Page 117 of You'll Never Find Me

Though there were cacti everywhere, most of the properties had paloverde and sycamore trees for shade. I parked under a grouping on the north side of the property and turned off the ignition. I rolled down all my windows to let the light wind push the warm air around. Logan said he’d be about thirty minutes.

When my phone chirped, I glanced at the caller ID. Miriam Endicott?

“Miriam, this is a surprise,” I answered.

“We need to talk.”

“So talk.”

“Face-to-face.”

“About?”

“Not over the phone.”

“Then goodbye.”

“Stop—dammit, Margo, this is a serious and delicate situation.”

“What situation would that be?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“You must have started the conversation without me.”

Miriam didn’t say anything for a long ten seconds. I could picture her sitting rigid at her desk, hand grasping her phone, mouth tight and angry. Wanting to hang up but not able to because score one for me—she needed something and only I could get it for her.

“Margo,” Miriam said, attempting to keep her voice calm and collected, though I heard anger vibrating underneath the cool shield, “I would like to facilitate a meeting between Jennifer White and her father.”

“Why call me?”

The feeling of being watched at the golf course... Had Miriam been following me? No, not me—Logan. I would have known if I had a tail.

“I know you have her.”

“Have her? Like, holding her against her will?”

“Don’t be cute.”

“I wouldn’t think of it.”

What was Miriam’s game? Jennifer didn’t want anything to do with her father—yet she hadn’t been terrified, just worried, concerned, and feeling serious guilt for putting her father and brother through the grief of her death.

“Neutral territory. I thought you might agree to Ava’s office.”

That surprised me. Miriam detested my mother, and that she would even suggest meeting there told me either she was up to something or she really was in a bind.

I tried to weigh what Miriam really wanted, and I suppose I took too long to respond, because Miriam continued.

“Vincent Bonetti arrived in Arizona yesterday morning. I had hoped to make contact with Jennifer and arrange a meeting, but you found her first.”

“What do I win?”

“Dammit, Margo! This is serious.”

“I don’t know what you want from me, Miriam.”

“I want you to bring Jennifer to talk with her father. Just a conversation.”