Page 21 of Veil of Silence

That sounded exactly like his father. Jeff Donnelly never called when he said he would. He called when he was sure.

But what exactly had his father’s theory been?

Chapter

Seven

Nora waited for Austin’s reaction, to hear whatever else he had to say.

His jaw tightened. “Has anyone else in your family heard from my father?”

Nora’s shoulders stiffened. “No.”

“You didn’t tell them he contacted you.”

It wasn’t a question.

She answered anyway. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to build conversations around possibilities that lead to false hope.” She kept her voice low as she continued. “My mother finally has her son home. My sisters have been through enough. I didn’t want to worry everyone over a maybe.”

Austin understood the impulse.

“It seems as if my dad was asking questions about your family,” Austin said. “Someone here might know why.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Roy Callahan’s name was circled twice in his notes. My father didn’t do that for nothing.”

Something shifted in her expression.

Austin caught it, and his eyes narrowed. “That name means something to you.”

“I suspect Roy had something to do with all of this, but I don’t know what.” She glanced toward the closed door. “My father and Roy had a falling-out not long before Christian disappeared.”

“Over money?”

She blew out a breath. “Roy kept adding appearances that took us hours out of the way or left us sitting in the same area for an extra night. Dad thought the schedule made no sense. Roy said somebody else was covering the expenses, so it didn’t matter.”

“But you don’t believe that was the whole story.”

“I never had a reason not to.”

“Until now.”

Her eyes met his.

Austin pushed away from the wall. “Did my father ask to speak to your dad?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Then maybe that was why he came back to Knoxville. Maybe he has a lead, and he wanted to talk to you all.”

Nora looked at the door again. “I didn’t stop him from talking to anyone except Christian. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Where is your dad now?”