Page 144 of Running to You

“But his father is from Maine,” she said.

Jon squinted, tapped on his laptop. “His father’s from Malden. His mother’s from Revere. His father died when he was a kid.”

“Right, but…” She nibbled a bite of the biscuit. Fluffy and soft and just salty enough from the butter that must’ve been brushed over the top. “His mom remarried.”

“When Keller was”—Jon scrolled—“nine.”

“The stepfather’s from Maine,” Eliza clarified. “Jed talked about him a lot. He respected him when he was young, but then he—”

“Arnold Cushing.”

“Right. Arnold started making the family go to church, and Jed didn’t like it. He lost respect for him then. I guess they fought a lot.” She focused on Sam. “He told this story to explain about how weak people search for a higher power, but wise people follow guides who’ll teach them to seek that higher power within themselves.”

“Mmm.” The low sound coming from Sam’s mouth was nearly a growl. “And he was one of those guides, I guess.”

“The only one, as far as I could tell.” She turned back to Jon. “His stepfather was an alcoholic, and he ‘found God,’ as Jed would say, at AA. According to Jed, he never conquered his addiction, and Jed believed it was because he leaned on a mythical God instead of on himself.”

“Interesting theory,” Grant said. “Except it goes against the millions of people who credit God with overcoming their addictions.”

“Nobody ever challenged Jed. Wasn’t worth the argument. The point is, they visited the stepfather’s family a lot. I don’t know where they lived, but Jed made it sound pretty remote. Also, Jed and Lola lived in Kennebunk when I met them. Maybe they own other property in the state?”

“Already checked that,” Sam said. “Nothing in Maine.”

“You’re doing that?” Eliza asked. Because Jon was the private investigator, wasn’t he?

“I do my homework when a buyer shows interest in a business I’m representing. This isn’t so different from that.” Sam tapped on his laptop. “I looked into properties owned by Keller’s family and Lola’s.”

“Can you show me the area we’re searching?” Eliza asked.

Sam clicked to a map. She leaned close and saw a satellite view. Forest. Miles and miles and miles of forest.

Levi and Mom could be anywhere. How would they ever find them?

* * *

After an hour of no results, the quiet tapping on keys was slowly driving Eliza insane. Probably because while the men worked, she had nothing to do. Nothing to add. She’d nibbled half the biscuit, but she craved something more substantial.

Maybe Sam could feel her frustration because he looked up from the screen. “I wish I had a laptop you could use. Maybe you could check on lunch? I asked earlier if they’d bring us something around noon.” It was quarter past. “You guys hungry?”

“I could eat,” Grant said.

“You can always eat.” Then Michael winked at her. “I think it’s a Wright family characteristic. Just wait till Levi gets big.”

The idea that her son might grow up to be like these oversize men… She could hardly imagine it.

She pushed back in her chair and went in search of the dining room. After speaking to one of the waitstaff, who promised to deliver their lunches soon, she used the restroom and then headed toward the sunroom, glancing at the pictures hanging in the hallway. They displayed the hotel and property over the years. According to a plaque beside a black-and-white photo taken in the fifties, it’d started as a campground.

The thought niggled a memory free, and she hurried back to the sunroom. “I remembered something.”

The men stopped what they were doing and looked at her, but she focused on Sam.

“After Jed’s stepdad became a believer, he made Jed go to church camp every summer. The camp was in Maine.”

“Okay, good.” Jon shifted his gaze to his laptop and started typing. After a few seconds, he said, “Lots of options.”

Of course there were. Lord, a little help?

“We should call his mom and stepfather.” Sam looked up at her. “Do you think they’d help us?”