Flight Risk by Cherie Priest

Author:Cherie Priest
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2022-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

16. LEDA FOLEY

WEDNESDAY

Lunch with Dan Matarese went down at the sushi place around the corner from Leda’s office in Columbia City. She’d spent nearly every waking moment before their meeting trying to decide how to spin what precious little information she had, and how to spin it gently.

Dan was early, but he struck her as the kind of guy who was always early, given the opportunity.

She joined him at a table by the window and opened with an apology. “Hello, Mr. Matarese. I hope I’m not late.”

He smiled at her and set aside his phone. Its screen held a Wall Street Journal article, but Leda couldn’t tell what it was about, and if she’d tried any harder to get a peek, it would’ve looked nosy. “No, you’re right on time.”

As if her arrival had immediately tripped a booby trap, a waitress swooped in to take their orders—buying Leda another few precious moments to consider how she’d deliver her message. She ordered some salmon and tuna nigiri and a bowl of miso soup. Dan asked for a California roll and a side of fried rice. Then they sat back with their water, served from a glass carafe that had been left on the table.

Leda was out of time.

“So! What have you got for me? Jeff said he went to see you at some bar on Capitol Hill.”

“Castaways, yes. He came by while I was getting ready for a set. We have a new karaoke list, and I was… You know what?” She shook her head and started over. “That’s not important. Yes, I saw Jeff, and he gave me a few more of your sister’s things. I asked to hang on to the locket, and I brought it with me today so I could return it to the family. Or to you, to be more specific. I think it’s told me everything it can.”

Eagerly, he sat forward. “You actually got something?”

“Yes and no,” she said carefully. “Most of the things Jeff brought were connected to him and his childhood. But the locket was connected to Robin by someone else, and it had a stronger pull for her—I assume because the person it reminds her of is gone.” She removed the locket from her purse and handed it to Dan. “This is the only piece that gave me anything about Robin, and I need to tell you up front: I don’t think it’s entirely good.”

He stiffened and swallowed hard. “It’s all right. Give it to me straight. By now, I assume the worst.”

“My dad always says that if you assume the worst, you’ll never be disappointed—but he’s wrong a lot. The locket told me that Robin was absolutely miserable for wanting it so badly, and the thought of holding it was a comfort to her.”

Dan said, “Oh.” Two dry little letters, side by side. He took a swig of water and held the glass tightly.

“She was somewhere dark and enclosed, and she was badly shaken, possibly hurt. I don’t know why, I don’t know where she was or how she got there, or what she was doing there.

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