“It’s a bit of a blur, to be honest.” Olivia shook her head. “We were in the car, and I remember being really cold because I didn’t have my coat. We made it as far as Philadelphia before the cops caught up with us and my dad was arrested.”
“He’s still alive then?” Jake asked. “In prison?”
Olivia’s lips tightened. “He’s alive, but when they caught up with him, he was raving. He kept ranting something about demons. After he was convicted of first-degree murder, he was institutionalized in a high-security psychiatric hospital, and I ended up in foster care. I bounced around for a few years between family placements and group homes until I aged out of the system.”
“You weren’t adopted?” Louisa asked softly.
“Who would want the kid of a murderer?” She looked up with a small, self-deprecating smile.
“Olive.” Jake breathed.
“Doesn’t matter anymore.” Olivia shrugged off whatever he was about to say; she didn’t need their pity. “I put myself through college, and I’ve got a job I love that gives me a lot of freedom. I’m doing okay.”
“The one thing I don’t understand”—Louisa frowned—“was why Evelyn wasn’t given custody of you? She adored you.”
“That’s a story for another time.” Olivia wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore so she handed Louisa one of the dishes. “Come on, the meal’s getting cold. We’ll go to the library. It’s still a bit of a mess, but at least it’s clean.” Olivia handed the other dish to Jake, and taking her own, she headed toward the door. “I haven’t had the chance to sort through the rest of the house yet.”
They settled comfortably in the library with Louisa stretched out on the saggy old couch and Jake in an adjacent chair, which was deeply cushioned in cracked brown leather. Olivia dragged a couple of cushions onto the floor and settled on the rose-colored rug in front of the fireplace.
“So, Jake.” Louisa scooped a mouthful of spaghetti onto her fork. “What happened today at The Salted Bone? There was a lot of gossip buzzing around the ER this afternoon.”
Olivia swallowed her mouthful of food. “I was at the store this morning, and Mrs. Bailey was practically plastered to the window watching it all.”
“I’m surprised she hasn’t permanently worn the glass thin.” Louisa rolled her eyes. “I’ll just bet she loved the fact you were back in town.”
Olivia snorted as she picked up her wineglass. “It was like Christmas had come early. You should’ve seen her face when she figured out who I was…” She shook her head and picked up her fork once again. “She was convinced that Adam was a drifter who’d ended up robbing Jackson and taking off.”
“You know Adam and Jackson?” Jake asked.
“I met them last night,” she replied. “There wasn’t anything edible in the house, so I went down to the pub for dinner.”
“Never mind that.” Louisa’s gaze fixed on Jake. “Get to the juicy stuff.”
“I can’t. You know I can’t discuss an ongoing case.”
“Come on, Jake. What’s the point of having a cop as a brother if I don’t get all the good gossip? You know I won’t tell anyone.”
“There’s nothing to gossip about.” Jake picked up his beer, pausing before taking a sip. “Mrs. Bailey may be the town busybody but, in this case, she does have a point. Adam led a pretty transient life. It’s possible he just decided to move on.”
“You don’t believe that though.” Olivia tilted her head as she studied Jake’s expression. “Do you?”
Jake stared at her for a long moment and then released a loud breath. “Fine, but this goes no further than the three of us. Adam’s car was left in the parking lot with the door unlocked. There was blood found on the door rim, and all of his clothes and possessions are still in his room over at the Black Cat Motel.”
“God,” Louisa whispered, her expression serious. “Do you think something bad happened to him?”
“We don’t know yet.” Jake shook his head and continued to eat.
“Poor Adam.” Olivia muttered. “I only met him last night, but he seemed like a nice enough guy, and I think he had something going on with the red-haired server.”
“What makes you say that?” Jake asked.
“Just an observation.” Olivia shrugged. “The way they looked at each other. It wasn’t just familiar, it was intimate.”
“You always were good at reading people,” Louisa murmured as she studied Olivia. “Well, I hope they find him and that he’s okay.”
“Time will tell,” Jake said quietly as they settled in to eat in companionable silence.
“It’s getting a little cold in here.” Olivia set her empty dish on the floor beside her. “I think I’ll light the fire.”
