Page 80 of Dragon’s Rebel

She exchanged a glance with Thorne. Money left a trail. “Do you know who it was from?” Rebel said. “I’m trying to track down my mother’s family. No one could find them at the time, and my sister and I went into foster care.”

Mr. McHenry’s face looked stricken. “I never knew that. The money came through a law firm over ‘t’other side of the state. I told the lawyers about her passing, and I figured they’d see to you young ones. If I’da known you had no one…”

He shrugged, fiddling with his handkerchief. “Well, your mamma was something special. I always felt bad she died so young, with no family around.” He looked uncomfortable. “Me and my wife set up the stone, and planted the flowers. Least we could do.”

Rebel felt tears starting in her eyes. She’d always thought no one cared about her, or her family, and here this man, practically a stranger, had cared enough to do this for them.

Thorne broke in. “Excuse me,” he said, “but you mentioned that a law firm administered the trust? Do you happen to remember the name? They might know how to contact the rest of her family.”

“Well, now, I can’t recall it off the top of my head,” he said. Rebel’s heart sank. “But it’s all in my files, of course, over to the bank. It’s just down the block.”

They looked at each other again. “Thank you,” Rebel said. “I’d appreciate that.”

“Well, it’s no trouble.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket and hit a couple of buttons. “Tiana?” he said, when someone answered the call. “Can you go down the basement and pull the Miller file? It’s from about oh, fifteen, sixteen years ago.”

There was a silence as the other person spoke.

“Yes, I know, but a few cobwebs never hurt no one.”

Rebel saw Blaze smiling and shaking her head, and they exchanged glances. Yeah, sure, no trouble, except for the poor assistant who had to root around in the basement among the spiders.

But she wasn’t about to object. This could be the clue they were looking for. Thorne squeezed her hand, and they walked off down the street.

The bank was an old-fashioned one, with a dark wooden tellers’ counter and marble floors. It was cool inside. Tiana had already made a copy of the contact information for the law firm, and Rebel made sure to thank her for her trouble.

“You have a cobweb caught in your hair,” Blaze said to her innocently.

Tiana rolled her eyes. “If John wasn’t such a sweetie, I wouldn’t set foot down in that place,” she muttered. “Anything could be down there.”

Rebel thanked her again, trying not to laugh.

Thorne was shaking hands with John McHenry. “Is there anything else you can tell us?” he was saying quietly. “About the night her parents died?”

Mr. McHenry shook his head regretfully. “I wasn’t in town when it happened. Wife and I were off visiting my daughter. Second grandchild.” He shook his head. “She’s in high school now. Time sure flies.” He frowned, then brightened. “Sheriff would know, though. Damien Shore. He was only a deputy then, but he was there that night. Heard him tell about it.”

They said their goodbyes, and Rebel put a hand on John McHenry’s arm. “Thank you,” she said. “And thank you for the headstone, and the flowers. My mother would have liked that.”

“She was a real special lady.” He patted her hand, and they left.