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“I’ll get on that this evening, Ruby,” mom said with a genuine smile. She must be used to the nagging after nearly three decades of marriage into the family.
Other than the nagging, all of these people seemed so… nice. Even Carter’s awkwardness came across as more shy than hostile. Maybe it was because the idea of them having some nefarious side seemed so absurd that I couldn’t get the Hunter’s warnings out of my mind.
If he’d been lying, why? Why would he have it in for the Maliks? He hadn’t appeared to know anything about my past, so I had no reason to think he was connected to the household, but a man as high up in politics as Damien Malik could definitely have made more than one enemy.
As I chewed on one of the pepperoni and cheese sandwiches, which actually were pretty good, I considered how I could get at whether the family might be aware of this man’s vigilance.
“I heard some people talking about hunting when I was at a corner store in town yesterday,” I said, making up the story as an excuse to broach the subject. It seemed like something Garrison would do to get people talking. If the gambit worked, I’d have to let him know his influence had rubbed off well on me. “Is that a common hobby around here?”
“Oh, sure.” Grandpa Bo nodded, speaking up for the first time. He mostly seemed to let his wife do the talking between the two of them. Given her personality, maybe that wasn’t surprising. “Every couple of years I go out with a few of my buddies, and we bring back a buck or two.”
Carter grimaced and gave a little shudder, and my mother shook her head. “Let’s not discuss that at the table while we’re eating.” She glanced at me. “Carter saw him bring back one of those deer when he was younger and just thinking about it makes him queasy.”
“I’m fine,” Carter mumbled, but he did look a bit green. “I just prefer my animals either alive or already in a form where you can’t tell what they were before they made it to the grocery store.” He waggled his sandwich in the air to indicate the pepperoni.
I raised my eyebrows slightly. “I guess you all don’t spend a whole lot of time with avid hunters then.” I motioned to Grandpa Bo. “What are your buddies like? The hunters who go with you? I’ve never known anyone who was into that kind of pastime.”
Grandpa Bo chuckled. “Between you and me, they’re all old men who like to shoot their mouths off more than they like to hunt. One is nearly deaf, and one can’t walk through the woods for more than ten minutes without needing a breather. The two of them live in Ohio, so they only come around when we plan a trip.”
I resisted the urge to clench my jaw in frustration. The man on the phone had shown no sign of hearing problems, and he’d seemed very familiar with the city. He also hadn’t sounded as old as my grandfather.
“Does Damien—my dad—ever go with you?” I had to ask.
Grandpa Bo laughed again and patted Ruby’s hand. “My son has never been interested in hunting, and he certainly has never asked to go with me.”
Well, it was totally possible that the Hunter’s moniker had nothing to do with any interest in hunting animals, only his penchant for hunting down information. I switched tactics. “I guess Dad has to stay pretty conscious of the image he presents even on his down time. Maybe all of you do. Do you find you’re under a lot of scrutiny because of his political career?”
“Oh, it’s nothing we can’t handle,” Iris said quickly. “We’re proud to see how much he’s accomplished.” Then she paused. “But you’ve been thrown into the mix out of the blue. If you find anyone’s bothering you, you only have to let us know. We can help you navigate those waters. And I know your father has already been working to ensure no one intrudes too much on our privacy despite the investigation into your kidnapping.”
“He has,” I acknowledged. “I’ve actually been okay.”
Members of the FBI had questioned me, and I’d given them an expanded version of the story I’d told Damien, saying that I had no idea where I’d been held and that I’d escaped when my usual caretaker had taken me on a trip and our van was attacked. It was an easy way to avoid having to point to any locations where I’d supposedly lived. I didn’t want them digging too closely into the real details of my life, or they might uncover more about me than I was ready to share.
My mother had seemed awfully eager to respond to that question, though. And Grandpa Bo had been quick to dismiss my inquiries about hunting. Was it possible they didn’t want me digging too deeply into the inner workings of the family?
I shook myself mentally. That was ridiculous. The Hunter’s words had gotten under my skin and made me overly suspicious.
“If you feel it’d be easier living closer to home…” my mother ventured. “I realize you might not be comfortable moving in here, although of course you’d be welcome. But we could see about setting you up with accommodation closer by. I’m not sure how nice a place you’ve been able to arrange on your own.”
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” I said. “I’m happy where I am.”
“I just know that hotels can be so expensive around here, and not always all that comfortable. And we’ve gone years without being able to support you the way we should have been.”
“Most of the hotels around here are shitholes,” Grandma Ruby announced. “Your mother’s just too polite to say it outright. You really should be with family.”
Iris winced. “Ruby, language.”
I wanted to laugh at the way she looked offended. The curse word had flown right by me, especially after spending so long with the Crew. The foul language that came from their mouths would have sent my mother into an early grave. I made a mental note to make sure nothing similar fell out of my mouth around her.
“I’m only saying the truth,” Grandma Ruby said with a huff.
“I promise, I’m fine,” I said before the conversation could become a full-out argument between my mother and her mother-in-law. “I enjoy where I’m staying. And I… I’m proud of how I pulled myself back onto my feet when I escaped the people who took me, and I prefer to have some independence for now. I went too long without having any.”
It was immediately obvious that I’d played the right card—so obvious a jab of guilt hit me in the gut. My mother’s eyes clouded with grief before she nodded. “I understand that. If you need anything, though, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
I gave her a grateful smile. “I appreciate that.” The emotional direction our talk had taken left my skin itching. And I still hadn’t found out anything that could convince me one way or another about the Hunter’s intentions.
I had one more strategy I’d meant to employ, one that didn’t involve any talking at all. “Would you mind if I went inside and used the restroom?” I asked.
