“I was thinking about the tree house and how I would lie back on the boards and listen to the neighbors arguing. I heard that a lot and was always thankful that my parents never fought. But they argued a few days before they were killed. Mom had given me a muffin and told me to go outside, so I took my book and climbed to the platform. It wasHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I’d already hugged my dad goodbye because he had a business trip. Mom seemed tense that morning and kept glancing out the window.”
Blake reached over and took her hand. “You’re shaking.”
She hadn’t realized it. When she laced her fingers with his, the trembling stopped. “The screen door was open, and I heard Dad yelling at her. He said, ‘Becky, you had achildwith another man and never told me. Who is he? And how could you keep something like this from me? And don’t try to lie. I heard the message from the private investigator on the answering machine.’”
Behind her in the back seat, Drew gasped. “Granger knew about me? What did you think when you heard about it?”
“I sat up and wished I had my binoculars. I was mad. I’d asked and asked for a baby brother or sister, and Mom never said a word about me already having an older brother. I was ready to go down and join Dad in yelling at her.”
“What happened next?” Blake asked.
“Mom started crying and apologizing. She said she wanted to tell him but was afraid he’d be angry. Mom said she’d been contacted by a private investigator who was looking for information about you, Drew. Someone was trying to find you.”
“I’m here now.” His voice was grim. “And this time I’m looking too.”
“Do you know if your mom told the PI anything?” Blake asked.
Paradise closed her eyes and tried to sort the memories flooding back. “She told him she didn’t know anything. She said the PI started stalking the house and threatened to tell Dad if she didn’t reveal Drew’s real name and whereabouts.”
Drew leaned back. “Who would hire a PI to track me down? It seems very odd.”
Paradise released Blake’s hand and reached for a water bottle to soothe her dry mouth. “And about the time my parents were killed. Was the PI’s client the person who killed your dad, Drew? It would make sense.”
“And maybe he killed all three of them,” Drew said. “This is even more connected than I thought it would be. What if the man she kissed was my dad?”
Paradise sipped her water. “That’s what I wondered.”
“Was there any clue to who the PI might be?” Drew asked.
She stared out the window toward the bridge. “I didn’t hear a name. But what if we could find that old answering machine? My cousin Lily had a few of their things in a box. She was going to get it for me when I was there a few weeks ago, but it didn’t happen. We could get it and see if the answering machine is in there.”
“We could try, but it’s not likely she kept something like that,” Drew said. “Could you arrange for us to go see her? I want to meet her anyway.”
“You could invite everyone over for a cookout,” Blake said. “The whole family would likely want to meet Drew—especially Rod since they’re both in law enforcement.”
“That’s a great idea,” Paradise said. “When?”
“How about Sunday? Drew can find out what a Gulf Shores shrimp boil is like. I’ll grab shrimp from Billy’s Seafood and corn on the cob from the farmer’s market. We’ve got sausage and potatoes.”
“I’m already drooling,” Drew said.
Paradise pulled out her phone and began to tap out a message. “I’ll ask Lily to bring the box of stuff with her.” Paradise sent off the message, then started another to the rest of the family. “I’ll tell them to come at six.”
“That gives us two days to do some other digging,” Drew said. “What about their best friends?”
“Trisha and Wes Miller. They were good friends with my parents ever since high school. They played cards together almost every weekend.”
“They have to know something.”
“Trisha admitted she knew about you, but she wouldn’t tell me anything more.”
“Maybe she’ll talk to me when she sees Becky’s son in the flesh. The shock might loosen her tongue.”
Paradise glanced at the clock on the dashboard. “It’s almost time for her pottery shop to close. We could try to catch her before she leaves.”
“I guess that means we’re turning around.” Blake braked and swerved into the parking lot of the Mary Ann Nelson Park.
Closed. Blake took a step back from The Red Firepot. The pottery shop’s hours clearly read it closed at five, but it was only four thirty. “She must have gone home a little early tonight. She and Wes live down the road from Hez and Savannah’s house. I saw them in the yard the first time Hez showed me the property.”
