Page 56 of Wired Ghost

The waitress returned with Raveaux’s espresso, ready to take their order. The ambassador recommended the eggs Benedict; he, however, ordered a stack of pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Raveaux went with Smithson’s recommendation.

After the server had left, Raveaux sat back. “Why did you give me that file?”

The ambassador tilted his head to the side. “Not until you’ve told me about yourself.”

Raveaux wrapped both hands around the espresso cup, drawing heat from the beverage. “I imagine you want to know more about why I came to Hawaii. I moved here after I retired as an investigator because I needed a change after my wife and daughter were killed. What you may not have read in the file is that I lost myself in the bottle for two years after they were gone; I blamed myself, you see, and I was haunted—not just by my loss, but how it happened. I saw the car explode, and I couldn’t save them.” Raveaux unbuttoned his sleeves, rolled them back to the elbows. The ambassador sucked in a gasp at the vivid, shiny, ropy scarring that distorted the skin of his hands and arms. “I needed a fresh start with no reminders, because for a long time, I wanted to join my family.”

Smithson cleared his throat. “I appreciate your honesty. And how are you doing now?”

Raveaux shrugged. “Comme ci, comme ça.I no longer drink, and that’s something.”

They both sipped their beverages in surprisingly companionable silence.

The ambassador spoke at last. “I gave you that file because I’m worried about my daughter. Especially now, with the loss she’s suffered. And unless I miss my guess—you care about her.”

Raveaux’s gaze hardened, and he straightened in his seat. Perhaps Raveaux’s emotions had shown in the hospital, as he was watching over Sophie in her bed. “Of course, I care about your daughter. She is the CEO of Security Solutions and a brilliant and talented woman I’m proud to work for.”

The ambassador smiled. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. But don’t worry, I won’t say anything to her. She’s too raw to ever believe there could be another, and I understand that.” He sighed. “I liked Jake, but I never thought he was the one for her.” Smithson poured himself more tea.

What was the man implying?Raveaux’s pulse thumped, but he kept his expression neutral as he finished his espresso.

The ambassador went on. “Sophie’s vulnerable in ways you may not be aware. She suffers from depression, and with this blow she’s taken, I worry she’ll be sucked into a dark place I never want to see her return to.” He told Raveaux a story of how Sophie had self-isolated out on a lava plain during one of her cases, and almost died. “Her mother also suffered from depression. But Pim Wat—that’s a tale for another day.”

Their breakfast arrived. Raveaux was pleasantly surprised by the smooth lightness and tang of the Hollandaise sauce and the perfect consistency of the poached eggs. “This is excellent, Frank. Perhaps the best breakfast I’ve had since I moved to Hawaii.”

“Now you see why I belong to this club.” Smithson’s teeth were white and perfect against his dark complexion; he was as charismatic as his daughter.

“Tell me more about why you gave me the file—and you haven’t answered why you’re worried about Sophie, besides her depression. How does that relate to the man detailed in the records you gave me?”

“Something that isn’t in the records, a link that hasn’t been proven, is that the blond man who helped rescue Sophie and Jake, the man who calls himself Connor, is also Sheldon Hamilton.”

Raveaux’s brows rose. “What? I saw nothing about that in the file.”

The ambassador nodded. “That’s because no one’s been able to find an actual link. I was the one to make the connection. I know my daughter. She’s loyal to a fault.” Smithson forked up a mouthful of pancake and chewed thoughtfully. “I’ve taken a backseat to her love life shenanigans up until now, and kept my mouth shut—as hard as it’s been. Sophie had been through enough with her first marriage to deserve a chance at love, so I kept quiet as she seemed to make one mistake after the next in her relationships, the worst of them being her ongoing involvement with this Connor character.”

“I met him. I found him quite impressive.” Raveaux swirled the last of his egg, ham and muffin in the delicious sauce. “He was extraordinarily brave, and seemed to have some paranormal ability. He was able to tell where Jake and Sophie were, underground—and not only by using the chip he’d implanted on her.”

“What do you mean, paranormal ability?” The ambassador’s level brows drew together. “Tell me in detail what happened with the rescue, and how that man got clean away.”

“He basically hijacked the pilot and his chopper. I knew some extraordinary measures would need to be taken to travel through restricted airspace to rescue them, so I didn’t object.” Raveaux explained the series of events ending with Sophie and Jake’s drop off at the hospital. “Whoever this man really is, Kendall Bix has some idea. He directed me to meet Connor and his Thai partner at the airport. He didn’t say who Connor was, only that he was important and had a role with Security Solutions.” Raveaux set his plate aside and steepled his fingers. “If, as you say, Connor played dual roles as Todd Remarkian and Sheldon Hamilton, founding partners at Security Solutions, it would make sense that Sophie and Bix would both be aware of his continued existence. What I don’t understand, and hope you can help me with, is how Sophie ended up as CEO of Security Solutions—and why.”

“Ah yes.” The ambassador gestured for more hot water in his teapot. “I mentioned my daughter’s romantic stumbles, didn’t I? Well, she dated Todd/Sheldon and uncovered not only his dual identity, but his secret life as an online vigilante. They were lovers.”

That shouldn’t have surprised Raveaux—why else would that enigmatic blond man have planted a chip on her? But it still hit him like a body blow. “I see.” But he didn’t. Not really. “And where does Momi come in?”

“She was the surprise result of Sophie’s relationship with Alika Wolcott.”

“And who is he?” Raveaux frowned. “What kind of timeline are we covering for all of these ‘relationship stumbles’?” He made air quotes with his fingers.

“Approximately eight years. Sophie escaped from her first husband at age twenty-four after marrying at nineteen. She used to do MMA fighting, and Alika was her friend and coach. He was her first relationship after her divorce. Then Todd/Sheldon. Then Jake.”

“Help me understand.” Raveaux ordered another espresso when the hot water came for the ambassador’s tea. “How is it that Alika fathered Momi, then?”

“An accident during one of her cases.” Smithson shook his head. “A happy one, it turns out. I wouldn’t trade my granddaughter for anything. Sophie was between relationships at the time Momi was conceived.”

“Who is Sophie involved with romantically, then?”

“Jake. It’s been only Jake since before Momi was born.”

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