Cord was already settling into the chair in front of the computer, his index finger clicking on the mouse as he navigated through the video feed in front of them until he’d rewound to the time Gabriel and Lydia pulled into the parking lot. There he hit pause and waited as Alyssa and Sandra dragged the visitors’ chairs around and settled in beside him. But before they could get started, Christopher poked his head back in. ‘Sorry to interrupt already, but can I get anyone some coffee?’

Huh. Sleazy or not, maybe the restaurant manager had a few redeeming qualities, after all. ‘Please, black,’ Alyssa said.

As usual, Cord declined, but when Sandra said, ‘Same, thanks,’ his eyes practically rolled back in his head. ‘No wonder you’re both short.’

‘Careful there, partner,’ Alyssa retorted before she turned to Sandra. ‘I knew there was a special reason I liked you.’

When Christopher backed out again, Alyssa cast all joking aside as Cord hit play again.

After parking the vehicle, Gabriel climbed out and moved around to open his wife’s door. Though the image was grainy, Alyssa could clearly see Gabriel’s lips flatten into a thin line when his wife angrily jabbed the air, almost connecting with her husband’s chest. He didn’t appear to reply as, grasping her elbow to hold her steady when she wobbled on her high heels, he ushered her to the front door.

Inside the restaurant, the unhappiness etched across their features abruptly morphed into enormous, toothy smiles as they greeted the maître d’ who took their coats and led them back to a table in the center of the dining room against a far wall.

Within moments a waiter appeared, a bottle of wine already in hand. Gabriel quickly scanned the label before nodding his head in approval, giving Alyssa the impression that the waiter was familiar with the Kensingtons’ choices. After filling their glasses, he placed the bottle near Gabriel’s elbow and gave a quick dip of his head before disappearing again.

Neither Gabriel nor Lydia opened their menus, instead pushing them aside, as once again, left only to themselves, their faces returned to the scowls of displeasure they’d been wearing when they’d first arrived.

Christopher cleared his throat, and Alyssa, Cord, and Sandra snapped their necks around. Two steaming cups of coffee sat on a silver tray next to a carafe and a bottled water, presumably for Cord. ‘Thank you,’ the three of them said in unison as the manager retreated back out the door.

She’d just taken a sip when Sandra let out an excited whoosh of air. Startled, Alyssa jerked back, spilling hot coffee on her hand.

Sandra’s finger drummed the screen. ‘Is that… Elizabeth Monroe?’