Page 107 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“You know I’m here if you change your mind.”

“Yes, I do. I love you, Nate.”

“I love you too.” The silence hung heavy with the brief pause, both of them knowing that something was wrong. “Come over and have dinner with Callie and me tomorrow night. We’ll invite Molly too.”

“Yeah?”

“Definitely.”

“Okay.”

“Head over after work if you want and we’ll do it up.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget about the cupcake. Baby wants you to eat it.”

He chuckled, well used to his sister’s new method of getting what she wanted. “I’ll head over to the bakery right now.”

“Until tomorrow.”

“Bye.” He set the phone back in the cradle and studied the picture again—the colorful banners and blurs of people in the background. Now that he had his first confirmation he wanted the next—unequivocal proof that this photo placed Callie Davis and her biological mother at the 1995 Carter Island Fourth of July Parade. He was mostly certain that was the case, but he wasn’t interested in dealing with guesswork—only absolutes. Gaining his feet, he put on his jacket and slid the picture in his pocket, then headed down the hall.

Kay turned in her seat. “Heading out?”

“Yeah. Over to the library to check into something. Then I’m going to swing by the bakery for a late lunch.”

Kay nodded. “Mac dropped that carcass off with Michelle. She said rabies is fairly rare in squirrels, but she’ll take some samples and send them off to the lab after she deals with her spays and neuters.”

“Sounds good. Let’s make sure we get something out over the broadcast to let the community know to be on the lookout for suspicious animals. We don’t want anyone panicking, but I’d rather play it safe until we know what’s what.”

Kay made a quick note on her running list. “I’ll take care of it right away.”

He nodded, knowing she would. “Need anything from the bakery?”

Kay shook her head. “I’m determined to drop a dress size before my vacation.”

“Okay, then.”

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

“I have my radio.” He pushed through the door and headed for the truck, then changed directions, deciding to walk despite the brisk winds. He wasn’t going more than a couple of blocks in either direction. If something happened, he could make a run for the Tahoe. Crossing the street, he decided to start at the library, eager to see what pictures Jillian had that might bring him more information. He stepped inside and smiled at his favorite librarian sitting in the same spot she had been in yesterday.

She smiled back. “Hello, Nathan.”

“Hi.”

“Callie’s not here.”

“Yeah, I know. She’s over at the bakery with Molly.”

She stood. “To what do I owe this honor, then?”

“I was hoping I might be able to get a look at some of the pictures you have out on the table—stuff from the summer of 1995.”

Jillian raised her brow. “That’s very specific.”

He nodded. “I’m looking into something. I think they might help refresh my memory.”

“You were just a small boy. Six or seven.”