Free Holidays at Crescent Cove by Shelley Noble Page B

my father.”
    It took a second for Margaux to process the information, and like a good attorney, Grace waited to let it sink in.
    â€œWow. What happened?”
    â€œI told him to leave. Jake saw me upstairs.”
    Margaux raised both eyebrows.
    â€œHe saw me in.”
    â€œYeah? And?”
    â€œI thanked him and told him to leave.”
    Margaux groaned. Shook her head. “Not that I blame you. Not with your dad ready to beat the door down.”
    â€œThat wouldn’t have surprised me at that point.”
    â€œHe never was one for subtlety,” Margaux agreed.
    â€œThen my mother called, hysterical because she couldn’t find him. I told her he was on his way home.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œHe wasn’t. He left, but he didn’t go home. He showed up at my office yesterday morning. I had to leave the room for a minute, and when I came back he’d put the briefs from the Cavanaugh trial on my desk and disappeared again. And that’s what I want to talk to Nick about. I need some advice.”
    She hesitated, and in the silence they heard the crunch of gravel.
    â€œAnd speak of the devil . . .” Margaux smiled, an expression Grace envied.
    She pushed it aside. She was happy for her friend. Hell, she’d been happy for herself until two days ago.
    â€œYou want to talk to him alone?”
    â€œNo. I need his police advice, but I need a friend’s take on it, too.”
    A minute later Nick Prescott strode thorough the parlor archway.
    â€œHey Grace. What’s up?” He sat down on the arm of Margaux’s chair. Looked from one woman to the other. “Is this an official visit?”
    Grace shrugged.
    â€œI’d better get you a cup of coffee,” Margaux said, and left the room.
    Nick slid into her vacated seat. “Okay, tell me.”
    Grace told him about being estranged from her father, about the original case, the subsequent case and the latest case against Harrison Cavanaugh. “So after years of not ever speaking to me, my father shows up at my door and . . .” She took a breath and jumped in. “ . . . left the briefs of the case with me before disappearing again.”
    Nick didn’t say anything, just looked attentive. In the same way a panther looks attentive before it springs for the kill. Grace was glad she’d done nothing to break the law. And she swore to herself she never would, not even for her father, bastard that he was.
    â€œWhich doesn’t make any sense,” she said as Margaux came back into the room. “He knows I won’t help with the case. And from the looks of the brief and knowing how I feel, he shouldn’t even want me to see it. It’s filled with stalling tactics, and, let’s just say, what appears to be an overzealous investigation of the prosecution witnesses’ backgrounds—just at a superficial view.”
    Nick nodded.
    â€œMy father isn’t stupid. Actually he’s a pretty brilliant lawyer. Before he went over to the dark side.” She leaned forward, lowered her voice, though there was no one to hear. “Which is why I’m concerned. No good can come from leaving the documents with me.
    â€œAnd he still hasn’t returned home. My mother’s beside herself. And I have to admit that even though we don’t see eye-to-eye, I’m a little concerned. This is all so out of character.” Grace had to fight the urge to get up and pace. But years of discipline kept her in her seat.
    Nick slid Connor’s tablet over and tore off a piece of paper.
    â€œWhen and where was the last time you saw him?”
    Grace told him. “I don’t think anything has happened to him, really. But this is so unlike him. My mother has already called hospitals and the hotel where he stayed night before last. He’d checked out. I don’t want him picked up or anything. He hasn’t done anything wrong but be a jackass. I thought