Gabby remained silent on the drive from Sam’s to Martin Tankersly’s house. Immy had gently scolded her for just blurting out the truth to Sam, and remorse shifted Gabby’s movements into slow motion.

Now she had to wonder about what Clark’s sources had found out. Was Eric the child Amber had? When would all the confusion, deceptions and secrets end?

“I know you didn’t mean any ill will, Gab, but maybe you ought to plan what you’re gonna say before you talk to Martin.” Sheldon’s words held no malice.

“I’m working on it. Ever since I heard what Mr. Tankersly yelled about an adopted son, I’ve wondered what it meant.” What was she missing? The elusive link which would put the whole chain together was right there…bobbing just out of her reach.

“Considering the fight you and Martin had, Clark, I’m wondering if maybe it’d be best for you to stay in the truck while we talk to him,” Immy said.

Gabby cut her gaze to Clark. “Probably not a bad idea.”

“Fine. I’ll stay in the truck. Unless he makes a wrong move.”

He worried about her! How nice. It’d been a long time since a man had worried about her, save her papa and Antonio.

Rayne tapped her perfectly manicured fingernail against her front teeth, not smudging her glossy lipstick. “I’m not understanding how all this is connected. I mean, yeah, Mr. Sam was upset because he feels like Robert took Amber away from him, but let’s be honest—I just don’t see him murdering Howard. There’s no logic there.”

“Unless he shot Howard thinking it was Robert?” Tonna interrupted.

“What if he recently found out about the baby Amber gave up and wanted Robert out of the picture? Maybe so he and Amber could have another chance?” Gabby knew it was a big reach, but she didn’t have another plausible reason to suspect Sam. Truth be told, she had a gut feeling that Sam wasn’t involved at all. But lost love was a strong motive.

“Great day in the morning, Gabby. That man had no clue he had fathered a child until you said something. You could see the surprise and pain in his eyes, plain as day.” Immy’s words were as harsh as a schoolmarm’s. “He was plum shocked, that’s what he was.”

“I’m sure he’ll be just fine, Immy.” Tonna gave a little snort. “People get shocks every day of the week and they survive.”

“But he’d been drinking the other day, and from the smell of things just now, I’d say he’s still nipping at the bottle. I’m a little concerned about him.”

Tonna shrugged. “Then check on him later, if it’ll make you feel better.”

“I’d like to know what happened to the baby,” Sheldon whispered from the backseat. “I mean, was Amber kept up to date on the baby’s progress like some adoptions? I saw a special on Oprah about it.”

“I doubt it.” Gabby turned the vehicle onto the street where Mr. Tankersly lived. “According to the listed information, it was a closed adoption—the adoptive parents didn’t even list their last name.”

“True.” Rayne nodded. “But we now know what it is? How does this involve Martin?”

“I haven’t a clue. There’s just so much that points to him. He’s Eric’s stepfather and from what Eric told me, he was abusive. Him showing up at the station the other night and getting into it with Clark…” Gabby pulled the SUV into the driveway. “Here we are.”

Before they could exit the vehicle, Mr. Tankersly stormed out of the house and down the porch steps. Funny how Gabby had never considered the man’s build before—he looked like Ichabod Crane, with his long skinny legs and arms sticking out from a slight torso.

“Stay here,” she said to Clark before opening her door. “Mr. Tankersly, may I speak to you?” Gabby rushed to meet him before he got into his beat-up car. Her friends followed in her wake.

“What do you want?” he all but snarled at her. A shining bruise decorated one side of his nose, and the split in his lip boasted a thick scab.

“I just want to talk to you. About your wife.”

He ceased walking. His entire body stiffened. “What about her?”

“I heard you say something about your wife having an adopted son.” Her blood seemed to pump faster through her system, giving her energy she knew she shouldn’t have. “I didn’t know she had a son. Well, other than Eric.”

Martin’s laughter, callous and hard, rang out. “Why would I tell you anything?”

“I’m just trying to find out who’s behind Howard’s murder.”

“Again, why would I care? KLUV is my rival, even though it’s not been much of a competitive force lately. Besides, what’s any of this got to do with Jane?”

Gabby stood mute.

“Actually, Mr. Tankersly—” Rayne moved to stand just slightly in front of Gabby “—I was interested, too. You know, because of my daddy’s B and B being so close to KLUV and not knowing if Robert’s really the killer.” She batted her eyelashes at the older man. “He’d hate to think the violence could shift over to our place. A murder…” She shivered, then hugged herself. Those big eyes stared at him.

The expression in the man’s eyes was clear—the VanDoren name carried weight. Old money, old power. And Charles VanDoren exuded both. Martin Tankersly had the good sense not to offend a VanDoren. Any VanDoren.

“Well, now, Rayne honey, I don’t know what I can tell you.” His face softened, the leathery wrinkles easing a smidgen. “I don’t know anything about that murder.” His gaze raked over Gabby. “No matter what others might be saying.”

Shifting from one foot to the other, Gabby stared at Rayne.

“No one’s accusing you of anything, Mr. Tankersly,” Rayne said in her softest voice. “We’re just trying to figure things out.” She batted her lashes again while hugging herself. “To feel safe and all.”

“Well now, I can understand your concern, ladies—” he even included Gabby in his gaze “—but I don’t think y’all have anything to worry about.” Now his stare locked on Gabby’s, sending the strangest sense of foreboding shooting down her legs. “And now that Robert’s been arrested, there’s been no more signs of violence. Right?”

Gabby swallowed back her retort. What about her slashed tires and threatening note and phone call? Or his and Clark’s odd altercation in the parking lot? And the sheriff never did tell her why Mr. Tankersly was at the station to begin with.

“And it’s the first murder we’ve had in Mystique in decades.” He shook his head. “No, I think you ladies can rest assured that everything is just fine now.”

“Amber Ellison said you’d been underpricing advertising, cutting KLUV’s business,” Sheldon piped up.

The smile dropped quickly as he narrowed his eyes and shot a frigid stare at the town librarian. “Just because I can afford to run advertising specials doesn’t mean I’m doing anything wrong, young lady.”

“Of course not,” Rayne practically cooed. “She didn’t mean anything by that. We’re just curious.”

He smiled at her. “You know, used to be Robert was a worthy business adversary. We’d try to outbid each other on advertising spots, run specials to lure away sponsors, things like that. But then that worthless stepson of mine went to work for KLUV and filled Robert’s head with all kinds of lies about me.” He flexed his skinny arms.

“Mr. Tankersly,” Rayne drew his attention with her sugary voice, “I heard you told Clark that your stepson was adopted.”

He snorted. “I never told that Yankee anything. But I did say that Jane and her first husband were unable to have children. They adopted a son from some relative of hers that got knocked up in her teens. And that son is Eric.”

Gabby stood ramrod-stiff, her muscles refusing to budge.

So Eric was the adopted baby. Another piece of the puzzle had fallen into place.

A gust of wind tiptoed across the air, scattering lavender petals from a nearby wisteria bush. Through the open window, the warm smell of freshly cut grass filled the car’s cabin.

Gabby dragged her steps back to the SUV, the other girls already at the vehicle. She opened the driver’s door and slipped behind the wheel.

Tonna let out a shallow gasp. “I can’t believe it. Eric, adopted. I wonder if he even knows.”

Clark clicked his seat belt into place. “Tankersly confirmed it?”

Gabby turned onto Shannon Street. “He did.”

“My source called back while you were out of the car,” Clark said.

“And? Don’t keep us in suspense.” Sheldon playfully slapped his shoulder.

“Did you guys know that it was Amber’s cousin and her husband who adopted Eric?”

You guys? Man, she’d have to work on polishing the Yankee out of him. Gabby started to chuckle when the facts slammed against her brain. “If a family member adopted a child, why the closed adoption?”

“From what I understand, that’s fairly common. It’s to protect the birth mother. How would you like to find out your aunt Edna is really your mom?” His voice hummed with excitement.

“I see your point,” Immy stated.

Clark continued, “Most all relative adoptions are closed. As are the majority of stranger adoptions. Rumor has it that it makes the process easier all around.”

“I guess.” Gabby slowed for a stop sign.

She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel as she lost herself in thought. Amber Ellison had left town when she found out she was pregnant by Sam Wood. She went to Louisiana, had a baby boy. A cousin of hers adopted the baby. She met Robert some way, fell in love, married him and returned to Mystique. Her adopted son, years later, showed up in town.

Rayne broke the silence, repeating the question Tonna had voiced and Gabby had swimming around in her mind. “Gabby, do you think Eric knows he was adopted?”

“I don’t know. He’s never mentioned it.” But wouldn’t that be something Mr. Tankersly would have thrown in his face time and again? Gabby hauled in a deep breath as she turned the SUV toward Main Street. “If he knew, has he figured out who his mother is? How would that make him feel?”

“Probably rotten,” Sheldon quipped. “But how does this fact play into the murder?”

That was a question Gabby couldn’t answer. “There has to be more. Has to be a connection of some sort, one we haven’t made yet.”

For once, not one of the them had an opinion to voice.

What didn’t they know? There was a missing piece of the puzzle left. The one piece that would make the picture come into focus. But what? Gabby hit the side of her fist against the steering wheel. Why couldn’t she figure it out?