Page 145 of Running to You

“They’re dead.”

Jon’s gaze snapped up. “He told you that? That his parents are dead?”

Eliza was too excited to sit. This felt like it might lead to something. “Car accident when Jed was seventeen. His father’d had too much to drink and drove off the road. He talked about it a lot, how devastating it was when he got the news. How he was an only child who had to make his own way.”

Sam was watching the private investigator over the top of his laptop, eyebrow quirked. “Not what happened?”

“Arthur and Marybeth Cushing are still alive,” Jon said. “They live in Tennessee.”

Eliza plopped in her chair. Why was she surprised? Jed would say anything to manipulate people, and what better way than to claim he was an orphan? That his alcoholic stepfather had killed his mother? It was a way to garner pity and respect all at the same time.

“Any chance you’ve dug up a number for them?” Michael asked.

“Hold up.” Jon typed, and then Michael’s phone dinged.

Michael started to stand but settled again, focusing on Sam and Eliza. “Do you guys want to call?”

Sam looked at her.

“I wouldn’t know what to ask,” she said.

Sam nodded to his brother. “I have a feeling you’ll get more information than I could. What are you going to say?”

Michael shrugged. “I’ll figure it out as I go.”

He headed outside, then disappeared down a set of stairs that led to the yard below. It stretched a good fifty yards beyond the hotel, only interrupted by a covered pool and concrete patio.

Their lunches were delivered, and they ate while they searched for information, Eliza leaning in to read Sam’s screen.

“Okay.” Sam tapped his screen. “There are two camps on Cobbosseecontee Lake. I think one’s a Christian camp. But I think… Is it too far east?”

“Yeah,” Jon said. “And we have to find places that were open back then. This would’ve been… Keller’s in his midforties, so thirty years ago.”

“Wouldn’t it have to be closed now?” Eliza asked. “Maybe not permanently, but for the season at least? Maybe we should find a place that rents in the off-season?”

“Great point, Eliza.” Sam shot her a smile. “And we should look into abandoned camps too.”

“Not as easy to find.” Jon stood. “Gotta make a call.” He headed out the way Eliza had come in.

Grant had been quiet through most of the conversation. Now, he looked at her. “I can’t wait to meet my nephew.”

“Oh.” She smiled at the kindness in his eyes. “You’re going to love him.”

“Levi, right?” Grant asked.

“Yeah.”

Sam bumped her shoulder. “I always liked the name Levi.”

“That’s why I chose it.”

His eyes lit.

“Why Levi?” Grant asked his brother. “I mean, it’s great, but—”

“Levi was Jacob’s third son.” Sam must’ve seen Eliza’s confusion. “You know, tribe of Israel?”

Oh, right. She hadn’t had much training in the Bible, but she knew what he was talking about.