20. Chapter 20
twenty
Amanda sat back against the throw pillows she and Gene had set on the rug in front of the fireplace and sipped her wine. She just wanted to stretch out now that her hunger—for Gene and food—was satisfied.
Gene returned from putting away the leftovers and lounged next to her. It felt right to him being there in her house, looking relaxed and at home. Even Loki accepted Gene’s presence like he’d always been part of their household. Her dog snored on his nearby bed.
“I’m glad my dad left some clothes here for his visits.” Amanda noted the sweatpants and T-shirt. “If not, you’d have to wear my girly clothes.”
“Or I could wear nothing.” He threw her a grin. “You seem to like that.”
“I do,” Amanda agreed.
Gene turned to his side and faced her.
“How are you these two different women in one body? There’s the wholesome part of you who volunteers at a shelter, gives meals to the unhoused, sweetly bribes cops with treats to help search for a missing girl, and always makes time for her elderly nosy neighbor. Then there’s this woman who burns so hot she’d bring any man to his knees,” he finished, with a small peck on her shoulder.
“Why are men always shocked when they find out women have healthy libidos, too?” Amanda rolled her eyes. “I’m especially disappointed you think that way, Doctor.”
“I know women enjoy sex as much as men do,” Gene rejoined. “But you, Miss Garner, are both an angel and a vixen in one delectable body.”
She smiled. “We aren’t so different, Doc—just two humans with needs who try to help others however we can.”
Gene barked out a short, self-deprecating laugh. “Try being the operative word. But I don’t think I make enough of a difference.”
Amanda studied him. “What is enough?”
He sat up and stared at the crackling fire. “I don’t know.”
Amanda waited for him to continue, but he stayed silent. She knew he was deciding what his next step would be. The path he chose would shape the rest of his life. On the hike earlier, he’d been energized when he’d told her about Costa Rica. Working abroad sounded exciting and important.
Will he go away to make that impact he craves?
Amanda didn’t get to ask the question. A buzz made her reach for her phone and read the message that came in.
“Oh my gosh,” she breathed out.
“What?” Gene turned to her.
Amanda’s voice shook. “It’s Liam. He got a name. Mona Carson.”
Gene’s eyes lit up. “That’s huge news.”
“Will you pass that on to Patrick?”
Amanda could hardly contain her excitement. Her fingers trembled as she texted Liam back.
She glanced at the clock. It was barely eight, and she wondered if this new information would move the needle faster at all.
Gene put his call on the speaker.
Patrick picked up after a few rings.
“Detective Alden.”
“Patrick, we just—”
“There’s no update yet,” Patrick cut him off. “You know I have other things to work on, too.”
“We’re calling because we have another piece of the puzzle,” Gene said.
Patrick went silent on the other end before asking, “What could you possibly uncover within the last three hours?”
“Amanda.” Gene smiled at her to do the honor.
“Her name is Mona Carson. She’s a freshman at Gainesville High. My part-time employee, Liam—a junior there—circulated the sketch. More than a few recognized Mona,” Amanda summarized. “And she hasn’t been in school since last week.”
“Carson?” Patrick spelled the name for confirmation. They heard some faint clicking in the background. “No missing persons report for Mona Carson, but it doesn’t mean anything. And since she’s a minor, I found nothing in the database.”
“Can you talk to the school to confirm?” Gene asked.
“I may be able to discreetly ask the principal to confirm the sketch is Mona Carson since we have probable cause, but there’s protocol when dealing with minors.”
“How about her parents? Liam’s friend mentioned her family is affluent enough to pull her out of school a week at a time for vacations,” Amanda said.
Doubt infused Patrick’s voice. “If that is the case, there’s a chance this isn’t the same girl. Maybe her parents pulled her out for another vacation.”
“With the same first name? How many teenagers with the name Mona reside in this town, do you think?” Amanda challenged.
“I’m just talking plausible scenarios, but I agree it’s too big of a coincidence.”
“Talking about scenarios, if the children in the woods are the Carsons’ children, why haven’t their parents reported them missing? Something’s amiss here,” Gene said, looking grim.
Amanda gasped. “Maybe something happened to them.”
“Or maybe the kids were running from them,” Gene added.
“Unfortunately, those are all possibilities,” Patrick said, sounding as somber as Gene. “Let me do some research and see if I can get more information on Mona Carson and get her parents’ names.”
“Wait, do you think it’s Carson as in Carson Cars?” Amanda suddenly had a lightbulb moment. “They own most of the car dealers around the area and all over Georgia.”
Gene looked at her with a nod of recognition.
“I’ll look into it,” Patrick said. “I’ve got to check out all this new info. Thanks, guys. Let me handle this from here on out. It may be more than a runaway case. I don’t want you getting yourself into an unknown situation.”
“But we can help,” Amanda insisted. “Gene and I could go to Carson Cars” flagship dealership, pretending to shop for a car. Well, I don’t have to pretend, actually.”
“No, please. Stay out of it,” Patrick warned. “If you want to help, focus on finding the children. I will update you about the K-9 unit in the morning.”
They ended the call, and Amanda wondered, “What is going on with the Carsons?”
“I don’t know, but Patrick’s right. Our concern are the children,” he said.
Amanda nodded. “That’s right. Find them first. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
“I have an idea.” Gene dialed another number.
“Who are you calling?”
He held out a finger, then spoke to the phone. “Mom, I need a favor.”
Gene read the text from his mother and smiled.
“We got the name of the brother.”
Amanda looked at him expectantly while brushing her teeth.
“Beau,” he supplied. “He’s a sixth grader in the west campus middle school. He hasn’t been in school, either. One of his teachers was worried enough to do a wellness check. Their mother told the teacher, the kids are with their grandparents for the week in Belize on an educational trip.”
Amanda rinsed her mouth and spit. “People do that?”
“People with money, probably. But why would you take another vacation so close after spring break? And without a heads-up to the schools?”
Gene leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed at the chest.
“We may not understand what rich people do with their money, but I still think it’s odd,” Amanda said.
“Agreed.” Gene said, thinking about the only ultra rich person he knew personally. “My brother’s best friend from college is loaded and can go to any place in the world on holidays. His family owns the Sullens hotels—”
“No shit?” Amanda’s eyes rounded in shock.
When Gene first met Dean’s friend, Chris Sullens, he had been just as surprised as Amanda. “But he preferred to come here with Dean during their breaks,” Gene added. “He’s a pretty laid-back guy. Not what you’d imagine for someone who will inherit a hotel empire.”
“Huh. Did his parents take him out of school for spur-of-a-moment trips?” Amanda asked.
“He went to boarding school before college. His mother died when he was young and he doesn’t have a great relationship with his dad. So, no, I don’t think so.”
“Oh, that’s sad. That shows money doesn’t always bring happiness.”
“No.” Gene agreed.
She shrugged with a resigned smile. “Though having enough of it would help.”
Gene studied her face and wondered if she’d meant that to be more than a vague statement. Her worry about the costs of her car repairs and the emergency health services made him think she might be strapped for money.
He wouldn’t be surprised since she was a business owner. She probably had business loans to repay, expenses and salaries to pay. But she was also one of the most generous people he’d met. When donating food and time to the shelter, Amanda didn’t think twice.
I can probably contribute more to the community the way Amanda does.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Amanda tilted her head. A tiny smile tugged up the corner of her mouth.
“Just thinking about how beautiful you are,” Gene answered.
She is beautiful. Inside out.
Her eyes rolled with an accompanying scoff.
“A man will say anything when you allow them in your bed.”
Gene chuckled. “I’m not in your bed.”
“You will be in a few seconds.”
She closed the distance between them, molded herself to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
He met her lips with his and murmured against them. “Hmm, I wonder what Miss Lydia will think if I stay the night again when you’re not even injured.”
“She doesn’t need to think. Her mobility and eyesight might be more limited now, but her hearing is perfectly fine.”
Gene pulled back with a startled expression.
“Were we that loud?”
“The wall is thin,” Amanda whispered.
He couldn’t help but blush, knowing the elderly neighbor might know what they’d been doing.
“Are you turning shy on me, Doc?”
Amanda used her body to push him toward the bed.
“You’re awfully calm about your voyeur neighbor.”
Amanda laughed. “She might look like a sweet old lady now, but Miss Lydia has enough scintillating stories that would turn even you red as a beet. She’s probably wishing she was young again and had a big, powerful stud between her legs like I’m about to.”
“Jesus, Amanda.” Gene laughed.
Without a warning, Gene wrapped his hands around her waist and threw her onto the bed. Her eyes widened in shock. After stripping off the borrowed T-shirt and sweatpants, he crawled onto the bed. He pulled her panties off her legs before nudging her knees open to hover over her.
“You want a stud between your legs, huh?” he asked with a teasing smirk.
“Yes, please,” she answered politely.
Gene kissed the woman that was increasingly becoming important to him.
“It’ll be my pleasure, darling.”
I’ll give you whatever you want.