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Matthew leaned in. “What you talkin’ ’bout, son?”
It was Kellan who answered, “Back in the spring, we heard Arien scream and went runnin’ to her room. Said she saw someone.”
“He wore a hood. She couldn’t see his face,” Tanner added.
“Sonofabitch. And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“I went out and looked around. Didn’t see no one.” Shaking his head, Kellan twisted the wedding band on his finger. “It was rainin’ somethin’ fierce that night. Thunder and lightnin’. Figured the storm just spooked her.”
We figured wrong, brother.
“Hasn’t he taken enough from me? He wants my boy now?” Gritting his teeth, Matthew plowed his fingers through his hair. “And my girl?”
Huh?
“He?” Kellan looked as confused as he was.
“Your grandfather.” Dad’s fist slammed down on the coffee table. “John Jacoby.”
What in the ever-loving hell? Christ, if that wasn’t the most preposterous thing Tanner had ever heard. “Pops wouldn’t hurt anyone, ’specially a baby.”
“No?” Matthew gripped the arm of the sofa. “I know different.”
“Matt.” Victor pulled on Matthew’s shoulder.
“What? It’s no secret the bastard blames me for what happened to Heather and Amanda. Weak heart, my ass. I suspected somethin’ then. Couldn’t prove it, though.” Lip curling, he let out a harsh breath. “Still can’t. But after Jennifer…now I’m certain.”
Jesus Christ, are you sayin’…?
“No, Dad.”
“I’m sorry, Tanner.” Reaching over Kellan, he squeezed his knee. “I know you love him, but I believe it to be true. Wouldn’t be sayin’ so if I didn’t.”
“But the autopsy had nothin’, so how?” Kellan wondered out loud, rubbing the two-day growth of scruff on his face.
“Dunno.”
“And why?” Tanner didn’t believe it. What could possibly motivate a man to end the lives of three women and leave their newborns without a mother? Two of them his own daughters. It was inconceivable. And unless he missed the plot, isn’t that what his father was alleging here?
“Not sure of that either.” He looked away, staring off at nothing. “To hurt me, I reckon.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you.” With a subtle shake of his head, Victor Gantry sighed. “Three seemingly healthy women dead shortly after birthin’ your babies. That’s not just an unfortunate coincidence.”
“Damn right it ain’t.” His fist shook in the air. “It’s a curse. And that curse has a name. John Jacoby.”
“But Dad, Pops was at Griff’s wedding when…you know…when it happened.” See? You’re wrong.
“You sure about that, son?”
Did he see him that night? He must’ve, but Tanner couldn’t swear to it. “Pretty sure.”
“Should be easy enough to check, Matt.” Victor squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll talk to Archer. See if anyone else was missing from the weddin’ while we’re at it.”
“I saw him.” Arien sat down next to him on the arm of the sofa. How long had she been standing there? Tanner brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “At the cemetery. He didn’t come right out and say it, but what he inferred was quite clear.”
“You never mentioned it.” His features softening, Matthew gazed at her.
“Didn’t believe him. Wrote it off as the ramblings of a grieving man.”
