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“Well, I didn’t want to ruin our date with this kind of talk and the day we placed the cubs there were too many people around.”
She stared at him through narrowed eyes. “Likely excuse.”
“Now you have the whole story.”
“Except how it connects to your biological father and West Virginia.”
“Ezekiel James was recently released from prison. He’s here, and this is where Jade started. They only recently made the trek to Pennsylvania. I’m not sure if they’re back here or not, but I want to find out.”
“Isn’t this a lot of work for a wildlife trafficking case?”
“It is, but the guy we suspected of that is also wanted by the FBI. They believe that Reece Mclean is actually the notorious Maurice Moretti. When he came to Worlds End, I knew he looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. Maybe his fake West Virginia accent threw me off.”
“Ah. And what is he wanted for?”
“You mean you don’t know?” He frowned. “Seriously? You’ve never heard of him?”
“I don’t think so.”
“He’s a mafia hit man.”
“Oh. That Maurice Moretti. Yes. The name is familiar. Between the news and a friend’s research.”
“You had a friend who looked into him?”
“It was a school thing.”
“Well, when they finally had a case where they could convict him of his crimes, he disappeared. Apparently to start a new life with the Jade community of believers.”
“I heard about him disappearing, but never imagined he’d be connected to our wildlife trafficking case.” She sucked in a breath and pushed away her plate. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
“Not so fast. I’m finishing my breakfast first.”
Twenty minutes later, he was ringing the bell at the rundown house listed as his father’s residence. When the door opened, Malachi took a step back. Not the man from his memories. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the picture he had in his head didn’t match the man who had aged twenty-four years in the time they’d been apart. He’d done the math and knew his biological father was sixty-five, but the man standing before him now looked much older. Prison hadn’t been easy on him. “Can I help you?”
“Ezekiel James?”
“That’s me.”
“I’m Malachi James.”
The man’s expression softened. “It’s been a long time. I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Or any of your other children, I imagine.”
“A few of them have been around since I was released. Wanted to give me a piece of their minds for ruining their lives.”
“Shouldn’t have surprised you.”
His forehead furrowed showing the deep lines that had formed there since Malachi had last seen him. “It didn’t. Not at all. Come inside. We’re letting all the heat out.”
Malachi followed him into the kitchen.
“Sit down. I can tell you have something on your mind. It’s strange that you showed up today. I received an odd phone call from your mother earlier. I’ve no idea how she managed to dig up my cell phone number. It’s unlisted.”
“She called you?”
“She wanted to see me. Claims to still love me. I think I talked her out of coming here. Told her that our relationship wasn’t right. She deserved better.”
