Gunner’s hand landed on my back and I could feel the concern wafting through him as I recovered. “Baby ...” He looked conflicted.
I shot him a smile that I didn’t really feel. The last thing I wanted was for Ezekiel to believe he’d somehow broken through my defenses. “It’s fine.” I dragged a hand through my hair and regrouped. “As for memories, Ezekiel, I honestly have none. I don’t know what you were expecting, but I have nothing to give.”
“I don’t believe that,” Ezekiel said matter-of-factly. “Before it’s all said and done, I expect you’ll remember everything. I want to be here when you do. I’ve always felt guilt when it comes to Geoffrey.”
“Why is that?” Gunner queried, his hand busy roaming my back. He seemed desperate to soothe me, and at a loss as to how he should do it.
“He disappeared out of nowhere. In hindsight, when thinking back in the weeks and years that followed, I realized he was agitated at the time. I can’t help wondering if there was more I could’ve done for him back then. Maybe that’s one of those things that I can never truly know, but before I die, I would like to offer his family help.”
“Except you don’t know that I’m his family!” I exploded, my anger finally taking control. “You assume I am based on a three-year-old child you met decades ago. How can you be so positive?”
“Because you’re ... unique.” He held out his hands, rueful. “You have an energy, girl, a vibe. Your aura cannot be duplicated. I’m positive you’re Geoffrey’s granddaughter.”
“Unfortunately, there’s no way to prove that,” Gunner said. “There’s no one in this man’s family remaining in that area, correct?”
Ezekiel shook his head. “They’re all gone.”
“Then there’s no one to run a DNA test against. The only person we know with any certainty who was related to Scout is George Culpepper, and he’s dead.”
I was dumbfounded, my eyes wide as I swiveled to glare at him. How could he let that slip?
“George?” Ezekiel’s forehead wrinkled. “Are you talking about Geoffrey’s son?”
Gunner realized his mistake too late and an apology was on his lips instantly. “I shouldn’t have brought that up. I’m so sorry.”
I waved off his concern, even though I remained agitated. “It’s fine,” I said, even though I didn’t feel it. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What doesn’t matter?” a female voice asked, breaking into our un-cozy threesome.
I jerked my head to the right and found that Mama Moon had managed to come up behind us without me hearing — or sensing — her approach. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly. “We were just talking to ... a new friend.”
Mama Moon was a master at keeping her emotions from registering on her face and that was on full display today. “I see.” She moved closer to our group, her gaze bouncing from one of us to the other, and then she flashed a huge smile ... at Ezekiel. “I heard you were in town. I was starting to get a complex because you hadn’t stopped by yet.”
Ezekiel’s smile was at the ready and he leaned in to embrace Mama Moon. “You didn’t have to worry. I was always going to visit. I didn’t arrive in town until yesterday, and I had a few things to deal with when I first got here.”
“I’m guessing I know what those things revolved around.” Mama Moon’s gaze was back on me. “How do you know Scout?”
“I wouldn’t say I know her. I met her a very long time ago. I knew her grandfather.”
“Really?” Mama Moon’s eyebrows migrated higher. “That’s good for you, Scout. You’ve been wondering about your past.”
“If it’s true,” I said, shifting my attention to Gunner. “We should probably be going. Rooster will be expecting us to check in with him before it gets too late.”
“Absolutely.” Gunner was already circling the truck when Mama Moon called out.
“I actually came looking for you guys,” she said. “I was hoping you hadn’t driven off yet. I got a call right after you left. You know that thing we were talking about before? I might have a little fuel to add to the flame.”
I stilled, my fingers on the door handle. “Meaning what?”
“Jeanie Lawrence,” she replied on a sigh, her attention moving to Gunner. “She’s gone missing.”
Gunner stiffened and I didn’t miss the way his shoulders jerked.
“Who is Jeanie Lawrence?” I asked, confused.
“My cousin’s girl,” Gunner replied, his mind clearly elsewhere. “On my mother’s side. I haven’t seen him in a long time, probably seven or eight years. He lives a couple towns over.” He directed his next question to Mama Moon. “I thought the women were disappearing from Hawthorne Hollow. Granger lives in Hemlock Cove, so this must be bigger than we realized.”
“Granger still lives in Hemlock Cove,” Mama Moon confirmed. “He separated from his wife about six months ago. She moved back to town and Jeanie splits her time between them, although from what I heard, she’s been spending more time here with her mother because they’ve been getting involved in pack stuff.”
Gunner’s frown deepened. “I didn’t realize that.” He cocked his head. “How old is Jeanie now?”
“Seventeen.”
“I thought all the women going missing were adults?” he asked me. “Isn’t that what Jasmine said?”
I was unsure how I was supposed to react. He’d never mentioned this cousin, but he was obviously upset. “I think so, but if she’s seventeen, maybe someone assumed she was older.”
Mama Moon cleared her throat to get our attention. “I don’t want to talk out of turn, but I’ve seen Jeanie a few times since her mother returned to town. She looks older than her age.”
“What is that supposed to
