Page 64 of Healing Hearts

“Talking about scenarios, if the children in the woods are the Carsons’ children, why haven’t their parents reported them missing? Something’s amiss here,” Gene said, looking grim.

Amanda gasped. “Maybe something happened to them.”

“Or maybe the kids were running from them,” Gene added.

“Unfortunately, those are all possibilities,” Patrick said, sounding as somber as Gene. “Let me do some research and see if I can get more information on Mona Carson and get her parents’ names.”

“Wait, do you think it’s Carson as in Carson Cars?” Amanda suddenly had a lightbulb moment. “They own most of the car dealers around the area and all over Georgia.”

Gene looked at her with a nod of recognition.

“I’ll look into it,” Patrick said. “I’ve got to check out all this new info. Thanks, guys. Let me handle this from here on out. It may be more than a runaway case. I don’t want you getting yourself into an unknown situation.”

“But we can help,” Amanda insisted. “Gene and I could go to Carson Cars' flagship dealership, pretending to shop for a car. Well, I don’t have to pretend, actually.”

“No, please. Stay out of it,” Patrick warned. “If you want to help, focus on finding the children. I will update you about the K-9 unit in the morning.”

They ended the call, and Amanda wondered, “What is going on with the Carsons?”

“I don’t know, but Patrick’s right. Our concern are the children,” he said.

Amanda nodded. “That’s right. Find them first. We’ll figure out the rest later.”

“I have an idea.” Gene dialed another number.

“Who are you calling?”

He held out a finger, then spoke to the phone. “Mom, I need a favor.”

Gene read the text from his mother and smiled.

“We got the name of the brother.”

Amanda looked at him expectantly while brushing her teeth.

“Beau,” he supplied. “He’s a sixth grader in the west campus middle school. He hasn’t been in school, either. One of his teachers was worried enough to do a wellness check. Their mother told the teacher, the kids are with their grandparents for the week in Belize on an educational trip.”

Amanda rinsed her mouth and spit. “People do that?”

“People with money, probably. But why would you take another vacation so close after spring break? And without a heads-up to the schools?”

Gene leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed at the chest.

“We may not understand what rich people do with their money, but I still think it’s odd,” Amanda said.

“Agreed.” Gene said, thinking about the only ultra rich person he knew personally. “My brother’s best friend from college is loaded and can go to any place in the world on holidays. His family owns the Sullens hotels—”

“No shit?” Amanda’s eyes rounded in shock.

When Gene first met Dean’s friend, Chris Sullens, he had been just as surprised as Amanda. “But he preferred to come here with Dean during their breaks,” Gene added. “He’s a pretty laid-back guy. Not what you’d imagine for someone who will inherit a hotel empire.”

“Huh. Did his parents take him out of school for spur-of-a-moment trips?” Amanda asked.

“He went to boarding school before college. His mother died when he was young and he doesn’t have a great relationship with his dad. So, no, I don’t think so.”

“Oh, that’s sad. That shows money doesn’t always bring happiness.”

“No.” Gene agreed.

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