Chapter 10 #3
“Last I heard they’d bought a home near Gold Beach. Some sort of senior living or retirement village. Something like that. I remember because we’re about the same age as her parents, and it’s hard for me to believe we could be considered old enough to retire.”
Could they even retire? There sure wasn’t a 401(k) or retirement plan for criminals.
Neither of them paid into Social Security either, so they weren’t eligible for those payments, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
Knowing his dad, he was still in the thick of things and socking away money for old age.
The back door opened. Dread flooded Gabe’s body like a bad virus.
He swiveled his chair. Not his dad, but almost as bad.
His brother, Brad, stepped in. He resembled Gabe in many physical ways.
Hopefully not in the cruelty that was often found in his eyes, a true expression passed down from their father.
Neither of them had forgiven Gabe for walking out on the family business.
Brad scowled. “So, the prodigal son has returned.”
Their mother jumped up and rushed over to Brad. “He didn’t come back to the family, if that’s what you’re thinking. He came to tell me Kenna has been murdered, and her little daughter is missing. They need to know how to contact her family.”
A flash of pain crossed over Brad’s face, and he gripped the counter. Gabe had always believed his brother had a crush on Kenna back in the day. His reaction could be a confirmation of that.
“When did this happen?” he asked, his voice strained.
“Friday night. She was strangled and left face down in Lost Lake.”
He tightened his grip on the counter. “What was she doing there?”
Odd question for him to ask, especially when he didn’t know anything about her these days. “She was afraid of something and was on her way to see me.”
“But you don’t know what it was?”
Another odd question.
“No, do you?” Gabe asked.
“Me?” Brad’s tone mirrored his mother’s surprise. “Why would I know what Kenna was afraid of?”
“Because you know what’s going on in the criminal underbelly around here. If it somehow invaded her life, you’d know about it.”
Brad removed his hands and shoved them into his pockets. “If you’re here to insult me and the family, you might as well leave.”
“We’re just here for the current address of Kenna’s parents,” El said.
“And who are you? Law enforcement by the looks of it. Otherwise, I don’t know why a beautiful woman would dress like a nun in today’s world.”
“Brad!” their mother said. “No need to be rude.”
“No worries.” El smiled. “He’s right. I think of this as my uniform. Do you know where Kenna’s parents are, Mr. Irving?”
“I’m sure Mom told you they moved to a retirement village in Gold Beach.”
“She did, but she didn’t have an address.”
He stood looking at El, and Gabe could almost see the thoughts pinging through his head. “I can probably get that for you.”
“You being helpful? That’s a first.” Gabe studied his brother for a few moments to see if he had an ulterior motive. “How would you get their address?”
“I know the couple who bought their house. They might have a forwarding address in their paperwork. Sit tight. I’ll go ask them.” He spun and rushed out the door.
“He’s always willing to help.” Gabe’s mother said with pride as she returned to the table.
As usual, his memory of his brother was far different than his mother’s. “He seemed bothered by hearing about Kenna’s murder.”
“Of course he did,” his mother said. “He might come off as a tough guy, but he’s very sensitive.”
A snort came to the surface, but Gabe swallowed it and stood. “Unless you have anything else to offer regarding Kenna and her family, we’ll be going.”
Her eyes widened. “But what about the address?”
Gabe fished out a business card from his pocket and laid it on the table. “If Brad gets it, have him text me at this phone number.”
She got up slowly. “You sure you can’t stay, son?”
“Not as long as even one person in our family is still involved in criminal activities.”
His mother glanced at El.
“Don’t worry, she knows about the family business, and she’s not here to do anything about it,” Gabe said. “Like we said, she’s here to get information on Kenna.”
El stood and handed her business card to his mom. “Please let me know if you learn anything else about Kenna and her murder. Or where Lucy might be.”
His mother nodded vigorously. “I doubt that I’ll hear anything, but you can be sure if I do, I’ll call you.”
“Goodbye, Mom.” Gabe barely got the words out through a closing throat.
He rushed for the front door, assuming El was following him.
He whipped it open and charged down the steps.
On the sidewalk, he turned for a brief last look at his mother, but his emotions overwhelmed him, and he couldn’t stay there.
Battling tears, he fled to El’s car. The locks clicked open from her remote key fob. He dove inside as if closing the door would protect him from his pain. Stop him from going back up that walkway to hug his mom. To consider connecting again with his family.
El got behind the wheel and started the engine, but looked at him instead of shifting into gear. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Drive. Just drive and get away from this house.” He stabbed the address into the GPS for the daycare center where Kenna had worked. “Follow directions. Takes less than five minutes.”
He looked out his window, but not at the house.
He would totally lose it if he saw his mom standing there upset and confused.
Maybe crying. He never wanted to hurt her.
His reaction told him he still loved her and still hated what had happened between him and his family.
And most importantly, proved he hadn’t really made any progress in leaving it behind.
El reached out and gently touched his knee. “I’m here for you if you need to talk.”
He gave her as much of a smile as he could find, then looked back out the window. She was proving more and more to be the woman for him.
But how in the world could he ever follow his feelings for her when this baggage still had such a hold on his life? A question he didn’t need to ask.
The answer was obvious. He couldn’t.