Page 54

CHAPTER 54

O live typed back:

Which door are they headed toward?

Jason answered:

The front.

Olive sprinted toward the back of the house. If Matt and Rebecca came inside right now, they’d see her at the back door.

But she was going to have to take the chance.

Though she was cutting it close, she quietly slipped outside.

First obstacle: conquered.

She wasn’t out of the woods yet, however.

Olive remained low as she ducked to the side of the house—the side opposite the driveway.

She’d have to time this just right in order to get back to Jason’s vehicle before Matt and Rebecca saw her.

With any luck, Matt would help Rebecca inside and get her settled.

That would give Olive the perfect opportunity to get away.

For now, she waited near the corner of the house, thankful the family didn’t have a fence. Still, she prayed no one saw her standing here because she knew she looked suspicious. It would be hard to explain away her presence.

She was counting on Jason to be her eyes.

He sent another text:

Going to the front porch now.

From her position near the corner, Olive heard Rebecca and Matt talking. Nothing about what they said sounded suspect. Matt told Rebecca to be careful. To watch her step.

Just like any doting husband might say when bringing his wife home from the hospital.

Except there was no one here to hear their conversation. So were they faking it because faking had become natural to them? Or because something really was wrong with Rebecca?

Olive couldn’t be sure.

She still heard them on the porch. They were taking their time getting inside.

Her muscles wound tighter.

Then Olive heard another door slam—but not Matt and Rebecca’s.

She glanced over and saw Georgina step out onto her porch.

Her stomach sank.

No . . . !

Olive quickly ducked behind a bush before the woman saw her.

None of this was supposed to be so complicated. The whole investigation was supposed to be a simple in-and-out assignment.

Yet at every turn she faced a new obstacle.

Olive crouched lower behind the bush, the leaves tickling her face. She didn’t care. She couldn’t let Georgina see her.

The woman paused and called hello to Matt and Rebecca.

Olive’s heart thumped harder as she waited.

If Georgina decided to walk across the lawn to talk to them, she would definitely see Olive. Or if Matt and Rebecca decided to meet Georgina halfway, they would definitely spot Olive.

Neither scenario was good.

Making an impulsive decision, Olive grabbed her phone and dialed Georgina’s number.

Then she watched.

The woman stepped toward the sidewalk as if heading to meet her neighbors.

Then she paused.

Olive’s heart pounded in her ears.

The next moment, Georgina turned and headed back inside to answer the call.

Relief swept through her.

Still, she would have to be careful.

She ended the call. If Georgina called back, Olive would apologize and tell her the call was accidental.

She peered around the corner again.

Rebecca and Matt had gone inside.

Wasting no more time, Olive darted toward Jason’s Range Rover.

This excursion had been too close for comfort.