Katherine nodded. “Well, I’m very happy that your organs will all be able to return to their normal position now. It’s probably much easier to breathe.”
“It is, thanks. I’m pretty happy about that.” Her eyes started drooping. “So what did we find out about Alice Kraft?”
“Your instinct was completely correct,” Katherine said. “Alice Kraft was born Alicia Calvo and changed her name when she started her career in academia. She and Angela are sisters. Quite close, according to gossip sites online.”
“So we pissed off the two Calvo girls,” Toni said. “They have to be behind all this.”
“It’s starting to look like Angela initiated a relationship with Rodney in order to get close to us. Rodney probably told her about the vines after Adam told him. She saw an opportunity and jumped on it.”
“And jumped fast,” Toni said. “That seems poorly planned. Why rush into something like that?”
“Maybe they were worried that Nico and Henry were ready to plant the vines and they were running out of time. I think the man being killed in the truck tells us it was a rush job and things went very wrong.”
“They’re playing it cool though.” Katherine took a sip of coffee. “Alice Kraft hasn’t dropped her appeal with the university. Angela Calvo has stayed right in Moonstone Cove even though she has businesses up north.”
“They’re arrogant,” Megan said. “Think about it. Even after they shot that man, after they stole the vines, Angela still wanted to be friendly with me. She pushed to go to lunch and meet my children.” She shook her head. “What is wrong with her?”
“I told you,” Katherine said. “Sociopath.”
When Megan got home around lunch, it was to an unexpected and unpleasant scene. Trina was standing in the front yard, shoulders squared against her father, who stood glowering at his oldest daughter.
Even more alarming, Megan saw Angela Calvo sitting in the front seat of Rodney’s convertible.
She parked her car and went to intervene, keeping an eye on Angela, who appeared to be on her phone and ignoring the confrontation.
“What is going on here?” Megan nudged Rodney’s car, setting off the alarm.
“This fucking thing!” He shut it off and pointed a finger at Megan. “It only does that around you! You’re doing it somehow.”
Megan spread her hands. “And how am I supposed to be doing that?” She looked at the keys in her right hand. “Do I have a remote for your car I don’t know about? Rodney, calm down.”
“No, you calm down! It’s Saturday and it’s my weekend with the kids. I can call the sheriff if you want me to.”
Trina said, “Adam and Cami said they don’t want to see him. And they don’t want to meet his girlfriend.”
“Well, Rodney, that’s unfortunate, but I hardly think this is something you want to call the sheriff for. Adam had a hard week. It would probably be better if you tried to call him instead of—”
“They’re under eighteen and they have to see me.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
Just for that, Megan set off his car alarm again.
“Fucking— Aaah!” Rodney punched the remote, his face turning an alarming shade of red. “I want my kids!”
“Are you trying to force our seventeen-year-old and fifteen-year-old to spend time with you when they do not want to?”
“This is parental alienation, Megan, and I’m not going to be a sucker anymore. If you don’t give me my visitation, then I’m taking you to court. I’m getting all my child support pulled!”
“I don’t think it works that way,” Megan glanced at Angela, who was watching the interchange with very keen eyes. “And I’m not really sure you want to go to court.” Megan stepped closer. “Do you, Rodney?” She looked at Trina. “You asked Cami and Adam?”
“Yeah. They said they don’t want to see him.” Trina shrugged. “It’s none of my business why, and it’s not my job to force them.”
Rodney’s car door opened and shut. Angela walked up the steps and put a hand on Rodney’s arm. “Rodney, I think we should go.”
He turned to her, his eyes wide. “But you’re the one—”
“I think this must be some misunderstanding between you and Adam,” she said. “You need to talk to him.” She looked at Megan and Trina from the corner of her eye. “I don’t think we should put Megan and Trina in the middle of this.”
Megan looked Angela in the eye. “Thank you. I’m sure you understand how important it is for older sisters to protect their younger siblings.”
Angela blinked, and Megan wondered if she’d just made a big mistake.
Shit.
“Agreed,” Angela said. “If Adam and Cami need space, we’ll give them space.”
Rodney looked gobsmacked. “But I was doing what—”
“I want to meet the kids so much.” Angela put on a simpering smile. “But I can wait for the right time, okay?”
Should she set off Rodney’s alarm again? Oh, why not?
“Oh, for the love of—”
“Give me the remote.” Angela reached for it, shooting a look at Megan, who only raised her eyebrows innocently. “Such a weird malfunction.”
“Isn’t it?” Megan said. “And so loud.”
“We’ll leave now,” Angela said. “We don’t want to be bad neighbors.”
“I’d hope not,” Megan said. “You just never know when neighbors might surprise you.”
Angela cocked her head, still smiling. “You’re right, Megan. You just never know.”
They backed away and got back in their car. Was Rodney favoring his right leg? That was odd. When he had jogging injuries, it was usually his left that bothered him.
Weird.
Wait.
Why did she notice the limp? There was something—
“Well, that was super weird,” Trina said. “And that woman gives me the creeps.”
Megan didn’t take her eyes off the convertible until it was around the block. Then she turned to her daughter. “You are absolutely not allowed to let the kids go with either of them, and if your father ever threatens to call the police or the sheriff on you, you tell them you’re calling Detective Drew Bisset, do you hear me? I’m programming his number into your phone.”
Trina’s eyes were wide. “What’s going on?”
Megan put an arm around her daughter and guided her back into the house. “I think your father may have finally gotten in way over his head.”
Chapter 26
Nico pulled one of the curls in the dark brown wig Beth had fastened to Megan’s head.
Megan batted his hand away. “Don’t mess it up.”
“Don’t worry,” Beth said. “It’s not going anywhere.”
“How did you learn how to do this?” Megan checked her face from all angles, but between the wig and the contouring makeup, she looked ten years younger and like a completely different person. “That is so weird.”