Page 65 of Artifice

“I could ask the same of you.”

“You know who I am. Liv Bettencourt. Apparently, everyone in town knows who I am.”

“Right. But who are youreally?”

Her gaze shot to the rearview mirror. Simon sat in the shadows wearing dark clothing. She could only see the outline of his head and his broad shoulders.

She couldn’t show any weakness, any doubt. If Simon was playing a game with her, she needed the upper hand.

She raised her chin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I have the feeling there’s much more to you than you’re letting on.”

“Being wealthy is very complicated, if that’s what you mean.” Was that the best response she could have used?

Maybe not.

But this guy was really pushing her buttons.Andhe was getting too close to the truth.

Olive couldn’t let this man blow this whole assignment.

“As you may have ascertained, something shady is going on at Lighthouse Harbor,” Simon said. “You need to be careful.”

So he was doing all this out of concern for her?

Olive had a hard time believing that.

But maybe shecouldget some information from him right now. “And exactly what is it that’s going on there?”

“That’s the question of the hour, isn’t it?”

Not helpful.

“So you hopped in my car just to tell me to be careful as I contemplate how to donate my money?” Olive glanced at him again in her mirror.

“Mostly.” He said the word so nonchalantly, like this was a normal way of communicating.

“What else is it that you want, Mr. Long?”

He leaned forward slightly. “I think you should keep your money and move on. Get out of town.”

She turned in her seat to face him. “What happened at the school today—was that staged?”

Simon’s expression darkened. “I don’t know. But what’s going on there is connected to something bigger than you realize—and something dangerous.”

Olive pulled up to the bed-and-breakfast but didn’t get out of the car. It was too risky to make her calls inside. However, she needed to talk to Tevin and Rex.

She started by giving Tevin the update on everything that had happened today.

“Do you want me to come back to the B&B?” His words came out fast with worry.

“I just need you back here tonight. I’ll need someone with me when I meet Abe.”

“It could be a setup.”

Olive had thought of that also. “I know, that’s why I want to take all the precautions necessary.”

“I’ll be back right after dinner.”