was agreement. The guard came to the door and their conversation was over, but Reid could tell by the light in Will’s eyes that the visit had done him a lot of good.
Now they had to solve this like they’d promised.
Thirty-Four
Reid had sounded reserved when Jane called him to meet for a picnic lunch by the dock, but she hadn’t asked any questions. She sat at a picnic table under a large water oak tree overlooking the water. Pete had already eaten all the fish she’d brought while she waited for Reid, and the big bird sat on a piling, watching her with an intent expression.
“All gone.” She rinsed her hands in the water and dried them on a napkin.
Reid’s SUV pulled into the parking lot, and she waved before unpacking the bag of sub sandwiches, chips, beignets, and sweet tea.
She drank in the sight of him in khaki shorts and a red tee. His straight black hair stood up on end from the salt-laden breeze. His smile surfaced when he saw her, and he hurried to join her.
He dropped a kiss on her lips. “Did you get my text about the new aide for Olivia? She’s coming this afternoon so Megan can go to cheerleading practice.”
“That’s great. I got a text from her a little while ago, and she’s doing fine. Rebecca’s getting out of the hospital this afternoon. Mild concussion and she’ll need to rest, but she will be fine too.”
“Any more thoughts on that nuclear device? I’m worried who has it.”
She handed him a meatball sub. “Me too. I sent Jackson out to the island to talk to Gabriel. Even though it’s unlikely he has it—not when he wanted those pictures.”
“What did you do all morning?” His lids came down, and she could tell he didn’t want to talk about it. “What?”
“Your dad wanted me to go with him to see Will. I had to accompany him because of regulations.”
She couldn’t help the stab of jealousy. Why hadn’t her dad called her? “What was that all about?”
“He wanted to tell Will he knew how hard it was to be accused unjustly. Your dad feels more things than he ever reveals.”
“And he couldn’t open up in front of me. I get it. He’s like a clam protecting its pearl.” She shouldn’t let it bother her, but it hurt that her dad never seemed able to talk to her.
“Anyway, I think it helped Will, and that’s the important thing.”
“It is. Did you tell him about the radioactive material?”
Reid shook his head. “There wasn’t time.”
“I should talk to Dad about it. Maybe he knows something.”
“And what about calling your mom? She has to know about it. Kim should have told us about it when we were there.”
Jane felt a little sick, but she knew it was necessary. “I’ll give her a call.”
She wrapped her sub sandwich back up to keep it from drying out. A squirrel ran along the grass, taunting Parker, who went over to investigate. The breeze wafting up from the water cooled her forehead.
She called her mother’s number. “I’m not sure she’ll answer.”
“She’s already talked to you, so maybe she’ll quit avoiding you.”
“Hello?”
The answer in Jane’s ear surprised her, and she couldn’t choke out any words at first. “Mom? I-It’s Jane. Something has happened here, and I need to ask you a couple more questions.”
“I told you no good would come of those pictures.” Her mother’s voice was terse. “What’s happened?”
“Where do I start? My son is being charged with a murder he didn’t commit, and someone stole the pictures before I could give them to Gabriel. I know about the radioactive material, but it’s missing. Someone took it just yesterday. Who else knows about it?”
Her mother gasped. “Are you remembering more from the three days in the woods?”
“Only part of it. Tell me everything that happened, Mom. And who is behind this.”
“I-I can’t. It’s for your own good, Jane. He’s too powerful. He’ll destroy you. I didn’t step out of your life fifteen years ago to protect you only to have him undo all my sacrifice.”
“You sound scared. Who is he, Mom? He can’t be that scary. Not when we lived with Moses.”
“Moses was a two-bit wannabe. You have no idea of how ruthless this guy is. He could snap his fingers and you’d disappear. No one would have any idea where you went.”
“Gabriel?”
Her mom barked out a bitter laugh. “Gabriel is a bumbling clown. He only wants to be tough.”
“He knew about the safe-deposit key