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“Probably. She’s going to get even scarier the older she gets,” Zoey said.
"I am actually meeting Jo and Syd now. We're going to this lecture by this sociologist who thinks socialism was a false construct and if things were donein a different way,it would have workeddifferently.We're going to go listen, so we can debate his theories later."
"Such nerds. But we love you." Zoey gave the girl some money from her wallet. He loved watching her be Zoey the mom. "Take the car service home. Or ride with Sydney, ok?"
Murdoch checked. There were two bodyguards right there. He nodded at them, fighting the urge to just tell the kid they'd come pick her up when she was finished. "Call us if you need us, kid."
"Got ya, pops!" Pen said wickedly. "The museum is in the history building. It's one block up and one block over. Trevor Barratt's got a display in there, I think. Of that dig he did this summer. You should check it out while you're here. It was in Value, near where, well, Kyra and Bailey were. They found some stuff from the 1700s. No treasure, though."
Murdoch winced. Considering his sister-in-law and Bailey Addy had almost died because of that treasure, he’d just avoid that display, thank you very much.
"If we get time. Go. I see Sydney's hair from here," Murdoch said. Sydney's hair—and her bodyguard following behind her like an overly large dangerous puppy. “Shouldn’t she still be resting?”
“She’s been up for a few days now. Says she’s going crazy sitting at home,” Zoey’s tone told him she was just as worried. But…nothing they could do. Sydney was twenty-two. It was her decision.
“Yep! Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Go make me some siblings, ok!”
As Pen took off, he looked at her big sister. "I really don't like her just walking around loose like that."
"The guards and the tracking bracelets are all she'll accept. And Sydney. They say they don't want to live in a gilded cage. I've said the same myself. It's...a lot harder to see my kid acting just like me, though. Especially after last week."
"No kidding. Now, Mama, take Papa and give him a history lesson. That way." He slung his arm over her shoulder, as a blue van slowed near the stop sign. Out of habit, he checked it. No buggy eyeballs on the side. "One block up, one block over. Let's do this."
She narrowed her eyes at him, then sighed. “You probably would make Lake Monsters.”
“Babe, it’s a given. But…they’d most likely have your eyes and hair. I’m almost sure of it.” He pulled her close, right there on the street. And kissed her. Made a real show of it. He grinned at her when he pulled back. “And I can so live with dark-haired, dark-eyed Lake Monsters. If you can.”
He could hear her sister and Sydney cackling in the distance, calling encouragement. Yeah, if he was any other kind of guy, five-point-eight Zoey kids would be exactly what he wanted. Maybe they’d just make Sydney be the point and Pen the eight. He could handle making the other five. Everything would work out just fine.
* * *
The crazy manmade her hold his hand. Inside the building. Zoey cooperated—for fifteen seconds. "There. I helped you across the street. That’s all you get."
"You do not have an adventurous soul, woman."
"That I do not. Do not call mewoman." The museum was the typical college museum, as far as Zoey could tell. She'd taken a handful of courses when she'd been younger. Then she'd gotten custody of Pen, quit college—she hadn’t been able to afford it and feed Pen. The TSP had been a guaranteed paycheck, with benefits and health insurance for her and the kid she would have done anything to take care of.
The TSP had been her life.She was still getting used to the idea that the TSPwasn'tgoing to be her future now.But…she felt a little steadier with her decision than she had a week or two before.
She was getting there. It would just take time.
The museum curator came to greet them. "Can I help you?"
"We are just here to research anything you have about Garrity County," Murdoch said, giving the woman his best grin. Her cheeks flushed. Zoey resisted the urge to kick him. The man did not know what kind of power he had. He just didn't. "We're trying to tie a few names together with the area."
"Our genealogy records are actually in the campus library. Are either of you a student here at FCU?"
"No. But our daughter is. She skipped a few grades, and we're really proud." He was really laying it on thick this time. She didn't know whether to strangle him—or laugh. He was a bit incorrigible.
"We're actually here to research for a case. My partner here just has an odd sense of humor," Zoey showed the woman her TSP badge. "We're trying to identify a list of families in the Garrity County area going back around forty to sixty years. The Garrity librarian said we may find what we are looking for here."
"We have a few things. In the Coleson display, but it's been removed from display by the owner, I'm afraid. He's planning to retrieve it in a week or so. It is a private collection."
"Is it still where it can be viewed at all?" Murdoch asked quietly. "We don't have a warrant, but we can get one." Maybe, it was a stretch.
The curator hesitated. "Well, there are a few photos and display boards still hanging. It's in the far back room. As long as my boss doesn't find out. And he'll be here in about forty-five."
"Thank you," Zoey said. "We're really just looking for a place to start. We won't take long."
