"Not her biological father? What are you talking about?" Abby asked, sliding the photo across the table and back to Alex. "Was she adopted?"
"No, she wasn't adopted." Alex picked up the picture and sighed before placing it back into the album, smoothing the clear film over the photo.
Abby placed the photo album she was holding on the table. "Then what do you mean by saying she wasn't his daughter?"
"For now, that's not important. What's important is that we find out what happened here twenty-five years ago."
"Twenty-five years ago? Mr. Carter, that's a long time. Is it possible to look up the old police reports?" Abby asked as Alex pulled a few more pictures from the albums.
"That's not an intelligent question, is it? Considering who is currently in charge of the local authorities, it wouldn't be wise to go to them."
Abby's head jerked back in surprise. "You think the sheriff had something to do with his wife and daughter being murdered? Do you think he purposely covered his crimes?"
"I'm not sure of anything at this point. If Don Caldwell did have something to do with my sister being murdered, it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility that he purposely doctored the reports, would it? It'd be another case of someone in authority abusing their power."
Abby frowned, thinking of her ex-boyfriend, Bryce. He was one who definitely abused his authority over her. "Okay, I'm in. I'll help you. If the sheriff ends up being a murdering pile of garbage, it'll be nice to see you take out the trash."
Alex chuckled. "Take out the trash?"
Abby nodded. "I said what I said. We're partners now."
He raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that you get paid to assist me, right?"
"I'm supposed to get a check for assisting you with your daily tasks not for solving murders that happened before I was born," she said corrected him. "Luckily, I'm willing to add investigator to my job description."
Alex cleared his throat before crossing his arms and hitting her with an irritated expression.
"Sorry," she whispered.
His irritated expression was quickly replaced with confusion. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Because you looked angry."
"You're always apologizing," he remarked, twisting his mouth in thought. "Do you feel guilty?"
"About what?"
He didn't answer which made Abby come up with several possibilities in her head.
Being a failure? Losing my family? Murdering Bryce?
"About whatever it is you're sorry for?" Alex answered.
Abby bit her bottom lip. How could she explain to Alex that it was second nature to apologize without appearing weak?
"Forget it. All I want you to do is find out anything you can about Sheriff Caldwell," Alex told her.
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
"I was told you got close to Maria and her friends. Was that not correct information?"
Abby nodded. "I did but her husband Chuck gets really upset when he catches her gossiping. What if he was somehow involved? Maybe that's why he doesn't like her gossiping with me?"
"Or it could be he just doesn't like his wife telling tales." Alex grinned. "You do realize he would've been a little too young to have murdered anyone, right?"
Abby's eyes narrowed. "There are such things as teenage murderers, you know."
"Fine. Put him on the suspect list. Hell, everyone should be on the suspect list at this point. Get in touch with Maria and her friends. Between those women, I expect you to find out everything the sheriff has been up to in the past twenty-five years. Everything, do you understand me?"
Abby was torn. She wanted to protest because she really didn't want to be around Chuck but on the other hand, she really wanted to help Alex get justice for his sister. Her decision was made when she remembered the stack of collection notices that had been tucked in a drawer inside her apartment waiting to be paid.
"I'll find out as much as I can...but, Mr. Carter?"
"Yes?" he replied absently, not really listening to her anymore.
"Why don't you hire a private detective or something? Wouldn't that be easier than you trying to uncover the past on your own?"
A grim expression settled on his face. "I did and it wasn't very helpful. This town doesn't share information as easily as you think it does. Maria and her friends think you're okay because you work for me and I live here. If someone from out of town who has no connection to this place were to try and dig up dirt, they'd end up hitting rocks. Besides, you were wrong about a very important fact."
"What's that?"
"You said I'm uncovering the past on my own. That's not true. You're here, remember? You're helping me."
Abby felt her cheeks flush. That was true.
"Can I ask you another question?" Abby asked.
"You just did," her employer replied dryly.
She ignored his remark. "Why do you think Sheriff Caldwell had something to do with his wife and daughter's murder? He seems like a nice man. I guess I just can't imagine anyone wanting to kill a little girl."
"You don't know what happened that night, do you?" Alex asked. He put his photo album down and sat back across the sofa.
"No. All I know is that Crystal Caldwell was killed."
"So much happened that night that not too many people are sure what's factual and what's fake anymore," Alex muttered. "Crystal was murdered. That's true. The sheriff's wife was alone with her daughter and the sheriff was still working. It was storming that night. From what the police reports indicated and what the private detective gathered, an intruder broke into the home."
"So you did look at the police reports." Abby pointed a finger at her boss who frowned at her. She quickly put her hand down.
"Yes, of course, I did. The report itself was vague. I truly think Sheriff Caldwell doctored the report. There was no one who could adequately give a story about what really happened that night. Supposedly the sheriff's wife was waiting for him to come home but he didn't. He never came home that night."
"Why not?"
"I'm sure Sheriff Caldwell intended to get home but the roads to this cabin flood easily there was an accident that held him up."
"What kind of accident?" Abby asked, leaning closer to Alex, not wanting to miss a bit of information.
"A car accident. You've met Zachary Caldwell, haven't you?"
"The sheriff's brother? The one who owns the grocery store and is stuck in a wheelchair? That guy?"
Alex nodded. "The accident he had that night may have changed the course of everyone's lives."
"Why do you say that? Was he the reason the sheriff didn't get home in time to save his family?"
Alex laughed bitterly. "Save his family? Sheriff Caldwell claimed he had been with his brother in the accident. That was enough time to come here and murder my sister before finding his unconscious brother who could never be an adequate alibi."
Abby sat back, stunned. "I'm not following you. What do you mean?"
"Zachary Caldwell didn't wake up from his car accident for two weeks. He had been in a coma so he couldn't exactly tell the police that his brother had been with him the entire time. For all we know, Sheriff Caldwell snuck back home, did what he did, and then went out to find his brother."
"I can tell you don't like him," Abby said, taking in the bitterness in his voice. "I would never have guessed how you really felt considering how you were polite when he was here after I hit that tree."
"He had a reason to be here. I couldn't exactly be rude."
"You said that accident changed everyone's life. Who else was affected by the accident?"
"Zachary. He wasn't always in a wheelchair."
"You mean that accident was what caused his handicap?" Abby asked, remembering Maria mentioning something about Zachary's accident.
Alex nodded.
Abby stood up, pacing around the sofa that Alex was sitting in, trying to piece what crumbs of information he had given her. "So how is Crystal Carter your sister? You said she wasn't adopted."
Alex sighed and nodded. "Right."
"Was she kidnapped?" The surprise in her voice caused Alex to roll his eyes and chuckle.
"No."
"Then I don't get it." Abby set next to him on the sofa. "How are you two related?"
"You don't have to. Just know that she's my sister."
Abby's fingers tapped against her blessing bracelet. "Why are you telling me this? Aren't you afraid I'll tell those reporters?"
Alex tapped his chin before pointing at her. "Didn't you read your contract before you began working as my assistant?"
Truthfully, she had only looked at the salary amount before signing her name.
"There was a confidentiality clause in case you missed it," Alex said. "If you tell anyone what we're discussing, not only would you owe me a large amount of money...you may even end up in prison."
Abby gasped. He had to be lying. She couldn't chance it. "Don't worry. I don't plan to share your secrets. It's just that what you're saying doesn't make any sense. If she wasn't adopted and the sheriff isn't her father..."
Abby held her wrist before asking, "Did you two share the same mother?"
His silence was answer enough.
"Are you...wait a minute...that's impossible. I Googled you after I was hired, you've been raised by your parents since birth."
"Because Google is always right," Alex said, rolling his eyes.
"I'll have you know Google has saved me several trips to the doctor. You have no idea how handy Dr. Google is when you don't have health insurance. If Google said your parents are your parents, it has no reason to lie."
"Fine, keep your faith in Google. It wasn't technically wrong. They are my parents. They did raise me."
Abby stared at him silently for a few moments. He stared back at her and for some odd reason, she felt somewhat of a kindred connection with him. Alex Carter was hiding dark secrets he clearly didn't want the world to know. When she was in her abusive relationship with Bryce, she too had dark secrets she wanted to keep hidden.
"They may have been your parents in every way that counts, but you're adopted, aren't you? That's how you and Crystal are brother and sister. Am I right?"
Instead of giving her a direct answer, he reminded her of the confidentiality clause. "Remember your contract, Abby. It's more money than you can imagine the amount you'd owe if anyone found out."
It was the first time he used her given name instead of Ms. Redding.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone," Abby whispered as she watched the man she had considered invulnerable continue to look at old photographs. The truth was that he had an Achilles heel and it came in the form of his heritage.
While Abby and Alex sat in the living room, going through photographs, Wally stayed hidden in the adjoining kitchen. They clearly had forgotten about him being an overnight guest. He had overheard the entire conversation and frowned before pulling out his cell phone and quickly sending a text.