The Truth About Us

“My grandmother’s gone; what’s the point in confidentiality now?”

Kaden shrugged. “What are you thinking?”

I’m thinking of breaking into his office and stealing my grandmother’s file. Of course, Abby couldn’t tell him that, and he couldn’t be with her when she did it either. It was too risky for him, considering his dad’s profession. For now, she’d keep quiet.

“I don’t know. I’ll think on it,” she lied. “In the meantime, let’s go over what we know about Lawson. We need to be prepared before we talk to your father.”

The door to the coffee shop chimed as patrons entered. Abby glanced at the door and noticed the man at the small table across from them. He peered at her over his newspaper, but when she caught his eye, he glanced back down to the article. Scooching closer to Kaden, she tried to ignore the feeling he was listening to them and lowered her voice.

“We know, based on the articles I found that he drowned and was found in the reservoir in Newberry, which is like a couple hour’s drive from here. We don’t know a lot about the area, but from what we can tell, it’s a small town, fairly rural.”

“We’re pretty sure your grandmother hired him but not positive,” Kaden added.

“Yes, and if he was the investigator she hired, then we know she hired him to research my grandfather’s family tree and the possibility of living relatives.”

Kaden frowned. “Is that seriously it? That’s all we know? It’s practically nothing,” he said, exhaling with his displeasure.

“Well, we also know he found something else, something much bigger, evidence of whatever it was GG had suspected. By that time though, GG had called the investigation off and stopped paying him. She no longer wanted to pursue it. The question was what he did with the newfound information before he died.”

“And if it could’ve contributed to his death.”

Abby nodded. “Right. I mean, we have no evidence it did, but I have this gut feeling. I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Something about the whole thing is off.”

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

The sound of the voice startled Abby. Her head jerked up to meet Cammie’s bright green eyes, glittering with curiosity.

She stood in front of their table, one brow quirked, a paper cup poised by her lips.

How long had she been standing there? How much of their conversation did she hear?

“Hey, Cammie,” Abby croaked.

“So, you finally decide to do something exciting and skip school, and you don’t include me? I’m hurt. Seriously hurt.” Cammie held a hand over her heart, then turned her gaze on Kaden, a slow smile snaking its way over her face. “And who is Mr. McHottie?”

Abby risked a glance to Kaden whose lips quirked, but based on the flush in his cheeks, he obviously wasn’t used to anyone referring to him as being hot. All his normal bravado had vanished in the presence of someone else, reminding her he probably wasn’t always so self-assured. At school, he was quiet and kept to himself, a product of his lack of socialization. Maybe he was only confident and extroverted around her.

Finding her voice, Abby gestured toward him. “Cammie, this is Kaden Oliver. Kaden, this is Cammie.”

Cammie squinted. “Wait. Aren’t you in my history class?”

“Yeah, I think so,” he said.

“I never see you around. Anywhere. In fact, I think my history class is the only place I’ve ever seen your face. Are you like a hobbit or something?

“Seriously?” Abby asked.

“What?” Cammie shrugged. “It’s a valid question.”

“I don’t get out much,” Kaden said.

“Great. You two are like a match made in heaven.” Cammie rolled her eyes. “So, do you like her?”

“Cammie!” Abby hissed.

She took a sip of her coffee, then blinked her wide eyes at Abby like she had no idea what the big deal was.

“I’m just asking. He’s cute, and you never hang out with boys. So, he must be interested in you, right? It’s a valid question. And you have, like, zero experience so I’ve gotta have your back.”