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“You think those girls they found at the lighthouses might have something to do with her abduction?” Josiah asked. “I’ve thought it. I mean, she was friends with Amy-Rose and kind of knew Lily. I’ve been shook for days. Ahnah’s middle name is Oleander. Doesn’t he tattoo the flowers of their names on them?”
“He does. And we’re looking into every possible connection.”
Josiah’s jaw hardened, and he shot a furious glance toward Bexley. “Since you’re FBI, weird stuff has been going on at our place.”
“Josiah!”
“What?” He splayed his hands, bowing up as if he dared her to deny it. “The photo of us on the sofa table is gone. And you also said the blanket you crocheted was missing. That’s weird right?” he asked, pleading with his eyes for Ty to back him up.
“It’s odd, yes.” A photo and a blanket she handcrafted were personal. “Anything else missing?” he asked Bexley.
Blushing, she said, “Um...a box of mementos I kept in the top of my closet.”
“What was in it?”
“Mementos,” she stressed, and it dawned on him. She kept a box of photos or things that reminded her of them. It would have solidified they’d been an item, but the killer would have to have been knowledgeable about their relationship prior to finding the box.
Unless the killer was someone Bexley or Ahnah knew. Someone they’d confided in who could also be the Fire & Ice Killer. He’d worked dozens of cases where a killer inserted himself into the lives of his prey not only to play head games but to keep up with them. It was sick. But plausible.
“Okay. Was Ahnah missing anything?”
“I don’t know,” Bexley said as Josiah shrugged. “She didn’t mention anything.”
Had the other victims mentioned missing anything prior to their abductions? Ty would follow up with that when they visited the homes of the missing women and talked with their families.
“Why haven’t you answered your phone?” Josiah asked. “Is it missing?”
“No. It’s in my drawer,” Bexley said to Josiah. “You know I can’t be on my phone during sessions.”
“I could be dead in the road, but let’s not interrupt someone else’s dying moments.” He graced her with an eye roll. “Whatever. I’ll be home later. Me and Abe’s game might go long.”
“You be home for dinner. Five.” Bexley gritted her teeth and averted her gaze from Tiberius. This kid might be his, but regardless, he was a disrespectful brat.
“If you think of anything else, let me know,” Ty said, as Josiah started out the door.
“I will.”
After the door closed, Ty crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for answers, but Bexley didn’t budge. Didn’t offer a single word. He let time tick by. Finally he couldn’t stand it any longer. “I have a million questions, here, Bex. But first off, is he mine?”
She nodded.
“Are you sure? You married my father. Dalen said you’d died three months after the ceremony so...”
Bexley sniffed. “I did marry Rand. But after the wedding... I couldn’t go through with the consummation, Ty. Mother Mae helped me and Ahnah escape and fake our deaths. I’m sure Dalen spun the story that we were out on the lake having a great day and a tragic accident took place—and that the tragedy occurred later than it actually did, which was the wedding night. Mother Mae made it appear we drowned escaping.”
Dalen had spun it exactly like that. Ty had no reason not to believe him.
The Family would never have reported two minors running away. They would have looked into it privately, using any law enforcement who was in the cult to hunt for them on the down-low. Bringing in authorities meant the possibility of uncovering the fact Ty’s father—and other members—were bigamists and that he’d been taking minors as brides.
Bexley hadn’t been with his father. Eons worth of nausea lifted from his shoulders.
She wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hand. Inhaling deeply, she squared her shoulders. “Josiah doesn’t know who his father is, and Tiberius, you can’t tell him.”
Couldn’t tell him?
“You have kept my son from me for seventeen years with zero intention of telling me. No wonder you were so shocked to see me. I rained on your secret baby parade. What do you think this is, a bad made-for-TV movie?” He tried to contain his feelings, but they crept out in his raised voice.
Bexley’s office phone rang, and she answered. Her brow furrowed. “Okay.” She looked at Ty. “I have an emergency phone call.” She pressed a red button on her phone. “Bexley Hemmingway.” She frowned. Then her mouth hung open, and she slowly met his gaze. “It’s for you.” She held out the phone receiver to Ty.
