Annie dismissed it. “Nothing.”
When they’d finished their coffee, Rainy said, “I’ll let you two go on with your shopping. I want to browse the bookstore. Text me when you’re ready and we’ll meet back at my car.”
As they rose to leave, Annie turned and saw a man sitting at a table some distance away. Despite the heat, he wore a stocking cap pulled low down over his head. He looked familiar to her, but she couldn’t quite place him. He appeared to have been watching them, but when she looked at him, he turned away and seemed intent on studying the cornflower blue reflection on the surface of Iron Lake.
Inside the cabin, Cork felt cold even though the day outside was already warming so that it augured a scorcher. He wasn’t sensitive in the way that Stephen and Waaboo were, but he was sure the cold wasn’t a physical thing.
The agents of the FBI and BCA were about their work, mostly climbing into and out of the lower room. Agent Shirley herded her group to a corner where they wouldn’t interfere with any evidence collection.
“Are you okay?” Jenny asked Waaboo. She stood with a protective arm around her son.
“Uh-huh,” he said with a nod.
“Would you like us to be quiet, Waaboo?” Agent Shirley asked.
“It’s okay.”
“Do you feel anything?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What do you feel?”
“They’re worried.”
“They? Do you know who they are?”
Waaboo shook his head.
“Is it Olivia?”
“I don’t feel the dark anymore. I think she’s gone now.”
“Can you focus on them, Waaboo? These others?” Agent Shirley was eager, Cork could tell, but trying to be gentle with the little boy.
“Okay.” Waaboo closed his eyes. After a moment, his little face squeezed up as if he was in pain.
Jenny dropped to her knees and hugged him to her. “It’s okay, Waaboo. I’m here.”
Daniel knelt, too, and spoke quietly to his son. “What is it, Waaboo?”
Cork’s grandson opened his eyes. “They’re really mad and afraid. And they still have murder in their hearts.” He looked up at his father. In a voice filled with fear, he asked, “What if they know about me, Daddy?”
CHAPTER 16
The headache came with blinding suddenness, as it often did now.
They were outside a shop that displayed the work of local artists, pottery in particular. They’d been eyeing a large platter with a lovely pattern that Maria thought would be both attractive and useful.
Then it was like the sun had thrust itself into her head, and Annie nearly fell over.
Maria grabbed her. There was a bench nearby, in front of a Ben Franklin store, and Maria guided her there. When they were seated, Maria took ibuprofen and a plastic bottle of water from her handbag. Annie downed them. It would be a while before they had any effect, and in the meantime, Annie’s head would continue to explode.
She didn’t know how much time had elapsed before the pain eased and she could see and think clearly again. When she did, Maria was holding her hand and a number of people had gathered and were offering sympathy and help. A few others stood back watching, and among them, Annie saw the man who’d been on the deck of the Four Seasons.
“She will be all right,” Maria told them. “It passes.”
Annie tried to smile. “I’m fine,” she lied. “Just a bit of a headache.”
The people scattered, went back to their errands, and Maria and Annie sat together for a while.
“Still bad?” Maria asked.
“It’s fading. I’ll be fine in a little while.”
Annie spotted Rainy coming down the sidewalk. She did her best to brighten and said to Maria, “Not a word.”
“They should know,” Maria said.
“I don’t want them to know. Our visit is about Stephen and Belle, not about me.”
“If that’s what you want.” Maria leaned and gently kissed Annie’s hair.
A moment later, Rainy stood above them. “Any success?” Then she seemed to notice Annie’s face. “Oh, dear. Are you all right?”
“Just a little tired,” Annie said. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Why don’t we get you home so you can rest?”
