Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Was that me sounding desperate? Yup, it sure was.
“That’s so you wait with bated breath for my return, lass,” he said, laying his Scottish brogue on heavily.
“You’re mean,” I protested.
“Believe me, lass, I’ll make it up to you later,” he said and brushed his lips over mine, the faint, teasing touch fanning my hormones even more.
“I’m going to hold you to that,” I warned.
He grinned. “You definitely won’t have to.”
I was greeted to the sound of Mo’s favorite animal channel when I entered the house. He was stretched out on the living room area rug, his eyes glued to the television. Roxie was curled up on the top tier of her cat stand.
“Where’s my greeting, guys,” I called out and they both ignored me.
I made myself tea with honey and lemon and sat at the dining room table staring at all Ian and I had gathered on the Carson case.
Everything but the kitchen sink.
“Time for a different approach.” I sidelined Rita and Travis, pushing all the material on them aside. Right now, I intended to concentrate on the unidentified bones. My dad had looked into missing girls in the surrounding area around that time frame but had found nothing. More digging was needed.
My cell rang. Just the person I wanted to talk with.
“How is Stan, I just heard what happened,” Amy said, and I detailed what the doctor had said.
News traveled fast in a small town which meant the murderer probably had been alerted to it as well. Since Stan was hit from behind, my dad didn’t think he was in any danger, but he had stationed a police officer outside the room just to be cautious.
“Stan’s daughter, Barbara, is flying in from Florida. She’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Stan will be happy to see her when he regains consciousness,” Amy said as if it wasn’t a question if he would wake but when he would. “It’s creepy to think the murderer is still around after all these years and we could be friends with him.”
“True, but I need your digging skills to help me find out if we’ve been led down a path that takes us nowhere.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember when you mentioned something about the wrong place at the wrong time? What if that was true? But what if it was Rita and Travis who were in the wrong place at the wrong time? What if this whole case revolves around the unidentified girl?”
“I’m looking into the missing girls like you asked, but I’ve only gotten as far as your dad did.”
“Which is why the search needs to be widened,” I said.
“That was my next step,” Amy said. “I’ll get on it as soon as I can.”
“Beau told me your dad is going to be leaving soon,” I said before she could hang up. I wanted to make sure she was all right, though it was good to hear her sound like her usual confident self.
“He is and I’m okay with it. His sudden appearance sent a rash of memories through me, some good and some bad. Once the little girl in me grew up and I saw him through adult eyes, I realized he was never who I thought he was. He may have taught me to swim, ride a bike, and a few other things, but he was never there for me when I truly needed him. It had been my mom who held and comforted me when I cried throughout the years over foolish and not so foolish things. She was the one who looked after me when I was sick, the one that was always there for me. I’m just sorry my mom wasted her life on him. He may claim to love us both, but I think he loves himself more.”
“Wow! I’m impressed, but then you were always smarter than me,” I said prouder of her more than words could express.
“We’re each smart in our own way, Pepper, which is why we are sister friends. Thanks for bearing with me through this dad thing.”
“No problem. Besides, I was ready to kick your butt if you messed it up,” I said, having been prepared to do whatever I had to so she wouldn’t get hurt again.
“I had no doubt you would. I’ve got to go. Talk later.”
I got a bit teary-eyed—sister friends. We sure were. Amy was the sister I never had, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.
I sniffled back tears to keep them from falling as I answered my cell, thinking it was Amy with a question and was surprised it was Josh.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded like an overly protective older brother before I even got a chance to say hello.
“I caught that familiar sound you make when you fight to keep tears from falling. Did Ian do something to upset you?” he demanded again.