too well.