He arched an eyebrow and waited for her to continue, but the woman stared him down like a pro.
Strange. Even Miss Emily seemed to be hiding something.
“Mrs. Hanover…” he grumbled.
“Don’t Mrs. Hanover me, young man.”
David ducked his head, embarrassed by the scolding from the town’s favorite lady. “Sorry, ma’am.”
“That’s better. Now, to answer your question, Jennie is my niece. She lived with me for a couple of years as a teen after her mother died from an overdose. I loved my sister, but she hadn’t always made the smartest choices.”
“You raised your niece? Why haven’t I ever heard this? I don’t think Brandon even knows.”
“Probably not. Jennie is a lot younger than Brandon, and she tended to keep to herself. She moved to Indiana twelve years ago with a man who promised her a good life. It didn’t take long for her to realize she’d married an alcoholic. But I’ll give him this, he treated her well. She loved him and was committed to their marriage, so she stayed.” The older woman tsked. “Then, one night, he wrapped his car around a tree. Killed himself and almost killed his best friend, Kenny.”
“Does anyone around here know about her past?”
“A few. Jennie wants to live a private life, so I don’t advertise why my niece returned to town.”
“She seems…scared.” He tapped his lower lip. “No, scared isn’t right. Make that leery.”
Emily opened her mouth then closed it. “I’ve probably said too much as is. The rest is her story to tell, not mine. But to give you the basics, Zoey stays with me while her mom works, and we get together frequently. It’s not a secret, but I try to keep that tidbit to myself for Jennie’s sake.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and peered at the older woman. “I appreciate everything you’ve told me. I’d like to ask one more thing.”
Mrs. Hanover nodded.
“Is there anyone out there that would want to hurt Jennie or Zoey?”
The older lady stared at the floor for a moment. “Let me just say, not that I know of.”
“Miss Emily, that’s a bit cagey.”
“Well, that’s all you’re going to get.” She stood, putting an end to their conversation. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for my special afternoon guest. And I’d appreciate it if you weren’t here when she comes.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you for your time.” He rose to his feet. He’d filled in several holes, only to have a few more questions pop up.
Emily patted his cheek and smiled. “Now, if you decide to come and ask about Jennie on a personal level, I’ll be happy to answer your questions.”
David’s mouth hung open. The woman had the tenacity of a dog with a bone.
She chuckled. “Let me grab you the box of cookies your partner wants.”
“How did you know?”
“Oh, please.” She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a container.
“Thank you, Miss Emily.”
“You’re welcome. Now, scoot.” She led him to the door and bid him farewell.
He exited and made his way to his department-issued vehicle. Placing his hand on the driver’s side door handle, he shook his head.
Miss Emily had laid down the gauntlet for matchmaking, but he refused to pick it up. He’d failed one woman, and it had cost her her life. He wasn’t about to put himself in that situation again.
Besides, he had a crime to investigate. And he refused to allow Zoey to end up as a statistic.
**
