Page 104 of Sing with Me

“Malik has already made the rounds—all the security guards for the different cottages are on high alert.”

“And?”

“And nothing. No one saw anything.”

“She just vanished,” Skye said.

Ethan tugged at Diehl’s shirt. “Is Elisa dead?”

Diehl knelt down in front of his son. “I don’t think so.”

“It’s my fault.” Ethan cried.

“No, no.” Diehl hugged him.

Skye placed her hand on Diehl’s shoulder. “Guys, we’ve been indoors for a while. It’s nice outside, so how about we go for a walk and get some sunshine? Then we can come back in and make the cheesecake?”

“Good idea. I need some fresh air,” Diehl said.

Skye put away the pan and the rest of the cheesecake ingredients into the refrigerator.

Ethan grabbed Skye’s hand. “I know how to get outside.”

It must be the sheer size of this cottage that caused a little boy to declare such a thing. And this was only the guest cottage. Skye shook her head.

Ethan led them down the hallway to a large ballroom, where Skye and her brother had catered many Christmas dinners and fundraisers over the years. They crossed the floor to the French doors.

They were locked.

“Good thing I came along.” Diehl pressed a button on a panel by the door. “Malik, could you unlock this door for us, please?”

“Yes, sir.” The reply came just before a click.

They were outside on the terrace, the midmorning sunshine basking down on their heads as they made their way down a stone path.

Ethan dragged Skye toward a garden gate. “We’re going to Grandma’s garden.”

He declared it like everyone was just going to go along with the kid, and sure enough, both Skye and Diehl didn’t say anything.

Skye had no plans beyond being outdoors. She knew about the backyard of both the guest house and the main house, but she hadn’t had the opportunity to wander around the Brooks properties. Every time she had been here prior to today, she wore a chef’s hat and worked with her brother’s catering crew in the kitchen.

Today, she wasn’t sure what hat she was wearing. A family friend?

No one had questioned her presence here so far.

Oddly enough, Diehl’s mother, Rose, didn’t care whom he brought home today. Skye recalled Brinley telling her and Avery that Rose had been trying to find a girlfriend for Diehl since his wife died, but she had not succeeded. Today, Rose was distraught, in her own little bubble, and had gone upstairs to rest. She had been complaining about wanting to go back to her own house next door, but the police were still combing the grounds. That was what they got for having such a big house.

Cara had seen Diehl kiss her outside the grocery store last Sunday afternoon, and probably assumed they were an item.

“Dad, hold Skye’s hand,” Ethan ordered.

Diehl hesitated.

“Now.”

He did.

It bothered Skye a little bit that he had hesitated. They had kissed twice, and now he was coy? What was that about?

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