His use of the fond termSiswarmed her. “My patients need me. I’m the only vet in Nova Cambridge, Drew. I don’t want to cut and run.”
“I know you don’t, but you could go on vacation for a week or two and put your focus on helping me figure this out.”
His plea made sense. Working didn’t allow much time to investigate. Drew would be here for a month, and they could put all their effort into getting to the bottom of the murders. “All right, you’ve convinced me. I’ll have emergency calls redirected to Honey. There’s a vet in Foley who might help out.”
Honey Hopkins had been a great hire for the vet clinic. She understood the demands that could arise at the park since her husband, Evan, was one of the predator keepers. They lived in Paradise’s childhood home.
Drew turned the truck into the drive back to the park. “I always knew any sister of mine would have a lot of sense.”
She smiled. “I hate that we didn’t get to grow up together.”
“Me too. I always wanted a sibling. But it will make getting to know each other better all the more fun.” Keeping his eyes on the road, he pulled a paper from his pocket. “I have a list of where to start.”
She unfolded the paper and stared at his blocky, printed note.
Examine autopsy and murder files
Find early friends
Talk to coworkers
Talk to neighbors
Find detectives on the original case
She refolded it. “These are all very good. I have some avenues I started to trace before I tabled it to figure out who was trying toshut down the park. Now that The Sanctuary is on solid footing, I can concentrate on the murders. No one seems to know who your real father was. I think maybe my cousin Lily knows, but if she does, she’s denied it.”
“Maybe I can get her to talk. We’ll hit the ground running tomorrow by talking to your family first. You have several cousins in the area, right?”
“Yes, and they’re your cousins, too, since they’re all on Mom’s side. One works for the sheriff’s department, so maybe Rod’ll tell you more than he has me. His mom is the one I think might know who your father is.”
“Perfect place to start.”
She stared at his ringless left hand. “You’ve never been married?” He was thirty-five, five years older than her, and a handsome guy like him normally would have been married by now.
“I was once for about a year when I was in my early twenties. She cheated on me with my partner. I nearly left the police force when that happened, but my partner left instead and I stayed. It’s been hard to trust anyone since then.”
Betrayed by the two people he wouldn’t have suspected of it. “I’m sorry. I’ll always be here for you, Drew. I don’t say that lightly. Loyalty is the most important thing to me.”
He shot her a smile. “I believe you, Paradise. And I’ll be here for you. Finding you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I like your guy. Blake is one in a million.”
“He is. And he’ll help in whatever way we need him to.” She slid a sideways glance Drew’s way. If they were ever to claim their birthright as siblings, she needed to open up to him. Taking a deep breath, she plunged in. “I grew up in foster care after my parents were killed. I-it wasn’t good. Blake tried to protect me from Lloyd during my first placement. It backfired and I gotshipped farther away from everyone I knew and loved. The second foster home was worse than the first, a-and the son living there raped me.”
He tensed and his expression flashed hot with outrage. “I’m sorry, Paradise.” He reached over and took her hand. “I assumed someone in the family took you in. That had to have been so hard. Yet here you are—a strong and accomplished wildlife vet. You overcame all of it. I’m in awe.”
“My parents taught me about pushing through hard things, and I’m glad I had those first nine years with them.” Her eyes filled with tears, but she held his gaze. “I’m glad you’re my brother.”
“Me too, Sis. Me too.”
The future looked bright if they could all manage to stay alive.
Dinner was over, and they’d gotten out the set of dominoes to play with the boys, though Paradise wasn’t sure she’d be able to stay awake for very long. A dull ache circled her head, but she felt better than she did when she awakened in the hospital. The kittens curled beside her as if they knew she needed extra comfort.
Her phone blipped with a text.A lemur has me trapped in my bedroom!
Paradise stared at the text message from an unknown number. “Wow.”
“What’s wrong?” Blake asked.
