Doris’s attention went back to Drew. “How’d you find your way here, boy?”
“I’m a police detective in Atlanta, and I knew I was adopted so I’d been looking for my birth parents. Paradise and I both had our ancestry done and I emailed her. We met a few weeks ago, and it feels like we’ve always been brother and sister.”
Heat spread through Paradise’s chest at the warmth in his tone. Any fears she had about him turning his back on her once this was all over vanished. Their tie was strong and unbreakable. “Why did you say you’d been waiting for me to come?”
Doris’s eyes turned back to examine Paradise’s face. “You’re not a wallflower of a woman. I can see you’re strong, and you’re with Blake, aren’t you?”
“I am.” Was Doris stalling? Paradise turned her left hand so the emerald engagement ring winked in the sunlight streaming through the window. “We’re engaged.” The words were sweeter than chocolate on her tongue.
Doris clapped her hands. “That’s lovely, just lovely.”
“You thought I’d come eventually. Why?”
“I’d promised to keep Becky’s secret about your brother until you came asking me for more information. She thought that might never happen, but even as a girl, you were the inquisitive sort—always sitting and staring at bugs and squirrels, examining tree trunks and flowers.”
“I’m a wildlife vet now, so my curiosity about animals morphed into something useful. What do you know about Drew’s father?” She could reveal they knew Ben’s identity, but they might get more information if they let her talk.
Doris nodded in approval. “Drew is a great nickname. His name was Benjamin Collins. Yes,thatCollins family. His mama found out he was having an affair and threatened to cut him off from the family money, but he might have divorced his wife anyway. Becky found out he was married, though, and broke up with him. I think Benjamin really loved Becky. And to be honest, it was right that he went back to his wife and honored his marriage. He already had a daughter he needed to raise. More children came along too.”
This was nothing new and Paradise chafed at the lack of earth-shattering news she’d hoped to find here. “It’s an old story, isn’t it?”
“Not so old once he found your mama again. I think I know why she was killed, and I think I know who arranged it.”
Paradise could barely breathe with the intensity of Doris’s expression. Was thatsympathyin her faded blue eyes? “What are you saying?”
“Your mama was pregnant. Benjamin was the father.”
“No.” Paradise licked her lips and shook her head, but she felt the weight of the truth in Doris’s words. “How could she know? I mean, she and my dad weren’t separated or anything.”
“Your dad was overseas for a business trip when the baby was conceived. It was right after Benjamin came into her life again. She was distraught but determined to be with him. I had my misgivings.”
Drew pulled his chair closer to her and sat with his knees nearly touching hers. “Who do you think killed her?”
“Benjamin said he was leaving his wife so he and Becky could be together, but I never trusted him. He wouldn’t sully his own hands with murder, but he might hire someone to get him out of a difficult situation.”
The news created a tsunami of emotion crashing into Paradise, and she hugged herself. “Did my dad know?”
Doris shook her head. “Becky told him she was leaving him for Benjamin, but I don’t think she told Granger about the baby. It would have been cruel to tell him. He begged her to go to marriage counseling before deciding to leave, but her mind was set. I don’t believe she ever got over Benjamin.”
Drew’s expression betrayed nothing. “You think my father hired someone to kill her to get out of a sticky situation? Do you have any evidence?”
“I saw the person who went into the house that day.”
The words were dropped so casually, it took a moment for Paradise to process the information. “You recognized him?”
“I did. He worked for my husband before he died, and he always seemed the sneaky sort. I have good instincts about people. When he was a teenager, there was a rash of break-ins all over town. He was running with a bad crowd back then, and I always thought he was involved in those robberies. I watched him from the window when he went to the door the morning of the murders. He had something in his hand that he gave to you, Paradise, and you let him in. I saw him run from the house later that night too. It was before the murders, but he had been back inside.”
Paradise remembered someone coming from the cable company. “What’s his name?”
“Warren Gibson.”
Paradise and Blake gasped at the same time.
“Who’s Warren Gibson?” Drew asked, glancing from Paradise to Blake and back again.
“He works for The Sanctuary,” Blake said.
“He’s my vet tech.” Since Warren was new, Paradise hadn’t gotten to know him well. She’d always thought he was shy, but he probably lived in fear that she’d remember him giving her the music box. “Did you tell the police about him and about the pregnancy?”
