Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Bells went off in my head. Amy was more serious about Beau than she let on or that she realized since she never discussed her money situation with anyone but me.
“Amy’s mom had struggled to support Amy and Noah since he rarely kept a job long. Amy started working at thirteen to help her mom and started saving for college as well.”
Beau nodded. “We talked about that.”
Whoa! Amy really was sharing things with Beau.
“We have to get proof that he’s gambling,” Beau said. “I’m thinking he ran out of money and left to gamble over at Sunrise Casino. It’s the closest casino, four hours away. Or he could have hit Atlantic City casinos in New Jersey since he was gone two days.”
I couldn’t help but think Beau might be right. It would explain why he had so often disappeared when Amy was young and why he hadn’t held a job long, the call of gambling too enticing. But the problem was how to prove it.
“It does make sense, but proving it is a whole other thing,” I said. The kettle whistled and I turned to fix us tea.
“I tried finding out about him on the Internet, social media, even one of those places that charge a fee for info on a person, but without some basic info about him like at least one known address, it’s difficult. I put in Willow Lake, thinking I could track him from there, but nothing came up. And who would have guessed that Noah Berwick was more of a common name than you would have thought?”
His cell rang as I placed a mug of tea in front of him.
“Damn,” he muttered and looked at Pepper. “Sorry,” he said quickly and answered the call.
I couldn’t believe my mom, even though she wasn’t here she still had Beau watching his mouth.
“I’m at Pepper’s, I’ll be there in five, Garth,” Beau said.
I recognized the name. It was one of Ian’s photographers.
“I forgot. I have a photo shoot. I need to go,” he said, sounding disappointed.
“I’ll tell Amy that her dad is back,” I said.
“You’ll go see her now?” Beau asked anxiously.
I nodded. “I’ll go now.”
“Good,” Beau said with relief. “Text me and let me know how she is.”
“She’ll probably text you herself, but I’ll make sure to let you know,” I assured him.
He smiled and was out the door in a flash.
I was about to reluctantly dump my tea out when my cell rang. It was Amy.
“My dad’s back,” she said.
I wasn’t about to lie and pretend I didn’t know. “I know, Beau just told me he saw him.”
“And he didn’t tell me?” Amy said upset.
“He didn’t want to text you such news. He was worried you’d be upset, and he knew you had a full schedule of clients today.”
Amy sighed. “He’s right. A text would have upset me, and I barely have a few minutes to talk with you before my next client.”
“How did you find out?”
“He called me and told me he was back and wanted to see me. Apologized up and down about having to leave for a few days but offered no explanation. I told him I was busy and would get back to him. He told me he’d be waiting to hear from me. I have to go.”
“Can you get away for lunch?” I asked quickly.
“A fast one,” she said.
“Diner. Time.”
“One,” she said, “and thanks, Pepper, I can always count on you being there.”
She hung up before I could say anything and at that moment I hated her father even more.
I sipped my tea while staring at the bags of receipts. They would have to wait. I sent Ian a text letting him know what had happened and that plans had changed.
Let me know when you get home. I’ll head over. Take my vehicle, heater works better than your truck.
He was right about that, and I was about to agree when a thought hit me. I sent back a text.
Good reason to see Marsh.
Be careful. Text me afterward.
Will do.
Marsh was the best mechanic in the area and usually busy with appointments that were difficult to come by. But he always made time for his steady customers. Thankfully I was one of them.
I spotted the mayor’s car, a top-of-the-line Infiniti, parked in front of one of the two closed bay garage doors before pulling off the road. I also spotted the closed sign on the office door. With the office mostly windows and steel, it was a clear view inside, and it was empty. Could Marsh have been the person he’d been talking to at Yesterday’s Treasures?
I had to know. I drove past the office and pulled around back where the vehicle wouldn’t be seen. A dirt pathway ran behind Marsh’s shop, woods butting up against it. No one would see what I was up to.