Page 111 of Sing with Me

“I am too.”

“Could you get me the cream cheese and eggs and the rest of my ingredients? It’s in the fridge in a folded shopping bag.”

Diehl chuckled. “You’re putting me to work.”

“Wash your hands first.”

“Ordering me around.” He did as he was told. He put the bag on the island. “When did you go to the grocery store?”

“I didn’t. Cara said I could use whatever she has and she has everything.”

“I feel like this is all wrong.” Diehl stood close enough to Skye so that he didn’t have to raise his voice to be heard.

“Wrong how?”

“I can’t be in the kitchen while my daughter’s out there.”

“As soon as Ivan gets organized, join the search team.”

“Malik said I might be in the way.”

Whatever his net worth was, surely there was a way for him to canvass the neighborhood—if it would be helpful.

“Are you in the way? Or are you afraid to show yourself in town because you feel that you don’t know anyone and have not socialized. Now you need help and who in the world would care about your daughter going missing?”

Diehl’s eyes flared up, like he was about to get angry.

Skye wondered if she had overstepped the line in the sand. She placed a hand on his chest. “I’m sorry. Let me rephrase that.”

He placed his palm over her hand. It was warm to the touch. “You are right. I don’t feel worthy of getting help from the community because I don’t actually live here. I come once a year at Christmas or not even that.”

“You work too much.”

“Now I don’t work at all.”

“Pray about—I mean, let’s pray about how you can be most useful,” Skye said. “For example, Tristan Rao from church is too busy to walk from house to house on your behalf, but he has many patients all over the island and he’s got a following on social media. Since you gave Ivan and his team permission, Tristan has posted your daughter’s photo all over social media. Someone should see something.”

“How did you know what Tristan did?”

“We’re friends on Facebook.”

“I’m not on Facebook.”

“So find something you can do. For example, you can go to Malik’s office next door. Isn’t that his operational center? Whatever he and Detective Jeong do, you’d be in the know.”

“Good idea. Why didn’t I think about that? It seems to be common sense now that you mentioned them.”

“Because you’re in the fog. You’re used to being the CEO of a corporation, but this is…uh…”

“Real life?”

“Well, you also have a son. He needs something to do. Keep him occupied.” Skye didn’t have to say that if they spent enough time with Ethan, they might hear him say something noteworthy about his sister.

“I’ll call Ivan and ask to be in the loop.”

“He doesn’t want you to worry.”

Diehl raised his eyebrows. “I don’t need to be coddled.”

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