Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) by Karen Rose

            “That’s about right,” Merle agreed. “Dad heard about this single mom and her two kids who needed a place to live. Margo had run from her husband, who was abusing her, and she needed a place to hide. Mom and Dad took her under their wing, you know? Her kids—twins—were only a few years older than DJ would have been. I think Mom and Dad kind of connected with the kids, so they let them stay.”

            Bingo. The timelines matched. Pastor’s wife and kids had disappeared five years after DJ had arrived in Eden, according to Amos. Tom smiled at the couple, hoping to put them at ease, because Croft had them on high alert. “What were their names?”

            Joni smiled back tentatively. “Will and Tracy Holly.”

            “Nice kids,” Merle added, “but too quiet. Always scared, always looking over their shoulders. Margo wouldn’t leave the house for years. I remember Mom going to meetings with the kids’ teachers at the school. Mom and Dad were like the kids’ grandparents. Joni and I weren’t blessed, so . . .” He shrugged self-consciously.

            “His folks adopted the kids,” Joni finished. “Not officially, of course.”

            “And, as time passed, Mom and Dad lost hope that DJ would come home,” Merle said sadly.

            “I’m sure the twins were a comfort to them,” Tom said. “How long did they live there?”

            “Until Tracy graduated from college,” Joni answered. “Will left home when he was eighteen. Mom and Dad got postcards from him for a few years.”

            Merle sighed. “Until he killed himself.”

            Oh. Shit. “How terrible,” Tom murmured. “Your parents must have been devastated.”

            Joni nodded unhappily. “They were. We all were. Margo . . . she was . . . well, I’m glad she still had Tracy. That girl held her together until Margo met her new husband.”

            “She married again?” Tom asked, hoping he sounded casual.

            Merle nodded. “She did. A good guy this time. An architect. Dad met him and approved.”

            “Do you still see them?” Croft asked, also casually.

            Joni shook her head. “No. Margo left her life here behind, and I can’t blame her. So many sad memories in that house, what with Will’s suicide and all. Last I heard, she lived in Modesto. We lost touch with Tracy, too, but Merle’s mom gets a postcard from her occasionally. Never from the same place, though, so I don’t know where she ended up.”

            “And your father?” Croft asked.

            “He died ten years ago,” Merle said gruffly. “He was never the same after Will’s suicide.” He cleared his throat. “But enough talk of sad times. What else can we help you with?”

            “Did your parents continue to rent the house after Margo moved away?” Croft asked.

            “They did,” Merle confirmed. “It was nearly always occupied, although it’s been sitting empty for the past few months. We’re probably going to sell it. Mom’s nursing home is pretty expensive.” He made a face. “I should probably sell the car, too.”

            “No,” Joni said quickly. “You need to keep that car for yourself. As a memory of your dad.”

            “I guess we’ll have to see,” Merle said. “Will you need the car, Agent Hunter?”

            Tom turned to Croft. “I don’t know. Will we?”

            “For a little while, yes,” Croft replied. “It might have been used in the commission of a crime, so we’ll want our forensics team to examine it.”

            Merle’s mouth dropped open. “A crime? What kind of crime? Does this involve DJ? Is that why you’re here?”

            Croft threw a quick glance at Tom before turning back to the couple. “We don’t know if DJ is connected to the car, but we do have evidence that he’s involved in our investigation.”

            Joni gasped softly. “So he is alive?”

            “We believe so,” Croft said. “If he should come to see you, please contact us. Don’t invite him into your home.”