by Dover, L. P.
Grace sighed. “Hopefully, the guys will find something on the adoption.”
My throat felt thick. “If he is my brother, can you imagine how terrified my mother had to be to come face to face with a man who looked exactly like a younger version of my father.”
She rubbed a hand soothingly down my arm. “There are no words, Kennedy.”
Buttercup came over and sat her head on my lap. I was going to miss her while we were away. “Thanks for agreeing to keep Buttercup while Reed and I are gone.”
Grace rubbed Buttercup’s head. “Happy to. I don’t know if I’ll be able to give her back though.”
I bumped her with my shoulder. “Those are fighting words right there, sister.”
We both laughed and it helped lighten the mood. After my breakdown last night, Reed never left my side. I knew he wanted to keep searching for more leads on Jude, but I needed him with me. It was too much, too fast. Things were about to take a dangerous turn. I thought I was ready, that is, until I found out the killer could possibly be related to me. That changed everything.
While Grace played with Buttercup, I grabbed my toiletry bag from the bathroom and set it on top of my luggage. My nerves were shot. Ian and Reed had been in the media room for an hour, but it felt like a year. Just then, I heard footsteps and froze. Grace stared up at me and gasped. “They’re coming.”
Reed stopped at the door, holding some papers in his hands. Ian was right behind him and he nodded at Grace to join him. She came up behind me and squeezed my shoulders. “I’m going to give you two some privacy.”
Once they were gone, Reed held the paper out to me. He didn’t have to say anything … I already knew. “He’s my brother, isn’t he?”
I didn’t even wait for his answer. I looked at the first paper – which happened to be a birth certificate – and everything was right there. Both my mom and dad were the parents. They named their son Jude Alexander. According to the year, they were both nineteen-years-old. The second paper I held was Jude’s other birth certificate, the one that clamed Shirley and Frank Hoffner as his adoptive parents.
Tossing the papers onto the bed, I clenched my fists tight. “I can only assume Jude killed my mother because he was pissed she gave him up. It’s the only thing I can come up with.”
Reed’s eyes softened. “I’ve seen it before, Kennedy. There have been numerous cases like this. Shirley and Frank were probably shitty parents. I have no doubt he stalked you and your mother for a long time before he made his move. Seeing how happy you two were could’ve triggered him.”
My heart hurt at the thought of Jude having a horrible childhood. Every kid should be able to live their lives to the fullest with parents who love them. But my God, he and I were of the same blood. How could someone of my DNA do something like this? Nothing could change the fact that I hated him for what he’s done.
“I don’t get it,” I cried. “Why didn’t my mom tell me?”
Reed pulled me into his arms. “I’m sure she had her reasons. Sadly, we’ll never know.”
Closing my eyes, I rested my head on his chest, but then an idea came to mind. “Reed,” I gasped, pulling away from him.
He stared at me, his eyes searching mine. “What’s wrong?”
“I know how I can get answers.”
His brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“About the adoption,” I replied. There was only one woman who I had no doubt knew everything about my mother. Her name was Irene Tate. Letting Reed go, I went straight to my phone and scrolled through it. “I haven’t talked to her in months, but I know she’ll know something.” When I found her number, I smiled. “And it just so happens she lives near Belmont.”
Reed grabbed my luggage. “Guess it’s time we pay her a visit.”
My finger hovered over the call button and I pressed it. “Yes, it is.”
*
Ian flew us to North Carolina and we were in Belmont by two in the afternoon. We dropped our luggage off at the house we rented and decided to drive around for the rest of the time we had before meeting Irene at her home. She lived in the nearby city called Mt. Holly which was only about ten minutes away from where I used to live. It felt like it’d been so long since stepping back in North Carolina, but in all reality, it hadn’t even been a full year. The memories of it all hit me like a ton of bricks. Everywhere I looked there was a memory. I really wanted to see John and Robyn, but we couldn’t let them know I was in town … at least not until everything was done. When I talked to them this morning, I pretended everything was fine. John was going to be pissed once everything was said and done.
“Are you going to tell your dad and Wade that you’re here?” I asked. I had yet to meet his father and older brother.
Reed shook his head. “No. With what I assume we’re going to be doing out here, I decided it wasn’t a good idea. Not with you being involved. I can tell them after it’s all over.”
We still hadn’t talked about what we were going to do about Jude. I knew where he lived and having to drive down that street was going to be agony. I never planned on going back there. Reed pointed at the dashboard. “We should probably head to Irene’s house. It’s closing in on four o’clock.”
I was nervous to see her, but also excited. She was the only link left of my mother. “Okay,” I said, gazing out the window. We just passed my old elementary school and I smiled. “You know, I won the school spelling bee two years in a row there.”
Reed glanced over at the school and laughed. “Smart girl. Words weren’t my thing. Science was.”
“That’s because you were a nerd,” I teased, winking at him. It felt good to banter back and forth, I needed it. Just a few blocks down from the school was Stowe Park. The city had refurbished it since I’d been gone with new playground equipment. I pointed over at a group of kids, playing on the jungle gym. “That wasn’t there when I was a kid. There used to be a set of monkey bars off to the side. I made it across the quickest out of all my friends.”
Reed smiled. “I can see that. I could outrun all of mine.”
“And I can see that,” I agreed. “Gotta be fast to chase after all those bad guys.”
He shrugged. “Don’t really have to chase them. I catch the fuckers before they have a chance to run.”
I stared at him and he glanced over at me, his brows furrowed. “You okay?”
“Is that how we’re going to get him?” I asked. “By sneaking up on him when he least expects it.”
We stopped at a stoplight and he focused on me. “Does that bother you? I know we haven’t talked about the logistics of it all yet.”
Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention back to the window. “I want him to be surprised when we find him. I want to see the look in his eyes when I come face to face with him.”
Reed reached over and held my hand. “I have an idea, but we can talk about it later. We’re almost at Irene’s house.” I was curious to hear what his idea was. I trusted his judgment though.
We arrived at Irene’s house and it hadn’t changed a bit. It was a small, two story home with navy blue siding and a small front porch that had two rocking chairs. Irene and my mother could sit out there for hours talking about anything and everything.
Reed parked in the driveway and my chest tightened. “I used to come here all the time as a little girl. My mom and Irene would sit right there,” I said, pointing at the rocking chairs, “and talk while I played in the backyard with Irene’s daughter, Jessica. She was about five years older than me.”
Reed took my hand and we walked up to the front door. Irene opened it before we could even ring the doorbell. She flung her arms out and hugged me so hard I could barely breathe. Irene looked exactly the same with her short, gray hair and petite build. “Kennedy, my darling, I’ve missed you so much.”
Reed let my hand go and I hugged her back. “I’ve missed you too. It’s been so long.”
She stepped back and her lips trembled. “You look so much like y
our mother. I almost forgot how much.” She stared at me for a few more seconds and then gasped. “Oh, wow, where’s my manners. Come on in.”
We stepped inside and she held her hand out to Reed. “I’m Irene, a friend of Martha’s.”
Reed shook her hand. “Reed Chandler.”
Irene waggled her brows at me. “Boyfriend?”
I looked over at Reed and he chuckled. “I’m whatever you want me to be,” he said.
Irene patted his arm. “Smart man.” She nodded toward the kitchen. “Kennedy, I made you my famous chocolate chip cookies you always loved. When you called and said you were coming by, I knew I had to make them. There’s a ton.”
I thought I smelled something amazing. Breathing in the scent of her cookies reminded me of all the times I spent there. I followed her into the kitchen and sighed. “It smells amazing in here.” Sitting on the stove were two pans, filled with chocolate chip cookies. Irene grabbed three plates out of her cabinet and put two cookies on each one. “Anyone want milk?” she asked, handing us our plates of cookies.
Reed smiled sweetly at her. “I’m good, thanks.”
Irene turned to me and I shook my head. “The cookies are just fine with me.”
We all sat down at the small, round kitchen table she kept in the breakfast nook area. The windows overlooked her wooded backyard and it made me think of Jude. There was no telling how many times he lurked in the ones behind my house, watching me and my mother.
Plastering on a smile, I ate one of the cookies. It was absolute heaven, but it was hard to enjoy them under the circumstances. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited more,” I said.
Irene placed a hand over mine. “Oh, honey, it’s okay. I know you had to leave town. It hurts every time I visit your mother’s grave. I like to make sure she has fresh flowers.”
My throat tightened. The last time I was there was the day I left for Vermont. I wanted to talk to her, but I couldn’t until everything was over. “Thank you, Irene. That really means a lot to me.”
She squeezed my hand. “Anything for Martha. She was my best friend since grade school. I spent my whole life with her.” They even went to college together and shared the same apartment. Irene averted her gaze to the half-eaten cookie on her plate. “I’m assuming you’ve heard the news about the murders?”
I glanced over at Reed, and then back to her. “I have.”
Irene lifted her eyes to mine. “It’s scary times around here. Everywhere I go, people are talking about it. Breaks my heart to think of your mother.”
Eyes burning, I tried to fight the tears, but they came anyway. “Speaking of my mother, there’s something I need to ask you.”
Irene nodded. “Of course.”
Reaching under the table, Reed placed a hand reassuringly on my leg. My heart raced frantically in my chest and I sucked in a breath. “I need to know everything about my mother’s pregnancy in college.”
Irene’s face paled. “How did you know about that?”
Seeing it confirmed on paper was bad, but hearing it made my chest hurt worse. “I just do,” I replied. “Is there anything you can tell me about it.”
Holding a hand over her chest, she stood. “I can do better than that. Give me one second.” She left the room, and a few minutes later, came back with a shoebox. With a heavy sigh, she set it in the middle of the table. “Martha and I never really talked about that part of her life, at least, not after you were born.”
Gut clenching, I stared at the shoebox. “What’s in it?”
Irene’s voice softened, so low I could barely hear her. “Pictures of your mother and father during that time. Martha gave them to me to keep. She always said one day she’d tell you, but I think she was afraid of what you’d think of her.”
“Because she gave up her baby?” I asked. Hands shaking, I lifted the lid and right on top was a picture of my pregnant nineteen-year-old mother with my dad beside her, both of them with their hands on her belly. They looked so happy, smiling at the camera with love in their eyes. Jude and my father did look exactly alike. It was eerie.
Irene sniffled. “She didn’t want to give the baby up, Kennedy. There was so much pressure from her parents and your father’s too to get rid of it. Martha refused to have an abortion.” Irene reached into the box and pulled out a photo of just my mother, looking like an angel with her long blonde hair and sweet smile. “In the end, I think your parents got brainwashed. They were convinced they wouldn’t be able to give the baby what he needed. That’s why they put your brother up for adoption. A few years later, your parents graduated college, got married, and had you.” Irene smiled through her tears when set the picture of my mother back in the box. “Your parents were so happy when they had you. I know they regretted giving up your brother.”
It was all so heartbreaking. At the bottom of the box was a picture of my mother, holding Jude as she laid in the hospital bed. Her hair was sweaty, but she smiled down at him as if he was the most precious thing in the world. She’d brought him into the world, and he took her out. I had never hated anyone as much as I did him.
“Can I keep this one?” I asked Irene, holding up the hospital photo.
Irene wiped away her tears. “Yes, of course. Keep them all if you want.”
I placed the pictures back in the box and closed it up. “I think I will.” I had a feeling I was going to need them.
Once we were done with the visit, Irene packaged up the rest of the cookies and sent them with me. I wasn’t about to turn them down. We left her house and I held the box of pictures on my lap. The whole ride to the lake house we rented was spent mostly in silence.
“I wonder what would’ve happened if they didn’t give Jude up,” I wondered. “Would he be the psychotic killer he is today?”
Shrugging, Reed turned down the street to the rental house. “Who knows. Guess we’ll find out how truly fucked up he is when we meet him.”
The thought sent shivers down my spine. “When do you think that’ll be?”
We pulled into the driveway of the rental house and Reed shut off the car. “Whenever you want it to be, Kennedy. I need you to be ready.”
I nodded. “Soon, then. It won’t be long.” I held the shoebox close to my chest. It wouldn’t be long at all.
Chapter Eighteen
Kennedy
For the rest of the evening, I just wanted to relax. I didn’t want to talk about Jude or anything case related and he knew that. My heart hurt too much to think about any of it. All I wanted was a night to be myself. Easier said than done, but I was going to try. I wished my mother wouldn’t have kept secrets from me, but knowing her, she probably felt as if she was protecting me. I couldn’t imagine the amount of guilt she had lived with all these years. I could’ve helped her if she’d only confided in me.
To get my mind off of everything, I knew exactly what would do it. Being back in Belmont, there was one thing the city had that Vermont and Wyoming didn’t … Bojangles. It had been months since I’ve tasted some good fried chicken. I liked to drizzle honey over the top of it before biting into its crunchy goodness. Even Reed thought it was amazing.
I was going to turn on TV, but I got mesmerized by the scenery. On the other side of the room was a large, bay window with the best view of the lake. The sun had started to disappear, leaving the sky in various shades of blue and pink. Seeing it made me want to paint again. I laid my head on the soft pillows and stared out the window.
“Out of all the times I’ve been to North Carolina, I can’t believe I’ve never tried Bojangles,” Reed said, climbing up into the massive four poster king-sized bed beside me. His shirt was off and all he had on was a pair of khaki shorts. After eating dinner, we sat out on the dock and watched people ride by on their boats. We didn’t stay out there long because it was hot as Hades out there. Combined with the humidity, I definitely didn’t miss being in North Carolina in the middle of summer.
Reed set the plate of Irene’s chocolate chip cookies between us and
I grabbed one. “Yeah, seriously,” I teased. “There’s something wrong with you. I used to be addicted to it.”
Chuckling, Reed took a bite of his cookie. “Tell you what, before Ian takes us back to Wyoming, we’ll buy a shit ton of Bojangles fried chicken. We can freeze it when we get home.”
Just the mention of him saying home made my stomach flutter. It made me wonder what it’d be like if I did settle there. But what would happen if things between me and Reed didn’t work out?
“Uh-oh,” Reed said, sighing. “You did that scrunching thing with your eyebrows when I know you’re thinking hard about something.”
That made me smile. “Just like you like to tap your fingers incessantly on the table when you’ve got something on your mind?”
His lips pulled back slightly, but I could tell he was worried about me. “Good point. Guess we all have our quirks,” he said. “But really, what’s on your mind?”
After finishing my cookie, I reached for another one. “What’s going to happen if I decide to relocate to Wyoming and things don’t work out between us?”
Reed stared at me, his expression serious. “What makes you think it won’t?”
I shrugged. “It’s probably my fear talking. I don’t know how to stop it. So much bad shit has happened to me over the years. I keep wondering what I did to deserve it.”
Tears burned my eyes and Reed moved the plate of cookies to the bedside table before pulling me into his arms. “One thing I’ve learned is that you have to live in the here and now, sunshine. You can’t worry about the what ifs. Right now, you have friends in Wyoming who care about you. Not to mention, me. If you decide you don’t want to be with me, I’ll still be there for you.” He cleared his throat. “Now, if you cheat on me that’s a different story.”
I smacked his arm. “That’s not gonna happen. Although, the same goes for you. You might be down one appendage if you do that to me.”
Reed burst out laughing. “You have nothing to worry about.”