Page 2 of Lost Love Cove 4
“Is that Oscar?” Ian breathed, his eyes shooting from Matt to Andy and Carrie. “What did you do to him?”
“We did nothing to him,” Matt assured Ian, his voice a lot colder than he intended. “Oscar ran into the storm. I presume to createa diversion soyoucould get into the house and get what Oscar was sent here to find.”
“What?” Ian asked in confusion, his brows knitting together. “I haven’t spoken to Oscar in weeks.”
“Then it’s just a coincidence that you got into the house as Oscar ran out, knowing full well we’d all follow him?” Matt raised his brows skeptically.
“Look, I don’t know what Oscar is doing in this house,” Ian assured them.
“He’s right,” Oscar’s weak voice had them all turning toward him. “My plan was to run outside and hide near the lifesavers’ shed on the beach. Then, when you all came to look for me, I was going to double back and…”
“And what, Oscar?” Carrie asked, her voice cold and eyes narrowed angrily on him. “You know, I really wanted to believe your sob story about how this unnamed person was blackmailing you, and holding what your mother did to you over your head, but I also knew you were lying about your reason for trying to break into my house earlier.”
“I…” Oscar stammered and pushed himself up on his elbows, wincing as the pain sliced through his leg. “I’m sorry, Captain Ware.” His eyes filled with contrition. “I really didn’t want to deceive you.”
“You know, Oscar, I understand you wanting to protect your mother,” Carrie told him. “But you put us all in danger.” She glanced at his leg. “And now you're hurt. Until this storm lets up…” She glanced toward the window, where the wind was no longer hitting it with as much force as it had an hour ago. “Wecan’t get you to the hospital, and that leg of yours needs urgent medical attention.”
“I… I…” Oscar stammered once again and fell silent, his eyes dropping to his hands.
“Can you tell us what you were looking for in the study?” Matt asked Oscar, seeing the surprise in the young man’s eyes as his head snapped around to Matt, who crossed his arms. “Yes, Captain Ware and I saw you in there.”
“I heard the two of you talking about what was in the letters,” Oscar admitted. “I thought if I could find the disk and documents, then I could get your grandkids back and get my mother off the hook if I gave the information to the mystery person.”
“Wait!” Ian choked, gaping at Oscar. “Do you mean the documents and information that Trevor gathered on Keys Development before he passed away?”
“Is that what this is about?” Oscar’s eyes widened. “The trouble Trevor Carlton was in before he died?”
“What trouble?” Carrie and Matt asked in unison, then glanced at each other before turning their attention back to Oscar.
“How do you know about that?” Ian asked Oscar.
“The same way you do,” Oscar shrugged. “I worked as a part-time PA for Trevor the year before he passed away.”
“That was you?” Ian looked amazed.
“Yes.” Oscar nodded. “I was saving money to buy a computer.”
“That, at this rate, you’re never going to be allowed to buy,” Matt told him.
“All I was trying to do was save my Mom,” Oscar cried. “I didn’t think I was harming anyone by getting the messages back and then delivering those letters.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Ian said, snapping his fingers. “I heard that you’d been put on probation for hacking.”
“Enough!” Andy snapped. “This is getting us nowhere.” He looked from Ian to Oscar. “Let’s start with you, Ian.” He glanced at Carrie, who nodded.
“Are the two of you working together?” Carrie asked bluntly.
“No!” Ian and Oscar answered in unison.
By the look on both men’s faces, it was clear they were not working together, Matt concluded silently.
“Why don’t you tell us howyouknow about the documents and flash drive and whyyousnuck into my house with a knife?” Carrie demanded. “Were you perhaps planning on stabbing me in my sleep?”
“No!’ Ian said right away, holding up his hands and frowning at the handcuffs. “Are these necessary?”
“Absolutely,” Andy said before anyone else could. “You broke in here with a knife and snuck into Captain Ware’s room. “Those are staying on.”
Ian sighed and relented. “I didn’t bring the knife to hurt you, Carrie.”
