Misty Hollow Massacre by Carol Ericson

Author:Carol Ericson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-08-25T16:51:56+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Dead finches. Jed shot a quick look at Hannah’s rounded eyes and gave a slight shake of his head. “Where did this happen? Where did the Keldorfs live?”

“Um.” Roaming Bear raised his dark eyes to the ceiling, as if looking for the answer up there. He found it. “On the other side of the falls—not too far from your old place, which I heard you’re fixing up.”

“W-were the two foster kids injured?” Hannah had such a tight grip on her wineglass, she looked close to snapping the stem.

“Don’t think so. Law enforcement whisked them right out of there.” Roaming Bear’s eyes softened as he looked at Hannah. “You really care about children, don’t you? Unfortunately, two other children did die in the melee. Two other foster kids. As I recall, the Keldorfs couldn’t have kids of their own and fostered several over the years.”

“CPS obviously didn’t do a great job of vetting Mr. Keldorf.” Hannah hunched her shoulders and finished off the dregs of her wine, looking like she needed more.

Roaming Bear held up one unsteady finger. “I think I just heard my number. I need to get this pizza home to my Rose.”

“I’ll grab it.” Jed pushed back his chair and strode toward the counter. By the time he returned to the table carrying the box, Hannah was standing next to Roaming Bear’s chair, helping him to his feet.

The old man patted her hand and whispered something in her ear, which made her smile.

Jed held out the pizza to Roaming Bear. “Do you need help with this out to your car?”

“No, no. Finish your meal. Rose will be pleased to hear I saw you out tonight. Nice to meet you, Hannah. Take care, boy.” He shuffled out of the restaurant, holding the pizza in front of him as someone held the door open.

Jed picked up his slice. “What did he say to you?”

“Told me I was nothing like my old man, which I take as a compliment.”

“Especially from Roaming Bear.” He took a big bite and chewed, waiting for Hannah to bring up the Keldorfs. By the time he swallowed, she was still staring into her empty glass.

He dragged a napkin across his face. “So, what do you think about the Keldorfs?”

“Just thinking about family annihilators and how we can see the signs.”

Roaming Bear’s story had engaged her psychology mind, but Jed needed her investigative mind. “But the finches. Don’t you think that’s a coincidence? Dead finches then, dead finches now.”

“That is strange, but Chet Keldorf is dead. He’s not killing women today and leaving dead birds.”

“Yeah, but it’s the first clue we’ve gotten about these finches. Maybe that crime inspired someone else. Maybe Keldorf has a relative still living in the area. Doesn’t psychopathy run in families?”

“There is a genetic component, usually passed down from the father.”

Jed hit the table. “There you go.”

“Didn’t you hear Roaming Bear? Chet Keldorf didn’t have any children. He didn’t pass his genes down to anyone.”

“Siblings, nephews, then.” He waved his crust at her.

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