Page 59

CHAPTER 59

“ W hat do you want to do?” Jason asked.

Olive stared at Anne, regret filling her. “If we call the police right now, we’re going to have a lot of explaining to do about why we’re here.”

“We just can’t let this woman’s body rot here.”

“I agree.” Olive’s thoughts continued to race until she knew what she needed to do. “We’re going to leave this place as we found it. When we get halfway back to Oasis, I’m going to anonymously call the police. I’ll tell them what we found and have them come out. That will also keep us off their radar for now.”

Jason stared at her. “You sure that’s what you want?”

“I’m positive.”

He drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay then. Let’s get out of here before that guy comes back and catches us.”

They hurried up the steps and locked the doors behind them. Olive carefully wiped away any fingerprints from the door handles using the edge of her sweatshirt. Then they hurried to Jason’s SUV.

They were both quiet as they headed down the road, no doubt each lost in their own thoughts.

Olive hadn’t expected to find a dead body.

Did Anne know too much? Was that why she’d been killed?

Had Maria, the housekeeper, also been killed for that very reason?

If that was the case, then the only culprits who could be responsible were Matt and Rebecca.

But Olive still had trouble reconciling their image to them being killers.

Letting out a heavy sigh, she glanced at the road behind her. It was clear—no one appeared to be following them.

She could be thankful about that, she supposed.

But things still weren’t making as much sense as she’d like.

Just as Olive had promised, when they were halfway back, she used a burner phone she carried in her purse to call the police. She disguised her voice—she was fairly good at accents—to report what had been found.

After she’d given all the information, she ended the call before the operator could ask any more questions.

Then she tried to call Mitzi. There was no answer.

Olive frowned. Was she with the doctor again?

Olive left a message, asking her colleague to give her a call back.

But the bad feeling continued to simmer inside her.

At the hotel, Olive, Jason, and Nova gathered in her room to share their new information.

Nova’s eyes widened with surprise at all the new details that had emerged. “I can’t believe this.”

“We can’t either,” Olive said. “I never thought murder would be involved—even though the housekeeper’s death seemed pretty suspicious.”

Nova leaned back in her chair and nodded. “Well, I’ve been busy also. I’ve been trying to put together the video for tomorrow’s fundraiser—just in case it still happens.”

Olive’s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. It was Chelsea.

She answered, putting it on speaker. “Hey, Chelsea. I’m here with Jason and one of my coworkers.”

“Oh, good,” Chelsea said. “I’m glad I could catch you together.”

“What’s going on?” Olive asked.

“Monty told me the cops were called to a shack on the outskirts of town. They got there and found a dead body.” She paused. “I know I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I have to. The dead body belonged to a nurse . . . and I’m pretty sure it was one of the nurses who was taking care of Rebecca.”

“We know,” Olive said. “Unfortunately, we were the ones to discover it and call it in anonymously. Do you know if the police have any suspects in mind? Or if they know who that place belongs to?”

“I know they’re working on it now. If I learn more, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks,” Olive said. “I appreciate that.”

They ended the call with Chelsea.

Nova glanced at Olive and Jason, shaking her head. “There’s no way Rebecca and Matt are going to walk away from this unscathed. But I don’t understand the cameras monitoring their house.”

“I’m not sure I understand that either,” Olive said. “But we’re close to figuring it out. I can feel it in my bones.”

Nova rose. “I’m going to keep working. Let me know if you hear any updates.”

“Will do.”

As she left, it was only Olive and Jason.

Normally, Olive would be okay with that. But right now, for some reason, the tension between them made it hard to breathe.

Jason picked up the remote. “Mind if I turn on the news? I want to see if they’re reporting anything of interest.”

“Go right ahead.”

The TV came on, but a commercial played.

A commercial using the song “Hello” by Adele filled the room.

The air left her lungs.

This had been their song. Hers and Jason’s. Throughout the years, whenever she’d heard it, she’d thought of them. Thought about how even more appropriate the lyrics seemed now in their years apart.

Jason’s gaze caught hers.

He was thinking the same thing, wasn’t he?

Olive imagined for a moment what it would be like to step into his arms. To forget her worries, her past—everything—for just a second and enjoy herself.

“Jason—” she started.

He stepped closer, his smoky gaze locked on hers. “Yes?”

Her throat suddenly felt dry. What was she trying to say?

She really had no idea—which was unlike her. Plans were always her thing.

“I . . . I, uh . . . I’m really glad you’re here,” she finally said.

Somehow, in the time it had taken her to say those words, he’d moved until he was standing right in front of her. Moved close enough for her to see the flecks of gold in his eyes. To feel his presence, though he didn’t actually touch her.

She was in serious trouble. Because all she wanted to do was kiss him.

And she was fairly certain that Jason wanted the same.